Ultrasonic imaging device with integral display

• US 6,203,498 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sonosite Incorporated (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Pflugrath, Lauren S., Bunce, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/306,372
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/440, 600/446, 600/459, 600/443, 600/447, 736/25, 736/26, 736/09
• US Class Current: 600/446
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• 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 8/4494 characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements devices for short-range imaging using particular transducer elements arrangements under G01S15/8909; arrangements of transducers in generation of mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency B06B1/0607
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8915 using a transducer array
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/892 the array being curvilinear
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52028 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5206 Two-dimensional coordinated display of distance and direction; B-scan display
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52079 Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/345 using energy switching from one active element to another

Abstract

A hand held ultrasonic imaging device is provided as an integral unit with all components and circuitry necessary for both image acquisition and image display included in a single enclosure. Usually, the device will also include an on-board battery so that it can be used without any power cords or other cables. Preferably, the device is provided as part of a system including a recharging base unit having a receptacle for removably receiving and storing the hand held device.

Claims

1. A hand held ultrasound device comprising:

an enclosure having a front, a top, and a bottom;

a display disposed in an upper section of the front of the enclosure;

an acoustic window in the bottom of the enclosure; and

an ultrasonic transducer and transceiver circuitry within the enclosure; and

controls on the front of the enclosure below the display and above the acoustic window to permit a user to control an image acquired by the transducer through the acoustic window on the display.

2. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, further comprising a handle formed in or on the top of the enclosure.

3. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 2, further comprising a battery within the enclosure and electrical connectors on or near the bottom of the enclosure, wherein the electrical connectors are configured to permit removable connection to a battery recharger.

4. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the display is an LCD display.

5. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the display is inclined relative to a plane of the front of the enclosure.

6. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the display is flat relative to the plane of the enclosure.

7. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the display is pivotally mounted on the enclosure to permit user adjustment of the viewing angle.

8. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is an array transducer and the device further comprises a beamformer mounted in said enclosure and coupled to said transceiver circuit, for controlling the transmission of the ultrasonic waves by said array transducer and delaying and combining echo signals received by said elements of said array transducer to form an ultrasonic beam.

9. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 8, wherein said transceiver circuit includes transducer element drivers responsive to said beamformer for selectively exciting said transducer elements, and a multiplexer circuit, coupled to said transducer element drivers, said transducer elements, and said beamformer for alternately causing said transducer elements to be excited by said drivers and to receive echo signals for said beamformer.

10. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the controls comprise an on and off switch.

11. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the controls comprise an operating mode selector which permits selection between at least B mode and Doppler.

12. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the controls include a cursor control which permits a user to select from options presented on the display.

13. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 12, wherein the cursor control comprise s a roller ball recessed in the front of the enclosure.

14. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the controls include a dedicated freeze frame control.

15. A hand hold ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the controls include a dedicated replay control.

16. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, wherein the controls include a full function alphanumeric keyboard.

17. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1, further comprising additional controls to a side of the display on the enclosure.

18. A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 17, wherein the additional controls are menu buttons arranged in a linear array adjacent to the side of the display.

19. A system comprising:

A hand held ultrasonic device as in claim 1; and

a recharger configured to removably connect to the electrical connectors on the enclosure of the hand held ultrasonic device.

20. A system as in claim 19, wherein the electrical connectors are disposed near the bottom of the enclosure and wherein the recharger includes a receptacle for removably receiving and holding the hand held ultrasonic device and electrical connectors within the receptacle which mate with the electrical connectors on the device enclosure to permit recharging when the device is in the receptacle.

21. A system as in claim 20, wherein the acoustic window is positioned on the enclosure so that it lies within the receptacle when the device is in the recharger.