US 11,986,346 B2
Gel pad for ultrasound imaging
Yongping Zheng, Hong Kong (CN); and Queenie Tsung Kwan Shea, Hong Kong (CN)
Assigned to Telefield Medical Imaging Limited, Hong Kong (CN)
Filed by Telefield Medical Imaging Limited, Hong Kong (CN)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/250,000.
Prior Publication US 2022/0296214 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 8/4281 (2013.01) [A61B 90/39 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3925 (2016.02)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gel pad for facilitating ultrasound scanning between an ultrasound transducer and a skin surface for producing ultrasound images, the gel pad comprising:
a first surface being bendable with a small degree and maintained locally flat for contacting the ultrasound transducer;
a second surface for contacting the skin surface; and
a coupling media having a stiffness gradient increasing from the second surface to the first surface,
wherein the second surface is more bendable than the first surface, such that the second surface is capable of conforming to a non-uniform shape of the skin surface, and the first surface is capable of facilitating the ultrasound transducer to move swiftly on the gel pad,
wherein the gel pad further comprises a plurality of position markers for determining coordinates of the ultrasound transducer, wherein the plurality of position markers is arranged to block ultrasound signals from transmitting through the gel pad and generate dark strips or marks in the ultrasound images.