Modular transducer connection system

• US 6,629,928 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• 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: Dolan, David P., Jundanian, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, William C
• Application Number:
  US10/291,059
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437-472, 736/07--23
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4411 Device being modular
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8906 Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
• 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 7/52082 involving a modular construction, e.g. a computer with short range imaging equipment modular ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/4411

Abstract

An ultrasound system, comprising: a plurality of interchangeable transducer connector modules (TCMs), wherein each TCM includes an ultrasound connector, a switching circuit, and a pluggable interface; and an ultrasound control unit, wherein the ultrasound control unit includes: a plurality of bays, each for receiving and pluggably coupling one of the TCMs into a distribution bus of the ultrasound control unit, and a system controller for selecting one of the plurality of TCMs and for activating the switching circuit of the selected TCM.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system comprising:

a plurality of bays, each capable of receiving different types of interchangeable transducer connector modules (TCMs), wherein each TCM includes a connector, a plurality of data lines, and a switching circuit for controlling the data lines;

a distribution bus interface in each bay for electrically coupling the plurality of data lines of an inserted TCM to a distribution bus; and

a system controller coupled to the distribution bus for controlling the operation of a system-selected TCM and for activating the switching circuit of the system-selected TCM, wherein the system-selected TCM is selected by the system controller without the system receiving a user initiated TCM selection signal.

2. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of bays includes a uniform opening.

3. The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein the uniform opening comprises a personal computer standard 5¼

inch drive bay opening.

4. The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein each different type of TCM is mounted on an assembly that mechanically mates with the uniform opening.

5. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the distribution bus interface comprises a plurality of universal printed circuit board connectors that allows each different type of TCM to be plugged and unplugged from any one of the plurality of bays.

6. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein each of the different types of TCMs utilizes a different number of data pins.

7. The ultrasound system of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure to provide EMI shielding and mechanical support, wherein the enclosure allows external access to the plurality of bays.

8. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the system controller comprises a backplane having an interface for receiving a plurality of control boards.

9. An interchangeable ultrasound transducer connector module (TCM) that can be pluggably coupled into an ultrasound control unit, comprising:

an ultrasound connector mounted on an external surface of an assembly, wherein the assembly has a predetermined configuration to mechanically mate with an opening in the ultrasound control unit; and

a switching circuit mounted on an internal surface of the assembly, wherein the switching circuit electrically couples data lines in the ultrasound connector to a printed circuit board connector that can be plugged into a distribution bus within the ultrasound control unit, and wherein the switching circuit comprises a plurality of switches that can be activated and deactivated by the ultrasound control unit, wherein the plurality of switches are activated when the TCM is selected by the ultrasound control unit without receiving a user initiated TCM selection signal.

10. The interchangeable TCM of claim 9, wherein the predetermined configuration of the assembly mechanically mates to a standard personal computer 5¼

inch drive bay opening.

11. The interchangeable TCM of claim 9, wherein the assembly comprises:

a tray for mounting the switching circuit, and

rails for slideably supporting the assembly in the ultrasound control unit.

12. The interchangeable TCM of claim 11, wherein the assembly further comprises a bezel for mounting the assembly to the opening in the ultrasound control unit.

13. The interchangeable TCM of claim 9, wherein each ultrasound connector utilizes a different number of data pins.

14. An ultrasound system, comprising:

a plurality of interchangeable transducer connector modules (TCMs), wherein each TCM includes an ultrasound connector, a switching circuit, and a pluggable interface; and

an ultrasound control unit, wherein the ultrasound control unit includes;

a plurality of bays, each for receiving and pluggably coupling one of the TCMs into a distribution bus of the ultrasound control unit, and

a system controller for selecting one of the plurality of TCMs and for activating the switching circuit of the system-selected TCM, wherein the system-selected TCM is selected by the system controller without the system receiving a user initiated TCM selection signal.

15. The ultrasound system of claim 14, wherein each TCM has a predetermined configuration to mechanically mate with each bay in the ultrasound control unit.

16. The ultrasound system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined configuration comprises a personal computer standard 5{fraction (1/4 )} inch drive bay opening.

17. The ultrasound system of claim 14, wherein the pluggable interface of each TCM comprises a first printed circuit board interface that can be pluggably coupled to a second printed circuit board interface in each bay.

18. The ultrasound system of claim 14, wherein the ultrasound control unit further comprising an enclosure to provide EMI shielding and mechanical support, and wherein the enclosure allows external access to the plurality of bays.

19. The ultrasound system of claim 14, wherein the system controller comprises a backplane having an interface for receiving a plurality of control boards.

20. The ultrasound system of claim 19, wherein the distribution bus is coupled to the backplane.