Apparatus and method for real time 3D body object scanning without touching or applying pressure to the body object

• US 8,690,777 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonowise, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Shengtz
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy, Baisakhi
• Application Number:
  US12/729,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/439, 600/459, 601 2- 4
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/406 using means for diagnosing suspended breasts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0625 Annular array
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0633 Cylindrical array
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/74 Underwater
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/76 Medical, dental
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/346 using phase variation
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/352 by moving the transducer

Abstract

An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object includes a container for containing a coupling medium for transmitting an ultrasonic signal to the organic object disposed therein whereby a simultaneous multiple direction scanning process may be carried out without physically contacting the organic object. The ultrasonic image scanning system further includes ultrasound transducers for transmitting the ultrasonic signal to the organic object through the coupling medium without asserting an image deforming pressure to the organic object. These transducers distributed substantially around a two-dimensional perimeter of the container and substantially at symmetrical angular positions at approximately equal divisions of 360 degrees over a two-dimensional perimeter of the container. The transducers are further movable over a vertical direction alone sidewalls of the container for a real time three dimensional (3D) image data acquisition. The container further includes sidewalls covered with a baffle layer for reducing an acoustic reverberation.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic image scanning system for an organic object having one or more tissue structures disposed therein comprising:

an immersible circular ultrasound probe having a circumference, the probe comprising;

a plurality of modules arranged along the circumference,

each module comprising a high voltage multiplexer, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the plurality of modules defining a cavity configured to receive the organic object and a coupling medium, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers configured to scan the organic object in slices and obtain a three-dimensional image of the organic object that depicts one or more tissue structures disposed in the organic object, wherein each slice comprises a composite of a plurality of images obtained from each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the ultrasound transducers are distributed substantially with a uniform circular arrangement for acquiring an ultrasonic image vector in a constant arc distance for reconstructing an image of the organic object of a tumor or lesion disposed in the organic object; and

a baffle layer positioned in each module in areas surrounding each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to reduce an acoustic reverberation associated with ultrasonic image scanning.

2. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of ultrasound transducers-includes at least 64 transducers.

3. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 2 wherein:

said ultrasound transducers are distributed substantially around the sidewall for real time three dimensional (3D) image data acquisition and wherein the ultrasound transducers are configured to form a focus beam comprising acoustic waves.

4. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

the module comprises a printed circuit board that supports each of the ultrasonic transducers and the high voltage multiplexer.

5. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

an image data processor for performing a three-dimensional volume and/or surface rendering for representing a scanned image of said organic object, the image data processor configured to render a volumetric configuration for the organic object using a tomography process.

6. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

a computer aided diagnostic (CAD) system for processing a set of two-dimensional or three-dimensional image scan data for constructing and presenting tissue structural characteristic details of said organic object according to said set of image scan data.

7. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

a dense breast screen device to prescreen a dense breast as an organic object for carrying out an image scan by said ultrasonic image scanning system.

8. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

said ultrasound transducers further comprising omni-directional high frequency ultrasound probes.

9. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising:

a scan controller to automatically control an image scanning process and data acquisition by controlling said ultrasound transducers.

10. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 9 further comprising:

a card bus connector to transmit signals between said scan controller and said ultrasound transducers.

11. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 10 further comprising:

said card bus connector further comprising a high voltage semiconductor multiplex switch for controlling a real time signal routing.

12. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 wherein:

said ultrasound transducers are linear or phased array transducers.

13. The ultrasonic image scanning system of claim 1 further comprising a stepping motor in mechanical communication with the ultrasound probe, the stepping motor capable of moving the ultrasound probe axially through the coupling medium.

14. A method for ultrasonically scanning an organic object having one or more tissue structures disposed therein comprising:

placing a plurality of modules comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers around the organic object, each module further comprising a high voltage multiplexer;

distributing the plurality of ultrasound transducers substantially at symmetrical angular positions at approximately equal divisions of 360 degrees;

providing a baffle layer within the module to reduce an acoustic reverberation using the baffle layer;

scanning the organic object in slices, wherein each slice comprises a composite of a plurality of rectangular images obtained from each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;

obtaining a three-dimensional image of the organic object from the slices; and

displaying one or more tissue structures disposed in the organic object.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

distributing said plurality of ultrasound transducers to substantially surround a circular probe.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising moving the ultrasound probe axially through the coupling medium using a stepping motor in mechanical communication with the ultrasound probe.

17. An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object having one or more tissue structures disposed therein comprising:

a plurality of modules, each module comprising a high voltage multiplexer and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the plurality of ultrasound transducers for transmitting said ultrasonic signal to said organic object, the ultrasound transducers distributed substantially at symmetrical angular positions at approximately equal divisions of 360 degrees over the two-dimensional perimeter of said container, the plurality of modules defining a cavity configured to receive the organic object and a coupling medium, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers configured to scan the organic object in slices and obtain a three-dimensional image of the organic object that depicts one or more tissue structures disposed in the organic object wherein each slice comprises a composite of a plurality of rectangular images obtained from each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; and

a baffle layer positioned in the areas between each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to reduce an acoustic reverberation associated with the scanning the organic object.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the module comprises a printed circuit board that supports each of the ultrasonic transducers and the high voltage multiplexer.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the baffle layer is shaped to reduce acoustic reverberation.