Processing of medical signals

• US 7,809,400 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sonosite Incorporated (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hwang, Juinjet
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agosta; Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US11/923,426
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455423-425, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/556.1, 455/550.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 600437-459
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method in which real-time ubiquitous imaging is feasible in local areas, such as inside a clinic, hospital room or doctor office. This is achieved by designing a wireless network having a central processing server with, for example, distributed broadband acquisition and video bus capability. Remote access is possible using store-and-forward image transfer over a wide area network. With these capabilities, a physician can use a handheld transducer (such as an ultrasound transducer) as a basic tool to facilitate diagnostic decisions similar to the way a stethoscope is used today.

Claims

1. An ultrasound device comprising:

a transmit/receive circuit coupled to an ultrasound transducer and sending and receiving signals to/from said ultrasound transducer;

a beam forming circuit coupled to said transmit/receive circuit and providing beam forming of signals transmitted/received by said ultrasonic transducer;

a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to said beam forming circuit and processing said beam formed signals; and

a communication link coupled to said DSP and transmitting said signals processed by said DSP to an external back end processor for image formation, wherein said communication link comprises a wireless link;

wherein said ultrasound device comprises a handheld device, and does not comprise a monitor for displaying ultrasound images.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said back end processor provides scan conversion for producing video frames.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said DSP provides filtering and decimation of said beam formed signals.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said external back end processor is central to a plurality of said ultrasound devices.