Method and system for determining contact along a surface of an ultrasound probe

• US 20070010742A1
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lovstakken, Lasse, Torp, Hans, Orderud, Fredrik
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/916 Ultrasound 3-D imaging

Abstract

A method and system for determining contact along a surface of an ultrasound probe are provided. The method includes frequency analyzing ultrasound signals received by the ultrasound probe and displaying indicators of acoustic contact of the ultrasound probe with an object based on the frequency analysis.

Claims

1. A method for determining acoustic contact of an ultrasound probe with an object, said method comprising:

frequency analyzing ultrasound signals received by the ultrasound probe; and

displaying indicators of acoustic contact of the ultrasound probe with an object based on the frequency analysis.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frequency analyzing comprises one of Fourier-transforming and parametric frequency spectrum analyzing the received ultrasound signals.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frequency analyzing comprises calculating a frequency spectrum of the received ultrasound signals.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frequency analyzing comprises generating a lateral frequency map of the received ultrasound signals.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the frequency analyzing comprises calculating a lateral frequency spectrum.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the frequency analyzing comprises comparing the lateral frequency spectrum to a two-way aperture function.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the displaying comprises displaying relative indicators of acoustic contact along a probe surface of the ultrasound probe contacting the object.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the displaying comprises displaying indicators representative of energy levels along a probe surface of the ultrasound probe contacting the object.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising configuring the indicators to indicate a direction to move the ultrasound probe for increased acoustic contact.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the displaying comprises configuring the indicators based on a type of the ultrasound probe.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicators comprise color coded elements forming one of a color-coded histogram and a color-coded contact map.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising updating the indicators based on movement of the ultrasound probe along the object.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the indicators are representative of image quality.

14. A method for indicating acoustic contact of an ultrasound probe with an object, said method comprising:

receiving ultrasound signals using the ultrasound probe;

frequency analyzing the received ultrasound signals including generating a frequency spectrum of the received ultrasound signals; and

displaying indicators of relative power based on the frequency analyzed ultrasound signals, the indicators configured to indicate a direction to move the ultrasound probe to increase acoustic contact with the object.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the frequency analyzing comprises comparing the frequency spectrum to a two-way aperture function.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the ultrasound probe comprises a phased array transducer.

17. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the displaying is provided in real-time.

18. A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising updating the displayed indicators based on changes of the positioning of the ultrasound probe.

19. An ultrasound system comprising:

an ultrasound probe configured to receive ultrasound signals;

a processor configured to frequency analyze the received ultrasound signals; and

a display configured to display indicators of acoustic contact of the ultrasound probe with an object based on the frequency analysis.

20. An ultrasound system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the processor is configured to calculate a lateral frequency spectrum and compare the lateral frequency spectrum to a two-way aperture function.