Patent ID: 7223238

Claim:
The method of guiding an ultrasound transducer comprising: (a) locating a feature of interest by conducting an ultrasound examination of a patient using an ultrasound transducer, said ultrasound transducer comprising an ultrasound permeable ultrasound accessory having a first element adapted for movement to a second element, said second element having a surface adapted to contact said patient, wherein said second element surface is comprised of an ultrasound permeable material and a portion of ultrasound impermeable material smaller than said second element surface, said portion of ultrasound impermeable material being located substantially in the center of said second element surface so that it generates a negative image reticle on a video monitor/display; (b) moving said second element of said ultrasound accessory to contact a patient's skin; and (c) relying upon said negative image reticle to guide a user of said ultrasound transducer to locate features of interest.