Ultrasound transducer finger probe
First Claim
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1. A finger probe for use in ultrasonic imaging, comprising:
- a housing;
a matrix array arranged within said housing to produce ultrasound beams, said matrix array comprising a plurality of independently-addressable transducer elements such that ultrasound beams in various planes and volumes are generateable by said transducer elements; and
a finger clip coupled to said housing and arranged to accommodate an operator'"'"'s finger.
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Abstract
Finger probe for use in ultrasonic imaging includes a housing and a matrix array arranged within the housing to produce ultrasound beams and which includes a plurality of independently-addressable transducer elements. A finger clip is coupled to the housing and arranged to accommodate an operator'"'"'s finger. A control unit is coupled to the transducer elements to provide planar and volumetric scanning capabilities. A system and method for ultrasonically interrogating a patient'"'"'s body part and for producing ultrasound images based on the interrogation using a finger-mounted ultrasound probe are also disclosed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A finger probe for use in ultrasonic imaging, comprising:
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a housing;
a matrix array arranged within said housing to produce ultrasound beams, said matrix array comprising a plurality of independently-addressable transducer elements such that ultrasound beams in various planes and volumes are generateable by said transducer elements; and
a finger clip coupled to said housing and arranged to accommodate an operator'"'"'s finger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for ultrasonically interrogating a patient'"'"'s body part and for producing ultrasound images based on the interrogation, the system comprising:
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an ultrasound probe including a matrix array arranged to produce an ultrasound beam and receive reflections of the beam by the patient'"'"'s body part, said matrix array comprising a plurality of independently-addressable transducer elements such that ultrasound beams in various planes and volumes are generateable by said transducer elements;
a finger clip coupled to said probe to enable attachment of said probe to an operator'"'"'s finger; and
a display unit coupled to said probe for displaying ultrasound images based on the ultrasound beam produced by said transducer elements and the reflections received by said transducer elements. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for ultrasonically interrogating a patient'"'"'s body part and for producing ultrasound images based on the interrogation, comprising the steps of:
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arranging a matrix array in a housing of an ultrasound probe, the matrix array comprising a plurality of independently-addressable transducer elements;
coupling a finger clip coupled to the housing of the probe to enable attachment of the probe to an operator'"'"'s finger;
placing the housing of the probe over the patient'"'"'s body part;
controlling the transducer elements to produce an ultrasound beam and receive reflections of the beam from the patient'"'"'s body part; and
displaying ultrasound images generated from the reflections received by the transducer elements. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification