Patent Publication Number: US-2016220325-A1

Title: Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic apparatus having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0017183, filed on Feb. 4, 2015, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to/from a subject, and a ultrasonic apparatus having the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Ultrasonic apparatuses operate to irradiate ultrasonic waves through the surface of a subject to a target site inside a body and receive echo ultrasonic waves reflected from the target site to obtain a cross-sectional image of a soft tissue or bloodstream by using information about the echo ultrasonic waves in a non-invasive manner. 
     A ultrasonic probe forming the ultrasonic apparatus irradiates ultrasonic waves to a subject and receives echo-ultrasonic waves reflected from the subject. In detail, the ultrasonic probe operates to convert an electric signal to ultrasonic waves, irradiate the converted ultrasonic waves to a subject, receive echo-ultrasonic waves reflected from the subject, convert the received echo-ultrasonic waves into an echo-ultrasonic signal, and transmit the echo-ultrasonic signal to a main body of the ultrasonic apparatus. 
     The ultrasonic apparatus is provided in various types depending on the uses or shapes. A user may select a desired type of ultrasonic probe in consideration of a condition of a region of a subject to be diagnosed. In this case, the ultrasonic probe selected by a user is provided with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag including identification information such that the main body can easily identify the ultrasonic probe. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a ultrasonic probe provided with a plurality of RFID tags each including identification information, and a ultrasonic apparatus having the same. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ultrasonic probe includes a housing and a plurality of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. 
     The RFID tag may include identification information about the ultrasonic probe. 
     The ultrasonic probe may further include a piezoelectric member configured to receive echo-ultrasonic waves reflected from a subject. 
     The ultrasonic probe may further include a shielding film provided inside the housing to block the received echo-ultrasonic waves from external noise. The RFID tag is provided in plural number to prevent a recognition rate of the RFID tag from being lowered due to the shielding film. 
     The RFID tag may include a recognition surface provided with an antenna pattern that is configured to transmit the identification information upon receiving a signal to request the identification information. 
     At least two of the plurality of RFID tags may have the recognition surfaces, respectively, which are oriented in directions different from each other. 
     At least two of the plurality of RFID tags may have the recognition surfaces, respectively, which are oriented in directions opposite to each other. 
     At least two of the plurality of RFID tags may have the recognition surfaces, respectively, which are perpendicular to each other. 
     At least one of the plurality of RFID tags may be detachably provided on a surface of the housing. 
     At least one of the plurality of RFID tags may be provided between the housing and the shielding film. 
     The ultrasonic probe may further include: an external cable configured to connect the ultrasonic probe to an external device; a strain relief configured to fix the external cable to the housing; and an internal cable configured to connect the external cable to the piezoelectric member. 
     At least one of the plurality of RFID tags may be provided at one of the external cable, the strain relief and the internal cable. 
     The identification information may include at least one of a name, a type, a manufacturer, a manufacturing date, and a serial number of the ultrasonic probe, and an identification number determined by a user. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a ultrasonic apparatus includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, a ultrasonic probe and a controller. The radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader may be configured to recognize an RFID tag. The ultrasonic probe may be provided with the RFID tag including identification information. The controller may be configured to, if the RFID reader recognizes the RFID tag provided at the ultrasonic probe, recognize the ultrasonic probe corresponding to the identification information of the recognized RFID tag, wherein the ultrasonic probe may be provided with a plurality of the RFID tags. 
     The RFID tag may include a recognition surface provided with an antenna pattern that is configured to transmit the identification information to the RFID reader upon receiving a signal to request the identification information from the RFID reader. 
     At least two of the plurality of RFID tags may have the recognition surfaces, respectively, which are oriented in directions different from each other. 
     At least two of the plurality of RFID tags may have the recognition surfaces, respectively, which are oriented in directions opposite to each other. 
     At least two of the plurality of RFID tags may have the recognition surfaces, respectively, which are perpendicular to each other. 
     The ultrasonic apparatus may further include a housing a piezoelectric member and a shielding film. The piezoelectric member may be configured to receive echo-ultrasonic waves reflected from a subject. The shielding film may be provided inside the housing to block the received echo-ultrasonic waves from external noise. 
     At least one of the RFID tags may be detachably provided on a surface of the housing. 
     At least one of the plurality of RFID tags may be provided between the housing and the shielding film. 
     The ultrasonic probe may include: an external cable connecting the ultrasonic probe to an external device; a strain relief fixing the external cable to the housing; and an internal cable connecting the external cable to the piezoelectric member. 
     At least one of the plurality of RFID tags may be provided at one of the external cable, the strain relief and the internal cable. 
     The identification information may include at least one of a name, a type, a manufacturer, a manufacturing date, a serial number of the ultrasonic probe, and an identification number determined by a user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an external appearance of a ultrasonic apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are control block diagrams illustrating ultrasonic apparatuses in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 3A to 3   c  are views illustrating the interior of an ultrasonic probe; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are views illustrating ultrasonic probes in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, in which two RFID tags are provided on a surface of a housing; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are views illustrating a ultrasonic probe in which three RFID tags are provided on a surface of a housing and a ultrasonic probe in which four RFID tags are provided on a surface of a housing in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are views illustrating ultrasonic probes in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, in which two RFID tags are provided on a strain relief or an external cable; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are views illustrating ultrasonic probes in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, in which two RFID tags are provided inside a housing; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are views illustrating a ultrasonic probe in which three RFID tags are provided inside a housing, and a ultrasonic probe in which four RFID tags are provided inside a housing in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating an ultrasonic probe in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which RFID tags are provided in/on a housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
     The terminology ‘a ultrasonic image’ used herein represents an image about a subject obtained by using ultrasonic waves. In addition, a ‘subject’ may represent human, animals, metal, non-metal or a part thereof. For example, the subject may include organs, such as a liver, a heart, a womb, a brain, breasts, and an abdomen, or a blood vessel. In addition, the subject may include a phantom. The phantom represents a substance having a volume that is highly approximate to the density and the effective atomic number of an organism. 
     Although the terminology ‘a user’ used herein may represent a medical professional, for example, a surgeon, a nurse, a medical laboratory technologist, and a medical imaging specialist, and may include a technician who fixes medical instrument, the present disclosure is not limited. 
       FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an external appearance of a ultrasonic apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are control block diagrams illustrating ultrasonic apparatuses in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, and  FIGS. 3A to 3C  are views illustrating interior of an ultrasonic probe. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an ultrasonic apparatus includes a main body  100 , a display  160  connected to the main body  100 , an inputter  150  and an ultrasonic probe  200 . 
     The main body  100  transmits an ultrasonic signal to the ultrasonic probe  200 , receives an echo-ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic probe  200 , and based on the received echo-ultrasonic signal, generates an ultrasonic image. 
     To this end, the main body  100  includes a beam former  170  that performs beamforming to focus ultrasonic waves transmitted and received from and to the ultrasonic probe  200  respectively, an image processor  180  that generates ultrasonic images based on the beamformed ultrasonic echo signals, and a controller  190  that performs overall operation of the ultrasonic apparatus including the main body  100 . 
     The beamformer  170  may perform beamforming to focus ultrasonic waves. The beamforming may include a transmission beamforming that delays ultrasonic waves irradiated at a certain point of an object ob so as to be arranged, and a reception beamforming that delays ultrasonic waves reflected from a certain point of an object ob so as to be arranged. When ultrasonic waves are transmitted to a certain position of the object ob there is time difference between the ultrasonic waves arriving at the certain position, and when ultrasonic waves are received from a certain position of an object ob to the ultrasonic probe  200 , there is time difference between the ultrasonic waves arriving at the ultrasonic probe  200 . Accordingly, the time difference is compensated through the beamforming. 
     The beamformer  170  may adopt a generally known beamforming method, and may apply a plurality of beamforming methods, or selectively apply a plurality of beamforms. 
     The image processor  180  may generate an ultrasonic image by processing the beamformed echo ultrasonic signals. The image processor  180  may process the echo ultrasonic signals according to a generally known image processing method. 
     For example, the image processor  180  may perform a time gain compensation (TGC) on the beamformed echo ultrasonic signals. Thereafter, the image processor  180  may set a dynamic range (DR). After setting the DR, the image processor  180  may compress echo ultrasonic signals within the set dynamic range. Finally, the image processor  180  rectifies the echo ultrasonic signals, and removes noise from the rectified signals. 
     By using the echo ultrasonic signals processed as the above, the image processor  180  may generate an ultrasonic image. The image processor  180  may generate various types of ultrasonic images. Examples of the ultrasonic image generated by the image processor  180  may include an amplitude mode (A-mode) image, a brightness mode (B-mode), a motion mode (M-mode) image, and a Doppler mode image. 
     The ultrasonic image generated as the above may be provided to a user through the display  160 . A user may visually check a ultrasonic image of an inside of an object ob provided through the display, thereby diagnosing an object ob, that is, a patient. 
     In addition, the display  160  may display various user interfaces (Uls) related to controlling the ultrasonic apparatus. A user may check the UI provided through the display  160 , and input a command to control each component of the ultrasonic apparatus. 
     The display  160  may be implemented using one of a cathode ray tube (CRT) and a liquid crystal display (LCD). In addition, the display  160  may provide a three-dimensional image as well as a two-dimensional image. 
     The controller  190  may control the beamformer  170 , the image processing apparatus  300  and/or the display  160  to control the overall operation of the ultrasonic apparatus. In addition, the controller  190  may control each component of the ultrasonic apparatus according to a control command received by the inputter  150  from a user. 
     For example, the controller  190  may control a beamforming method of the beamformer  170 , and the image processing apparatus  300  may control a method of generating a ultrasonic image, and the display  160  may control a method of displaying a ultrasonic image. 
     In addition, when the ultrasonic probe  200  is provided in plural, and one of the plurality of ultrasonic probes  200  is selected by a user, the controller  190  may control the selected ultrasonic probe  200  to radiate ultrasonic waves. Details thereof will be described later. 
     The ultrasonic probe  200  is connected to one end of an external cable  130 , and the other end of the external cable  130  may be connected to a male connector  140 . The male connector  140  connected to the other end of the external cable  130  may be physically coupled to a female connector  145  of the main body  100 . 
     The ultrasonic probe  200  may be integrally provided with the external cable  130 , or may be detachabley provided from the external cable  130 . 
     In addition, the ultrasonic probe  200  may further include a strain relief  280  configured to fix the external cable  130  to a housing  230  of the ultrasonic probe  200 . A strain relief  280  protects the external cable  130  against external shock, and prevents the external cable  130  from being bent. 
     As described above, one ultrasonic probe  200  may be connected to one main body  100 . In addition, a plurality of ultrasonic probes  200  may be connected to one main body  100  in a same manner as connecting one ultrasonic probe to one main body, and to this end, the main body  100  may include a plurality of female connectors.  FIG. 1  illustrates an example in which two ultrasonic probes  200  are connected to one main body  100 . 
     Alternatively, different from  FIG. 1 , the ultrasonic probe  200  may be connected to the main body  100  in a wireless manner. In this case, the ultrasonic probe  200  may transmit an echo-ultrasonic signal corresponding to echo-ultrasonic waves received from the object ob to the main body  100  in a wireless manner. 
     The ultrasonic probe  200  may transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from the object ob respectively, while making contact with the surface of the object ob. In detail, the ultrasonic probe  200  irradiates ultrasonic waves to the inside of the object ob according to an ultrasonic signal, which is an electric signal, provided from the main body  100 , receives echo-ultrasonic waves reflected from a specific portion, and transmits an echo-ultrasonic signal corresponding to the echo ultrasonic waves to the main body  100 . 
     To this end, the ultrasonic probe  200  may include a piezoelectric member  210 . 
     The piezoelectric member  210  may include a plurality of elements that vibrate to execute conversion between an electric signal and ultrasonic waves. The plurality of elements may be arranged on one surface of the housing  230  of the ultrasonic probe  200 . The plurality of elements are arranged on one surface of the housing  230  of the ultrasonic probe  200 . In detail, a plurality of piezoelectric members  210  are arranged in parallel to an opening formed through one surface of the housing  230  such that transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves is performed through the opening. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3C , the opening formed through one surface of the housing  230  is provided with a lens  240  allowing ultrasonic waves to pass therethrough. The lens  240  may divide inside from outside of the housing  230  without interfering with ultrasonic waves from travelling. In addition, the lens  240  serves to collect the irradiated ultrasonic waves according to a predetermined curvature of the lens. 
     A matching layer  250  is provided on one surface of the lens  240  to match acoustic impedance. The piezoelectric member  210  having a plurality of elements is provided on one surface of the matching layer  250 . In addition, a backing layer  260  is formed on one surface of the piezoelectric member  210  to absorb ultrasonic waves generating distortion of image. 
     The ultrasonic probe  200  may further include an internal cable  290  connecting the piezoelectric member  210  to the external cable  130 . The internal cable  290  may transmit an ultrasonic signal transmitted from the main body  100  through the external cable  130  to the piezoelectric member  210 , or transmit an echo-ultrasonic signal to the main body  100  through the external cable  130 . 
     In this case, the internal cable  290  may be shielded by the shielding film  270  against noise introduced from outside. The internal cable  290  is passed by an echo-ultrasonic signal based on which an ultrasonic image is generated, and the shielding film  270  prevents distortion of an ultrasonic image by shielding the echo-ultrasonic signal against noise. 
     The shielding film  270  may be formed using metal in order to prevent external noise from being introduced to the inside of the ultrasonic probe  200 . 
     Meanwhile, the ultrasonic apparatus is designed to irradiate ultrasonic waves through the ultrasonic probe  200  only at the time of ultrasonic diagnosis. In particular, when a plurality of ultrasonic probes  200  are connected to the main body  100 , only a desired one of the ultrasonic probes  200  needs to be controlled to radiate ultrasonic waves. 
     To this end, the inputter  150  may receive a command to select a ultrasonic probe  200  desired to radiate. If a user selects a desired ultrasonic probe  200  through the inputter  150  prior to a ultrasonic diagnosis, the controller  190  may control the selected ultrasonic probe  200  to radiate ultrasonic waves. 
     Such a method of inputting a command to select the ultrasonic probe  200  may cause inconvenience to a user, and takes time. 
     In order to remove such a constraint, the ultrasonic probe  200  may include an RFID tag  300 . The RFID tag  300  may include identification information about the ultrasonic probe  200 . The identification information represents information for identifying each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes  200  connected to the main body  100 . The identification information may include at least one of a name, a type, a manufacturer, a manufacturing date, and a serial number of the ultrasonic probe, and an identification number determined by a user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the main body  100  may include an RFID reader  400 . Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 2B , an RFID reader  400  may be separately provided from the main body  100 . 
     The RFID reader  400  recognizes the RFID tag  300 , and transmits identification information about the ultrasonic probe  200  included in the RFID tag  300  to the controller  190 . The controller  190  checks the identification information and recognizes the ultrasonic probe  200  corresponding to the identification information, and controls the recognized ultrasonic probe  200  to irradiate ultrasonic waves. 
     However, referring to  FIG. 3B , the shielding film  270  is provided inside the housing  230 , and may hinder the RFID reader  400  from recognizing the RFID tag  300 . 
     In general, the RFID reader  400  transmits an identification information request signal within a preset distance. If the RFID tag  300  is positioned within the present distance, the RFID tag  300  may receive the identification information request signal and transmit an identification information signal corresponding to the identification information request signal to the RFID reader  400 . Such a series of processes of recognizing identification information by the RFID reader  400  is referred to as a recognition process of the RFID tag  300 . 
     In order for the RFID reader  400  to perform the recognition process, the RFID tag  300  may include a recognition surface  320  on which an antenna pattern is formed to receive an identification information request signal and transmit an identification information signal corresponding to the identification information request signal. To this, the recognition surface may be provided as a surface having the highest recognition rate among a plurality of surfaces forming the RFID tag  300 . 
     In this case, when the identification information request signal or the identification information signal are blocked from travelling by the shielding film  270 , the recognition rate the RFID tag  300  by the RFID reader  400  is lowered. 
     Table 1 shows an experiment result related to the recognition rate, in which the number of times by which the RFID reader  400  recognizes the RFID tag  300  for 5 secs is checked by using the ultrasonic probe  200  provided with the RFID tag  300  attached to one surface of the housing  230  thereof. The number of recognition times of the RFID tag  300  is checked while changing the distance between an antenna of the RFID reader  400  and the RFID tag  300 , a tagging direction (defined based on surface A to which a RFID tag is attached and surface B provided on the opposite side of surface A) and the number of tags. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Tagging 
                 Number of tag recognition 
               
               
                 No. 
                 distance 
                 Number of tags 
                 direction 
                 times 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 1 cm 
                 1 
                 Surface A 
                 143 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Surface B 
                 149 
               
               
                 2 
                 5 cm 
                 1 
                 Surface A 
                 145 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Surface B 
                 0 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring to Table 1, when the distance between the RFID antenna and the RF tag  300  is 1 cm, each of surface A and surface B has a high recognition rate. However, when the distance between the RFID antenna and the RF tag  300  is 5 cm, the RFID tag  300  is not recognized in the direction of surface B. 
     Accordingly, in order to prevent the recognition rate from being lowered due to the shield film  270 , the ultrasonic probe  200  includes a plurality of RFID tags  300 . Hereinafter, the ultrasonic probe  300  having a plurality of RFID tags  300  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 8 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate an ultrasonic probe in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, in which two RFID tags are provided on a surface of a housing,  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a ultrasonic probe in which three RFID tags are provided on a surface of a housing and a ultrasonic probe in which four RFID tags are provided on a surface of a housing in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, and  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are views illustrating ultrasonic probes in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, in which two RFID tags are provided on a strain relief or an external cable. 
     At least two of a plurality of RFID tags  300  provided on the ultrasonic probe  200  may have recognition surfaces  320 , respectively, which are oriented in different directions. As a result, the recognition rate of the RFID reader  400  may be improved in various directions. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , the recognition surfaces  320  of the two RFID tags  300  are provided to be oriented in directions opposite to each other. Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 4B , the recognition surfaces  320  of the two RFID tags  300  are provided to be perpendicular to each other. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , recognition surfaces  320  of a plurality of RFID tags  300  may be provided to be oriented in directions opposite to each other, or perpendicular to each other. 
     The plurality of RFID tags  300  may be detachably provided on the surface of the housing  230  of the ultrasonic probe  200 . For example, the plurality of RFID tags  300  may be provided with a band  310 . The plurality of RFID tags  300  may be fixed to the surface of the housing  230  of the ultrasonic probe  200  through the band  310 . 
     The plurality of RFID tags  300  may be attached to a surface of the strain relief  280  or a surface of the external cable  130  as well as the housing  230 .  FIG. 6A  illustrates a case in which the two RFID tags  300  are attached to the strain relief  280 , and  FIG. 6B  illustrates a case in which the two RFID tags  300  are attached to the external cable  130 . Similarly, the two RFID tags  300  may have recognition surfaces, respectively, which are directed in different directions from each other. 
     As described above, the plurality of RFID tag  300  is detachably provided on the surface of the ultrasonic probe  200 , and thus easily attached to the complete ultrasonic probe  200 . 
     The above description has been made in relation to the plurality of RFID tags  300  that are detachably provided. Different from the above, the plurality of RFID tags  300  may be provided inside the housing  230 . The following description will be made in relation to the RFID tags  300  provided inside the housing  230 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are views illustrating ultrasonic probes in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, in which two RFID tags are provided inside a housing, and  FIGS. 8A and 8B  are views illustrating a ultrasonic probe in which three RFID tags are provided inside a housing, and a ultrasonic probe in which four RFID tags are provided inside a housing in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     The plurality of RFID tags  300  may be provided inside the housing  230 , in detail, between the housing  230  and the shielding film  270 . For example, the plurality of RFID tags  300  may be attached to a surface of the shielding film  270  or may be attached to the internal cable  290  inside the housing  230 . 
     As described above, the position in which the RFID tags  300  are provided in the housing  230  is not limited as long as the plurality of RFID tags  300  have the recognition surfaces  320  oriented in different directions from each other. 
     On  FIG. 7A , the recognition surfaces  320  of the two RFID tags  300  are provided to be oriented in opposite directions. On the contrary,  FIG. 7B  illustrates that the recognition surfaces  320  of the two RFID tags  300  are provided to be perpendicular to each other. 
     In addition, referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the recognition surfaces  320  of the plurality of RFID tags  300  are provided to be oriented in opposite directions, or provided to be perpendicular to each other. 
     For the RFID tags provided inside the housing  230 , the ultrasonic probe  200  needs to have the RFID tags formed at a fixed position, so that the ultrasonic probe  200  may perform a stable identification. 
       FIG. 9  is a view illustrating an ultrasonic probe in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which RFID tags are provided both at the inside and the surface of a housing. 
     Different from the description of  FIGS. 4 to 8 , the RFID tag  300  may be provided both at the inside and the surface of the housing  230 .  FIG. 9  illustrates that one RFID tag  300  is provided on the surface of the housing  230 , and another RFID tag  300  is provided between the housing  230  and the shielding film  270 . 
     As described above, the positions of the RFID tags  300  are not limited as long as the plurality of RFID tags  300  have the recognition surfaces  320  oriented in different directions from each other so that the recognition rate of the RFID reader  400  is improved. 
     As described above, the plurality of RFID tags  300  are provided at the ultrasonic probe  200 , so that the ultrasonic probe  200  may be easily recognized by the RFID reader  400  regardless of the tagging direction. As a result, identification information about a desired ultrasonic probe  200  among the plurality of ultrasonic probes  200  may be easily checked and controlled. 
     As is apparent from the above, the disclosed ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic apparatus having the same can improve an RFID tag recognition rate for identifying the ultrasonic probe. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.