Active thermal control of ultrasound transducers
US5560362A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 13, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 13, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/004
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasound transducer assembly having a housing, a transducer array mounted in the housing, and active cooling mechanism positioned adjacent to the transducer array for actively removing heat generated by the array by transport of heat energy from the affected site. The active cooling mechanism may comprise a heat exchanger including a closed loop circulating coolant system circulating coolant, or a single-pass flowed coolant, passing through the heat exchanger, a heat pipe, a thermoelectric cooler, an evaporative/condenser system, and/or a phase change material. One or more heat exchangers may be used having gas or liquid coolants flowing therethrough. The heat exchangers and coolant pumps may be located in various components of the transducer assembly, including the array housing, the connector assemblies or the ultrasound console.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.