MULTI-PURPOSE ULTRASOUND IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE

• US 20160015368A1
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Poland, McKee
• Granted Patent: US 10,085,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/145 characterised by scanning multiple planes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4411 Device being modular
• 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 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/464 involving a plurality of displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/466 adapted to display 3D data 3D imaging and stereoscopic displays in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S15/8993 and G01S7/52068, respectively; 3D image rendering G06T15/00; manipulating 3D models for computer graphics G06T19/00
• 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 8/5207 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image reconstruction G06T11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ultrasound image acquisition device (46) for use together with a console device (16, 18) to form an ultrasound imaging system (10) and a corresponding method. The ultrasound image acquisition device (46) particularly comprises a recognition device for recognizing an operating mode of the ultrasound image acquisition device, wherein the recognition device is configured to recognize the operating mode depending on a type of the console device (16, 18) and/or an applicable communication standard of the interface (50). By this, a dual purpose image acquisition probe (14) may be provided.

Claims

1. An ultrasound image acquisition device for use together with a console device to form an ultrasound imaging system, the ultrasound image acquisition device comprising:

a transducer array configured to provide an ultrasound receive signal;

an image acquisition hardware assembly having a beam former configured to control the transducer array, and further configured to receive the ultrasound receive signal and to provide an image signal, and a signal processor configured to receive the image signal and to provide image data;

an interface for connecting the ultrasound image acquisition device with a console device, and

a recognition device for recognizing an operating mode of the ultrasound image acquisition device, wherein the recognition device is configured to recognize the operating mode depending on a type of the console device and/or an applicable communication standard of the interface wherein the image acquisition device is configured to switch the transducer array and/or the image acquisition hardware assembly between at least two operating states based on the recognized operating mode, the at least two operating states including a first operating state enabling a two-dimensional planar ultrasound image acquisition and a second operating state enabling a three-dimensional volume ultrasound image acquisition.

3. The ultrasound image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the image acquisition device is configured to switch the transducer array and/or the image acquisition hardware assembly between at least a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein in the first operating state the transducer array and/or the image acquisition hardware assembly consume more power than in the second operating state.

4. The ultrasound image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to support at least two communication standards.

5. The ultrasound image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the image acquisition device is configured to switch the interface into a first communication standard in the first operating mode and into a second communication standard in the second operating mode, wherein the first communication standard has a higher data transfer rate than the second communication standard.

6. The ultrasound image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein a first recognizable type of the console device is a mobile console and a second recognizable type of the console device is a cart-supported console.

8. The ultrasound image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound acquisition device is a portable probe having a probe housing, and wherein the transducer array and the image acquisition hardware assembly are located within the probe housing.

9. The ultrasound image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound image acquisition device further comprises an image processor configured to receive the image data and to provide display data.

10. The ultrasound image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound image acquisition device further comprises a master beam former and a multitude of micro beam formers.

11. The ultrasound image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the interface is a cable-connected interface, and wherein the interface further has a power line powering the ultrasound image acquisition device.

12. An ultrasound imaging system for providing an ultrasound image, comprising the ultrasound image acquisition device according to claim 1 and a console device, wherein the console device has a display and an input device and wherein the console device and the ultrasound image acquisition device are connected via the interface.

13. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 12, wherein the console device is either a mobile console comprising a central processing unit for operating the mobile console and a display unit configured to receive the display data and to provide the image, or wherein the console device is a cart-supported console, wherein the cart-supported console comprises a further image acquisition and processing hardware assembly, wherein the further image acquisition and processing hardware assembly comprises at least one of a group consisting of a beam former configured to control the transducer array, and further configured to receive the ultrasound receive signal and to provide an image signal, a signal processor configured to receive the image signal and to provide image data, and an image processor configured to receive the image data from the signal processor and to provide display data.

14. An ultrasound image acquisition kit for providing an ultrasound image, comprising the ultrasound image acquisition device according to claim 1, and at least two console devices, wherein one of the console devices is a mobile console and another of the console devices is a cart-supported console, and wherein the ultrasound image acquisition device is connectable to one of the console devices via the interface.

15. A method for specifying an operating state for an ultrasound image acquisition, the method comprising the steps of:

Providing an ultrasound image acquisition device according to claim 1;

Connecting the ultrasound image acquisition device to a console device;

Recognizing an operating mode depending on a type of the console device via the recognition device of the ultrasound image acquisition device; and

Switching the transducer array and/or the image acquisition hardware assembly between at least two operating states based on the recognized operating mode the at least two operating states including a first operating state enabling a two-dimensional planar ultrasound image acquisition and a second operating state enabling a three-dimensional volume ultrasound image acquisition.

2. (canceled)

7. (canceled)