THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE NATURE
OF THE INVENTION

A PROBE ANCHORING DEVICE FOR AN ULTRASOUND
SCANNER
A) FIELD OF THE INVENTION
1. This invention relates generally to devices for mounting probes, and more particularly to, an anchoring device for temporarily mounting non-active probes in an ultrasound scanner.
B) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
2. An ultrasound scanner is configured having several probes coupled to an electrical circuit through an electrical connector arrangement. An electrical connector is provided in the electrical circuit. A mating electrical connector is provided at one end of each probe. Once connected to the electrical circuit, the probe becomes active, enabling scanning operation by a sonographer (user).
3. During a typical scanning operation, all of the probes are not simultaneously used for scanning operation. The mating electrical connectors of some of the probes which are required to be used (active probes) for scanning are electrically coupled to the electrical connectors provided in the electrical circuit. The probes which are not used for the scanning process (non-active probes) are just anchored (without any electrical connection) to the electrical connectors provided in the electrical circuit.
4. Generally, the electrical connector arrangement includes some form of dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals, which establishes an interconnecting interface between the mating electrical connector, the printed circuit board, discrete electrical wires or any variety of other connecting devices. The terminals typically are mounted within terminal-receiving passages formed in the dielectric housing.

5. Conventional connector arrangements have damage sensitive electrical pins and are expensive to manufacture. Although the connector arrangements are used for electrically connecting active probes, providing same electrical connection arrangement for anchoring non-active probes is likely to be more expensive and also prone to damages on extensive usage.
6. Thus, there exists a need in the art for a separate and inexpensive device for temporarily mounting non-active probes in the ultrasound scanner.
C) OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
7. An object of this invention is to provide a probe anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner, wherein the device does not have any electrical connection and hence inexpensive.
8. An object of this invention is to provide a probe-anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner, wherein the device appears differentiy from that of the electrical connector and hence enables easy identification of non-active probes from the active probes.
9. An object of this invention is to provide a probe anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner, wherein damage sensitivity of the device is low due to absence of mating pin arrangement.
10. An object of this invention is to provide a probe anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner, wherein the device comprises a design that offers increased flexibility to manufacture.

D) STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
11. Given that known connector arrangements have a configuration expensive to
manufacture and damage sensitive electrical pins, and although such connector
arrangements are used in the art for electrically connecting active probes, providing
same electrical connection arrangement for anchoring non-active probes is likely to
be more expensive and prone to damages on extensive usage. Thus, this invention
proposes a separate device for anchoring non-active probes in the ultrasound
scanner.
E) SUMMAR Y OF THE INVENTION
12. The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein, which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.
13. In one embodiment, a probe anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner comprises an adaptor rigidly mounted to the scanner housing, a locking recess configured in the adaptor, a mating electrical connector configured in the probe, a pin member configured in the mating electrical connector, wherein in non-active state of the probe, the pin is mechanically locked on to the locking recess, without any electrical connection.
14. In another embodiment, an ultrasound scanner comprises a housing, an electrical circuit mounted within the housing, an adaptor rigidly mounted to the housing, a plurality of electrical connectors configured in the electrical circuit, a plurality of scanning probes having a mating electrical connector therein, wherein in active state, the probes are electrically coupled to the electrical connectors and in non-active state, the probes are mechanically anchored on to the adaptor.

G) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRWAINGS
15. FIG. 1 shows a perspective diagram of one embodiment of the probe anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner according to this invention.
16. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the probe anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner according to this invention.
G) DETAILED DECRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
17. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, ands it is to be understood that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
18. Various embodiments of this invention provide a probe anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner. However, the embodiments are not limited and may be implemented in connection with various other devices such as industrial scanners.
19. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the probe anchoring device according to this invention comprising an adaptor 1 fixedly mounted to a scanner housing (not shown). A locking recess 5 is configured in the adaptor 1. A mating electrical connector 2 is configured in the probe (not shown). A pin member 6 is configured in the mating electrical connector 2, wherein in non-active state of the probe, the pin member 6 is mechanically locked on to the locking recess 5, wherein no electrical connection is established.

20. FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the probe anchoring device according to this invention, wherein the device comprises an adaptor 3 having symmetrical locking recess 4. The symmetrical locking recess 4 enables securing of the mating electrical connector rigidly in appropriate orientation without any error.
21. In an example, the adaptor is constructed from a sheet material such as, a plastic or a metallic sheet.
22. One embodiment of this invention provides an ultrasound scanner (not shown in the drawings) comprising a housing, an electrical circuit mounted within the housing, an adaptor rigidly mounted to the housing, a plurality of electrical connectors configured in the electrical circuit, and a plurality of scanning probes having a mating electrical connector therein, wherein in active state, the probes are electrically coupled to the electrical connectors and in non-active state, the probes are mechanically anchored on to the adaptor.
23. It should be noted that the adaptor 3 does not have any electrical part and is
inexpensive to manufacture. The use of sheet material also provides a substantial
design flexibility.
24. Thus, various embodiments of the present invention provide a probe anchoring
device for an ultrasound scanner. Further embodiments of this invention provide an
ultrasound scanner,
25. It wiU be obvious for a person of skilled in the art to practice the invention with
modifications. However, all those modifications will be deemed to be covered
within the scope of the invention as covered in the claims hereunder.

H) We claim:
i. A probe anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner, comprising:
(i) an adaptor fixedly mounted to the scanner housing;
(ii) a locking recess configured in the adaptor;
(Hi) a locking recess configured in the adaptor, wherein in non-active state of the probe, the pin is mechanically locked on to the locking recess, wherein no electrical connection is established.
2. A probe anchoring device as claimed in claim 1 comprising the adaptor made from a sheet material, but not limited to the material used for the sheet metal material.
3. A probe anchoring device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sheet material is at least one of a metal and a plastic.
4. A probe anchoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking recess comprises a shape predetermined to match with the electrical connector pin.
5. A probe anchoring device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the locking recess is configured having an indexing mechanism.
6. A probe anchoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indexing mechanism comprises configuring having the adaptor and the mating electrical connector in a symmetrical mating relationship.
7. An ultrasound scanner comprising:
(i) a housing,
(ii) an electrical circuit mounted within the housing.

(Hi) an adaptor rigidly mounted to the housing,
(iv) a plurality of electrical connectors configured in the electrical circuit, and
(v) a plurality of scanning probes having a mating electrical connector therein, wherein in active state, the probes are electrically coupled to the electrical connectors and in non-active state, the probes are mechanically anchored on to the adaptor.
8, An ultrasound scanner according to claim 7 wherein the anchoring includes a symmetrically mating configuration.
9, A probe anchoring device for an ultrasound scanner substantially as claimed in the claims and described in the body of the specification.
10, An ultrasound scanner substantially as claimed in the claims and described in the body of the specification.
Dated this October 12th 2005. RAKESH PRABHU,
Patent Agent,
ALMTLegal
Advocates & Solicitors, #2, Lavelle Road, Bangalore - 560 001