A flat ultrasound probe includes a housing having sidewalls, each having a height, a bottom surface for contacting an external surface of a patient during operation of the probe, the bottom surface having a width larger than the height of the sidewalls and a flat portion, and a recession in the bottom surface for containing a transmission material on an outer surface of the housing for aiding in transmission of ultrasound signals, the recession being rounded on all sides where the recession contacts the flat portion of the bottom surface.
