Patent · US Expired

Imaging ultrasound transducer temperature control system and method using feedback

US6905466B2 · kind B2 · utility

140Cited by
34References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 21, 2003
Grant dateJun 14, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B8/481
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the system and method controls the temperature of the transducer by changing operating system parameters based on feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer. The chosen mutable system parameters may be preset by the construction of the ultrasonic system, under the control of the ultrasonic system user, or a combination of the two. In several exemplary embodiments, the one or more mutable system parameters are altered by an amount proportionate to the difference between the current temperature and a preferred operating temperature. In another exemplary embodiment, the system switches to a lower power imaging mode when the temperature feedback indicates a threshold temperature has been reached.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.