Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with cordless scanheads
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising:
- a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals;
transmit timing control circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and
a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information,wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with cordless scanheads which wirelessly transmit ultrasonic image signals to the imaging system. The transmitted image signals are received by a receiver in the mainframe ultrasound system where they undergo further image processing and are displayed. In a preferred embodiment the scanhead image signals are at least partially beamformed in the scanhead before being transmitted to the ultrasound system, thereby reducing the required transmission bandwidth. The cordless scanheads are battery powered, and are recharged by the ultrasound system when the scanheads are not being used for scanning.
253 Citations
77 Claims
-
1. An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising:
-
a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing control circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
2. An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising:
-
a multielement transducer array; a receive beamformer, coupled to said transducer array, which selectively combines echo signals received by elements of said transducer array to form beamformed echo signals; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said receive beamformer, which transmits beamformed echo signals, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted beamformed echo signals. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
3. An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising:
-
a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; a receive beamformer, coupled to said transducer array, which selectively combines echo signals received by elements of said transducer array to form beamformed echo signals; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising:
-
a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; digital transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
51. An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising:
-
a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and an r.f. transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes an r.f. receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
-
-
59. An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising:
-
a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and an omnidirectional transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
-
Specification