Ultrasound probe accessory implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12539101-B2
Application number	US-202217899386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2022
Priority date	Aug 30, 2022
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

Ultrasound probe assemblies including the probe, a sheath, and an accessory implement that may be selectively attached to and detached form the probe. The implement includes an attachment surface for attaching accessories thereto. The attachment surface includes a defined angle with respect to the head of the probe so that accessories attached thereto are disposed in a defined alignment with the probe. The implement includes a circumferential wall defining a cavity configure to receive the probe head therein. The cavity includes a bottom opening to expose a patient coupling surface of the probe. The assembly may include an ultrasound gel disposed within the opening. The sheath may include a stretchable band to secure the sheath to the probe. The sheath defines a sterile barrier and may be attached to the implement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An ultrasound probe assembly, comprising:
an ultrasound probe defining a probe head at a bottom end of the ultrasound probe, the probe head having a patient coupling surface; a sheath covering the ultrasound probe; and an accessory implement secured to the ultrasound probe, the accessory implement configured to enable attachment of a probe accessory to the ultrasound probe, the accessory implement including a circumferential wall extending contiguously around a cavity having a top opening and a bottom opening, the cavity configured to receive a head of the ultrasound probe therein via the top opening, wherein the bottom opening is sized and shaped to correspond to the patient coupling surface of the ultrasound probe, the circumferential wall defining:
a front wall disposed along a front side of the cavity, wherein:
the front wall includes an accessory attachment surface disposed at a defined angle with respect to the patient coupling surface, and
the accessory attachment surface includes an accessory connector; and

a back wall disposed along a back side of the cavity opposite the front side, wherein:
the back wall extends contiguously upward to define an upper portion of the back wall,
the upper portion is configured to extend along and adjacent to a back side of the ultrasound probe from a bottom end of the upper portion to a top end of the upper portion, and
the upper portion adjacent the top end includes a securement mechanism configured to rigidly secure the accessory implement to the ultrasound probe,
wherein the sheath is coupled with the circumferential wall along an inside surface of the circumferential wall, and

wherein the accessory implement further includes a protrusion extending away from the back wall, the protrusion configured to enable a clinician to handle the ultrasound probe using only two fingers.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the accessory implement is configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the ultrasound probe via the securement mechanism.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the probe head is configured to be inserted through the top opening, and the bottom opening extends across the patient coupling surface.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the accessory implement includes an ultrasound gel disposed within the bottom opening.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment surface is configured for attachment of the probe accessory thereto, the accessory attachment surface disposed at a defined position and orientation with respect to the probe head.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is configured to be transitionable between an extended state and a collapsed state.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the securement mechanism includes one or more deflectable clips configured to extend around at least partially around the ultrasound probe.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sheath is disposed between the ultrasound probe and the accessory implement.

9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sheath includes a stretchable portion defining a reduced circumferential perimeter of the sheath, the stretchable portion configured to secure the sheath to the ultrasound probe.

10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sheath includes an ultrasound coupling area extending across the patient coupling surface of the ultrasound probe, the ultrasound coupling area including an ultrasound coupling capability that exceeds other portions of the sheath extending away from the ultrasound coupling area.

11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the ultrasound coupling area includes an ultrasound gel.

12 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sheath and the accessory implement are inseparably attached to each other.

13 . An accessory attachment implement for an ultrasound probe, comprising:
a circumferential wall extending contiguously around a cavity having a top opening and a bottom opening, the cavity configured to receive a head of the ultrasound probe therein via the top opening, the circumferential wall defining:
a front wall disposed along a front side of the cavity, wherein:
the front wall includes an accessory attachment surface disposed at a defined angle with respect to a patient coupling surface of the ultrasound probe, and
the accessory attachment surface includes an accessory connector; and

a back wall disposed along a back side of the cavity opposite the front side, wherein:
the back wall extends contiguously upward to define an upper portion of the back wall,
the upper portion is configured to extend along and adjacent to a back side of the ultrasound probe from a bottom end of the upper portion to a top end of the upper portion, and
the upper portion adjacent the top end includes a securement mechanism configured to rigidly secure the accessory attachment implement to the ultrasound probe;

a protrusion extending away from the back wall, the protrusion configured to enable a clinician to handle the ultrasound probe using only two fingers; and a sheath coupled with the circumferential wall along an inside surface of the circumferential wall, the sheath configured to cover the ultrasound probe, wherein the bottom opening is sized and shaped to correspond to the patient coupling surface of the ultrasound probe.

14 . The implement of claim 13 , further comprising an ultrasound gel disposed within the bottom opening.

15 . The implement of claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound gel is coupled with the sheath.

16 . The implement of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the ultrasound gel is coupled with an inside surface of the sheath.

17 . The implement of claim 16 , wherein at least the portion of the ultrasound gel is a contained portion within a frangible pouch of a patient coupling area of the sheath.

18 . The implement of claim 17 , wherein the frangible pouch is configured to release the contained portion of the ultrasound gel from the frangible pouch when the patient coupling surface is pressed against a skin surface of a patient.

19 . The implement of claim 13 , wherein the sheath includes a stretchable band configured to cinch the sheath around the ultrasound probe.

20 . The implement of claim 13 , wherein the securement mechanism includes one or more deflectable clip members extending away from the upper portion toward the front side.

Assignees

• Bard Access Systems Inc

Inventors

• Mclaughlin William Robert
• Sowards Steffan
• Misener Anthony K
• Peterson Bart
• Wilkinson Bradley M
• Newby Mark

Classifications

• A61B8/4455

  Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects · CPC title

• A61B8/4422 Primary

  related to hygiene or sterilisation · CPC title

• A61B8/4281

  characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue · CPC title

• A61B8/4411 Primary

  Device being modular · CPC title

• A61B8/4427

  Device being portable or laptop-like · CPC title