Peripheral ultrasound imaging system

• US 6,440,071 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ardent Sound, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Kouklev, Vadim, Jaeger, Paul, Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/419,543
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437-447, 600/407, 128/916, 128/903, 128/904, 128/922, 382/128, 382/132, 341/65, 395/705, 705/3, 378/114
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/916 Ultrasound 3-D imaging

Abstract

A peripheral ultrasound imaging system for connection to a personal computing device or a computer network which enables real time ultrasound imaging without additional modules and without the need to modify, augment or replace the existing central processing unit. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe, an electronic apparatus capable of sending and receiving signals to and from the ultrasound probe, a hardware link connecting the electronic apparatus to a personal computer or computer network, and a software program for controlling the ultrasound probe, the electronic apparatus, and the hardware link. The ultrasound probe is connected to the electronic apparatus and the electronic apparatus is in turn connected to a personal computing device or a computer network.

Claims

1. A peripheral ultrasound imaging system comprising:

an ultrasound probe;

an electronic apparatus for sending and receiving signals to and from the ultrasound probe;

an external hardware link connecting the electronic apparatus to at least one of an unmodified personal computing device and a computing network capable of controlling and processing the signals; and

a software program for controlling the ultrasound probe, the electronic apparatus, and the hardware link.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hardware link forms a wireless connection between the electronic apparatus and at least one of the personal computing device and the computing network.

3. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further comprising one or more additional hardware devices connected to at least one of said personal computing device and said computing network.

4. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 3 wherein said one or more additional hardware devices comprise at least one of a modem for connecting to an internet, a network card for connecting to a local area network, a printer for providing copies of displayed images, a remote storage device for storing data and software programs, and a remote unit for at least one of displaying and controlling imaging.

5. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 4 further comprising encapsulation layer software for providing a stable interface between the software program for controlling the ultrasound probe and the electronic apparatus, and each of the personal computing device, the computing network, the ultrasound probe, the hardware link, and said one or more additional hardware devices.

6. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 5 wherein said encapsulation layer software comprises:

a set of logical device components for providing a high level interface to each of the personal computing device, the computing network, the ultrasound probe, the electronic apparatus, the hardware link, and said one or more additional hardware devices; and

a control component for controlling communication between each of the personal computing device, the computing network, the ultrasound probe, the electronic apparatus, the hardware link, and said one or more additional hardware devices.

7. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of hardware drivers for passing data between said encapsulation layer software and each of the personal computing device, the computing network, the ultrasound probe, the electronic apparatus, the hardware link, and said one or more additional hardware devices.

8. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein said electronic apparatus comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting signals to the ultrasound probe;

a receiver for receiving signals from said ultrasound probe,

a signal processor for processing signals received from the receiver,

a real-time control for controlling the process of signals in real-time; and

an interface logic component for providing a processed signal interface between the hardware link and at least one of the personal computing device and the computing network.

9. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 8 wherein said electronic apparatus further comprises at least one of a motor control for driving the ultrasound probe and a scan converter for converting the processed signals into a scan.

10. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein said ultrasound probe comprises at least one of a motorized annular array probe, a motorized single element probe, a motorized multiple focus single element probe, and a transducer array.

11. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein said software program for controlling the ultrasound probe and the electronic apparatus comprises:

a user interface for providing an interface for a user with the peripheral ultrasound imaging system through at least one of the electronic apparatus, the hardware link, the personal computing device, and the computing network;

an ultrasound system control for providing an interface for controlling the peripheral ultrasound imaging system through at least one of the personal computing device, the computer network, the ultrasound probe, the electronic apparatus, and the hardware link;

an external application interface for providing an interface for an external application through at least one of the personal computing device, the computing network, the ultrasound probe, the electronic apparatus, the hardware link and the software program for controlling the ultrasound probe and the hardware link; and

an add-in support application interface for allowing an external application to be integrated into the peripheral ultrasound imaging system.

12. The peripheral ultrasound imaging system of claim 11 wherein said software program for controlling the ultrasound probe and the electronic apparatus further comprises a reporting application interface for providing a user with a hard copy of any scanned image.

13. The peripheral ultrasound imaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein said external application comprises at least one of a clinical application, a post-processing application, and a diagnostic application.

14. An electronic apparatus for connecting an ultrasound probe to at least one of a computer network and a personal computing device to create an ultrasound imaging system wherein said electronic apparatus comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting signals to the ultrasound probe.

a receiver for receiving signals from said ultrasound probe,

a signal processor for processing signals received from the receiver,

a real-time control for controlling the process of signals in real-time; and

an interface logic component for providing a processed signal interface between the electronic apparatus and at least one of a computer network and a personal computing device.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 14 wherein said hardware link further comprises at least one of a motor control for driving the ultrasound probe and a scan converter for converting the processed signals into a scan.

16. A method for at least one of ultrasound imaging and ultrasound therapy comprising the steps of:

providing an ultrasound probe;

providing at least one of a computer network and a personal computing device, each having means for controlling and displaying information;

connecting the ultrasound probe and at least one of the computer network and the personal computing device with an electronic apparatus having means for receiving and processing signals from the ultrasound probe and sending the processed signals to at least one of the computer network and the personal computing device;

activating said ultrasound probe; and

controlling said ultrasound probe and said electronic apparatus by employing software designed to control said ultrasound probe and said electronic apparatus.

17. A 3-D peripheral ultrasound system for performing at least one of a 3-D ultrasound imaging, 3-D ultrasound monitoring, and 3-D ultrasound therapy comprising:

an ultrasound probe;

an electronic apparatus for sending and receiving signals to and from the ultrasound probe and for accessing multiple image planes from the ultrasound probe;

an external hardware link connecting the electronic apparatus to at least one of an unmodified personal computing device and a computing network capable of controlling and processing the signals and images; and

a software program for controlling the ultrasound probe, the electronic apparatus, and the hardware link.