Ultrasound system including a handheld probe

• US 20040225220A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sonetics Ultrasound, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonetics Ultrasound, Inc.
• Inventors: Rich, Collin A.
• Application Number:
  US10/840,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225220A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/446
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8913 using separate transducers for transmission and reception
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead

Abstract

The preferred embodiment of the invention include an ultrasound system, a handheld probe of the ultrasound device, and an integrated circuit for the handheld probe of the ultrasound system. The ultrasound system of the preferred embodiment includes a central console and a handheld probe. The handheld probe is adapted to receive a wireless beam signal from the central console, generate an ultrasonic beam, detect an ultrasonic echo at multiple locations, combine the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal, and transmit a multiplexed echo signal to the central console. The ultrasound system, including the handheld probe and the integrated circuit, provides an improved ultrasound system that collects enough echo data for 3D imaging and that transmits the echo data by a wireless link to overcome the limitations and drawbacks of typical ultrasound systems.

Claims

1. A single integrated circuit for a handheld probe of an ultrasound system, comprising:

a two-dimensional array of transducer cells, each transducer cell adapted to receive a beam signal, generate an ultrasonic beam, detect an ultrasonic echo at multiple locations, and combine the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal;

a series of beam signal leads adapted to carry the beam signals to the transducer cells; and

a series of echo signal leads adapted to carry the multiplexed echo signals from the transducer cells.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 comprising at least 256 transducer cells.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein each transducer cell includes at least 1 ultrasonic beam generator and at least 16 ultrasonic echo detectors.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein each transducer cell includes a multiplexer adapted to combine at least a portion of the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal.

5. A handheld probe for an ultrasound system, comprising:

a probe receiver adapted to wirelessly receive beam signals;

a first integrated circuit including a two-dimensional array of transducer cells, each transducer cell adapted to receive a beam signal, generate an ultrasonic beam, detect an ultrasonic echo at multiple locations, and combine the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal, a series of beam signal leads connected to the wireless receiver and adapted to carry the beam signals to the transducer cells, and a series of echo signal leads adapted to carry the multiplexed echo signals from the transducer cells;

a second integrated circuit including a multiplexer connected to the series of echo signal leads and adapted to combine the multiplexed echo signals; and

a probe transmitter connected to the multiplexer and adapted to wirelessly transmit a multiplexed echo signal.

6. The handheld probe of claim 5 further comprising a display.

7. The handheld probe of claim 6 wherein the probe receiver is further adapted to wirelessly receive a system configuration signal, and wherein the display is adapted to display the system configuration.

8. The handheld probe of claim 6 wherein the probe receiver is further adapted to wirelessly receive an image signal, and wherein the display is adapted to display the image signal.

9. The handheld probe of claim 5 further comprising a probe controls adapted to provide operator interaction, wherein the probe transmitter is further connected to the probe controls and is further adapted to wirelessly transmit an operator command.

10. The handheld probe of claim 5 comprising at least 256 transducer cells.

11. The handheld probe of claim 10, wherein each transducer cell includes at least 1 ultrasonic beam generator and at least 16 ultrasonic echo detectors.

12. The handheld probe of claim 10, wherein each transducer cell includes a multiplexer adapted to combine at least a portion of the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal.

13. An ultrasound system, comprising:

a central console including a controller adapted to create beam signals;

a console transmitter connected to the controller and adapted to wirelessly transmit the beam signals; and

a handheld probe including a probe receiver adapted to wirelessly receive the beam signals;

a first integrated circuit including a two-dimensional array of transducer cells, each transducer cell adapted to receive a beam signal, generate an ultrasonic beam, detect an ultrasonic echo at multiple locations, and combine the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal, a series of beam signal leads connected to the wireless receiver and adapted to carry the beam signals to the transducer cells, and a series of echo signal leads adapted to carry the multiplexed echo signals from the transducer cells;

a second integrated circuit including a multiplexer connected to the series of echo signal leads and adapted to combine the multiplexed echo signals; and

a probe transmitter connected to the multiplexer and adapted to wirelessly transmit a multiplexed echo signal;

wherein the central console further includes a console receiver adapted to wirelessly receive a multiplexed echo signal; and

an image processor adapted to construct an image from the echo signals.

14. The ultrasound system of claim 13 further comprising a display.

15. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein the probe receiver is further adapted to wirelessly receive a system configuration signal, and wherein the display is adapted to display the system configuration.

16. The ultrasound system of claim 14 wherein the probe receiver is further adapted to wirelessly receive an image signal, and wherein the display is adapted to display the image signal.

17. The ultrasound system of claim 13 further comprising a probe controls adapted to provide operator interaction, wherein the probe transmitter is further connected to the probe controls and is further adapted to wirelessly transmit an operator command.

18. The ultrasound system of claim 13 comprising at least 256 transducer cells.

19. The ultrasound system of claim 18, wherein each transducer cell includes at least 1 ultrasonic beam generator and at least 16 ultrasonic echo detectors.

20. The ultrasound system of claim 18, wherein each transducer cell includes a multiplexer adapted to combine at least a portion of the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal.