Ultrasound coupling device
First Claim
1. An ultrasound coupling device comprising:
- a coupling compartment comprising a chamber having a continuous side wall and an opening on a first end,wherein said ultrasound coupling device is configured for operative coupling with a low-profile ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound conductive medium so as to apply ultrasonic energy to a subject,wherein said continuous side wall is configured to hold said low-profile ultrasound transducer completely within the chamber so that a front ultrasound emitting surface of the low-profile ultrasound transducer faces outward toward the chamber opening but does not extend beyond the first end of the continuous side wall of the chamber, said front ultrasound emitting surface configured to control the direction and wave pattern of ultrasonic energy emitted from the low-profile ultrasound transducer,wherein said continuous side wall is configured to hold the ultrasound conductive medium within the chamber and operative to keep the ultrasound conductive medium in simultaneous contact with the subject and with at least a portion of the front ultrasound emitting surface of the low-profile ultrasound transducer, andwherein said continuous side wall is configured so that when said ultrasound coupling device is operatively coupled together with said low-profile ultrasound transducer and the ultrasound conductive medium, the first end of the continuous side wall is in contact with the subject so as to keep a quantity of the ultrasound conductive medium within the chamber.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an ultrasound coupling device for use with various ultrasound transducers, systems, and applications. The coupling device includes a coupling compartment comprising a chamber having a continuous side wall and an opening on a first end. The continuous side wall is configured to hold a low-profile ultrasound transducer within the chamber so that a front ultrasound emitting surface of the low-profile ultrasound transducer faces outward toward the chamber opening. The front ultrasound emitting surface is configured to control the direction and wave pattern of ultrasonic energy emitted from the transducer. The continuous side wall is also configured to hold a quantity of an ultrasound conductive medium within the chamber and is operative to keep the ultrasound conductive medium in simultaneous contact with a surface of a subject and with at least a portion of the front ultrasound emitting surface of the transducer. The present invention also relates to an ultrasound apparatus, kit, and methods of using the ultrasound coupling device, apparatus, and kit.
34 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An ultrasound coupling device comprising:
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a coupling compartment comprising a chamber having a continuous side wall and an opening on a first end, wherein said ultrasound coupling device is configured for operative coupling with a low-profile ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound conductive medium so as to apply ultrasonic energy to a subject, wherein said continuous side wall is configured to hold said low-profile ultrasound transducer completely within the chamber so that a front ultrasound emitting surface of the low-profile ultrasound transducer faces outward toward the chamber opening but does not extend beyond the first end of the continuous side wall of the chamber, said front ultrasound emitting surface configured to control the direction and wave pattern of ultrasonic energy emitted from the low-profile ultrasound transducer, wherein said continuous side wall is configured to hold the ultrasound conductive medium within the chamber and operative to keep the ultrasound conductive medium in simultaneous contact with the subject and with at least a portion of the front ultrasound emitting surface of the low-profile ultrasound transducer, and wherein said continuous side wall is configured so that when said ultrasound coupling device is operatively coupled together with said low-profile ultrasound transducer and the ultrasound conductive medium, the first end of the continuous side wall is in contact with the subject so as to keep a quantity of the ultrasound conductive medium within the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification