Attachment attached to ultrasound probe for clinical application
US4867169A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 1987 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/02
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In the present invention, an attachment which is attached to an ultrasound probe for clinical application is as follows. When the attachment is brought into contact with a skin surface of a body, the ultrasound probe radiates ultrasound beams toward the body which is scanned with ultrasound beams in a first plane. The attachment comprises a reservoir section for holding an acoustic medium, an attachment section for attaching the attachment to the ultrasound probe, and a contact membrane arranged opposite to the attachment section to be brought into contact with the skin surface. The dimension of the contact membrane is smaller than that of the attachment section when the reservoir section is cut at a plane perpendicular to the first plane. The reservoir section is formed without causing the reservoir section to shield the ultrasound beams which are converged by the convergence means. Thus, when an operator moves the ultrasound probe, the frictional force between the contact membrane and the skin surface is small. When the attachment is pivoted while being brought into contact with the skin surface, the attachment can be easily fitted on the human body. Therefore, the operability of…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.