Ultrasound imaging system and method for sterilizing a probe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017296142-A1
Application number	US-201615131509-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 18, 2016
Priority date	Apr 18, 2016
Publication date	Oct 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An ultrasound imaging system includes a probe adapted to acquire ultrasound data, the probe including a probe head with a plurality of transducer elements, a housing defining a probe storage compartment adapted to receive the probe head, an ultraviolet light source disposed within the housing and configured to irradiate and sterilize the probe head when the probe head is placed in the probe storage compartment, and a screen attached to the housing and configured to display an ultrasound image based on the ultrasound data acquired with the probe. A method of sterilizing a probe includes inserting the probe head into the storage compartment defined by the housing and sterilizing the probe head with the ultraviolet light source.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
a probe adapted to acquire ultrasound data, the probe comprising a probe head with a plurality of transducer elements; a housing defining a probe storage compartment adapted to receive the probe head; an ultraviolet light source disposed within the housing and configured to irradiate and sterilize the probe head when the probe head is placed in the probe storage compartment; and a screen attached to the housing, the screen configured to display an ultrasound image based on the ultrasound data acquired with the probe.

2 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises a wireless ultrasound probe.

3 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 2 , further comprising a removable capsule adapted to be received within the probe storage compartment, wherein the removable capsule is adapted to enclose the probe.

4 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 3 , where the removable capsule is either translucent or transparent with respect to ultraviolet light.

5 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 4 , wherein the removable capsule comprises a top portion and a bottom portion and wherein the top portion is adapted to be connected to the bottom portion.

6 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 2 , further comprising a sterilization status indicator.

7 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the sterilization status indicator is displayed on the screen.

8 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the sterilization status indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs attached to the housing.

9 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of LEDs are illuminated in a first pattern to indicate that sterilization is in-process and a second pattern to indicate that sterilization has been completed.

10 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound imaging system comprises a hand-carried ultrasound system and the display is disposed on the housing.

11 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the probe storage compartment defined by the housing comprises a first end that is closed and a second end, opposite of the first end, which is configured to be selectively opened, and wherein the probe storage compartment is configured to completely enclose the probe when the second end is closed.

12 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 2 , further comprising a charging module adapted to recharge the probe while the probe is positioned in the probe storage compartment.

13 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the charging module comprises an inductive charger.

14 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the charging module comprises a magnetic connector configured to magnetically attach to the probe when the probe is positioned in the probe storage compartment.

15 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the charging module comprises a plug adapted to interface with the probe when the probe is positioned in the probe storage compartment.

16 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 12 , further comprising a sterilization status indicator configured to display both a sterilization status and a probe charge status.

17 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 16 , wherein the sterilization status indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs.

18 . A method of sterilizing a probe that is a component of an ultrasound imaging system, the ultrasound imaging system comprising:
a probe comprising a probe head including a plurality of transducer elements; a housing defining a probe storage compartment adapted to receive the probe head; a ultraviolet light source disposed within the housing and adapted to irradiate the probe head when the probe head is positioned within the probe storage compartment; and a screen attached to the housing;
where the method comprises:
inserting the probe head into the probe storage compartment defined by the housing; and
sterilizing the probe head with the ultraviolet light source.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising placing the probe into a removable capsule before inserting the probe into the storage compartment, and wherein inserting the probe into the storage compartment comprises inserting both the removable capsule and the probe into the storage compartment.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising recharging the probe with a charging module while the probe is inserted into the probe storage compartment.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Wodecki Lionel
• Kraus Thomas Andrew

Classifications

• A61B8/4472

  Wireless probes · CPC title

• A61B8/4483

  characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer · CPC title

• A61B8/4433

  involving a docking unit · CPC title

• A61B8/4422 Primary

  related to hygiene or sterilisation · CPC title

• A61B8/4427

  Device being portable or laptop-like · CPC title