Patent ID: 9615815
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An adaptor for an ultrasound probe, comprising: an adaptor body releasably attachable to an outer portion of an ultrasound probe, the adaptor comprising at least one force sensor configured to obtain a force measurement of force applied to target tissue by a respective ultrasound probe during an ultrasound evaluation of a patient, wherein the adaptor body has cooperating upper and lower members that releasably hold the ultrasound probe, the lower member having a lower end with an open portion that allows a distal end of the ultrasound probe to extend therethrough, wherein the lower member of the adaptor body has at least one distalmost segment that defines a skin contacting portion and, in use, is adjacent the distal end of the ultrasound probe and that is in communication with the at least one force sensor, wherein the upper and lower members are configured to translate relative to each other while holding the ultrasound probe during the ultrasound evaluation so that (i) the adaptor body has first configuration that positions the at least one distalmost segment of the lower member forward of the distal end of the ultrasound probe and (ii) the adaptor body has a second configuration that positions the at least one distalmost segment a distance closer to the upper member relative to the first configuration, wherein, in the second configuration, a skin contacting portion of the distal end of the probe and the skin contacting portion of the lower member concurrently contact skin of the patient.