Wireless Ultrasound Probe User Interface

• US 20100160786A1
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Nordgren, Tim, Rust, David
• Application Number:
  US12/600,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20100160786A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4433 involving a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead
• 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

A wireless ultrasound probe has a probe case enclosing a transducer array, a probe controller, and a transceiver which wirelessly receives control signals from and transmits image signals to a host system. Mounted on the probe case is a liquid-tight user interface including basic probe user controls such as directional controls, an image freeze control, and an image save control. The user interface may be fabricated as a touchpanel LCD or OLED display. The probe may alternatively be controlled by a separate user interface which wirelessly transmits control signals to the host system or the probe. Either user interface may also include a display such as battery charge and signal strength indicators.

Claims

1. A user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe which transmits image data wirelessly to a host system for display comprising:

an array transducer;

a probe control circuit coupled to the array transducer;

a transceiver coupled to the probe control circuit which acts to wirelessly transmit image information signals to the host system;

a battery;

a probe case housing the array transducer, probe control circuit, transceiver, and battery; and

a user interface, located on the probe integral to and liquid-tight with the probe case and coupled to the probe control circuit, the user interface having a display of signal strength and remaining battery power and one or more user controls by which a user controls a scanning procedure.

2. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the user controls include an on/off switch.

3. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the user controls include an image freeze control and an image save control.

4. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the user controls include a directional control.

5. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 4, wherein the directional control further comprises a pair of up and down controls.

6. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the user controls include a gain control.

7. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein the user interface further comprises a plurality of buttons which are liquid-tight.

8. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises an electronic touchpanel control.

9. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 8, wherein the electronic touchpanel control further comprises an LCD display.

10. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 8, wherein the electronic touchpanel control further comprises an OLED display.

11. (canceled)

12. A user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe which transmits image data wirelessly to a host system for display comprising:

an array transducer;

a probe control circuit coupled to the array transducer;

a transceiver coupled to the probe control circuit which acts to wirelessly receive control signals and transmit image information signals to the host system; and

a user interface, wirelessly coupled to the probe, and including a plurality of user controls operable to control the probe.

13. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 12, wherein the user interface is battery-powered and further comprises a transceiver responsive to the user controls which acts to transmit control signals to at least one of the probe and the host system.

14. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 13, wherein the host system is responsive to control signals received from the user interface for transmitting control signals to the probe.

15. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 12, wherein the user controls include and up-down-left-right control.

16. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 12, wherein the user controls include an on/off switch.

17. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 12, wherein the user interface further includes a battery charge indicator and a signal strength indicator.

18. The user-controlled wireless ultrasound probe of claim 12, wherein the user controls further include a mode control.