Limited use ultrasonic coupling device

The present invention relates to ultrasound coupling adapters, ultrasound coupling devices, ultrasound coupling systems, and methods of using the adapters, coupling devices, and coupling systems in various ultrasound applications. In one embodiment, the ultrasound coupling adapter is for coupling an ultrasound transducer to an ultrasound coupling medium. The ultrasound coupling adapter comprises an interface support region for operably interfacing the ultrasound transducer to the ultrasound coupling medium; and an integrated means for (i) rendering the ultrasound coupling adapter inoperable, and/or (ii) preventing operation of the ultrasound transducer by keeping it from being properly coupled with the ultrasound coupling adapter and/or ultrasound coupling medium. 本发明涉及种超声耦合适配器、超声耦合装置、超声耦合系统以及在各种超声应用中使用所述适配器、耦合装置和耦合系统的方法。在个实施例中，所述超声耦合适配器用于将超声换能器与超声耦合介质耦合。所述超声耦合适配器包括：用于使所述超声换能器与所述超声耦合介质可操作地接口连接的接口支承区域；和体装置，其用于(i)使所述超声耦合适配器不可操作，和/或(ii)通过保持所述超声换能器与所述超声耦合适配器和/或超声耦合介质不正确地耦合来防止所述超声换能器的操作。