Medical diagnostic ultrasound system and method

• US 6,561,979 B1
• Filed: 09/14/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Randall, Kevin S., Wood, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/396,833
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/440-447, 736/25, 736/26, 367/7, 367/11, 367/130
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• 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 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• 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 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0622 on one surface
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/55 Piezoelectric transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/70 Specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52017 particularly adapted to short-range imaging G01S7/53 takes precedence
• 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: 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

Abstract

A portable medical diagnostic ultrasound system is provided which includes shielding for electromagnetic interference by forming shielded enclosed compartments around the individual components of the ultrasound system. This compartmentalization of components isolates EMI between the components themselves as well as the outside world. Further, the EMI shielding provides structural rigidity and support for the entire ultrasound system. In another aspect, the EMI shielding provides heat dissipation capability for the internal components of the ultrasound system. The portable medical diagnostic ultrasound system further provides a transducer connector which provides high density interconnects between the transducer and the ultrasound system while providing an ergonomically easy to handle connector. Further, the connector is rugged, providing a high number of connection and disconnection cycles.

Claims

1. A portable medical diagnostic ultrasound system comprising:

signal processing circuitry;

at least 32 channels connectable with a transducer;

display circuitry; and

a housing enclosing said signal processing and said display circuitry;

said housing comprising a base portion and a handle portion, wherein said system rests upon said base portion, said housing further comprising a metal plate, said metal plate extending substantially from said base portion to said handle portion and further wherein said handle portion includes an opening; and

wherein said system further comprises at least two chambers wherein said metal plate provides electrical shielding between said at least two chambers.

2. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said metal plate limits electrical radiation between said at least two chambers.

3. The ultrasound system of claim 1, further comprising a keyboard, said keyboard retractably coupled with said system.

4. The ultrasound system of claim 3, wherein said keyboard is coupled with said system using a hinge.

5. The ultrasound system of claim 3, wherein said system further comprises a display and said keyboard comprises input devices, and further wherein when said keyboard is in a retracted position, said keyboard covers said display and said input devices face said system.

6. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said signal processing circuitry comprises Spectral Doppler circuitry.

7. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said signal processing circuitry comprises Color Velocity imaging circuitry.

8. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said signal processing circuitry comprises Color Power Imaging circuitry.

9. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said signal processing circuitry includes fundamental B-mode imaging circuitry.

10. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said signal processing circuitry includes harmonic B-mode imaging circuitry.

11. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a transducer connector.

12. The ultrasound system of claim 11, wherein said transducer connector comprises a contact density greater than 5 contacts per cubic inch per mated connector pair.

13. The ultrasound system of claim 11, wherein said transducer connector comprises circuit board termination density greater than 50 contacts per square inch.