Transducer array imaging system

• US 8,166,822 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Penrith Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Urbano, Joseph A., Randall, Kevin S., Schwartz Klessel, Jodi, Cannon, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US13/327,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20120087204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 137 Days
• Field of Search: 736/02, 735/87, 736/18, 736/20, 736/25, 736/26, 736/28, 600/437, 600/443, 600/446, 600/447
• US Class Current: 73/602
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4422 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4494 characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements devices for short-range imaging using particular transducer elements arrangements under G01S15/8909; arrangements of transducers in generation of mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency B06B1/0607
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52073 Production of cursor lines, markers or indicia by electronic means
• 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 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead

Abstract

The embodiments contemplate methods and devices for communicating an acoustic emission via an array of transducers and wirelessly communicating data via a transceiver. The transceiver may be in communication with the array of transducers. The embodiments also contemplate providing power for the acoustic emission via a power source and processing the data at a relatively remote location with respect to the power source. In addition, the embodiments contemplate providing an indication at a relatively remote location with respect to the power source. The indication may provide, at least in part, numerical information regarding the acoustic emission.

Claims

1. An ultrasound device, comprising:

an array of transducers, the array of transducers configured to communicate an acoustic emission;

a transceiver in communication with the array of transducers, the transceiver configured to communicate data wirelessly;

a power source in communication with the array of transducers, the power source configured to provide power for the acoustic emission;

a processor in communication with the transceiver, the processor located relatively remotely with respect to the power source; and

an indicator in communication with the processor, the indicator located relatively remotely with respect to the power source, the indicator configured to provide, at least in part, numerical information regarding the acoustic emission, including a quantity descriptive of a temperature rise caused by the acoustic emission.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicator is at least one of a visual display or an audible annunciator.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the numerical information regarding the acoustic emission includes information regarding an acoustic power.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the numerical information regarding the acoustic power includes information regarding an acoustic intensity averaged over at least one of a time interval or a space interval.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the array of transducers is further configured to communicate the acoustic emission in the form of at least one of a focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound energy.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface, the user interface configured to communicate with the processor, and the user interface located relatively remotely from the power source, wherein the indicator is disposed proximate to the user interface.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery.

8. An ultrasound device, comprising:

an array of transducers, the array of transducers configured to communicate an acoustic emission;

a transceiver in communication with the array of transducers, the transceiver configured to communicate data wirelessly;

a power source in communication with the array of transducers, the power source configured to provide power for the acoustic emission;

a processor in communication with the transceiver, the processor located relatively remotely with respect to the power source; and

an indicator in communication with the processor, the indicator located relatively remotely with respect to the power source, the indicator configured to provide, at least in part, numerical information regarding the acoustic emission, including information regarding a peak rarefactional acoustic pressure.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the indicator is at least one of a visual display or an audible annunciator.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the numerical information regarding the acoustic emission includes information regarding an acoustic power.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the numerical information regarding the acoustic power includes information regarding an acoustic intensity averaged over at least one of a time interval or a space interval.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the array of transducers is further configured to communicate the acoustic emission in the form of at least one of a focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound energy.

13. The device of claim 8, further comprising a user interface, the user interface configured to communicate with the processor, and the user interface located relatively remotely from the power source, wherein the indicator is disposed proximate to the user interface.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the power source is a battery.

15. A method of using an ultrasound device, comprising:

communicating an acoustic emission via an array of transducers;

wirelessly communicating data via a transceiver, the transceiver being in communication with the array of transducers;

providing power for the acoustic emission via a power source;

processing the data at a relatively remote location with respect to the power source; and

providing an indication at a relatively remote location with respect to the power source, the indication providing, at least in part, numerical information regarding the acoustic emission, including a quantity descriptive of a temperature rise caused by the acoustic emission.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing at least one of a visible indication or an audible indication to serve as the indication.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the numerical information regarding the acoustic emission includes information regarding an acoustic power.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the numerical information regarding the acoustic power includes information regarding an acoustic intensity averaged over at least one of a time interval or a space interval.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating the acoustic emission in the form of at least one of a focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound energy.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a user interface, the user interface being in communication with the processor;

locating the user interface relatively remotely from the power source; and

disposing an indicator proximate to the user interface.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a battery, the battery serving as the power source.

22. A method of using an ultrasound device, comprising:

communicating an acoustic emission via an array of transducers;

wirelessly communicating data via a transceiver, the transceiver being in communication with the array of transducers;

providing power for the acoustic emission via a power source;

processing the data at a relatively remote location with respect to the power source; and

providing an indication at a relatively remote location with respect to the power source, the indication providing, at least in part, numerical information regarding the acoustic emission, including information regarding a peak rarefactional acoustic pressure.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing at least one of a visible indication or an audible indication to serve as the indication.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the numerical information regarding the acoustic emission includes information regarding an acoustic power.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the numerical information regarding the acoustic power includes information regarding an acoustic intensity averaged over at least one of a time interval or a space interval.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising communicating the acoustic emission in the form of at least one of a focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound energy.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing a user interface, the user interface being in communication with the processor;

locating the user interface relatively remotely from the power source; and

disposing an indicator proximate to the user interface.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a battery, the battery serving as the power source.