Patent ID: 6599249
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: A61B,G10K

Abstract:
An intraoperative ultrasonic transducer probe comprising:a patient-contacting surface for coming into contact with patients being examined by said probe, wherein said patient-contacting surface has an inner surface and an outer surface for patient contact; and a patient-contacting section containing a multielement ultrasonic transducer opposing said inner surface of said patient-contacting surface, said patient-contacting section having a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of said ultrasonic transducer; and a housing coupled to said patient contacting surface for sealing internal components of said probe; and a lens for focusing ultrasonic energy transmitted from said transducer; and a standoff for producing a spatial offset between said transducer and said patient-contacting surface; wherein said standoff is spatially positioned between said lens and said inner surface of said patient-contacting surface.