Visual imaging system for ultrasonic probe
First Claim
1. A non-invasive treatment and imaging system comprising:
- a control system configured for control of said non-invasive treatment and imaging system;
an extracorporeal probe assembly configured for treatment of a patient, said probe assembly comprising a transducer configured for obtaining patient information and for facilitating treatment of the patient; and
an imaging device configured for capturing positional information of said transducer with respect to a patient, said imaging device being directly attached to said transducer to move along with said transducer and to facilitate tracking any movement of said transducer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A non-invasive visual imaging system is provided, wherein the imaging system procures an image of a transducer position during diagnostic or therapeutic treatment. In addition, the system suitably provides for the transducer to capture patient information, such as acoustic, temperature, or ultrasonic images. For example, an ultrasonic image captured by the transducer can be correlated, fused or otherwise combined with the corresponding positional transducer image, such that the corresponding images represent not only the location of the transducer with respect to the patient, but also the ultrasonic image of the region of interest being scanned. Further, a system is provided wherein the information relating to the transducer position on a single patient may be used to capture similar imaging planes on the same patient, or with subsequent patients. Moreover, the imaging information can be effectively utilized as a training tool for medical practitioners.
292 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A non-invasive treatment and imaging system comprising:
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a control system configured for control of said non-invasive treatment and imaging system; an extracorporeal probe assembly configured for treatment of a patient, said probe assembly comprising a transducer configured for obtaining patient information and for facilitating treatment of the patient; and an imaging device configured for capturing positional information of said transducer with respect to a patient, said imaging device being directly attached to said transducer to move along with said transducer and to facilitate tracking any movement of said transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-invasive treatment and imaging system, said system comprising:
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an extracorporeal probe assembly configured for treatment of a patient, said extracorporeal probe assembly comprising an ultrasonic transducer, said ultrasonic transducer being adapted to send imaging information comprising ultrasonic images of a treatment region of the patient for facilitating treatment of the patient; and an imaging device configured for capturing positional information of said transducer with respect to a patient during operation, said imaging device being configured for physical attachment to said transducer during operation to facilitate tracking of movement of said transducer, said imaging device and said transducer separated by a fixed distance and configured to move substantially in unison. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A non-invasive treatment and imaging system comprising:
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a control system configured for operation of said treatment and imaging system; an extracorporeal probe assembly configured for facilitating non-invasive treatment of a patient, said probe assembly comprising a transducer configured for obtaining imaging information and delivering ultrasound energy to said patient for treatment; and an imaging device configured for capturing orientation information of said transducer with respect to the patient, said imaging device being rigidly attached to said transducer during positioning of said transducer such that a spatial relationship between said imaging device and said probe remains substantially fixed. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A system for use in providing non-invasive treatment of a patient, said system comprising:
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non-invasive probe assembly comprising an ultrasonic transducer adapted to obtain imaging information of a treatment region of the patient and to deliver ultrasonic energy to the treatment region for treatment; a positioning device configured for capturing positional information of said transducer with respect to the patient, wherein said positioning device is connected to said transducer through an arm member comprising a substantially rigid member which can position said positioning device in a plurality of substantially fixed positions with respect to said transducer; and said positioning device being physically attached in a fixed position relative to said transducer during positioning of said transducer, and wherein said positional information and said imaging information are combined on a real-time basis. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification