System and method of ultrasonic mammography

• US 20010044581A1
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microlife Medical Home Solutions Inc.
• Original Assignee: HealtheTech, Inc.
• Inventors: Mault, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,482,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0295 adapted for recording user messages or annotations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0833 Measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6896 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 : Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 : for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/915 : Ultrasound mammography

Abstract

A system for ultrasonic mammography includes an ultrasonic mammography device for constructing an ultrasonic image of a breast having a support structure with an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the support structure. The system also includes a personal digital assistant operatively connected to the ultrasonic transducer via a communication link, a patient computer system operatively connected to the personal digital assistant via a second communication link, and a healthcare provider computer system operatively connected to the patient computer system via an internet, for constructing the image of the breast. The method includes the steps of positioning the ultrasonic mammography device having an ultrasonic transducer on the patient and activating the ultrasonic transducer to generate a signal for constructing an image of the breast. The method also includes the steps of transmitting the signal from the ultrasonic transducer to the personal digital assistant, and transmitting the signal via an internet to a healthcare provider computer. The method further includes the steps of using the signal to construct an image of the patient'"'"'s breast.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic mammography device for constructing an image of a breast comprising;

(a) a support structure;

(b) at least one ultrasonic transmitter mounted on the support structure in a predetermined position; and

(c) at least one ultrasonic detector mounted on the support structure in a predetermined position, wherein ultrasonic measurements from the ultrasonic transmitter and ultrasonic detector are used in constructing the image of the breast.

2. The ultrasonic mammography device of

claim 1

, wherein the support structure includes a frame portion and a cup portion.

3. The ultrasonic mammography device of

claim 1

, wherein the ultrasonic transmitter and ultrasonic detector are a silicon-based ultrasonic transducer.

4. A system for ultrasonic mammography comprising:

an ultrasonic mammography device for constructing an ultrasonic image of a breast, wherein the ultrasonic mammography device includes a support structure having an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the support structure in a predetermined position for constructing an image of the breast;

a personal digital assistant operatively connected to said ultrasonic transducer via a communication link;

a patient computer system operatively connected to said personal digital assistant via a second communication link, wherein said patient computer system includes a memory, a processor, a display device and an input device; and

a healthcare provider computer system operatively connected to said patient computer system via an internet, wherein said healthcare provider computer system includes a memory, a processor, a display device and a input device and activation of said ultrasonic transducer generates a data signal that is transmitted to said personal digital assistant via said communication link, and transmission of said signal to said healthcare provider computer system via said second communication link, for constructing the image of the breast.

5. A system as set forth in

claim 4

wherein said ultrasonic transducer is an ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of microscopic transducers arranged in an array on a silicon wafer.

6. A system as set forth in

claim 4

wherein said PDA includes a memory, a processor, a display screen and an input mechanism.

7. A system as set forth in

claim 4

wherein said communication link is a Bluetooth wireless communication link.

8. A system as set forth in

claim 4

wherein an internet is the Internet.

9. A system as set forth in

claim 4

wherein said healthcare provider computer system is operatively connected to a plurality of patient computer systems, for evaluating a plurality of patients.

10. A system for ultrasonic mammography comprising:

an ultrasonic mammography device having a predetermined number of ultrasonic transducers, with each having a processor, a transmitter and a receiver in a predetermined position, and each arranged wherein said ultrasound mammography device is positioned over the breast of the patient;

a personal digital assistant operatively connected to said ultrasonic transducer via a communication link, wherein said personal digital assistant includes a memory, a processor, a display screen, an input mechanism, and a wireless communication mechanism for wireless communication via the internet;

a healthcare provider computer system in communication with said personal digital assistant via the internet, wherein said healthcare provider computer system includes a memory, a processor, a display device and an input device; and

activation of said ultrasonic transducer generates transmission of a data signal to said personal digital assistant via said communication link, and wireless transmission of said signal between said personal digital assistant and said healthcare provider computer system over the internet for analysis by the healthcare provider.

11. A system as set forth in

claim 10

wherein said ultrasonic transducer is an ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of microscopic transducers arranged in an array on a silicon wafer.

12. A system as set forth in

claim 10

wherein said communication link is a Bluetooth wireless communication link.

13. A system as set forth in

claim 10

wherein an internet is the Internet.

14. A system as set forth in

claim 10

wherein said healthcare provider computer system is operatively connected to a plurality of patient computer systems for simultaneously evaluating a plurality of patients.

15. A system as set forth in

claim 10

wherein said ultrasonic transducer is an ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of microscopic transducers arranged in an array on a silicon wafer.

16. A method of ultrasonic mammography, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning an ultrasonic mammography device having an ultrasonic transducer on the patient to obtain an image of the patient'"'"'s breast;

activating the ultrasonic transducer to generate a signal, wherein the ultrasonic transducer includes a processor, a transmitter and a receiver;

transmitting the signal from the ultrasonic transducer to a personal digital assistant, wherein the personal digital assistant includes a memory, a processor, a display screen and an input mechanism;

transmitting the signal from the personal digital assistant via an internet to a healthcare provider computer, wherein the healthcare provider computer includes a memory, a processor, a display screen and an input device; and

using the signal to construct an image of the patient'"'"'s breast.

17. A method as set forth in

claim 16

wherein said ultrasonic transducer is an ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of microscopic transducers arranged in an array on a silicon wafer.

18. A method as set forth in

claim 16

wherein said step of transmitting the signal between the ultrasonic transducer and the personal digital assistant includes transmitting the signal via a Bluetooth wireless communication link.

19. A method as set forth in

claim 16

wherein said step of transmitting the signal from the personal digital assistant includes the step of transmitting the signal via the Internet.

20. A method as set forth in

claim 16

wherein said step of transmitting the signal from the personal digital assistant includes the step of transmitting the signal to a patient computer system having a memory, a processor, a display screen, and an input device.

21. A system as set forth in

claim 16

including the step of receiving, by said healthcare provider computer system, a plurality of signals from a plurality of patients, for simultaneously evaluating a plurality of patients.

22. A system as set forth in

claim 16

wherein said step of using the signal includes the step of using the personal digital assistant to construct an image of the patient'"'"'s breast from the signal.

23. A system as set forth in

claim 16

wherein said step of using the signal includes the step of using the healthcare provider computer to construct an image of the patient'"'"'s breast .