Three-dimensional ultrasound system based on the coordination of multiple ultrasonic transducers
First Claim
1. An ultrasound system for imaging an object including:
- a first probe having at least one first ultrasound transducer for at least producing two-dimensional scan data of said object for imaging;
a second probe having at least one second ultrasound transducer for receiving ultrasound signals from said first probe and for producing two-dimensional scan data of said object for imaging; and
control unit means operably connected to at least said at least one second ultrasound transducer of said second probe fordetermining the position of said at least one first transducer of said first probe relative to the position of said at least one second ultrasound transducer of said second probe, and fordetermining, from said position of said at least one first transducer of said first probe relative to the position of said at least one second ultrasound transducer of said second probe, the position of said object relative to the position of said at least one second ultrasound transducer of said second probe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Two or more ultrasound transducer probes applied to a body give information regarding the relative position of each by determining the time of transit of sound energy between each probe. Besides knowledge of the range from one probe to another, the orientation and bearing of one probe to the other is determined by calculating the relative direction by which sound energy arrives at a probe. By making the location of one of the probes be known through fixing it in space to a mechanical arm or similar mechanical device of knowable position, the absolute positions and orientations of both probes becomes known. Each of the two ultrasound probes may generate different views of the same structure. Such complimentary, and possibly simultaneous, views allow for greater precision and clearer three-dimensional images, as well as provide for more rapid accumulation of data. The primary application of this technology is to use an internal transesophageal and an external transabdominal probe to image the heart and nearby structures such as the aorta. However, this method could be applied to viewing any other area where ultrasound is able to be used to view that area from more than one location. One other example would be using one or more transabdominal probes as well as an intravaginal probe to create three-dimensional views of a fetus, the uterus and the ovaries.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasound system for imaging an object including:
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a first probe having at least one first ultrasound transducer for at least producing two-dimensional scan data of said object for imaging; a second probe having at least one second ultrasound transducer for receiving ultrasound signals from said first probe and for producing two-dimensional scan data of said object for imaging; and control unit means operably connected to at least said at least one second ultrasound transducer of said second probe for determining the position of said at least one first transducer of said first probe relative to the position of said at least one second ultrasound transducer of said second probe, and for determining, from said position of said at least one first transducer of said first probe relative to the position of said at least one second ultrasound transducer of said second probe, the position of said object relative to the position of said at least one second ultrasound transducer of said second probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An ultrasound imaging system including:
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a first probe having a plurality of first probe ultrasound scanning transducers operating at a first frequency for producing two-dimensional ultrasound scan data, and at least two spaced-apart first probe ultrasound beacon emitters operating at a second frequency; a second probe having a second probe ultrasound transducer receiver operating at said second frequency and at least one second probe ultrasound beacon emitter operating at said first frequency; and an ultrasound control unit, said first and second probes electrically interconnected with said control unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of producing three or four-dimensional ultrasound images of a patient including the steps of:
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providing a first probe having at least one first ultrasound transducer; placing said first probe internal to said patient; providing a second probe having at least one second ultrasound transducer; placing said second probe external to said patient; calculating the range, bearing and orientation of said first probe relative to said second probe by sending ultrasound signals between said two probes; collecting first-probe two-dimensional scan data from said first probe; collecting second-probe two-dimensional scan data from said second probe; providing ultrasound control unit means; and combining said first-probe two-dimensional scan data and said second-probe two-dimensional scan data into three-dimensional scan data with said control unit means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification