A minimally invasive ultrasound probe using non-coax cabling

The electrical and acoustical performance of ultrasonic transducers is critically dependent on the characteristics of the cable to which they are attached. The traditional solution for medical ultrasound probes is to use coaxial cables. However, as the number of elements increases and as size and weight requirements become of more concern, the pressure for cabling solutions that are smaller, lighter, and less expensive also continues to increase. One solution is to use non-coaxial ribbon cables that have been designed to minimize crosstalk and provide higher signal density and better ergonomics. Minimally-invasive ultrasound probes are a natural place for early adoption of this kind of nontraditional cable since laparoscopic, endoscopic, and catheter probes have exceptionally difficult space constraints. This paper describes the use of IMAGIN/sup TM/ probe cable and MICROFLAT/sup TM/ ribbon cable, products developed by the W.L. Gore company, for a wiring harness of an ultrasound laparoscope containing a 128 element array. Small coaxial cables physically fit but are very difficult to terminate.