Disposable sensing elements comprising a piezoelectric unit

Abstract

A device for detecting stenosis comprising disposable components to ensure function and sanitary conditions, said device having a disposable sensing pad, a disposable piezo assembly, and a disposable sensing pod, wherein the entire device can be disposed of after a predetermined number of uses to ensure accuracy of results and of sanitary conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable piezo assembly comprising:
 a circular piezo cap comprising a top, a bottom, an inner face, and an outer face, with an opening between the top and the bottom with a larger diameter at the top than at the bottom;   a flange positioned on the inner face of the opening;   a piezo having a top, a bottom, and a perimeter support;   said piezo disposed within said opening with the bottom of the perimeter support engaged to and adhered to said flange;   a printed circuit board having a ring shape and an outer diameter to fit within the opening and engaged to the bottom of said flange; and   one half of an attachment means on said inner face for securing said disposable piezo assembly to an assembly base.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable piezo assembly of  claim 1  comprising an adhesive between said piezo and said flange and between said printed circuit board and said flange. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable piezo assembly of  claim 1  wherein said disposable piezo assembly is attached to an array body via a sensor base. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable piezo assembly of  claim 3  wherein the array body comprises:
 a stem; 
 a neck coupled to the stem and defining an angle of between 125° and 175°; 
 a neck vertex coupled to the neck opposite the stem; and 
 a pair of arms extending from the neck vertex, each concluding at an end, the pair of arms defining an angle of between 90° and 145°, and wherein each of the arms are made of a flexible plastic material that is configured to be flexed away from its resting state; 
 the sensor base being positioned at the end of each arm; and 
 wherein the flexible plastic material imparts a force to return back to its resting state. 
 
     
     
         5 . The disposable piezo assembly of  claim 4  wherein the stem and arms of the array body define a track section. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable piezo assembly of  claim 5  wherein the sensor base is slidably attached to the track section of the stem and the arms. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable piezo assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a disposable sensor pad wherein the disposable sensor pad is one of a silicone gel pack, an epoxy/fiberglass diaphragm, or a polyurethane-coated silicone. 
     
     
         8 . A sensor base for connecting to an array comprising:
 a diaphragm bellows membrane, a printed circuit board housing, a printed circuit board, and a cap;   said diaphragm bellows membrane being a ring shape having an outer flange on an outer circumference of said ring shape and an inner flange on an inner circumference of said ring shape;   said outer flange engaging to said array and said inner flange engaging between said cap and said printed circuit board housing;   said printed circuit board housing comprising a bell shape having a narrow bottom and a wide top, with an opening between the wide top and the narrow bottom and a locking groove on said narrow bottom to engage said inner flange;   an attachment means at one end of the wide top; and   said printed circuit board fitting within said opening.   
     
     
         9 . The sensor base of  claim 8  further comprising an adhesive to secure said printed circuit board to said printed circuit board housing. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor base of  claim 8  wherein said attachment means on said wide top is engaged at an outer edge of said wide top. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor base of  claim 10  wherein the attachment means is a magnet, one half of a quarter turn locking mechanism, a groove, a pin, or threading. 
     
     
         12 . A disposable sensor pod comprising:
 a disposable piezo assembly and a sensor base, said disposable piezo assembly comprising a circular piezo cap comprising a top, a bottom, an inner face, and an outer face, with an opening between the top and the bottom with the opening larger at the top than the opening at the bottom;   a flange positioned on the inner face of the opening;   a piezo having a top, a bottom, and a perimeter support;   said piezo disposed of within said opening with the bottom of the perimeter support engaged to and adhered to said flange;   a printed circuit board having a ring shape and an outer diameter to fit within the opening and engaged to the bottom of said flange; and   one half of an attachment means on said inner face for securing said disposably piezo assembly to said sensor base;   said sensor base comprising a diaphragm bellows membrane, a printed circuit board housing, a printed circuit board, and a cap;   said diaphragm bellows membrane being a ring shape having an outer flange on an outer circumference of said ring shape and an inner flange on an inner circumference of said ring shape;   said outer flange engaging to an array and said inner flange engaging between said cap and said printed circuit board housing;   said printed circuit board housing comprising a bell shape having a narrow bottom and a wide top with an opening between the wide top and the narrow bottom, and a locking groove on said narrow bottom to engage said inner flange;   an attachment means at one end of the wide top; and   said printed circuit board fitting within said opening.