Manual ultrasound power control to monitor fetal heart rate depending on the size of the patient
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for determining the heart rate of a ferns, comprising:
- at least one ultrasound transducer operable to generate an ultrasound beam and receive a reflected ultrasound signal, the generated ultrasound beam having a signal strength;
a controller coupled to the ultrasound transducer to receive the reflected ultrasound signal and determine the heart rate of the fetus;
an excitation voltage generator operable to supply an excitation voltage to the ultrasound transducer; and
an excitation voltage adjustment device positioned between the excitation voltage generator and the ultrasound transducer, wherein the excitation voltage adjustment device is operable to modify the excitation voltage supplied to the ultrasound transducer, wherein the signal strength of the ultrasound beam is related to the excitation voltage.
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Abstract
A continuous, noninvasive fetal heart rate measurement is produced using one or more ultrasonic transducer adhered to the abdomen of the mother. Each ultrasound transducer generates an ultrasound beam having a signal strength. The signal strength is determined by an excitation voltage applied to the ultrasound transducer. An excitation voltage adjustment device is positioned between an excitation voltage generator and the ultrasound transducer to selectively control the strength of the ultrasound beam. A user input device allows an operator to control the ultrasound signal strength to vary the depth of viewing of the fetal heart rate monitor.
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21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining the heart rate of a ferns, comprising:
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at least one ultrasound transducer operable to generate an ultrasound beam and receive a reflected ultrasound signal, the generated ultrasound beam having a signal strength; a controller coupled to the ultrasound transducer to receive the reflected ultrasound signal and determine the heart rate of the fetus; an excitation voltage generator operable to supply an excitation voltage to the ultrasound transducer; and an excitation voltage adjustment device positioned between the excitation voltage generator and the ultrasound transducer, wherein the excitation voltage adjustment device is operable to modify the excitation voltage supplied to the ultrasound transducer, wherein the signal strength of the ultrasound beam is related to the excitation voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of monitoring a fetal heart rate, comprising:
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positioning at least one ultrasound transducer on an abdomen of a pregnant patient; operating an excitation voltage generator to supply an excitation voltage; receiving the excitation voltage at an excitation voltage adjustment device, wherein the excitation voltage device is positioned between the excitation voltage generator and the ultrasound transducer; modifying the operational characteristics of the excitation voltage adjustment device to selectively modify the excitation voltage; supplying the modified excitation voltage to the ultrasound transducer, wherein the ultrasound transducer creates an ultrasound beam having a signal strength related to the modified excitation voltage; and receiving a reflected ultrasound signal in a controller, wherein the controller determines the fetal heart rate based on the reflected ultrasound signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of monitoring a fetal heart rate, comprising;
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positioning at least one ultrasound transducer on an abdomen of a pregnant patient; operating an excitation voltage generator to supply an excitation voltage; receiving the excitation voltage at an excitation voltage adjustment device, wherein the excitation voltage device is positioned between the excitation voltage generator and the ultrasound transducer; positioning a controller in communication with the excitation voltage adjustment device, wherein the controller is operable to modify operational characteristics of the excitation voltage adjustment device to selectively modify the excitation voltage; receiving a user input at the controller, the user input indicating a desired signal strength for an ultrasound beam from the ultrasound transducer; operating the controller to modify the excitation voltage received by the excitation voltage adjustment device; supplying the modified excitation voltage to the ultrasound transducer such that the ultrasound transducer creates the ultrasound beam having the desired signal strength; receiving a reflected ultrasound signal in a controller, wherein the controller determines the fetal wart rate based on the reflected ultrasound signal; and displaying the signal strength of the ultrasound beam and the fetal heart rate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification