Position sensor in ultrasound transducer probe

• US 6,554,771 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Buil, Vincentius Paulus, Jong, Jing-Ming, Li, Xiang-Ning, Detmer, Paul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jain, Ruby
• Application Number:
  US10/026,585
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437-472, 600/424
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8911 using a single transducer for transmission and reception

Abstract

An ultrasound imaging system (1) comprises a transducer probe (2) for supplying ultrasound waves to a subject area (A), for receiving ultrasound waves reflecting from the subject area (A), and for converting the reflecting waves into a first electrical signal, at least one position sensor (3) provided in the transducer probe (2) for detecting positional information on the transducer probe (2) relative to the subject area (A) during operation, and for generating a second electrical signal corresponding to the detected positional information, a processing unit (41) for controlling the transducer probe (2) and for processing the first and second electrical signals into an image. The position sensor (3) comprises a unit (23) for optically acquiring images of a surface of the subject area (A) during operation, for acquiring information from said images, and for processing said information into positional information on the transducer probe (2) relative to the subject area (A).

An improved ultrasound imaging system is provided which offers more accurate position detection.

Claims

1. An ultrasound imaging system (1) comprising:

a transducer probe (2) having an ultrasonic transducer for supplying ultrasound waves to a subject area (A), for receiving ultrasound waves reflecting from the subject area (A), and for converting the reflecting waves into a first electrical signal,

at least one optical position sensor (3) provided in the transducer probe (2) for detecting positional information on the transducer probe (2) relative to a surface of the subject area (A) during operation, and for generating a second electrical signal corresponding to the detected positional information,

a processing unit (41) for controlling the transducer probe (2) and for processing the first and second electrical signals into an image,

wherein the position sensor (3) comprises a unit (23) for optically acquiring images of a surface of the subject area (A) during operation, for acquiring information from said subject surface images, and for processing said information into positional information on the transducer probe (2) relative to the subject area (A).

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition of information from said images comprises determination of a recognizable element having a position in a first image, determination of the position of said element on the image, and mutual comparison of the positions of said element on further successively taken images.

3. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said positional information on the transducer probe (2) comprises translational and rotational information.

5. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two optical position sensors (3a, 3b) are provided.

6. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing unit(41) is arranged to provide a warning signal dependent on the positional informational.

4. An ultrasound imaging system (1) comprising:

a transducer probe (2) for supplying ultrasound waves to a subject area (A), for receiving ultrasound waves reflecting from the subject area (A), and for converting the reflecting waves into a first electrical signal,

at least one position sensor (3) provided in the transducer probe (2) for detecting positional information on the transducer probe (2) relative to the subject area (A) during operation, and for generating a second electrical signal corresponding to the detected positional information,

a processing unit (41) for controlling the transducer probe (2) and for processing the first and second electrical signals into an image,

wherein the position sensor (3) comprises a unit (23) for optically acquiring images of a surface of the subject area (A) during operation, for acquiring information from said images, and for processing said information into positional information on the transducer probe (2) relative to the subject area (A), and

wherein the unit (23) comprises illuminating elements (34), a lens system (37), an image sensor (35), and a digital signal processor (36).