Patent ID: 7439654

Claim:
An ultrasonic probe assembly comprising (a) a seal assembly comprising a seal body having a first end and a second end, an axis passing through the first end and the second end, and a coaxial cylindrical passage within the seal assembly between the first end and the second end; (b) An ultrasonic probe comprising an elongate body having a first end and a second end, an ultrasonic transducer attached to the probe at or adjacent the first end, and a cylindrical collar support section intermediate the ultrasonic transducer and the second end, wherein the probe is a cylindrical section with an unchanged diameter between the ultrasonic transducer and the collar support section, the collar support section has a diameter greater than diameter of the cylinder between the ultrasonic transducer and the collar support section, the cylindrical section of the probe is disposed coaxially within the cylindrical passage of the seal body such that the collar support section is adjacent the second end of the seal body, and the diameter of the cylindrical collar support section is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical passage at the second end of the seal body; and (c) an elastomeric torroidal seal ring located at a vibrational node of the ultrasonic probe and disposed coaxially between the collar support section of the ultrasonic probe and the second end of the seal body.