Ultrasonic gel treatment station and ultrasonic gel treatment system

Abstract

The present application relates to an ultrasonic gel processing station and an ultrasonic gel processing system to achieve at least bactericidal ultraviolet ("UV") light processing of an ultrasonic gel. For example, an ultrasonic gel processing station may include a housing, a cavity within the housing, and one or more UV light sources disposed in or around the cavity in the housing. A cavity within the housing may be configured to hold one or more vials of ultrasonic gel. The one or more UV light sources may be configured to irradiate the one or more vials of the ultrasound gel with bactericidal radiation when the one or more vials of the ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity. Heat emitted by the one or more UV light sources may warm one or more vials of the ultrasound gel. Additionally or alternatively, the ultrasonic gel processing station may also include one or more heating elements disposed in the cavity or disposed in the housing around the cavity to warm the ultrasonic gel of the one or more vials.

Description

[0001] priority

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application No. 18 / 136,111 filed on April 18, 2023, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of medical devices, and more specifically to an ultrasound gel treatment station and an ultrasound gel treatment system. Background Art

[0004] Ultrasound gel warmers exist, but existing ultrasound gel warmers can promote bacterial growth and are therefore a source of infection. Therefore, it is undesirable to use existing ultrasound gel warmers in sterile procedures (such as those used to place percutaneous catheters). The use of packages of sterile ultrasound gel (packets of sterile ultrasound gel) (which can be warmed in an ultrasound gel warmer configured for it) provides a workaround for the aforementioned sterile procedures for providing warm sterile ultrasound gel, but the packaged sterile ultrasound gel is not as economical as bottles of ultrasound gel. And the packaged sterile ultrasound gel produces more waste than bottles of ultrasound gel.

[0005] Disclosed herein are ultrasound gel treatment stations, systems, and methods that address the aforementioned problems. Utility Model Content

[0006] In some embodiments, disclosed herein is an ultrasound gel treatment station comprising a housing, a cavity within the housing, one or more heating elements disposed in the cavity or disposed in the housing around the cavity, and one or more ultraviolet ("UV") light sources disposed in the cavity or the housing. The cavity within the housing is configured to hold one or more bottles of ultrasound gel. The one or more heating elements are configured to warm the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity. The one or more UV light sources are configured to irradiate the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel with germicidal radiation when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity.

[0007] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station further includes a cover for covering the cavity when at least one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity and are being warmed, irradiated, or both.

[0008] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station is configured to stop irradiating the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the cavity is uncovered.

[0009] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station also includes a microcontroller configured to operate the ultrasound gel treatment station. The microcontroller is disposed within the housing and has a sensor module that includes one or more sensors configured to sense conditions in the cavity in order to start, stop, or adjust one or more heating elements or one or more UV light sources.

[0010] In some embodiments, the microcontroller is further coupled to one or more visual indicators disposed in the housing to indicate when one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are being warmed, irradiated, warmed and irradiated, or a time thereafter.

[0011] In some embodiments, the microcontroller is further coupled to a timer disposed in the housing to indicate when one or more bottles of ultrasound gel will be warmed, sterilized, or warmed and sterilized.

[0012] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station further includes an actuator disposed in the housing for lifting the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel at least partially out of the ultrasound gel treatment station.

[0013] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station is integrated into a roll stand or cart.

[0014] In some embodiments, an ultrasound gel treatment station is also disclosed herein, comprising a housing, a cavity within the housing, and one or more UV light sources disposed in the cavity or disposed in the housing around the cavity. The cavity within the housing is configured to hold one or more bottles of ultrasound gel. The one or more UV light sources are configured to irradiate the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel with germicidal radiation when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity.

[0015] In some embodiments, heat emitted by the one or more UV light sources warms the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity.

[0016] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station further includes a cover for covering the cavity when at least one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity and are being irradiated.

[0017] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station is configured to stop irradiating the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the cavity is exposed.

[0018] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station also includes a microcontroller configured to operate the ultrasound gel treatment station. The microcontroller is arranged in the housing and has a sensor module, which includes one or more sensors configured to sense conditions in the cavity in order to start, stop or adjust one or more UV light sources.

[0019] In some embodiments, the microcontroller is further coupled to one or more visual indicators disposed in the housing to indicate when one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are being irradiated.

[0020] In some embodiments, the microcontroller is further coupled to a timer disposed in the housing to indicate when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel will be sterile.

[0021] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station further includes an actuator disposed in the housing for lifting the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel at least partially out of the ultrasound gel treatment station.

[0022] In some embodiments, an ultrasound gel treatment system is also disclosed herein, which includes one or more bottles of ultrasound gel and an ultrasound gel treatment station. Each of the one or more bottles is formed of a flexible polymer material that is sufficiently transparent to transmit UV light therethrough. The ultrasound gel treatment station includes a housing, a cavity within the housing, and one or more UV light sources arranged in the cavity or arranged in the housing around the cavity. The cavity within the housing is configured to hold the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel. The one or more UV light sources are configured to irradiate the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel with germicidal radiation when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are arranged in the cavity.

[0023] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station further includes one or more heating elements disposed in the cavity or in the housing surrounding the cavity to warm the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity.

[0024] In some embodiments, heat emitted by the one or more UV light sources warms the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity.

[0025] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station further includes a cover for covering the cavity when at least one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity and are being irradiated.

[0026] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station is configured to stop irradiating the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the cavity is exposed.

[0027] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station also includes a microcontroller configured to operate the ultrasound gel treatment station. The microcontroller is arranged in the housing and has a sensor module, which includes one or more sensors configured to sense conditions in the cavity in order to start, stop or adjust one or more UV light sources.

[0028] In some embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station further includes an actuator disposed in the housing for lifting the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel at least partially out of the ultrasound gel treatment station.

[0029] In some embodiments, the germicidal radiation is selected from broad spectrum UV-visible light, broad spectrum UV light, UVA light, UVB light, UVC light, blue light, and modulated light thereof, wherein the modulated light is modulated in frequency, power, duration, or a combination thereof.

[0030] In some embodiments, the polymer material forming one or more bottles is selected from polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyimide, polyetherimide and cyclic olefin polymer, and the polymer material optionally includes one or more comonomer residues, one or more plasticizers, or a combination thereof.

[0031] These and other features of the concepts provided herein will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the accompanying drawings and the following description, which describe in more detail specific embodiments of such concepts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 An ultrasound gel processing system including an ultrasound gel processing station and one or more bottles of ultrasound gel is shown according to some embodiments.

[0033] Figure 2 Further illustrated is an ultrasound gel treatment system according to some embodiments.

[0034] Figure 3 Further illustrated is an ultrasound gel treatment system according to some embodiments.

[0035] Figure 4 Illumination of a bottle of ultrasound gel disposed in a cavity of an ultrasound gel treatment station is shown according to some embodiments.

[0036] Figure 5 A block diagram of an ultrasound gel treatment station according to some embodiments is provided. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Before disclosing some specific embodiments in more detail, it should be understood that the specific embodiments disclosed herein do not limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. It should also be understood that the specific embodiments disclosed herein may have features that can be easily separated from the specific embodiments, and these features may be optionally combined with or replace the features of any of the many other embodiments disclosed herein.

[0038] About the terms used herein, it should also be understood that these terms are for the purpose of describing some specific embodiments, and these terms do not limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. Ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) are generally used to distinguish or identify different features or steps in a set of features or steps, and do not provide sequence or numerical restrictions. For example, "first", "second" and "third" features or steps do not necessarily appear in this order, and the specific embodiments including such features or steps are not necessarily limited to these three features or steps. In addition, unless otherwise specified, any feature or step in the aforementioned features or steps and then can also include one or more features or steps. For convenience, using labels such as "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "front", "back", etc., these labels are not intended to imply, for example, any specific fixed position, orientation or direction. On the contrary, such labels are used to reflect, for example, relative position, orientation or direction. The singular forms of "a kind of", "one" and "the" include plural references, unless the context clearly specifies otherwise.

[0039] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0040] As mentioned above, there are ultrasound gel warmers, but existing ultrasound gel warmers can promote bacterial growth and are therefore a source of infection. Therefore, it is undesirable to use existing ultrasound gel warmers in sterile procedures (such as those used to place percutaneous catheters). The use of packaged sterile ultrasound gel (which can be warmed in an ultrasound gel warmer configured for it) provides a workaround for the aforementioned sterile procedures for providing warmed sterile ultrasound gel, but packaged sterile ultrasound gel is not as economical as bottled ultrasound gel. And packaged sterile ultrasound gel produces more waste than bottled ultrasound gel.

[0041] Disclosed herein are ultrasound gel treatment stations, systems, and methods that address the aforementioned problems.

[0042] Ultrasonic gel treatment system

[0043] Figures 1 to 3An ultrasound gel treatment system 100 is shown that includes an ultrasound gel treatment station 102 and one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 according to some embodiments.

[0044] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the ultrasound gel treatment system 100 may include an ultrasound gel treatment station 102, one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104, or both the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 and one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104. However, it should be understood that the ultrasound gel treatment system 100 is not limited in this regard.

[0045] The ultrasound gel treatment station 102 includes a housing 106, a cavity 108 within the housing 106, and one or more UV light sources 110 disposed in the cavity 108 or the housing 106. It is worth noting that the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 can be a stand-alone unit, wherein the housing 106 can be considered as its body. In other embodiments, the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 is instead integrated into a roller stand or a cart.

[0046] The housing 106 may include an outer housing 112 and an inner housing 114. At least a portion of the outer housing 112 faces outward from the ultrasound gel treatment station 102, and at least a portion of the inner housing 114 faces inward toward the ultrasound gel treatment station 102. Although the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 114 may be separate pieces that are nominally coextensive therewith, each portion of the housing of the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 114 may be independently formed of one or more pieces. Alternatively, the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 114 are a unitary piece, wherein the interior space between the walls of the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 114 is accessed, for example, by the bottom of the housing 106.

[0047] like Figure 1 As shown, the housing 112 may include a button interface 116, one or more visual indicators 118, a timer 120, or a combination thereof. The button interface 116 may be disposed in the housing 112, and the button interface 116 may include one or more buttons 122. The one or more visual indicators 118 may be integrated into the one or more buttons 122, as shown, or the one or more visual indicators 118 may be disposed in the housing 112 separately from the one or more buttons 122. The timer 120 may be disposed in the housing 112 proximate to the button interface 116, such as above or below the button interface 116, but the timer 120 need not be limited thereto.

[0048] The cavity 108 within the housing 106 (specifically, within the inner housing 114) can be configured to hold one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104. In practice, as Figure 4As shown, the cavity 108 may include a plurality of sleeves or silos formed by the inner housing 114 into which the plurality of bottles of ultrasound gel 104 may be inserted. Such sleeves or silos may be advantageous because any one of the plurality of bottles of ultrasound gel 104 used in a procedure may be returned to its sleeve or silo after the procedure without contaminating an adjacent one of the plurality of bottles of ultrasound gel 104.

[0049] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 may include a cover 124 for covering the cavity 108 when at least one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are disposed in the cavity 108 and are being treated. Such a cover 124 may be a hinged cover (as shown), a retractable cover (e.g., a rolling door), a mechanical diaphragm (e.g., a mechanical iris), etc., for covering the cavity 108 when at least one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are disposed in the cavity 108 and are being irradiated, warmed, or irradiated and warmed. It is worth noting that for user protection, the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 is configured to stop irradiating the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 or the cavity 108 itself when the cavity 108 is exposed, such as by lifting a hinged cover, retracting a retractable cover, opening a mechanical diaphragm, etc. However, when the cavity 108 is exposed, the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 need not stop warming the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 or the cavity 108 itself (that is, unless the warming is dependent upon heat being emitted by the one or more UV light sources 110).

[0050] Figure 4 Illumination of a bottle of ultrasound gel disposed in cavity 108 of ultrasound gel treatment station 102 is shown according to some embodiments.

[0051] As shown, one or more UV light sources 110 may be arranged in the cavity 108, in the housing 106, behind the housing 106, etc., optionally, one or more UV light sources are arranged in a combination of the foregoing arrangements for irradiating one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 with germicidal radiation when one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are arranged in the cavity 108. When one or more UV light sources 110 are arranged in the cavity 108, one or more UV light sources 110 may be arranged completely in the cavity 108, wherein corresponding electrical leads pass through through-holes in the inner housing 114 and the interior space between the outer housing and the walls of the inner housing 114 to reach the microcontroller 128. When one or more UV light sources 110 are arranged in the housing 106, one or more UV light sources 110 may be arranged partially in the cavity 108 (e.g., protruding into the cavity 108), wherein the remaining portion of the one or more UV light sources 110 is arranged in the through-holes of the inner housing 114, and the corresponding electrical leads pass through the interior space between the outer housing 112 and the walls of the inner housing 114 to reach the microcontroller 128. Finally, when the one or more UV light sources 110 are behind the housing 106, the one or more UV light sources 110 can be mounted in the interior space between the walls of the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 114, so that the one or more UV light sources 110 emit germicidal radiation toward the cavity 108, and at least the inner housing 114 surrounding the cavity 108 is a flexible polymer material that is transparent enough to transmit UV light therethrough (optionally, a rigid formulation of the flexible polymer material described below). As in other embodiments, the corresponding electrical leads of the one or more UV light sources 110 pass through the interior space between the walls of the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 114 to reach the microcontroller 128.

[0052] The one or more UV light sources 110 may be independently selected from low pressure mercury lamps, excimer lamps, pulsed xenon lamps, and semiconductor light sources, which in turn are selected from light emitting diodes ("LEDs"), lasers, and superluminescent diodes ("SLDs"), notably, SLDs combine the high power and brightness characteristics of lasers with the low power characteristics of LEDs. By way of example, Figure 4 A plurality of LEDs are shown arranged in an inner housing 114 and emitting germicidal radiation into the cavity 108. Such germicidal radiation emitted by the one or more UV light sources 110 may be selected from broad spectrum UV-visible light, broad spectrum UV light, UVA light, UVB light, UVC light, blue light, and modulated light thereof, wherein the modulated light is modulated in wavelength or frequency, power (including ramping the power), duration (including pulse duration when the light is pulsed), or a combination thereof.

[0053] Notably, when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are disposed in the cavity 108, the heat emitted by the one or more UV light sources 110 can warm the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 can also include one or more heating elements 126 for warming the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are disposed in the cavity 108.

[0054] The one or more heating elements 126 may be arranged in the cavity 108, in the housing 106, behind the housing 106, etc., optionally, the one or more heating elements are arranged in a combination of the foregoing arrangements for warming the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are arranged in the cavity 108. When the one or more heating elements 126 are arranged in the cavity 108, the one or more heating elements 126 may be arranged completely in the cavity 108, wherein the corresponding electrical leads pass through the through-holes in the inner housing 114 and the internal space between the outer housing 112 and the walls of the inner housing 114 to reach the microcontroller 128. When the one or more heating elements 126 are arranged in the housing 106, the one or more heating elements 126 may be partially arranged in the cavity 108 (e.g., protruding into the cavity 108), wherein the remaining portion of the one or more heating elements 126 is arranged in the through-holes of the inner housing 114, and the corresponding electrical leads pass through the internal space between the outer housing 112 and the walls of the inner housing 114 to reach the microcontroller 128. Finally, when the one or more heating elements 126 are behind the housing 106, the one or more heating elements 126 can be mounted in the interior space between the walls of the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 114, such that the one or more heating elements 126 emit infrared radiation toward the cavity 108. As in other embodiments, corresponding electrical leads of the one or more heating elements 126 pass through the interior space between the walls of the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 114 to reach the microcontroller 128.

[0055] It is noteworthy that when both one or more UV light sources 110 and one or more heating elements 126 are present, the one or more UV light sources 110 and the one or more heating elements 126 can independently adopt any of the configurations described above with respect to being arranged in the cavity 108, in the housing 106, behind the housing 106, etc.

[0056] Figure 5 A block diagram of an ultrasound gel treatment station 102 including a microcontroller 128 according to some embodiments is provided.

[0057] As shown, the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 may also include a microcontroller 128 configured to operate the ultrasound gel treatment station 102. The microcontroller 128 may be disposed within the housing 106, such as within the interior space between the walls of the outer housing 112 and the inner housing 114.

[0058] The microcontroller 128 may include components selected from at least a processor 130, a second memory 132, a sensor module 134, a sensor interface 136, and a power source 138 (such as an internal power source (e.g., a battery) or an external power source (e.g., a utility power source). The processor 130 may include a control unit 140, an operation unit 142, and a first memory 144 (e.g., a cache memory, a RAM, or both), wherein the first memory 144 may be configured to store programs and data (e.g., sensor data) in use. Although the first memory 144 may be connected to the processor 130 in Figure 5 The remaining portions mentioned in are located within the same package, but at least the aforementioned RAM may be distributed outside the package of processor 130, for example, in its own package.

[0059] The second memory 132 can be configured to store data and programs including instructions, logic, algorithms (including machine learning algorithms), artificial intelligence (“AI”) models, or some combination thereof, for loading into the first memory 144 for use by the processor 130, for example, in performing the following operations: determining from, for example, sensor data, whether one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 need to be sterilized, warmed, or sterilized and warmed; determining whether one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are being irradiated, warmed, or irradiated and warmed; determining how long one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 should be irradiated, warmed, or irradiated and warmed; determining whether one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 have been sterilized, warmed, or sterilized and warmed; or some combination thereof. If the microcontroller 128 includes a sensor module 134 and a sensor interface 136 to sense conditions in the cavity 108 for starting, stopping, or adjusting one or more UV light sources 110, one or more heating elements 126, or both the one or more UV light sources 110 and one or more heating elements 126 in accordance with the foregoing, the processor 130 may also include an analog-to-digital converter 146 ("ADC") configured to convert electrical signals from the one or more sensors from analog to digital and a digital signal processor 148 ("DSP") configured to generate sensor data from the electrical signals. Although the ADC 146 and the DSP 148 may be coupled to the processor 130 in Figure 5 The remaining components mentioned in are located in the same package, but ADC 146 and DSP 148 may be distributed outside the package of processor 130, for example, in their own packages.

[0060] When present, the sensor module 134 may include one or more sensors selected from at least a photodetector 150, a temperature sensor 152, and a cover sensor 154 configured to generate electrical signals in response to detected photons, sensed temperatures, and sensed cover states, respectively, wherein the sensed cover state may be, for example, an open cover, a slightly opened cover, or a closed cover. In addition, when present, the sensor interface 136 may include a signal conditioner 156 configured to normalize the electrical signal by voltage or current limiting, anti-aliasing filtering, etc. In addition, the sensor interface 136 may include an amplifier 158 configured to amplify the electrical signal and thereby increase its signal-to-noise ratio. Similarly, the ADC 146 may be configured to convert the electrical signal from analog to digital, and the DSP 148 may be configured to generate sensor data from the electrical signal for determining whether to start, stop, or adjust one or more UV light sources 110, one or more heating elements 126, or both one or more UV light sources 110 and one or more heating elements 126 based on the sensor data.

[0061] The microcontroller 128 can be coupled to one or more visual indicators 118 disposed in the housing 106 to indicate that: one or more bottles of ultrasound gel need to be sterilized, warmed, or sterilized and warmed; one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are being irradiated, warmed, or irradiated and warmed; or one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 have been sterilized, warmed, or sterilized and warmed. In practice, the one or more visual indicators 118 can be integrated into the one or more buttons 122 as LEDs behind the one or more buttons 122, which have different colors (e.g., red, yellow, and green) of light to indicate: one or more bottles of ultrasound gel need to be sterilized, warmed, or sterilized and warmed (e.g., red light); one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are being irradiated, warmed, or irradiated and warmed (e.g., yellow light); or one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 have been sterilized, warmed, or sterilized and warmed (e.g., green light). Additionally or alternatively, the microcontroller 128 may be coupled to a timer 120 disposed in the outer housing 112 to indicate, such as by countdown, when one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 will be sterile, warmed, or sterile and warmed.

[0062] The ultrasound gel treatment station 102 may also include an actuator 160 disposed in the housing 106 for at least partially lifting the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 out of the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 so that any of the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 may be grasped without contacting a potentially contaminated exterior surface of the ultrasound gel treatment station 102. The actuator 160 may be coupled to one or more movable bottoms of the plurality of sleeves or silos of the inner housing 114 set forth above for at least partially lifting the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 out of the ultrasound gel treatment station 102.

[0063] As for the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104, each of the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 can be formed of a flexible polymer material that is sufficiently transparent to allow UV light to be transmitted therethrough. Such polymer materials can be selected from polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyimide, polyetherimide, and cyclic olefin polymers, and the polymer materials can optionally include one or more comonomer residues (thereby making the aforementioned polymer materials copolymers), one or more plasticizers, or combinations thereof.

[0064] method

[0065] Methods include methods of the ultrasound gel treatment system 100 or station 102 itself, as well as methods using the ultrasound gel treatment system 100 .

[0066] The method of the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 may include at least a sensing operation of sensing a condition in the cavity 108 and a determining operation of determining whether one or more UV light sources 110, one or more heating elements 126, or both the one or more UV light sources 110 and one or more heating elements 126 should be started, stopped, or adjusted. In addition, the method of the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 may include an indicating operation of indicating the following conditions using one or more visual indicators 118: one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 need to be sterilized, warmed, or sterilized and warmed; one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 are being irradiated, warmed, or irradiated and warmed; or one or more bottles of ultrasound gel 104 have been sterilized, warmed, or sterilized and warmed. Such operations and other operations of the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 can be further understood from the disclosure set forth above.

[0067] The method of using the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 may include at least a witnessing operation of witnessing the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 indicating that the plurality of bottles of ultrasound gel 104 have been sterilized, warmed, or sterilized and warmed using one or more visual indicators 118. In addition, the method of using the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 may include an exposing operation of exposing the cavity 108, a waiting operation of waiting for the actuator 160 to lift the plurality of bottles of ultrasound gel 104 at least partially out of the ultrasound gel treatment station 102, and a grasping operation of grasping a bottle of the plurality of bottles of ultrasound gel 104 without contacting a potentially contaminated exterior surface of the ultrasound gel treatment station 102. In addition, the method of using the ultrasound gel treatment station 102 may include returning a bottle to its sleeve or silo without contaminating any other bottle of the plurality of bottles of ultrasound gel 104.

[0068] Although some specific embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although these specific embodiments have been disclosed in considerable detail, these specific embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. Additional adaptations or modifications may be envisioned by those of ordinary skill in the art, and in broader aspects, these adaptations or modifications are also encompassed. Therefore, changes may be made to the specific embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the concepts provided herein.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic gel treatment station, characterized in that: include: case; a cavity located within the housing, the cavity being configured to hold one or more bottles of ultrasound gel; one or more heating elements disposed in the cavity or in the housing around the cavity to warm the one or more vials of ultrasound gel when disposed in the cavity; and One or more ultraviolet light sources are disposed in the cavity or in the housing around the cavity to irradiate the one or more vials of ultrasound gel with germicidal radiation when the one or more vials of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity.

2. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also included is a cover for covering the cavity when at least the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity and are being warmed, irradiated, or both.

3. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ultrasound gel treatment station is configured to stop irradiating the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the cavity is exposed.

4. An ultrasound gel treatment station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Also included is a microcontroller configured to operate the ultrasound gel treatment station, the microcontroller being disposed within the housing and having a sensor module, the sensor module including one or more sensors configured to sense conditions in the cavity so as to start, stop or adjust the one or more heating elements or the one or more ultraviolet light sources.

5. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 4, characterized in that: The microcontroller is further coupled to one or more visual indicators disposed in the housing to indicate when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are being warmed, irradiated, warmed and irradiated, or a time thereafter.

6. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 4, characterized in that: The microcontroller is further coupled to a timer disposed in the housing to indicate when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel will be warmed, sterilized, or warmed and sterilized.

7. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also included is an actuator disposed in the housing for at least partially lifting the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel out of the ultrasound gel processing station.

8. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasound gel treatment station is integrated into a roller stand or cart.

9. An ultrasonic gel treatment station, characterized in that: include: case; a cavity located within the housing, the cavity being configured to hold one or more bottles of ultrasound gel; One or more ultraviolet light sources are disposed in the cavity or in the housing around the cavity to irradiate the one or more vials of ultrasound gel with germicidal radiation when the one or more vials of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity.

10. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 9, characterized in that: When the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity, heat emitted by the one or more ultraviolet light sources warms the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel.

11. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: Also included is a cover for covering the cavity when at least the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity and are being irradiated.

12. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 11, characterized in that: The ultrasound gel treatment station is configured to stop irradiating the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the cavity is exposed.

13. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 9, characterized in that: Also included is a microcontroller configured to operate the ultrasound gel treatment station, the microcontroller being disposed within the housing and having a sensor module including one or more sensors configured to sense conditions in the cavity in order to start, stop or adjust the one or more ultraviolet light sources.

14. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 13, characterized in that: The microcontroller is further coupled to one or more visual indicators disposed in the housing to indicate when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are being irradiated.

15. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 13, characterized in that: The microcontroller is further coupled to a timer disposed in the housing to indicate when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel will be sterile.

16. The ultrasonic gel treatment station according to claim 9, characterized in that: Also included is an actuator disposed in the housing for at least partially lifting the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel out of the ultrasound gel processing station.

17. An ultrasonic gel treatment system, characterized in that: include: one or more vials of ultrasound gel, each vial of the one or more vials being formed of a flexible polymer material sufficiently transparent to allow ultraviolet light to be transmitted therethrough; An ultrasound gel treatment station, comprising: case; a cavity located within the housing, the cavity being configured to hold the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel; One or more ultraviolet light sources are disposed in the cavity or in the housing around the cavity to irradiate the one or more vials of ultrasound gel with germicidal radiation when the one or more vials of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity.

18. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17, characterized in that: The ultrasound gel treatment station also includes one or more heating elements disposed in the cavity or in the housing around the cavity to warm the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity.

19. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that: When the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity, heat emitted by the one or more ultraviolet light sources warms the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel.

20. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17, characterized in that: The ultrasound gel treatment station also includes a cover for covering the cavity when at least the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity and are being irradiated.

21. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17, characterized in that: The ultrasound gel treatment station is configured to stop irradiating the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel when the cavity is exposed.

22. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17, characterized in that: The ultrasound gel treatment station also includes a microcontroller configured to operate the ultrasound gel treatment station, the microcontroller being disposed within the housing and having a sensor module including one or more sensors configured to sense conditions in the cavity in order to start, stop or adjust the one or more ultraviolet light sources.

23. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17, characterized in that: The ultrasound gel treatment station further includes an actuator disposed in the housing for at least partially lifting the one or more bottles of ultrasound gel out of the ultrasound gel treatment station.

24. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17, characterized in that: The germicidal radiation is selected from at least one of broad spectrum ultraviolet-visible light, blue light, and modulated light thereof, wherein the modulated light is modulated in frequency, power, duration, or a combination thereof.

25. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17, characterized in that: The germicidal radiation is selected from at least one of broad spectrum ultraviolet light and modulated light thereof, wherein the modulated light is modulated in frequency, power, duration or a combination thereof.

26. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17, characterized in that: The germicidal radiation is selected from at least one of UVA light, UVB light, UVC light, and modulated light thereof, wherein the modulated light is modulated in frequency, power, duration, or a combination thereof.

27. The ultrasonic gel treatment system according to claim 17, characterized in that: The polymer material forming the one or more bottles is selected from polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polymethyl methacrylate, polyimide, polyetherimide and cyclic olefin polymer, and the polymer material optionally includes one or more comonomer residues, one or more plasticizers or a combination thereof.

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