Patent ID: 8226562

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a cordless, hand-held ultrasound device comprising a display to display ultrasound images, touch sensitive controls configured to adjust settings of the hand-held ultrasound device, and a transducer comprising a transducer array, the transducer configured to transmit ultrasonic pulses into a subject and to receive reflected ultrasonic pulses which have been reflected at locations within the subject; and a sterile enclosure completely enclosing the hand-held ultrasound device such that any material on the hand-held ultrasound apparatus is prevented by the sterile enclosure from contaminating a sterile environment in which the hand-held ultrasound device is used while in the sterile enclosure, the enclosure comprising: an opening for insertion of the hand-held ultrasound device into the enclosure and removal of the hand-held ultrasound device from the enclosure; a closure for closing the opening; an acoustically-transparent transducer portion covering an active face of the transducer; and a transparent display portion overlaying the display of the hand-held ultrasound device to permit viewing of the display through the transparent display portion, the display portion sealed to the transducer portion to maintain sterility; wherein: the transducer portion of the enclosure comprises a semi-rigid gel pad shaped to conform to the active face of the transducer; the gel pad comprises a material that holds its shape and is formed with projections and/or recesses configured for engagement with corresponding recesses and/or projections on the ultrasound device; the enclosure comprises flexible portions overlaying the touch-sensitive controls; and the enclosure has a shape that conforms to features of configuration of the hand-held ultrasound device.