US5797848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic transducer assembly with improved electrical interface
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-31
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Granted: 1998-08-25
•
Expires: 2017-01-31
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a shaft carried by the support element of the transducer assembly. This shaft supports an array of contacts that extend circumferentially around the shaft and are spaced axially along the length of the shaft. These contacts are electrically connected to conductors which are in turn connected to an ultrasonic transducer array. The shaft of the transducer assembly is received in a receptacle that includes a reciprocating slide that can be opened to insert and remove the transducer assembly from the receptacle. The slide can be closed to lock the transducer assembly in place, and to make electrical contact with the contacts of the shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Vaughn R. Marian
- 👤 Michael G. Curley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:29
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/004; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52079; H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/77; H01R12/79; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/899; H01R12/82; H01R12/85; H01R12/88; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/453; H01R13/4538
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors, each coupled to a respective transducer element of the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts each electrically coupled to a respective one of the conductors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors, each coupled to a respective transducer element of the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts each electrically coupled to a respective one of the conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the contacts and at least some of the conductors are carried by a single flexible insulating substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the insulating substrate further comprises a ground conductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1 further comprising a resilient element interposed between the shaft and the contacts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; and an anti-rotation key extending parallel to the axis and radially outwardly from the contacts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; and an anti-rotation key extending parallel to the axis and radially outwardly from the contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a resilient element wrapped at least partly around the shaft; a flexible circuit comprising a plurality of contacts carried by the resilient element, said contacts wrapped circumferentially partially around the shaft and spaced axially along the shaft; said flexible circuit further comprising a plurality of conductors coupled between the contacts and respective ones of the transducers, said conductors extending axially along the shaft; and an anti-rotation key coupled to the shaft and protruding radially outwardly of the contacts,.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a resilient element wrapped at least partly around the shaft; a flexible circuit comprising a plurality of contacts carried by the resilient element, said contacts wrapped circumferentially partially around the shaft and spaced axially along the shaft; said flexible circuit further comprising a plurality of conductors coupled between the contacts and respective ones of the transducers, said conductors extending axially along the shaft; and an anti-rotation key coupled to the shaft and protruding radially outwardly of the contacts,.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the flexible substrate additionally carries a ground conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention of claim 5 or 6 further comprising a receptacle forming an opening sized to receive the shaft and to engage the anti-rotation key, said receptacle comprising a slide and a contact plate mounted on the slide, said contact plate comprising a plurality of mating contacts, each mating contact positioned to engage a respective one of the first-mentioned contacts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 8 further comprising a lever-operated cam mounted to the receptacle and coupled to the slide to reciprocate the slide in the receptacle toward and away from the first-mentioned contacts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the slide is movably mounted in the receptacle to move along an axis, and wherein the contact plate is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein the mating contacts wipe across the first-mentioned contacts as the contact plate deforms the resilient element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is electrically coupled to an imaging system connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; said shaft comprising an out-of-round surface adapted to restrict rotation of the shaft in a receptacle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; said shaft comprising an out-of-round surface adapted to restrict rotation of the shaft in a receptacle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
125 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; and a receptacle forming an opening sized to receive the shaft, said receptacle comprising a plurality of mating contacts, each mating contact positioned to engage a respective one of the first-mentioned contacts, said shaft being non-rotating in the receptacle in use.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; and a receptacle forming an opening sized to receive the shaft, said receptacle comprising a plurality of mating contacts, each mating contact positioned to engage a respective one of the first-mentioned contacts, said shaft being non-rotating in the receptacle in use.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; and said contacts and at least an adjacent portion of the conductors carried by a single flexible circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; and said contacts and at least an adjacent portion of the conductors carried by a single flexible circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; and a resilient element interposed between the shaft and the contacts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising a support element, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors; and a resilient element interposed between the shaft and the contacts.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising an elongated support element which comprises an exterior surface of the transducer assembly, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis, said elongated support element generally aligned with the longitudinal axis such that the shaft and the support element are spaced along the axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly of the type comprising an elongated support element which comprises an exterior surface of the transducer assembly, a transducer array carried by the support element, and a plurality of conductors coupled to the transducer array and carried by the support element, the improvement comprising: a shaft carried by the support element, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis, said elongated support element generally aligned with the longitudinal axis such that the shaft and the support element are spaced along the axis; a plurality of contacts extending circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and spaced along the axis, at least a plurality of said contacts electrically coupled to respective ones of the conductors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein the exterior surface is adapted to be used in the bloodstream of a patient.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein the support element comprises a catheter, and wherein the transducer array and the shaft are positioned at opposite ends of the catheter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |