Synchronized power supply for medical imaging

• US 20060094960A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
• Inventors: Phung, Hue
• Granted Patent: US 8,287,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52017 particularly adapted to short-range imaging G01S7/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5205 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52077 with means for elimination of unwanted signals, e.g. noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/12 Arrangements for reducing harmonics from ac input or output

Abstract

An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object by projecting ultrasound signals with a transmit carrier frequency. The ultrasonic image scanning system includes a switching mode power supply operated with a programmable clock in synchronization with the transmit carrier frequency. The switching mode power supply further provided with circuits for generating a low voltage and a high voltage. The ultrasonic image scanning system further includes transducers for projecting ultrasound signals wherein the transducers are connected to and electrically excited by the high voltage generated by the switching mode power supply. The switching mode power supply further includes a DC-to-DC switcher having an external clock input for clock synchronization. The programmable clock further provided for receiving a user command to operate with the switching mode power supply in synchronization with the transmit carrier frequency

Claims

1. An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object by projecting ultrasound signals with a transmit carrier frequency comprising:

a switching mode power supply operated with an programmable clock in synchronization with said transmit carrier frequency.

2. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

said switching mode power supply further provided with circuits for generating a low voltage and a high voltage.

3. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 2 further comprising:

transducers for projecting ultrasound signals wherein said transducers are connected to and electrically excited by said high voltage generated by said switching mode power supply.

4. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

said switching mode power supply further comprising a DC-to-DC switcher having an external clock input for clock synchronization.

5. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

said programmable clock further provided for receiving a user command for operating with said switching mode power supply in synchronization with said transmit carrier frequency.

6. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

said programmable clock further provided for synchronizing clocks depending on a pulse repetition period.

7. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

said programmable clock further provided for synchronizing clocks depending on an image depth.

8. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

said programmable clock further provided for synchronizing clocks depending on a mode setting.

9. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

a linear voltage regulator for stabilizing and minimizing ripples in an output voltage.

10. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

said switching mode power supply further comprising a DC-to-DC switcher having an external clock; and

said ultrasonic image scanning system further comprising a system controller for controlling said programmable synchronization clock and said external clock for synchronizing said DC-do-DC switcher.

11. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

a system controller for controlling said programmable clock for synchronizing clocks depending on a pulse repetition period.

12. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

a system controller for controlling said programmable clock for synchronizing clocks depending on an image depth.

13. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

a system controller for controlling said programmable clock for synchronizing clocks depending on a mode setting.

14. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

a filter for removing a substantially coherent interference signal generated by said switching mode power supply synchronizing substantially with said transmit carrier frequency.

15. A method for configuring an ultrasonic image scanning system without a linear voltage regulator, comprising:

projecting ultrasound signals with a transmit carrier frequency for scanning an organic object; and

synchronizing a switching mode power supply with said transmit carrier frequency by operating said switching mode power supply with a programmable clock.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

applying a system controller for controlling said programmable clock for synchronizing clocks depending on a pulse repetition period.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

applying a system controller for controlling said programmable clock for synchronizing clocks depending on an image depth.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

applying a system controller for controlling said programmable clock for synchronizing clocks depending on a mode setting.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

applying a system controller for controlling a digital programmable counter of said programmable clock for synchronizing clocks depending on a pulse repetition period.

16. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

employing a filter for removing a substantially coherent interference signal generated by said switching mode power supply synchronizing substantially with said transmit carrier frequency.