Ultrasound system with docking station and dockable ultrasound probe
First Claim
1. An ultrasound system comprising:
- a portable ultrasound probe that includes;
one or more first transducer elements that transmit an ultrasound signal toward a target structure in a region of interest;
processing circuitry that controls transmission of the ultrasound signal from the one or more first transducer elements;
driving circuitry operatively coupled to the one or more first transducer elements and the processing circuitry, wherein the driving circuitry drives the transmission of the ultrasound signal by the one or more first transducer elements in response to a control signal received from the processing circuitry;
one or more second transducer elements that receive echo signals returning from the target structure in response to transmission of the ultrasound signal; and
a power supply that provides power to the driving circuitry for transmission of the ultrasound signal in at least a pulsed wave mode of operation; and
a docking station that includes;
an electrical connector that is couplable to the ultrasound probe; and
circuitry that electrically couples to the ultrasound probe via the electrical connector and enhances the ultrasound functionality of the ultrasound probe,wherein the circuitry in the docking station includes driving circuitry, and when the ultrasound probe is coupled to the docking station, the driving circuitry of the docking station is operatively coupled to the one or more first transducer elements in the ultrasound probe and drives the transmission of the ultrasound signal by the one or more first transducer elements in place of the driving circuit included in the ultrasound probe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound system comprising a portable ultrasound probe and a docking station provides enhanced ultrasound functionality. One or more first transducer elements transmit an ultrasound signal toward a target structure in a region of interest. Processing circuitry controls transmission of the ultrasound signal, while driving circuitry that is operatively coupled to the one or more first transducer elements and the processing circuitry drives the transmission of the ultrasound signal. The ultrasound probe further includes one or more second transducer elements that receive echo signals returning from the target structure in response to transmission of the ultrasound signal, and a power supply that provides power to the driving circuitry for transmission of the ultrasound signal. The docking station includes an interface that is couplable to the ultrasound probe and circuitry that electrically couples to the ultrasound probe via the interface and enhances the ultrasound functionality of the ultrasound probe.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An ultrasound system comprising:
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a portable ultrasound probe that includes; one or more first transducer elements that transmit an ultrasound signal toward a target structure in a region of interest; processing circuitry that controls transmission of the ultrasound signal from the one or more first transducer elements; driving circuitry operatively coupled to the one or more first transducer elements and the processing circuitry, wherein the driving circuitry drives the transmission of the ultrasound signal by the one or more first transducer elements in response to a control signal received from the processing circuitry; one or more second transducer elements that receive echo signals returning from the target structure in response to transmission of the ultrasound signal; and a power supply that provides power to the driving circuitry for transmission of the ultrasound signal in at least a pulsed wave mode of operation; and a docking station that includes; an electrical connector that is couplable to the ultrasound probe; and circuitry that electrically couples to the ultrasound probe via the electrical connector and enhances the ultrasound functionality of the ultrasound probe, wherein the circuitry in the docking station includes driving circuitry, and when the ultrasound probe is coupled to the docking station, the driving circuitry of the docking station is operatively coupled to the one or more first transducer elements in the ultrasound probe and drives the transmission of the ultrasound signal by the one or more first transducer elements in place of the driving circuit included in the ultrasound probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A docking station for use with a handheld ultrasound probe, the docking station comprising:
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an electrical connector couplable to a handheld ultrasound probe that is operable to transmit an ultrasound signal both when connected and when not connected to the docking station; and circuitry in the docking station that is electrically couplable to the ultrasound probe via the electrical connector and enhances transmission of the ultrasound signal by the ultrasound probe when the docking station is connected to the ultrasound probe, wherein the circuitry in the docking station includes driving circuitry and when the docking station is coupled to the ultrasound probe, the driving circuitry in the docking station drives the transmission of the ultrasound signal in place of driving circuitry of the ultrasound probe. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for transmitting an ultrasound signal from a handheld ultrasound probe, the method comprising:
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positioning the ultrasound probe with respect to a target structure in a region of interest; operating the ultrasound probe in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation, wherein; in the first mode of operation, one or more first transducer elements in the ultrasound probe transmit a pulsed wave ultrasound signal toward the target structure and one or more second transducer elements receive an echo signal returning from the target structure; in the second mode of operation, the one or more first transducer elements in the ultrasound probe transmit a continuous wave ultrasound signal toward the target structure while the one or more second transducer elements receive echo signals returning from the target structure; and coupling the ultrasound probe to a separate docking station having circuitry that enhances operation of the ultrasound probe in the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation by using driving circuitry in the docking station to drive the transmission of the ultrasound signal in line of driving circuitry in the ultrasound robe that otherwise drives the transmission of the ultrasound signal when the ultrasound prove is not coupled to the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification