Transurethral ultrasonic imaging system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ultrasound scanning system for imaging a patient'"'"'s genitourinary system, the ultrasound scanning system comprising:
- an acoustic imaging catheter capable of insertion within the patient'"'"'s urethra;
a motion control system for controlling axial and rotational motion of the acoustic imaging catheter; and
an imaging computer system in communication with the acoustic imaging catheter and the motion control system, the imaging computer system outputting signals to the acoustic imaging catheter and processing signals received from the acoustic imaging catheter and generating image data for display on an associated imaging device, wherein the image viewing device is positioned in a location allowing substantially simultaneous view of both a patient'"'"'s pelvic region and the image viewing device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound scanning system and methods of using the same. In one preferred form, an ultrasound scanning system comprises an acoustic imaging catheter comprising an ultrasonic transducer, a motion control system and an imaging computer system for imaging a patient'"'"'s genitourinary system. In another preferred form, an ultrasound scanning system is used for imaging a patient'"'"'s prostate gland.
61 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An ultrasound scanning system for imaging a patient'"'"'s genitourinary system, the ultrasound scanning system comprising:
-
an acoustic imaging catheter capable of insertion within the patient'"'"'s urethra;
a motion control system for controlling axial and rotational motion of the acoustic imaging catheter; and
an imaging computer system in communication with the acoustic imaging catheter and the motion control system, the imaging computer system outputting signals to the acoustic imaging catheter and processing signals received from the acoustic imaging catheter and generating image data for display on an associated imaging device, wherein the image viewing device is positioned in a location allowing substantially simultaneous view of both a patient'"'"'s pelvic region and the image viewing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An ultrasound scanning system for imaging a patient'"'"'s prostate gland, the ultrasound scanning system comprising:
-
an acoustic imaging catheter wherein the acoustic imaging catheter comprises an ultrasonic transducer for scanning the patient'"'"'s prostate gland;
an imaging computer system for processing signals from the ultrasonic transducer and creating multiple transverse slice images which can be assembled into a three dimensional rendering of the patient'"'"'s prostate gland wherein the imaging computer system comprises;
means for storing the multiple transverse slice images of the patient'"'"'s prostate gland in relation to the position of the acoustic imaging catheter relative to the neck of the patient'"'"'s urinary bladder;
means for displaying image data relating to the patient'"'"'s prostate gland;
means for controlling axial and rotational motion of the acoustic imaging catheter; and
a remote keypad for controlling the imaging of the patient'"'"'s prostate gland and limiting interaction between a physician and the ultrasound scanning system to minimize potential for errant instructions; and
a motion control system comprising;
an interface for connecting the motion control system to the imaging computer system;
a motor for moving the acoustic imaging catheter inside the patient'"'"'s prostatic urethra wherein the acoustic imaging catheter is moved to different positions inside the patient'"'"'s prostatic urethra in relation to the neck of the patient'"'"'s urinary bladder;
a motion platform for rotating the ultrasonic transducer inside the acoustic imaging catheter;
a motion control micro controller for controlling the rotational speed of the motor and the axial motion of the acoustic imaging catheter;
a rotational motor encoder for providing rotational speed information of the motor and orienting a superior aspect of the image of the patient'"'"'s prostate gland at the top of a display screen; and
a speech recognition micro controller for processing speech signals for controlling motion of the motor and control of the imaging computer system.
-
-
10. A method for imaging a patient'"'"'s prostate gland using an ultrasound scanning system, the method comprising:
-
positioning an ultrasonic transducer within the patient'"'"'s prostatic urethra;
rotating the ultrasonic transducer inside an acoustic imaging catheter wherein rotating the ultrasonic transducer inside the acoustic imaging catheter enables production of scan data representative of a section of the patient'"'"'s prostate gland;
moving the acoustic imaging catheter to different positions inside the patient'"'"'s prostatic urethra in relation to a fixed anatomical landmark to generate images of selected sections of the patient'"'"'s prostate gland; and
processing the multiple images of the patient'"'"'s prostate gland to create a three-dimensional image of the patient'"'"'s prostate gland. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for imaging a patient'"'"'s genitourinary system, the method comprising:
-
positioning an ultrasonic transducer within the patient'"'"'s urethra;
rotating the ultrasonic transducer inside an acoustic imaging catheter wherein rotating the ultrasonic transducer inside the acoustic imaging catheter enables production of scan data representative of a section of the patient'"'"'s genitourinary system;
moving the acoustic imaging catheter to different positions inside the patient'"'"'s urethra in relation to a fixed anatomical landmark to generate images of selected sections of the patient'"'"'s genitourinary system; and
processing the multiple images of the patient'"'"'s prostate gland to create a three-dimensional image of a selected region of the patient'"'"'s genitourinary system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification