Patent ID: 11771398

Abstract:
The present invention relates to an improved fetal heart rate transducer that overcomes shortcomings of prior transducers in several ways including utilizing an ultra slow-cure epoxy in combination with a piezo-electric disc bonding method to improve ultrasound transmission and reception characteristics, utilizing a slow-cure epoxy in combination with a frontend PCB bonding method to improve transducer reliability, utilizing a metal insert design in combination with molding-in techniques versus press fitting to improve the mechanical stability of the transducer, and utilizing a failsafe LVDS circuit to improve cable error detection and thus improve fetal monitor system reliability. In addition, a method of use of the present invention includes quantitively determining the integrity of each of the piezo-electric disc bonds with the plastic substrate as well as the integrity of the ultrasound field using various height water phantoms that simulate the human body.