Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-09
2002-08-27
Jaworski, Francis J. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S466000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06440076
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to ultrasound transducer connector assemblies and, more particularly, to an ultrasound transducer connector assembly that includes a low insertion force connector, a leaf spring latch and several alternative housing configurations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG.
1
. illustrates a typical ultrasound system
10
. An ultrasound transducer
12
is coupled to its associated ultrasound console
14
via a cable
16
, which is routed into an ultrasound transducer connector assembly
18
, mates with a corresponding terminal
20
located on ultrasound console
14
.
FIG. 2
offers a more detailed representation of ultrasound transducer connector assembly
18
, and shows an electrical circuit
30
and an electrical connector
22
enclosed within a connector housing
24
. Electrical connector
22
may have as many as 500 contacts (not shown). To protect the integrity of the electrical signals, a radio frequency interference (RFI) shield
26
is disposed about electrical circuit
30
and coupled to coaxial (coax) shield
28
. In the prior art, electrical connector
22
is a zero insertion force (ZIF) connector.
FIG. 3
illustrates a generic ZIF connector
110
. It includes a movable connector component
112
with movable electrical contacts
114
, designed to mate with a stationary connector component
116
having stationary electrical contacts
118
.
For mating, movable connector component
112
is brought towards stationary connector component
116
in the direction indicated by arrow
120
. Initially, there is a gap
122
separating movable electrical contact
114
from stationary electrical contact
118
, so that the contacts are not subjected to any friction or insertion force. A locking mechanism
124
traverses movable connector component
112
through an aperture
126
and is received in a recess
128
of stationary connector component
116
. Locking mechanism
124
is rotated, as indicated by arrow
130
, causing movable connector component
112
to close in the direction of arrow
132
. This reduces gap
122
allowing movable electrical contact
114
to wipe against stationary electrical contact
118
to make an electrical connection.
ZIF connectors minimize the physical stress exerted upon their electrical contacts, thus avoiding wear and potential damage to the contacts. However, these connectors are mechanically more complex, larger and more expensive than simpler connectors.
Although ZIF locking mechanism
124
offers some latching capability to help secure movable connector component
112
with stationary connector component
116
, this latching alone is not sufficient to secure the mating of a typical ultrasound transducer connector assembly to its ultrasound console. Accordingly, ultrasound transducer connectors usually include a latching mechanism in addition to the incidental latching offered by the ZIF connector.
FIG. 4
illustrates a prior art ultrasound transducer connector assembly
150
with a ¼ turn latching mechanism comprising a handle
152
and a shaft
154
. Shaft
154
traverses an outer shell
156
, and has an end
158
that guides ultrasound transducer connector assembly
150
into a mating connector assembly (not shown). The connection is secured by rotating handle
152
to lock ultrasound transducer connector assembly
150
into its mate. The ¼ turn latching mechanism is mechanically more complex, larger and more expensive than simpler latching mechanisms.
RFI shielding is provided by some form of electrically conductive barrier disposed about the electrical circuit for which protection is desired. The prior art generally provides RFI shielding by enclosing the circuitry within a connector housing comprised of either a metal outer shell or a metal inner shell surrounded by a plastic outer shell. For example, referring again to
FIG. 4
, the prior art connector assembly
150
includes outer shell
156
made of metal.
When components such as these are manufactured, their physical dimensions must be held to fairly strict tolerances to ensure proper fit during assembly. Additionally, metal is generally more expensive than plastic. Therefore, the cost of an ultrasound transducer connector assembly can be reduced by minimizing the use of components with strict manufacturing tolerances, and by using plastic rather than metal where possible.
Accordingly, there is a need for an ultrasound transducer connector assembly with an electrical connector of minimal mechanical complexity, size and cost, and a latching mechanism of minimal mechanical complexity, size and cost. There is a further need for an ultrasound transducer connector assembly with an RFI shield and connector housing minimizing the use of components requiring strict manufacturing tolerances and minimizing the use of metal components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward improvement of prior art ultrasound transducer connector assembly
18
(FIGS.
1
and
2
).
The new ultrasound transducer connector assembly includes a low insertion force (LIF) connector rather then a ZIF connector as typically used in the prior art. A low insertion force connector requires an insertion force of 20-100 grams/contact to effectuate mating of the connector, and corresponding contacts actively wipe against one another during the act of insertion. The preferred embodiment uses a multi-row, plate-on-beam connector with contact spacing of less than 3mm. This preferred connector is mechanically less complex, smaller and less expensive than the ZIF connectors used in the prior art.
The new ultrasound transducer connector assembly includes a latch that is engaged/disengaged with a push movement rather than the turning movement as typically used in the prior art. Latches, such as a leaf spring latch, that engage/disengage with a push movement are mechanically less complex, significantly smaller and less expensive than latches that use a turning mechanism.
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Terason 2000 information obtained from url: www.terason.com/terason2000.htm; 6 pages.
Sonosite 180 information obtained from url: www.sonosite.com/products_180_heart.html; 5 pages.
SonoHeart Applications Summary obtained from the SonoSite brochure; 2 pages.
Dolan David P
Gurrie Francis E.
Kelly, Jr. Walter Patrick
Sudol Wojtek
Jaworski Francis J.
Koninklijke Philips Electronics , N.V.
Patel Maulin
Vodopia John
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