Synchronized power supply for medical imaging

• US 8,287,455 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
• Inventors: Phung, Hue
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Tse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luong, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/260,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20060094960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,546 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/459, 73/18.2, 735/40
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52017 particularly adapted to short-range imaging G01S7/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5205 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52077 with means for elimination of unwanted signals, e.g. noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/12 Arrangements for reducing harmonics from ac input or output

Abstract

An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object by projecting ultrasound signals with a transmit carrier frequency. The ultrasonic image scanning system includes a switching mode power supply operated with a programmable clock in synchronization with the transmit carrier frequency. The switching mode power supply further provided with circuits for generating a low voltage and a high voltage. The ultrasonic image scanning system further includes transducers for projecting ultrasound signals wherein the transducers are connected to and electrically excited by the high voltage generated by the switching mode power supply. The switching mode power supply further includes a DC-to-DC switcher having an external clock input for clock synchronization. The programmable clock further provided for receiving a user command to operate with the switching mode power supply in synchronization with the transmit carrier frequency

Claims

1. A high voltage generator configured for use in an ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object by projecting ultrasound signals at a transmit carrier frequency comprising:

a switching mode power supply;

a direct current-to-direct current switching voltage generator in electrical communication with the switching mode power supply;

a programmable clock comprising a transmit carrier frequency input, the programmable clock in electrical communication with the switching mode power supply and the direct current-to-direct current switching voltage generator, the programmable clock synchronized with the transmit carrier frequency and configured to synchronize the switching mode power supply and the direct current-to-direct current switching voltage generator such that a change in the transmit carrier frequency causes the programmable clock to sync the switching mode power supply to the changed transmit carrier frequency;

a system controller configured to control said programmable clock configured for syncing upon a change in pulse repetition period in Color mode or Doppler mode; and

a digital programmable counter, the digital programmable counter configured to receive a command from the system controller to set up a divided down ratio configured to divide and generate a switching clock signal input to the switching mode power supply.

2. The high voltage generator of claim 1, wherein:

said switching mode power supply further comprises circuits for generating a low voltage and a high voltage.

3. The high voltage generator of claim 2 further comprising:

a transducer configured for projecting ultrasound signals, wherein said transducer is connected to and electrically excited by high voltage generated by said switching mode power supply.

4. The high voltage generator of claim 1 wherein:

said programmable clock is configured for receiving a user command for operating with said switching mode power supply in synchronization with said transmit carrier frequency.

5. The high voltage generator of claim 1 further comprising:

a linear voltage regulator configured for stabilizing and minimizing ripples in an output voltage.

6. The high voltage generator of claim 1:

wherein the system controller for controlling said programmable clock is configured for syncing upon a change in an image depth.

7. The high voltage generator of claim 1:

wherein the system controller for controlling said programmable clock is configured for syncing upon a change in a mode setting.

8. The high voltage generator of claim 1 further comprising:

a filter for removing a substantially coherent interference signal generated by said switching mode power supply synchronizing substantially with said transmit carrier frequency.

9. A method for configuring a high voltage generator for use in an ultrasonic image scanning system having a switching mode power supply, comprising:

generating an ultrasound signal at a transmit carrier frequency for scanning an organic object;

receiving the transmit carrier frequency by a digital programmable counter;

applying a divide down ratio by the digital programmable counter to the transmit carrier frequency to generate input to the switching mode power supply,

synchronizing the switching mode power supply with said transmit carrier frequency by controlling said switching mode power supply with a programmable clock such that a change in the transmit carrier frequency causes the programmable clock to sync the switching mode power supply to the changed transmit carrier frequency; and

controlling, by a system controller, said programmable clock for syncing upon a change in pulse repetition period in Color mode or Doppler mode.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

employing a filter for removing a substantially coherent interference signal generated by said switching mode power supply synchronizing substantially with said transmit carrier frequency.