Portable ultrasound imaging system

• US 5,957,846 A
• Filed: 11/17/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teratech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Teratech Corporation
• Inventors: Chiang, Alice M., Broadstone, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US08/971,938
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 600/441, 600/446, 600/447, 600/453, 600/454, 600/455, 600/456, 600/457, 600/459, 73/609, 73/625, 73/626
• US Class Current: 600/447
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4236 characterised by adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8915 using a transducer array
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8934 using a dynamic transducer configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8979 Combined Doppler and pulse-echo imaging systems
• 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 7/52023 Details of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52025 for pulse systems G01S7/52034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52026 : Extracting wanted echo signals Doppler systems G01S15/50; Doppler short range imaging systems G01S15/8979
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52046 : Techniques for image enhancement involving transmitter or receiver image enhancement by image data processing G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52053 : Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52063 : Sector scan display
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52073 : Production of cursor lines, markers or indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 : with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52082 : involving a modular construction, e.g. a computer with short range imaging equipment modular ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/4411

Abstract

A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a scan head coupled by a cable to a portable battery-powered data processor and display unit. The scan head enclosure houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode for transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged.

Claims

1. A method of scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image a fluid moving within the region of interest comprising:

providing a portable ultrasound imaging system including a transducer array and a beamforming circuit within a handheld probe, a data processing system, and an interface that connects the handheld probe to the data processing system;

delivering ultrasound energy to fluid moving within the region of interest;

collecting ultrasound energy returning to the transducer array from the fluid; and

generating an image of the fluid from the ultrasound energy detected by the transducer array.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an image of blood moving within the region of interest.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a colored image of the moving fluid, different colors in the image representing different fluid velocities.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a beamforming circuit including a plurality of programmable tapped delay lines.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a hand-held probe having a circuit board on which circuit elements are mounted, the circuit elements including a charged coupled device integrated circuit connected to an analog to digital converter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a data processing system further comprises providing a battery powered portable computer having a graphical user interface.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the image in one of a plurality of windows of a display connected to the data processing system.

8. A portable ultrasound system for scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image a fluid moving within the region of interest comprising:

a hand-held probe housing in which a transducer array and a beamforming circuit are mounted;

a doppler processing system that forms an electronic representation of the moving fluid; and

an interface that connects the handheld probe to the doppler processing system.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a flat panel display that displays an image of the moving fluid.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the beamforming circuit comprises a plurality of programmable tapped delay lines.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising a circuit board within the probe housing, the circuit board having a beamforming integrated circuit mounted thereon.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising a portable computer in which is mounted the doppler processor, the portable computer having a display that displays the moving fluid and a battery that provides power to the portable computer.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising an interface unit between the probe housing and the doppler processing system.

14. A method of scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image a material moving within the region of interest comprising:

providing a portable ultrasound imaging system including a transducer array and a beamforming circuit within a handheld probe, a data processing system, and an interface that connects the handheld probe to the data processing system;

delivering ultrasound energy to material moving within the region of interest;

collecting ultrasound energy returning to the transducer array from the material; and

generating an image of the material from the ultrasound energy detected by the transducer array.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising generating an image of blood moving within the region of interest.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising performing beamforming on an electronic representation of the region of interest;

and

doppler processing the electronic representation; and

performing scan conversion on the doppler processed representation.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising performing a beamforming operation using a plurality of programmable tapped delay lines.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising connecting the handheld probe to the data processing system with a cable, the data processing system comprising a portable computer with a flat panel display.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising performing a digital to analog conversion on the beamformed representation in the handheld probe.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a control circuit formed on an integrated circuit with the beamforming circuit.

21. A portable ultrasound system for scanning a region of interest with ultrasound energy to image a fluid moving within the region of interest comprising:

a hand-held probe housing in which a transducer array and a beamforming circuit are mounted;

a circuit board in the probe housing on which the beamforming circuit is mounted, the circuit board being connected to the transducer array;

a doppler processing system that forms an electronic representation of the moving fluid; and

an interface that connects the handheld probe to the doppler processing system.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising a flat panel display that displays an image of the moving fluid.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the beamforming circuit comprises a plurality of programmable tapped delay lines.

24. The system of claim 21 further comprising a second circuit board within the probe housing, the circuit board having a beamforming integrated circuit mounted thereon.

25. The system of claim 21 further comprising a portable computer in which the doppler processor is mounted, the portable computer having a display that displays an image of the fluid.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising an interface circuit connected to the interface and the portable computer.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the beamforming circuit further comprises a plurality of at least 32 delay circuits.

28. The system of claim 21 further comprising a battery that provides power to the portable computer and the transducer array in the probe housing.