Patent US5213103A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5213103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for and method of cooling ultrasonic medical transducers by conductive heat transfer
Assignee: Acoustic Imaging Technologies Corp
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Filing: 1992-01-31
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Granted: 1993-05-25
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Expires: 2012-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A method for transferring heat away from an ultrasonic medical transducer having a face wherein heat is generated. The method is accomplished by positioning a heat sink behind the transducer face, securing the heat sink to a braided power cable, applying a heat conductive epoxy to the heat sink, and assembling a plastic housing around the heat sink. The transducer face is cooled by conductive heat transfer by transferring the heat into the heat sink, then transferring the heat into the epoxy, then transferring the heat into the power cable and the plastic housing before finally dissipating into the surrounding air.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn Martin
- 👤 Hamid Ekhlassi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/54; A61B8/546; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/899; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/004; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00005; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4455
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transferability to cool the transducer comprising: a transducer face having a transducer element located therein and electrically connected to a braided power cable; a heat sink located behind the transducer element; a housing surrounding the heat sink; and heat conductive epoxy located between the housing and the heat sink.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transferability to cool the transducer comprising: a transducer face having a transducer element located therein and electrically connected to a braided power cable; a heat sink located behind the transducer element; a housing surrounding the heat sink; and heat conductive epoxy located between the housing and the heat sink.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer of claim 1 wherein the heat sink is aluminum/aluminum alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer recited in claim 1 wherein the heat sink is copper/copper alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 1 wherein the heat sink is comprised of three pieces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 1 wherein the heat sink is secured to the power cable braid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 1 wherein the transducer element is grounded to the heat sink to provide improved radio frequency interference shielding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 1 wherein the transducer element is a curved array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 1 wherein the transducer element is a linear array.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transferability for cooling the transducer comprising the steps of: positioning a heat sink behind a transducer element; electrically connecting the transducer element to a braided power cable; applying a heat conductive epoxy to the heat sink; and assembling a housing around the heat sink.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transferability for cooling the transducer comprising the steps of: positioning a heat sink behind a transducer element; electrically connecting the transducer element to a braided power cable; applying a heat conductive epoxy to the heat sink; and assembling a housing around the heat sink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 9 further comprising the steps of: applying a heat conductive epoxy to the braided power cable; and securing the heat sink to the braided power cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 9 wherein the heat sink is aluminum/aluminum alloy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 9 wherein the heat sink is copper/copper alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 9 wherein the heat sink comprises three pieces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of grounding the transducer element to the heat sink.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic medical transducer as recited in claim 10 wherein the step of securing the heat sink to the power cable comprises the step of clamping the heat sink to the braided power cable.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of transferring heat away from an ultrasonic medical transducer having a face wherein heat is generated, a heat sink located behind the transducer face, a braided power cable secured to the heat sink, a housing surrounding the heat sink, and heat conductive epoxy located between the heat sink and the housing comprising the steps of: transferring the heat from the transducer face to the heat sink; transferring the heat from the heat sink to the heat conductive epoxy; transferring the heat from the heat conductive epoxy to the braided power cable; transferring the heat from the heat conductive epoxy to the housing; and dissipating the heat from the braided power cable and the housing into the surrounding air.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of transferring heat away from an ultrasonic medical transducer having a face wherein heat is generated, a heat sink located behind the transducer face, a braided power cable secured to the heat sink, a housing surrounding the heat sink, and heat conductive epoxy located between the heat sink and the housing comprising the steps of: transferring the heat from the transducer face to the heat sink; transferring the heat from the heat sink to the heat conductive epoxy; transferring the heat from the heat conductive epoxy to the braided power cable; transferring the heat from the heat conductive epoxy to the housing; and dissipating the heat from the braided power cable and the housing into the surrounding air.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transfer characteristics, the transducer comprising: an array of ultrasound transducer elements; a handle shaped heat sink in heat conductive relationship with the array; and a handle surrounding the heat sink in heat conductive relationship therewith, the handle being made of a material having a lower thermal capacity than the heat sink.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transfer characteristics, the transducer comprising: an array of ultrasound transducer elements; a handle shaped heat sink in heat conductive relationship with the array; and a handle surrounding the heat sink in heat conductive relationship therewith, the handle being made of a material having a lower thermal capacity than the heat sink.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ultrasonic transducer of claim 17, in which the material of the handle has a higher heat resistivity than the heat sink.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ultrasonic transducer of claim 17, additionally comprising a cable electrically connected to the array, the cable having an electrically grounded conductor in heat conductive relationship to the heat sink to transfer heat from the array to the cable.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic transducer of claim 19, in which the grounded conductor is a braided sheath around the cable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ultrasonic transducer of claim 17, additionally comprising a power cable, an electrical connector for electrically connecting the array to the power cable, and a cavity in the heat sink in which the connector is disposed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic transducer of claim 21, in which the cavity is located so the heat sink surrounds the connector mechanism.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transfer characteristics, the transducer comprising: an array of ultrasound transducer elements; a handle shaped heat sink in heat conductive relationship with the array; and a handle surrounding the heat sink in heat conductive relationship therewith, the handle being made of a material having a higher thermal resistance than the heat sink.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transfer characteristics, the transducer comprising: an array of ultrasound transducer elements; a handle shaped heat sink in heat conductive relationship with the array; and a handle surrounding the heat sink in heat conductive relationship therewith, the handle being made of a material having a higher thermal resistance than the heat sink.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transfer characteristics, the transducer comprising: an array of ultrasound transducer elements; a heat sink in heat conductive relationship with the array; and a cable electrically connected to the array, the cable having an electrically grounded conductor in heat conductive relationship to the heat sink to transfer heat from the array to the cable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
An ultrasonic medical transducer having improved heat transfer characteristics, the transducer comprising: an array of ultrasound transducer elements; a heat sink in heat conductive relationship with the array; and a cable electrically connected to the array, the cable having an electrically grounded conductor in heat conductive relationship to the heat sink to transfer heat from the array to the cable.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic transducer of claim 24, in which the grounded conductor is a braided sheath around the cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-24 | 1996-11-23 | 1997-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-24 | 2000-11-23 | 2001-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-24 | 2004-11-23 | 2005-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |