diff --git a/Modules/US/USControlInterfaces/mitkUSAbstractControlInterface.h b/Modules/US/USControlInterfaces/mitkUSAbstractControlInterface.h
index eb3c06165b..ea27333ebc 100644
--- a/Modules/US/USControlInterfaces/mitkUSAbstractControlInterface.h
+++ b/Modules/US/USControlInterfaces/mitkUSAbstractControlInterface.h
@@ -1,62 +1,64 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 
 #ifndef MITKUSAbstractControlInterface_H_HEADER_INCLUDED_
 #define MITKUSAbstractControlInterface_H_HEADER_INCLUDED_
 
 #include <mitkCommon.h>
 #include <MitkUSExports.h>
 
+#include <itkWeakPointer.h>
+
 namespace itk {
   template<class T> class SmartPointer;
 }
 
 namespace mitk {
   class USDevice;
 
 /**
   * \brief Superclass for all ultrasound device control interfaces.
   * Defines an interface for activating and deactivating a control interface.
   */
 class MITKUS_EXPORT USAbstractControlInterface : public itk::Object
 {
 public:
   mitkClassMacroItkParent(USAbstractControlInterface, itk::Object);
 
   /**
     * Method must be implemented in every control interface to handle all
     * activities which should be done on activating and deactivating the
     * concrete control interface.
     * \param isActive whether the control interface should be activated or deactivated
     */
   virtual void SetIsActive( bool isActive ) = 0;
 
   /**
     * Method must be implemented in every control interface to tell the caller
     * if the interface is currently activated or deactivated.
     * \return whether the control interface is active or not
     */
   virtual bool GetIsActive( ) = 0;
 
 protected:
   USAbstractControlInterface( itk::SmartPointer<USDevice> device );
   virtual ~USAbstractControlInterface( );
 
-  itk::SmartPointer<USDevice> m_Device;
+  itk::WeakPointer<USDevice> m_Device;
 };
 } // namespace mitk
 
 #endif // MITKUSAbstractControlInterface_H_HEADER_INCLUDED_