Wireless ultrasound probe asset tracking

• US 8,461,978 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Garner, David, Appareti, Kevin, Poland, McKee, Rust, David, Wilson, Martha, Gades, Anthony, Cuscuna, Dino, Fraser, John, Haley, Denise Marie, Fleming, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/600,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.15, 340/539.21, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/568.1, 340/691.3, 340/693.5, 600/437
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead

Abstract

A wireless ultrasound probe has a probe case enclosing a transducer array, an acquisition circuit, a transceiver and a battery. The probe also includes a loudspeaker which produces audible sounds as a function of the range between the wireless probe and a host system. When the probe is within a near field range of the host system, the loudspeaker is silent. But if the probe is moved to an intermediate or a far field range from the host system, the loudspeaker sounds an alert. This audible alert can be used to locate the probe by transmitting a paging signal which, upon reception by the probe, causes the probe to sound its alert. If the probe is moved to an unauthorized location where it is within range of a transmitter or receiver, the reception of a signal by the probe, the transmitter, or receiver will sound an alert signaling the unauthorized presence of the wireless probe.

Claims

1. A wireless ultrasound probe which transmits image data wirelessly to a host system comprising:

an array transducer;

an acquisition circuit coupled to the array transducer;

a transceiver coupled to the acquisition circuit which acts to wirelessly exchange r.f. image data signals with the host system;

a battery which operates to provide energizing potential to the array transducer, the acquisition circuit, and the transceiver;

a probe case housing the array transducer, acquisition circuit, transceiver and battery;

a range indicator based on r.f. signal reception; and

a loudspeaker responsive to indicated signal strength which acts to issue an audible tone in response to reception of signals of an undesired signal strength,

wherein the r.f. signal strength is a function of the range between the wireless probe and the host system, and wherein the range comprises;

a near field range in which the loudspeaker is not sounded due to the range;

an intermediate field range in which the loudspeaker is sounded due to the range; and

a far field range in which the wireless probe and the host system are unable to effectively communicate with each other.

2. The wireless ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker is sounded when the range between the wireless probe and the host system is the far field range.