OPTIMIZED TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT IN AN ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER

摘要

There is provided a medical ultrasound transducer (130) and a medical ultrasound imaging system including the transducer (110, 130, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350), comprising an acoustic window (120) for contacting a patient at a patient contact surface for imaging the patient; and at least one temperature sensor (110, 110A, 110B) located in the acoustic window to determine patient contact temperature at the patient contact surface. The medical ultrasound imaging system further comprises a controller (310) for controlling a power imaging mode of the ultrasound transducer in accordance with the determined patient contact temperature. Also provided is a method for imaging a patient using the medical ultrasound imaging system, comprising contacting the patient contact surface of the acoustic window to the patient for imaging the patient; determining patient contact temperature of the ultrasound transducer at the patient contact surface from the at least one temperature sensor; and controlling a power imaging mode of the ultrasound transducer in accordance with the determined patient contact temperature. ® KIPO & WIPO 2008