Wireless Ultrasound Probe Asset Tracking

• US 20100277305A1
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Fleming, Christopher, Appareti, Kevin, Fraser, John, Poland, McKee, Wilson, Martha, Cuscuna, Dino, Gades, Anthony, Haley, Denise, Garner, David, Rust, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,461,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• 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 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• 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 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• 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

Abstract

A wireless ultrasound probe has a probe case enclosing a transducer array, an acquisition circuit, a transceiver and a battery. The probe also includes a loudspeaker which produces audible sounds as a function of the range between the wireless probe and a host system. When the probe is within a near field range of the host system, the loudspeaker is silent. But if the probe is moved to an intermediate or a far field range from the host system, the loudspeaker sounds an alert. This audible alert can be used to locate the probe by transmitting a paging signal which, upon reception by the probe, causes the probe to sound its alert. If the probe is moved to an unauthorized location where it is within range of a transmitter or receiver, the reception of a signal by the probe, the transmitter, or receiver will sound an alert signaling the unauthorized presence of the wireless probe.

Claims

1. A wireless ultrasound probe which transmits image data wirelessly to a host system comprising:

an array transducer;

an acquisition circuit coupled to the array transducer;

a transceiver coupled to the acquisition circuit which acts to wirelessly exchange r.f. signal information with a host system;

a battery which operates to provide energizing potential to the array transducer, the acquisition circuit, and the transceiver;

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

a range indicator based on r.f. signal reception; and

a loudspeaker responsive to indicated signal strength which acts to issue an audible tone in response to an undesired signal strength.

2. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the range indicator and the loudspeaker are located in the probe case.

3. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the range indicator and the loudspeaker are located on the host system.

4. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the r.f. signal strength is a function of the range between the wireless probe and the host system, and wherein the range comprises:

a near field range in which the loudspeaker is not sounded due to the range;

and intermediate field range in which the loudspeaker is sounded due to the range; and

a far field range in which the wireless probe and the host system are unable to effectively communicate with each other.

5. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 4, wherein the loudspeaker is sounded when the range between the wireless probe and the host system is the far field range.

6. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the r.f. signal strength is a function of the range between the wireless probe and the host system, and wherein the range comprises:

a near field range in which the loudspeaker is not sounded due to the range; and

a far field range in which the loudspeaker is sounded due to the range.

7. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein, when the wireless probe and the host system are within the near field range of each other, the wireless probe and the host system are capable of effective communication with each other.

8. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 7, wherein, when the wireless probe and the host system are within the far field range of each other, the wireless probe and the host system are not capable of effective communication with each other.

9. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the range is a function of the transit time of an r.f. signal between the wireless probe and the host system, and wherein the range further comprises:

a near field range in which the loudspeaker is not sounded due to the range; and

a far field range in which the loudspeaker is sounded due to the range.

10. A wireless ultrasound probe which transmits image data wirelessly to a host system comprising:

an array transducer;

an acquisition circuit coupled to the array transducer;

a transceiver coupled to the acquisition circuit which acts to wirelessly receive r.f. signal information from a transmitter;

a battery which operates to provide energizing potential to the array transducer, the acquisition circuit, and the transceiver;

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

a loudspeaker located in the case and responsive to the reception of predetermined r.f. signal information from the transmitter,

wherein the loudspeaker acts to issue an audible tone in response to the reception of the predetermined r.f. signal.

11. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 10, wherein the predetermined r.f. signal is a paging signal,

wherein the tone indicates the location of the wireless probe.

12. A wireless ultrasound probe which transmits image data wirelessly to a host system comprising:

an array transducer;

an acquisition circuit coupled to the array transducer;

a transceiver coupled to the acquisition circuit which acts to wirelessly transmit or receive r.f. signal information;

a battery which operates to provide energizing potential to the array transducer, the acquisition circuit, and the transceiver;

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

a loudspeaker responsive to the reception of predetermined r.f. signal information from the transmitter,

wherein the loudspeaker acts to issue an audible tone in response to the reception of the predetermined r.f. signal.

13. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 12, wherein the transceiver acts to wirelessly transmit r.f. signal information to a receiver,

wherein the reception of the r.f. signal information by the receiver acts to cause the loudspeaker to issue the audible tone.

14. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 13, wherein the loudspeaker is located at the receiver.

15. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 13, wherein the loudspeaker is located in the case.

16. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 12, wherein the transceiver acts to wirelessly receiver r.f. signal information from a transmitter,

wherein the reception of the r.f. signal information by the transceiver acts to cause the loudspeaker to issue the audible tone.

17. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 16, wherein the loudspeaker is located at the transmitter.

18. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 16, wherein the loudspeaker is located in the case.