Cable and connector system for an ultrasound probe

1 . A finger-mounted ultrasound probe assembly, comprising:

a) an ultrasound probe, adapted to be mounted on a finger;

b) a multi-conductor cable, attached to said ultrasound probe;

c) a forearm unit, connected to said multi-conductor cable and including a physical connector to bind said forearm unit to a user's forearm; and

d) wherein said ultrasound probe and said forearm unit are adapted to cooperatively engage so that said ultrasound probe may be engaged to and retained by said forearm unit, to stow said ultrasound probe when not in immediate use.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a connector releasably joins said multi-conductor cable to said forearm unit.

3 . A method of use of an image sensor assembly, by a user, and comprising:

a) providing an image sensor assembly, comprising:

i. an imaging station assembly, including an imaging station and a station multi-conductor cable assembly connected to said imaging station and terminating in a station-side probe connector-half;

ii. a probe assembly, having an image-sensor probe and a probe multi-conductor cable assembly, terminating on a first end in a probe-side probe connector-half adapted to mate to said station-side probe connector-half; and

b) attaching said station multi-conductor cable assembly to a forearm of said user;

c) mating said probe-side probe connector-half to said station-side probe connector-half; and

d) using said probe to examine a subject.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said step of using said probe to examine a subject, more specifically includes using said probe to examine plaque in the aorta of said subject.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said step of using said probe to examine a subject, more specifically includes using said probe to locate a cardiac blood vessel that is hidden in tissue.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further including the step of said user disconnecting said probe-side probe connector-half from said station-side probe connector-half, after using said probe.

7 . The method of claim 4 , further including the step of reconnecting said station-side probe connector-half to said probe-side probe connector-half after disconnecting from said probe-side probe connector-half.

8 . The method of claim 4 , further including the steps of providing an additional probe assembly having a probe-side probe connector-half and mating said probe-side probe connector-half of said additional probe assembly to said station-side probe connector-half.

9 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said station assembly multi-conductor cable assembly is divided into a proximal multi-conductor cable sub-assembly that connects to said station and includes a proximal connector-half; and

a medial multi-conductor cable sub-assembly that includes a medial connector-half, which mates with said proximal connector-half.

10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising disconnecting said medial connector-half from said proximal connector-half, thereby leaving said user disconnected from said imaging station.

11 . The method of claim 7 , further including the step of disconnecting said probe sub-assembly, after using said probe.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said probe sub-assembly is placed in a sterilizing medium, after it is disconnected.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further including the step of disconnecting said medial connector-half from said proximal connector-half, after use of said probe.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further including placing said medial multi-conductor cable sub-assembly into an autoclave and operating said autoclave to sterilize said medial multi-conductor cable sub-assembly.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further including placing said medial multi-conductor cable sub-assembly into a bath of antiseptic fluid in order to sterilize said medial multi-conductor cable sub-assembly

16 . The method of claim 11 , further including the step of connecting said medial multi-conductor cable to a second imaging station and second probe, after disconnecting from said imaging station and probe.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said medial multi-conductor cable is originally protected by a sterile sheath, which is removed before attaching it to said second imaging station.

18 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said image sensor is adapted to be mounted on a finger of said user.

19 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said probe multi-conductor cable assembly is flexible enough to offer no significant resistance to wrist movement by said user.

20 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said probe multi-conductor cable assembly includes a flex-circuit.

21 . The method of claim 3 , wherein when said probe-side probe connector-half and said station-side probe connector-half are mated together, they together extend no more than 2 cm outwardly from said arm of said user, to which said second station-side probe connector-half is mounted.

22 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said imaging station is also a signal processing station that processes raw data from said image sensor assembly to create images.

23 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said display station is mounted at a location more than 0.7 meters from said second connector-half.

24 . A finger mounted sensor assembly, comprising:

a) a finger mounted sensor;

b) an electrical connective assembly, adapted to connect said finger sensor to a display station, and including:

i. a forearm mount unit, adapted to be mounted to a user's forearm;

ii. an electrical connective subassembly, extending from said forearm mount to said sensor; and

c) wherein said electrical connective subassembly is thinner than 2.5 mm.

25 . The assembly of claim 22 , wherein said electrical conductive assembly has a width of between 2 cm and 10 cm.

26 . The assembly of claim 22 , wherein said forearm mount unit includes a first connector-half and a second connector-half mated to said first connector-half and further being affirmatively connected to said electrical connective subassembly, so that said second connector-half can be detached from said first connector-half to disconnect said finger mounted sensor from said display station.

27 . The assembly of claim 22 , wherein said finger mounted sensor incorporates a piece of flex-circuit and wherein said piece of flex circuit extends more than 5 cm from said finger sensor toward said forearm mount unit.

28 . The assembly of claim 22 , wherein said forearm mount is electrically and physically connected to said display station by way of an electrical cable.

29 . The assembly of claim 26 , wherein said display station is mounted on a surface separate from said user's forearm.

30 . The assembly of claim 26 , wherein said electrical cable is more than 1 meter long.

31 . A finger mounted sensor, comprising:

a) a piece of flex circuit having a first and second end and being more than 5 cm long from said first end to said second end;

b) an ultrasound transceiver formed on the two centimeters of said piece of flex circuit nearest said first end; and

c) connective lines for said ultrasound transceiver being resident in said flex circuit and extending toward said second end.

32 . The finger mounted sensor of claim 29 , wherein said piece of flex circuit is 10 cm long.