Liquid-Filled Acoustic Probe System with Reservoir and Loss Detection Means

Abstract

An acoustic system can include a liquid-filled coupling component comprising an acoustic coupling fluid and a housing encasing the coupling fluid, a fluid reservoir comprising an amount of the coupling fluid; a path in fluid communication between the coupling component and the fluid reservoir; and a bubble detector coupled to the path and configured to monitor the coupling fluid in the path.

1 . An acoustic system comprising;
 a liquid-filled coupling module comprising an acoustic coupling fluid and a housing encasing the coupling fluid;   a fluid reservoir comprising an amount of the coupling fluid;   a path in fluid communication between the coupling component and the fluid reservoir; and   a bubble detector coupled to the path and configured to monitor the coupling fluid in the path.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the bubble detector and configured to receive a signal from the bubble detector. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the signal comprises a measurement of an amount of air in the path. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  3 , wherein the controller determines whether to shut off the acoustic system based on the amount of air in the path. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the bubble detector comprises an algorithm configured to determine an amount of air in the path based on the monitoring the coupling fluid in the path and to provide a shut-off signal to the controller if the amount of air in the path is above a threshold level. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the signal comprises a measurement of an amount of time that air is detected in the path. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  6 , wherein the controller determines whether to shut off the acoustic system based on the amount of time that air is detected in the path. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the bubble detector comprises an algorithm configured to determine an amount of time that air is detected in the path based on the monitoring the coupling fluid in the path and to provide a shut-off signal to the controller if the amount of time that air is detected in the path is above a threshold level. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a negative pressure within the liquid-filled coupling component, the fluid path, and the reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir comprises a collapsible housing configured to shrink a reservoir volume under the negative pressure as the amount of fluid decreases. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect an empty position of the collapsible housing and provide a shut off signal to the controller when the empty position is reached. 
     
     
         12 , The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a clock configured to provide a shut off signal when an expiration date of the liquid-filled coupling component has been reached. 
     
     
         13 . A method of monitoring a liquid-filled coupling module, the method comprising:
 providing an acoustic probe comprising an amount of a coupling fluid distributed in a liquid-filled coupling module, a fluid reservoir, and a path in fluid communication between the coupling component and the reservoir;   operating the probe to emit acoustic energy through the coupling module;   monitoring an amount of air in at least one of the fluid reservoir and the path;   determining the amount of air and comparing the amount of air to a threshold; and   stopping the emit acoustic energy if the threshold is reached.   
     
     
         14 , The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising;
 monitoring a clock configured to identify an expiration date; and   stopping the emit acoustic energy if the expiration date is reached.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising sensing if the liquid-filled coupling module is coupled to region of interest and stopping the emit acoustic energy if the liquid-filled coupling module is not coupled to region of interest. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 monitoring an amount of time that an amount of air in at least one of the fluid reservoir and the path;   determining if the amount of air is above a time threshold; and   stopping the emit acoustic energy if the time threshold is reached.   
     
     
         17 . A method of monitoring a liquid-filled coupling module, the method comprising:
 providing an acoustic probe comprising an amount of a coupling fluid distributed in a liquid-filled coupling module, a fluid reservoir, and a path in fluid communication between the coupling component and the reservoir;   operating the probe to emit acoustic energy through the coupling module;   monitoring an amount of time that an amount of air in at least one of the fluid reservoir and the path;   determining if the amount of air is above a threshold; and   stopping the emit acoustic energy if the threshold, is reached.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising;
 monitoring an amount of air in at least one of the fluid reservoir and the path;   determining the amount of air and comparing the amount of air to an air threshold; and   stopping the emit acoustic energy if the air threshold is reached.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 detecting an empty position of fluid reservoir; and   stopping the emit acoustic energy if the empty position is reached.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 engaging the probe into a treatment mode on a surface of a region of interest; and   moving a bubble in the liquid-filled coupling module up into the fluid reservoir and/or the path.