| abstract |
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, 110 A, 110 B) 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. |