RECONFIGURABLE WIRELESS ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM

• US 20100022882A1
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Duckworth, Reginald James, Cordeiro, Philip, Pedersen, Peder C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/447
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• 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

Abstract

An untethered ultrasound imaging system having selectable command control and wireless component connection and image transmission. Ultrasound data collected by the ultrasound system can be augmented with additional sensor data.

Claims

1. A method (200) for ruggedized ultrasound imaging comprising the steps of:

electronically coupling an embedded computer (16A), a power supply (21), an ultrasound transducer (14), ultrasound front end (23), an output device (59), an input device (45), and a computer-readable medium (57);

enclosing the embedded computer (16A), the computer-readable medium (57), at least one device interface (15), at least one communications interface (49), and the power supply (21) in a sealed enclosure (22);

maintaining the temperature inside the sealed enclosure (22) with a cooling device (123);

creating ultrasound images (43) in the embedded computer (16A) from a signal (41) received from the front end (23) and the ultrasound transducer (14);

providing the ultrasound images (43) to the output device (59); and

storing the ultrasound images (43) in the database (51).

2. The method (200) of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

thermally controlling the temperature of the enclosure 22 by the cooling device (123); and

separating the sealed enclosure (22) from the cooling device (123) with a heat sink (42).

3. The method (200) of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

configuring the sealed enclosure (22), a power source (27), the ultrasound transducer (14), the ultrasound front end (23), the output device (59), and the input device (45) into a use-specific entity.

4. The method (200) of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

configuring the sealed enclosure (22), a power source (27), the front end (23), the ultrasound transducer (14), and the input device (45) into a use-specific entity selected from the group consisting of clothing, a bag, and a saddle; and

selecting the viewing device (33), based on clinical and physical requirements, from a group consisting of a wearable display, a removable display, a wireless display and a human limb-mounted display.

5. The method (200) of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

configuring the embedded computer (16A) with at least one physiological sensor probe (56), a power source (27), at least one output device (59), and at least one medical device; and

dynamically reconfiguring the embedded computer (16A) with another physiological sensor probe, another medical device, another input device, and another output device.

6. The method (200) of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

selecting the at least one input device (45) from a group consisting of a touch screen, a microphone (20), a joystick, and a computer mouse device (46).

7. The method (200) of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

configuring wireless communications between the embedded computer (16A) and the input device (45);

configuring wireless communications between the embedded computer (16A) and the viewing device (33).

8. The method (200) of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving input data into the embedded computer (16) from the at least one input device (45);

determining a command (79) based on input data (47) and events (77); and

controlling said steps of formulating ultrasound images (43), providing the ultrasound images (43), and storing the ultrasound images (43) by the command (79).

9. The method (200) of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

configuring the at least one input device (45) as a microphone (20);

configuring the embedded computer (16A) with a speech recognition device (98) and the microphone (20);

receiving audio data (112) into the embedded computer (16A) from the microphone (20);

transmitting the audio data (112) to the speech recognition device (98);

receiving a recognition result (118) associated with the audio data (112) from the speech recognition device (98);

determining a grammar (91A); and

determining a command (79) based on the recognition result (118), the grammar (91A), and the audio input (112).

10. The method (200) of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

configuring the embedded computer (16A) with a power supply controller (35) for controlling the power supply (21);

receiving power supply data (17) from the power supply (21) and the power source (27) through the power supply controller (35);

electronically coupling a power source (27) with the power supply (21);

sequencing the use of the power source (27) based on the power supply data (17);

detecting abnormal power conditions based on the power supply data (17);

correcting abnormal power conditions based on the power supply data (17);

maintaining the power source (27) based on the power supply data (17); and

activating and deactivating the cooling device (123) based on the temperature of the heat sink (42) and a pre-selected temperature of the enclosure (22).

11. The method (200) of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

configuring the viewing device (33) as a 3D display for viewing of surface rendered 3D images.

29. A computer node (16) in a communications network (71) configured to carry out the method (200) according to claim 1.

30. A communications network (71) comprising at least one node (16) for carrying out the method (200) according to claim 1.

31. A computer-readable medium (57) having instructions embodied therein for the practice of the method (200) of claim 1.

12. A ruggedized ultrasound imaging system (100) comprising:

a power supply controller (35) configured to control a power supply (21);

an ultrasound transducer (14) and front end (23) configured to provide a signal (41);

an input device (45) configured to receive input data (47) from a user;

an embedded computer (16A) electronically coupled with said power supply (21), said power supply controller (35), said ultrasound transducer (14), said input device (45), an output device (59), and a computer-readable medium (57), said embedded computer (16A) being configured to;

receive said signal (41) and formulate said signal (41) into an image (43);

receive said input data (47) from said input device (45);

communicate power supply data (17) to said power supply (21) and a power source (27) through said power supply controller (35);

present said image (43) on said viewing device (33); and

store said input data (47) in association with said image (43) in a database (51) configured to enable retrieval of the associated information;

a sealed enclosure (22) configured to enclose said embedded computer (16A), a computer-readable medium (57), said power supply (21), and said power supply controller (35); and

a cooling device (123) configured to maintain the temperature inside said sealed enclosure (22).

13. The system (100) of claim 12 further comprising:

a heat sink (42) configured to separate said cooling device (123) from said sealed enclosure (22); and

a temperature sensor (119A) configured to control cooling activity by said cooling device (123).

14. The system (100) of claim 12 further comprising:

a use-specific entity configured to package said sealed enclosure (22), said power source (27), said ultrasound transducer (14), said viewing device (33), and said input device (45).

15. The system (100) of claim 12 further comprising:

a use-specific entity configured to package said sealed enclosure (22), said power source (27), said ultrasound transducer (14), and said input device (45); and

an output device (59) selected from a group consisting of a wearable display, a removable display, a wireless display and a human limb-mounted display.

16. The system (100) of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one physiological sensor probe (56) configured to measure physiological data; and

at least one medical device configured to measure medical conditions;

wherein said embedded computer (16A) can be dynamically reconfigured with another physiological sensor probe, another medical device, another input device, another power source, and another output device.

17. The system (100) of claim 12 further comprising:

a wireless communications interface configured to provide data transmission between said embedded computer (16A) and said input device (45), and between said embedded computer (16A) and said output device (59).

18. The system (100) of claim 12 wherein said input device is selected from a group consisting of a touch screen, a microphone (20), a joystick, and a computer mouse device (46).

19. The system (100) of claim 12 further comprising:

a speech recognition device (98) configured to receive audio data (112);

said speech recognition device (98) configured to

receive a grammar (91A); and

provide a recognition result (118) and command (79) to said embedded computer (16A) based on said audio data (112) and said grammar (91A).

20. The system (100) of claim 19 wherein said embedded computer (16A) is further configured with:

an applications processor (53) including;

an ultrasound transducer front-end (23) configured to communicate with said ultrasound transducer (14);

a database manager (85) configured to communicate with said database (51);

an image processor (95) configured to receive and transmit said image (43);

an image archiver (87) configured to archive said image (43) and physiological data (57A) to said database (51);

an image annotator (93) configured to associate said image (43) with said input data (47);

a logging processor (89) configured to track a plurality of said commands (79);

a configuration processor (83) configured to couple said embedded computer (16A) with said power supply (21), a computer-readable medium (57), said speech recognition device (98), said ultrasound transducer (14), said output device (59), and said input device (45);

an error handier (82) configured to manage failures in said embedded computer (16A);

a three-dimensional volumetric processor (97) configured to present three-dimensional images on said output device (59); and

a three-dimensional sensor interface (101) configured to process three-dimensional data from said ultrasound transducer (14) and provide the three-dimensional data to said three-dimensional volumetric processor (97);

a server processor (63) including;

an language processor (65) configured to process a language used to enable communications between said embedded computer (16A) and a remote location; and

a server interface process (67) configured to transmit messages between said embedded computer (16A) and said remote location; and

a communications mechanism (81) configured to provide interprocess communications between said applications processor (53) and said server processor (63).

21. The system (100) of claim 19 wherein said power supply controller (35) comprises:

a voltage monitor (111) configured to monitor power supply data (17);

a host interface (37) configured to

receive said power supply data (17) from said power supply (21) and said power source (27);

send said power supply data (17) to said power supply (21) and said power source (27); and

present said power supply data (17) at said viewing device (33);

a microcontroller (115) configured to adjust said power supply data (17);

a power source charger (117) configured to recharge said power source (27);

a temperature sensor (119A) configured to measure heat emitted by said embedded computer (16A); and

a cooling device controller (121) configured to control a cooling device (123) based on the measured heat.

22. The system (100) of claim 12 further comprising:

an enclosure (22) configured to protect said embedded computer (16A), said enclosure (22) including;

a sealed section (42A) configured to enclose said embedded computer (16A), said computer-readable medium (57), said power supply (21), and said power supply controller (35); and

a ventilation section (42B) configured with at least one cooling device (123) controlled by said cooling device controller (121).

23. The system (100) of claim 12 further comprising:

a use-specific entity configured to hold said enclosure (22), said power supply (21), said input device (45), said front end (23), and said ultrasound transducer (14); and

a headset (18) configured with said output device (59), said headset (18) being electronically coupled with said embedded computer (16A).

24. The system (100) of claim 12 wherein said command (79) includes:

changing an imaging modality for said image (43);

changing a focal depth of said ultrasound transducer (14);

changing a gain of said ultrasound transducer (14);

changing a color palette of said ultrasound transducer (14);

entering said patient information into said database (51);

sequencing said power source (27) based on said power supply data (17);

detecting abnormal power conditions based on said power supply data (17);

correcting said abnormal power conditions based on said power supply data (17);

maintaining said power source (27) based on said power supply data (17);

activating and deactivating said cooling device (123) based on said power supply data (17); and

storing images (43) from said ultrasound transducer (14).

25. The system (1100) of claim 12 further comprising:

a three-dimensional-capable display configured to render three-dimensional images.

26. The system (100) of claim 12 wherein said power source (27) includes a plurality of batteries (12), said batteries (12) being hot swappable.

27. The system (100) of claim 15 wherein said physiological sensor (56) is selected from a group consisting of a pulse-oximeter probe (56C), an ECG device (56B), a spirometer, a camera (56A), a wireless camera, a blood gas analyzer, and a stethoscope (56D).

28. A power supply controller comprising:

a voltage monitor (111) configured to monitor power supply data (17);

a host interface (37) configured to

receive said power supply data (17) from a power supply (21) and a power source (27);

send said power supply data (17) to said power supply (21) and said power source (27); and

present said power supply data (17) at a viewing device (33);

a microcontroller (115) configured to adjust said power supply data (17);

a power source charger (117) configured to recharge said power source (27);

a temperature sensor (119A) configured to measure heat emitted by an embedded computer (16A); and

a cooling device controller (121) configured to control a cooling device (123) based on the measured heat.