Transducer array imaging system

• US 20080114241A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Penrith Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Randall, Kevin S., Klessel, Jodi Schwartz, Urbano, Joseph A., Lannutti, Anthony P., Weymer, Raymond F.
• Application Number:
  US11/595,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114241A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 8/4422 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52017 particularly adapted to short-range imaging G01S7/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52085 Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52096 related to power management, e.g. saving power or prolonging life of electronic components details of power supplies for ultrasonic medical diagnostic imaging devices A61B8/56

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments include a method, system, and device for conducting ultrasound interrogation of a medium. The novel method includes transmitting a non-beamformed or beamformed ultrasound wave into the medium, receiving more than one echoed ultrasound wave from the medium, and converting the received echoed ultrasound wave into digital data. The novel method may further transmit the digital data. In some embodiments, the transmitting may be wireless. The novel device may include transducer elements, an analog-to-digital converter in communication with the transducer elements, and a transmitter in communication with the analog-to-digital converter. The transducers may operate to convert a first electrical energy into an ultrasound wave. The first electrical energy may or may not be beamformed. The transducers also may convert an echoed ultrasound wave into a second electrical energy. The analog-to-digital converter may convert the electrical energy into digital data, and the transmitter may transmit the digital data.

Claims

1. A system for conducting ultrasound interrogation of a medium, comprising:

a main unit; and

a remote unit in wireless communication with the main unit, wherein digital ultrasound data and control data is communicated with the main unit and the remote unit, and wherein the control data permits the main unit to distinguish the remote unit from another remote unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the main unit distinguishes the remote unit from another remote unit based on at least one of the following:

a proximity of the main unit to the remote units, a relative strength of a signal communicated by the main unit with the remote units, a predetermined identifier, and an absence of the another remote unit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined identifier includes at least one of the following:

a registered identifier, an identifier used in a previous communication between the main unit and the remote units.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the main unit is a wireless ultrasound probe.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising establishing an exclusive communication of the main unit with the remote units as a function of the distinguishing of the remote unit from another remote unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control data comprises an identifier that is unique to the main unit and the remote unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control data initiates communication between the main unit and the remote unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control data synchronizes communication with the main unit and the remote unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control data ensures communication of the main unit with a predetermined remote unit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein communication of the control data is initiated by at least one of the following:

the main unit, the remote unit, and another unit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the control data is stored in at least one of the following:

the main unit, the remote unit, and another unit, and wherein the stored control data is used following a reduction of power to at least one of the following;

the main unit, the remote unit, and another unit.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor that initiates communication of the control data, wherein the sensor is a part of at least one of the following:

the main unit, the remote unit, and another unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein upon sensing a proximity to the remote unit, the sensor initiates a change in power to the main unit.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein upon sensing a proximity to the main unit, the sensor initiates a change in power to the remote unit.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the control data and the digital ultrasound data are communicated on the same channel.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising more than one antenna located on at least one of the following:

a main unit and remote unit, wherein the antennae are arranged to prevent multipath effects including distortion and signal nulls.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor operates based on at least one of the following techniques:

optical, infrared, capacitive, inductive, electrically conductive, and radio frequency.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein a user initiates communication of the control data via at least one of the following:

the main unit, the remote unit, another unit.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the user initiates communication of the control data by at least one of the following:

pressing a button on the main unit, pressing a button on the remote unit;

touching the remote unit, a voice command, entering a predetermined area in proximity to the remote unit, entering a predetermined area in proximity to the main unit.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the control data comprises at least one of the following:

power status, designation of the main unit, designation of the remote unit, type of main unit, type of remote unit, frequency range, array configuration, power warnings, capability of the remote unit, quality of transmission of digital ultrasound data, quantity of errors in transmission of digital ultrasound data, availability of power required for transmission of digital ultrasound data, change in transmission rate, completion of transmission, quality of data transmission, look-up tables, programming code for field programmable gate arrays and microcontrollers, transmission characteristics of the non-beamformed ultrasound wave, processing characteristics of the digital ultrasound data, processing characteristics of the digital ultrasound data, and variation of frame image collection.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a unique identifier that is communicated with the remote unit and the main unit, wherein the unique identifier prevents another unit from communicating with at least one of the following:

the main unit and the remote unit.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the unique identifier is used to initiate communications with the main unit and the remote unit.

23. A system for conducting ultrasound interrogation of a medium, comprising:

a main unit; and

a remote unit in wireless communication with the main unit, wherein digital ultrasound data and control data is communicated with the main unit and the remote unit, and wherein the control data permits the remote unit to distinguish the main unit from another main unit.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the main unit distinguishes based on at least one of the following:

a proximity of the main unit to the remote units, a relative strength of a signal communicated by the main unit with the remote units, a predetermined identifier, and an absence the another remote unit.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the predetermined identifier includes at least one of the following:

a registered identifier, an identifier used in a previous communication between the main unit and the remote units.

26. The system of claim 23, further comprising establishing an exclusive communication of the main unit with the remote units as a function of the distinguishing.

27. A method for conducting ultrasound interrogation of a medium, comprising:

communicating ultrasound data with a main unit and a remote unit, wherein the remote unit is in wireless communication with the main unit; and

communicating control data with a main unit and a remote unit, wherein the control data permits the main unit to distinguish the remote unit from another remote unit.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the main unit distinguishing the remote unit from another remote unit based on at least one of the following:

a proximity of the main unit to the remote units, a relative strength of a signal communicated by the main unit with the remote units, a predetermined identifier, and an absence of the another remote unit.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the predetermined identifier includes at least one of the following:

a registered identifier, an identifier used in a previous communication between the main unit and the remote units.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the main unit is a wireless ultrasound probe.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising establishing an exclusive communication of the main unit with the remote units as a function of the distinguishing of the remote unit from another remote unit.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the control data comprises an identifier that is unique to the main unit and the remote unit.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising initiating communication between the main unit and the remote unit using the control data.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising synchronizing communication between the main unit and the remote unit using the control data.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising ensuring communication between the main unit and a predetermined remote unit using the control data.

36. The method of claim 27, further comprising initiating communication of the control data using at least one of the following:

the main unit, the remote unit, and another unit.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising storing the control data in at least one of the following:

the main unit, the remote unit, and another unit, and further comprising using the stored control data following a reduction of power to at least one of the following;

the main unit, the remote unit, and another unit.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising initiating communication of the control data using at least one of the following:

the main unit, the remote unit, and another unit.

39. The method of claim 27, further comprising upon sensing a proximity to the remote unit, initiating a change in power to the main unit.

40. The method of claim 27, further comprising upon sensing a proximity to the main unit, initiating a change in power to the remote unit.

41. The method of claim 27, further comprising communicating the control data and the digital ultrasound data on the same channel.

42. The method of claim 27, further comprising a user initiating communication of the control data by at least one of the following:

pressing a button on the main unit, pressing a button on the remote unit, touching the remote unit, a voice command, entering a predetermined area in proximity to the remote unit, entering a predetermined area in proximity to the main unit.

43. The method of claim 27, wherein the control data comprises at least one of the following:

power status, designation of the main unit, designation of the remote unit, type of main unit, type of remote unit, frequency range, array configuration, power warnings, capability of the remote unit, quality of transmission of digital ultrasound data, quantity of errors in transmission of digital ultrasound data, availability of power required for transmission of digital ultrasound data, change in transmission rate, completion of transmission, quality of data transmission, look-up tables, programming code for field programmable gate arrays and microcontrollers, transmission characteristics of the non-beamformed ultrasound wave, processing characteristics of the digital ultrasound data, processing characteristics of the digital ultrasound data, and variation of frame image collection.

44. The method of claim 27, further comprising communicating a unique identifier with the remote unit and the main unit, wherein the unique identifier prevents another unit from communicating with at least one of the following:

the main unit and the remote unit.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the unique identifier is used to initiate communications with the main unit and the remote unit.