SELF-CALIBRATING ULTRASOUND SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a power supply of an ultrasound system, comprising:
- a) via an acoustic sensor, sensing acoustic power output from an ultrasonic transducer; and
b) in response to said acoustic power output, controlling a drive frequency of said power supply.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling acoustic power delivery at ultrasonic frequencies. An embodiment of the invention comprises an ultrasonic device including an ultrasonic transducer and an acoustic sensor having a fixed acoustic coupling to the transducer. A method of the invention may include sensing acoustic power output from the ultrasonic transducer in response to a calibration signal, and determining a drive frequency for a working drive signal to enable efficient and controllable operation of the transducer. The invention may be used for automatically re-calibrating ultrasound systems for optimum performance at frequencies including the range of 3 to 12 MHz.
16 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a power supply of an ultrasound system, comprising:
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a) via an acoustic sensor, sensing acoustic power output from an ultrasonic transducer; and b) in response to said acoustic power output, controlling a drive frequency of said power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for tuning a power supply, comprising:
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a) providing a calibration signal to an ultrasonic transducer; b) via an acoustic sensor, sensing acoustic power outputted from said ultrasonic transducer in response to said calibration signal; c) based on said acoustic power sensed in step b), determining an optimum drive frequency value for said ultrasonic transducer, and d) based on said optimum drive frequency value determined in step c), driving said ultrasonic transducer at a selected drive frequency, wherein said selected drive frequency provides at least substantially optimum acoustic power output from said ultrasonic transducer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating an ultrasound device for treatment of tissue, said ultrasound device including an ultrasound transducer and a power supply generating a high frequency output, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) driving said transducer over a range of operating frequencies; b) monitoring the output of said transducer with an acoustic sensor and generating output signals in response thereto; c) selecting an optimum drive frequency based on said output signals; and d) driving said transducer at said optimum drive frequency during the treatment of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An ultrasonic device, comprising;
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a transducer assembly including an ultrasonic transducer; and an acoustic sensor having a fixed acoustic coupling to said ultrasonic transducer, wherein; said acoustic sensor has a frequency response extending over at least an operating frequency range of said ultrasonic transducer, said ultrasonic transducer is configured for receiving a calibration signal comprising a calibration frequency range, and said acoustic sensor is configured for sensing acoustic power output from said ultrasonic transducer for each of a plurality of frequencies within said calibration frequency range. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An ultrasound system, comprising:
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a power supply; an ultrasonic transducer coupled to said power supply; an acoustic sensor acoustically coupled to said ultrasonic transducer; and a re-calibration circuit coupled to said acoustic sensor and to said power supply, wherein; said ultrasonic transducer is configured for receiving a calibration signal comprising a calibration frequency range, and said acoustic sensor is configured for sensing acoustic power output from said ultrasonic transducer for each of a plurality of frequencies within said calibration frequency range. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification