In Vivo Ultrasound System

• US 20110077513A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Application Number:
  US12/829,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077513A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An in vivo ultrasound system includes first and second bio-medical units. Each of the bio-medical units includes a power harvesting module, an ultrasound transmitter, and an ultrasound receiver. Each of the power harvesting modules is operable to convert an electromagnetic signal into a supply voltage. Each of the ultrasound transmitters is powered by the first supply voltage and transmits an ultrasound signal in accordance with an ultrasound transmit-receive protocol. Each of the ultrasound receivers is powered by the supply voltage and is operable to receive a representation of the first ultrasound signal and receive a representation of a second ultrasound signal.

Claims

1. An in vivo ultrasound system comprises:

a first bio-medical unit including;

a first power harvesting module operable to convert an electromagnetic signal into

a first supply voltage;

a first ultrasound transmitter powered by the first supply voltage, wherein the first ultrasound transmitter is operable to transmit a first ultrasound signal in accordance with an ultrasound transmit-receive protocol;

a first ultrasound receiver powered by the first supply voltage, where in the first ultrasound receiver is operable to;

receive a first representation of the first ultrasound signal; and

receive a first representation of a second ultrasound signal;

a second bio-medical unit including;

a second power harvesting module operable to convert the electromagnetic signal into a second supply voltage;

a second ultrasound transmitter powered by the second supply voltage, wherein the second ultrasound transmitter is operable to transmit the second ultrasound signal in accordance with the ultrasound transmit-receive protocol;

a second ultrasound receiver powered by the second supply voltage, wherein the second ultrasound receiver is operable to;

receive a second representation of the first ultrasound signal; and

receive a second representation of the second ultrasound signal.

2. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 1 further comprises:

the first bio-medical unit further including a first processing module; and

the second bio-medical unit further including a second processing module, wherein the first and second processing modules communicate via the first and second ultrasound transmitters and first and second ultrasound receivers to convey the ultrasound transmit-receive protocol.

3. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 1 further comprises:

the first bio-medical unit further including a first processing module and a first communication module; and

the second bio-medical unit further including a second processing module and a second communication module.

4. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 3 further comprises:

the first and second processing modules communicate via the first and second communication modules to convey the ultrasound transmit-receive protocol.

5. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 3 further comprises:

at least one of the first and second processing modules operable to receive, via at least one of the first and second communication modules, the ultrasound transmit-receive protocol from at least one of an external communication device and another bio-medical unit.

6. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 3 further comprises:

at least one of the first and second processing modules operable to;

collect the first and second representations of the first and second ultrasound signals to produce a collection of ultrasound data; and

transmit, via at least one of the first and second communication modules, the collection of ultrasound data to at least one of an external communication device and another bio-medical unit.

7. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 6 further comprises:

the first and second processing modules operable to determine location information between the first and second bio-medical units; and

the at least one of the first and second processing modules transmitting, via the at least one of the first and second communication modules, the location information to the at least one of an external communication device and another bio-medical unit.

8. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 3 further comprises:

at least one of the first and second processing modules operable to;

determine location information between the first and second bio-medical units;

collect the first and second representations of the first and second ultrasound signals to produce a collection of ultrasound data;

generate image data of a body object based on the location information and the collection of ultrasound data; and

transmit, via at least one of the first and second communication modules, the image data to at least one of an external communication device and another bio-medical unit.

9. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 1 further comprises:

a third bio-medical unit including;

a third power harvesting module operable to convert the electromagnetic signal into a third supply voltage;

a third ultrasound transmitter powered by the third supply voltage, wherein the third ultrasound transmitter is operable to transmit a third ultrasound signal in accordance with the ultrasound transmit-receive protocol;

a third ultrasound receiver powered by the third supply voltage, wherein the third ultrasound receiver is operable to;

receive a third representation of the first ultrasound signal;

receive a third representation of the second ultrasound signal; and

receive a third representation of the third ultrasound signal, wherein each of the first and second ultrasound receivers receive the third representation of the third ultrasound signal.

10. An in vivo ultrasound system comprises:

a first bio-medical unit including;

a first power harvesting module operable to convert an electromagnetic signal into

a first supply voltage;

a first ultrasound transmitter powered by the first supply voltage, wherein the first ultrasound transmitter is operable to transmit a first ultrasound signal at a first frequency;

a first ultrasound receiver powered by the first supply voltage, where in the first ultrasound receiver is operable to;

receive a first representation of the first ultrasound signal; and

receive a first representation of a second ultrasound signal;

a second bio-medical unit including;

a second power harvesting module operable to convert the electromagnetic signal into a second supply voltage;

a second ultrasound transmitter powered by the second supply voltage, wherein the second ultrasound transmitter is operable to transmits the second ultrasound signal at a second frequency;

a second ultrasound receiver powered by the second supply voltage, wherein the second ultrasound receiver is operable to;

receive a second representation of the first ultrasound signal; and

receive a second representation of the second ultrasound signal.

11. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 10 further comprises:

the first bio-medical unit further including a first processing module and a first communication module; and

the second bio-medical unit further including a second processing module and a second communication module.

12. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 11 further comprises:

at least one of the first and second processing modules operable to receive, via at least one of the first and second communication modules, a command regarding the first and second frequencies from at least one of an external communication device and another bio-medical unit.

13. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 11 further comprises:

at least one of the first and second processing modules operable to;

collect the first and second representations of the first and second ultrasound signals to produce a collection of ultrasound data; and

transmit, via at least one of the first and second communication modules, the collection of ultrasound data to at least one of an external communication device and another bio-medical unit.

14. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 13 further comprises:

the first and second processing modules operable to determine location information between the first and second bio-medical units; and

the at least one of the first and second processing modules transmitting, via the at least one of the first and second communication modules, the location information to the at least one of an external communication device and another bio-medical unit.

15. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 11 further comprises:

at least one of the first and second processing modules operable to;

determine location information between the first and second bio-medical units;

collect the first and second representations of the first and second ultrasound signals to produce a collection of ultrasound data;

generate image data of a body object based on the location information and the collection of ultrasound data; and

transmit, via at least one of the first and second communication modules, the image data to at least one of an external communication device and another bio-medical unit.

16. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 11 further comprises:

at least one of the first and second processing modules operable to, at least one of;

vary the first frequency to adjust penetration depth of the first ultrasound signal; and

vary the second frequency to adjust penetration depth of the second ultrasound signal.

17. The in vivo ultrasound system of claim 10 further comprises:

a third bio-medical unit including;

a third power harvesting module operable to convert the electromagnetic signal into a third supply voltage;

a third ultrasound transmitter powered by the third supply voltage, wherein the third ultrasound transmitter is operable to transmits a third ultrasound signal at a third frequency;

a third ultrasound receiver powered by the third supply voltage, wherein the third ultrasound receiver is operable to;

receive a second representation of the first ultrasound signal;

receive a second representation of the second ultrasound signal; and

receive a third representation of the third ultrasound signal, wherein each of the first and second ultrasound receivers receive the third representation of the third ultrasound signal.