Acoustic couplant devices and interface mediums
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for use in tomographic ultrasound imaging, large aperture ultrasound imaging and therapeutic ultrasound that provide for coupling acoustic signal transducers to body structures for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals. In some aspects, an acoustic couplant device includes an acoustic coupling component including a sonolucent coupling medium (SCM) material; and a coupling assembly to attach the acoustic coupling component to a housing of an array of transducer elements, the coupling assembly comprising: a bracket having a first portion at least partially embedded within the SCM material of the acoustic coupling component and a second portion at least partially extending out of the acoustic coupling component, and a fastener coupled to at least the second portion of the bracket and configured to attach the second portion of the bracket to the housing.
1 . An acoustic couplant device, comprising:
an acoustic coupling component including a sonolucent coupling medium (SCM) material, the acoustic coupling component operable to conform to one or more transducer elements of an array of transducer elements and conduct acoustic signals between the one or more transducer elements and a receiving medium when the acoustic coupling component is in contact with the receiving medium to propagate the acoustic signals toward a target volume; and
a coupling assembly to attach the acoustic coupling component to a housing of the array of transducer elements, the coupling assembly comprising:
a bracket having a frame at least partially embedded within the SCM material of the acoustic coupling component, and a plurality of tabs at least partially extending out of the acoustic coupling component, and
a fastener coupled to at least the plurality of tabs and configured to attach the bracket to the housing,
wherein the frame of the bracket includes an opening and has a perimeter that encompasses the opening,
wherein the plurality of tabs comprises a first tab and a second tab or a first set of tabs and a second set of tabs disposed on opposing sides of the perimeter of the frame.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the coupling assembly is operable to attach the acoustic coupling component to the housing so as to compress the acoustic coupling component to the one or more transducer elements of the array.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the opening of the frame of the bracket is configured to have a size larger than at least one transducer element of the array of transducer elements.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the bracket further includes a plurality of wings connected to the frame that spans outward and/or laterally within the SCM material, wherein the plurality of wings includes one or more step structures on at least one surface of the wings that provide resistance for the bracket from separating from the SCM material.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is reversibly attachable to the plurality of tabs of the bracket.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes an elastomer material.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the elastomer includes poly(urethane).
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes at least one of a snap-fit fastener, a window-hangar fastener, a friction-fit fastener, or a touch fastener.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the SCM material includes at least one of a hydrogel; a ballistics gel; a paraffin gel; a thermoform or thermoset low-elastic modulus TPX elastomer material; a bladder filled with one or more of a mineral oil, water, an aquagel, or a paraffin gel; or a silicone material.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the hydrogel includes at least one of poly(dimethyl acrylamide) (PDMA) or sodium alginate (SA).
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic coupling component includes a tapered body, where a first side of the acoustic coupling component having a first area is coupled to the array of transducer elements, and a second side of the acoustic coupling component having a second area larger than the first area is couplable to the receiving medium.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic coupling component comprises an adhesive material.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the adhesive material is an adhesive layer attached to a body of the SCM material at an exterior surface of the acoustic coupling component.
14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic coupling component is capable to couple to the receiving medium so as to morphologically conform to both the receiving medium and the one or more transducer elements of the array such that there is an acoustic impedance matching between the receiving medium and the one or more transducer elements.
15 . An acoustic couplant device, comprising:
an acoustic coupling component including a sonolucent coupling medium (SCM) material, the acoustic coupling component operable to conform to one or more transducer elements of an array of transducer elements and conduct acoustic signals between the one or more transducer elements and a receiving medium when the acoustic coupling component is in contact with the receiving medium to propagate the acoustic signals toward a target volume; and
a coupling assembly to attach the acoustic coupling component to a housing of the array of transducer elements, the coupling assembly comprising:
a bracket including a frame at least partially embedded within the SCM material of the acoustic coupling component, a plurality of tabs at least partially extending out of the acoustic coupling component, and a plurality of wings connected to the frame that spans outward and/or laterally within the SCM material, wherein the plurality of wings includes one or more step structures on at least one surface of the wings that provide resistance for the bracket from separating from the SCM material, and
a fastener coupled to at least the plurality of tabs and configured to attach the bracket to the housing,
wherein the frame of the bracket includes an opening and has a perimeter that encompasses the opening.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of tabs comprises a first tab and a second tab or a first set of tabs and a second set of tabs disposed on opposing sides of the perimeter of the frame.
17 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the coupling assembly is operable to attach the acoustic coupling component to the housing so as to compress the acoustic coupling component to the one or more transducer elements of the array.
18 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the opening of the frame of the bracket is configured to have a size larger than at least one transducer element of the array of transducer elements.
19 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the fastener is reversibly attachable to the plurality of tabs of the bracket.
20 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the acoustic coupling component includes a tapered body, where a first side of the acoustic coupling component having a first area is coupled to the array of transducer elements, and a second side of the acoustic coupling component having a second area larger than the first area is couplable to the receiving medium.