Ultrasound scanning system for skeletal imaging
First Claim
1. An ultrasound scanning system for skeletal imaging of a back comprising:
- an array of ultrasound transducers for generating an ultrasound signal, for receiving an ultrasound signal, and for producing an electrical signal representative of said received ultrasound signal;
means for providing a range signal representative of the distance from each transducer of objects interacting with said ultrasound signal;
means for producing a position signal representative of each transducer position on the back;
means responsive to said range signals and said position signals for differentiating pleural sac and lung tissue from skeletal structure;
means for producing a profile showing range as a function of position;
means for identifying locations on said profile indicative of said skeletal structure; and
means utilizing said identified locations for providing a display representative of said skeletal structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound scanning system particularly adapted for imaging skeletal structure, such as the spinal column. An ultrasound scanning head for generating ultrasound waves and for receiving reflected ultrasound signals is mounted on a transporter for moving it linearily along the spine between a cervical reference point and a sacral reference point. A position transducer monitors the position of the transducer along the spine and a counter measures the time between the ultrasound pulse and its echo to determine the distance from the transducer face to the tissue interface responsible for generating the echo. The distance and range data is smoothed and analyzed in a digital computer using algorithms that distinguish between the echoes received from bone and other tissue such as lung tissue. The bone data is further processed via computer to produce a visual representation of the spine and rib structure sufficient for the diagnosis of spinal misalignment characteristic of scoliosis.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An ultrasound scanning system for skeletal imaging of a back comprising:
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an array of ultrasound transducers for generating an ultrasound signal, for receiving an ultrasound signal, and for producing an electrical signal representative of said received ultrasound signal; means for providing a range signal representative of the distance from each transducer of objects interacting with said ultrasound signal; means for producing a position signal representative of each transducer position on the back; means responsive to said range signals and said position signals for differentiating pleural sac and lung tissue from skeletal structure; means for producing a profile showing range as a function of position; means for identifying locations on said profile indicative of said skeletal structure; and means utilizing said identified locations for providing a display representative of said skeletal structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of skeletal imaging including the steps:
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directing ultrasound signals through a back of a body and receiving said ultrasound signals with an ultrasound transducer while scanning said transducer over said back and detecting the position of said transducer with respect to at least one predetermined reference point along a spine to produce range information correlated with transducer position information; utilizing said range and transducer position information to produce a profile representing range as a function of position; differentiating first points on said profile corresponding to skeletal structure from second points corresponding to intercostal pleural sac tissue; producing a skeletal image representation utilizing said first points; identifying third points corresponding to sides of spinal processes; and using said third points on said profile to detect vertebral rotation.
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10. A method of skeletal imaging including the steps of:
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directing first ultrasound signals through a back of a body and receiving said ultrasound signals with an ultrasound transducer while scanning said transducer over said body portion and detecting the first position of said transducer with respect to at least one predetermined reference point along a spine to produce first range information correlated with transducer position information; utilizing said range and transducer position information to produce a first profile representing range as a function of position; storing the first profile of skeletal structure based upon the first ultrasound signals; directing second ultrasound signals through the back of the body; automatically adjusting, based upon the first profile, a time-gain amplifier to increase gain in areas of expected spinal structure; receiving the second ultrasound signals with the ultrasound transducer while scanning the transducer over the body portion and detecting the second position of the transducer with respect to the predetermined reference point to produce second range information correlated with second transducer position information; utilizing said second range and transducer position information to produce a second profile representing range as a function of position; differentiating first points on said second profile corresponding to skeletal structure from second points corresponding to intercostal pleural sac tissue; and producing a skeletal imaging representation utilizing said first points of the second profile.
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Specification