Imaging ultrasound transducer temperature control system and method using feedback
First Claim
1. A method cooling imaging ultrasonic transducer in an imaging ultrasonic transducer system, wherein a patient-contacting surface of said imagine ultrasonic transducer is pressed externally against the skin of a patient in order to generate an image, comprising the steps of:
- determining a temperature of the imaging ultrasonic transducer; and
implementing a parameter change in at least one mutable system parameter of the imaging ultrasonic transducer based on the determined temperature, wherein an amount of change in the at least one mutable system parameter is based on an amount of temperature variation from a predetermined operating temperature value;
wherein said parameter change will cause a reduction, if necessary, in the temperature of the patient-contacting surface of the imaging ultrasonic transducer to prevent at least one of pain to the patient and damage to the skin of the patient caused by the temperature of the patient-contacting surface.
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the system and method controls the temperature of the transducer by changing operating system parameters based on feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer. The chosen mutable system parameters may be preset by the construction of the ultrasonic system, under the control of the ultrasonic system user, or a combination of the two. In several exemplary embodiments, the one or more mutable system parameters are altered by an amount proportionate to the difference between the current temperature and a preferred operating temperature. In another exemplary embodiment, the system switches to a lower power imaging mode when the temperature feedback indicates a threshold temperature has been reached.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method cooling imaging ultrasonic transducer in an imaging ultrasonic transducer system, wherein a patient-contacting surface of said imagine ultrasonic transducer is pressed externally against the skin of a patient in order to generate an image, comprising the steps of:
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determining a temperature of the imaging ultrasonic transducer; and
implementing a parameter change in at least one mutable system parameter of the imaging ultrasonic transducer based on the determined temperature, wherein an amount of change in the at least one mutable system parameter is based on an amount of temperature variation from a predetermined operating temperature value;
wherein said parameter change will cause a reduction, if necessary, in the temperature of the patient-contacting surface of the imaging ultrasonic transducer to prevent at least one of pain to the patient and damage to the skin of the patient caused by the temperature of the patient-contacting surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for cooling an imaging ultrasonic transducer in an imaging ultrasonic transducer system, wherein a patient-contacting surface of said imaging ultrasonic transducer is pressed externally against the skin of a patient in order to generate an image, comprising:
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at least one temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of at least a portion of the ultrasonic transducer; and
a controller for implementing a parameter chance in at least one mutable system parameter depending on the sensed temperature, wherein an amount of change in the at least one mutable system parameter is based on an amount of temperature variation from a predetermined operating temperature value;
wherein said parameter change will cause a reduction, if necessary, in the temperature of the patient-contacting surface of the imaging ultrasonic transducer to prevent at least one of pain to the patient and damage to the skin of the patient caused by the temperature of the patient-contacting surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of controlling the temperature of the patient-contacting surface of an imaging ultrasonic transducer which is pressed externally against the skin of a patient in order to generate an image, comprising the steps of:
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determining a temperature of the patient-contacting surface of the imaging ultrasonic transducer; and
implementing a parameter change in at least one mutable system parameter of the imaging ultrasonic transducer based on the determined temperature, wherein an amount of change in the at least one mutable system parameter is determined using a closed loop feedback control algorithm, wherein the feedback comprises the determined temperature of the patient-contacting surface of the imaging ultrasonic transducer;
wherein said parameter change will cause a reduction, if necessary, in the temperature of the patient-contacting surface of the imaging ultrasonic transducer to prevent at least one of pain to the patient and damage to the skin of the patient caused by the temperature of the patient-contacting surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification