Therapy head for use with an ultrasound system
First Claim
1. A therapy head for application of directional energy to a patient, the therapy head comprising:
- an enclosure adapted to be manipulated by hand, the enclosure having an upper compartment and a lower compartment with a window;
a partition separating the lower compartment of the enclosure from the upper compartment of the enclosure;
a receptacle mounted to the partition;
a first control arm pivotally mounted within the receptacle, the first control arm having an upper end disposed within the upper compartment, a lower end disposed within the lower compartment, and an instantaneous center of rotation between the upper end and the lower end, the first control arm being movable within the receptacle while the receptacle is sealed between the upper and lower compartments, and the first control arm being coupled with the receptacle such that the instantaneous center of rotation of the first control arm is restrained from translating relative to the receptacle;
a second control arm in the upper compartment, the second control arm pivotally coupled with the upper end of the first control arm;
an actuation assembly positioned within the upper compartment, the actuation assembly including a first motor and a second motor that are coupled with the second control arm for producing movement of the second control arm in a first direction and movement of the upper end of the first control arm in a second direction counter to the first direction; and
a directional energy applicator configured to transmit the directional energy through the window, the directional energy applicator being coupled with the lower end of the first control arm,wherein the first control arm is configured to pivot, in response to the movement of the second control arm by the actuation assembly, within the receptacle about the instantaneous center of rotation around at least two axes for varying a position or an orientation of the directional energy applicator so as to direct the directional energy over a two-dimensional region of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Therapy heads and related medical systems having an actuation assembly for controlling the position/orientation of a directional energy applicator in at least two planes are disclosed. A therapy head includes an enclosure, a partition separating a lower compartment from an upper compartment, an aperture in the partition, a control arm extending through the aperture, an actuation assembly positioned within the upper compartment, and a directional energy applicator positioned in the lower compartment for transmitting energy through a window. The control arm includes an upper end disposed within the upper compartment and a lower end disposed within the lower compartment. The actuation assembly is coupled with the upper end of the control arm such that the control arm is movable by the actuation assembly in at least two planes. The directional energy applicator is coupled with the lower end of the control arm.
157 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A therapy head for application of directional energy to a patient, the therapy head comprising:
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an enclosure adapted to be manipulated by hand, the enclosure having an upper compartment and a lower compartment with a window; a partition separating the lower compartment of the enclosure from the upper compartment of the enclosure; a receptacle mounted to the partition; a first control arm pivotally mounted within the receptacle, the first control arm having an upper end disposed within the upper compartment, a lower end disposed within the lower compartment, and an instantaneous center of rotation between the upper end and the lower end, the first control arm being movable within the receptacle while the receptacle is sealed between the upper and lower compartments, and the first control arm being coupled with the receptacle such that the instantaneous center of rotation of the first control arm is restrained from translating relative to the receptacle; a second control arm in the upper compartment, the second control arm pivotally coupled with the upper end of the first control arm; an actuation assembly positioned within the upper compartment, the actuation assembly including a first motor and a second motor that are coupled with the second control arm for producing movement of the second control arm in a first direction and movement of the upper end of the first control arm in a second direction counter to the first direction; and a directional energy applicator configured to transmit the directional energy through the window, the directional energy applicator being coupled with the lower end of the first control arm, wherein the first control arm is configured to pivot, in response to the movement of the second control arm by the actuation assembly, within the receptacle about the instantaneous center of rotation around at least two axes for varying a position or an orientation of the directional energy applicator so as to direct the directional energy over a two-dimensional region of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A medical ultrasound system comprising:
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a base unit; and a therapy head coupled with the base unit, the therapy head including; an enclosure adapted to be manipulated by hand, the enclosure having an upper compartment and a lower compartment with a window; a partition separating the lower compartment of the enclosure from the upper compartment of the enclosure; a receptacle mounted to the partition; a first control arm pivotally mounted within the receptacle, the first control arm having an upper end disposed within the upper compartment, a lower end disposed within the lower compartment, and an instantaneous center of rotation between the upper end and the lower end, the first control arm being movable within the receptacle while the receptacle is sealed between the upper and lower compartments, and the first control arm being coupled with the receptacle such that the instantaneous center of rotation of the first control arm is restrained from translating relative to the receptacle; a second control arm in the upper compartment, the second control arm pivotally coupled with the upper end of the first control arm; an actuation assembly positioned within the upper compartment, the actuation assembly including a first motor and a second motor that are coupled with the second control arm for producing movement of the second control arm in a first direction and movement of the upper end of the first control arm in a second direction counter to the first direction; and a directional energy applicator configured to transmit the directional energy through the window, the directional energy applicator being coupled with the lower end of the first control arm, wherein the first control arm is configured to pivot, in response to the movement of the second control arm by the actuation assembly, within the receptacle about the instantaneous center of rotation around at least two axes for varying a position or an orientation of the directional energy applicator so as to direct the directional energy over a two-dimensional region of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification