Calibration of ultrasound probes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of calibrating an ultrasound probe, the method comprising:
- mounting an ultrasound probe having at least one array of ultrasound elements onto a calibration system adjacent to a tank;
transmitting an ultrasound test signal from a first transmitting element of the probe into the tank and through a test medium of the calibration system;
receiving the test signal at a first hydrophone disposed in the tank at a first time;
receiving the test signal at a second hydrophone disposed in the tank at a second time;
receiving the test signal at a third hydrophone disposed in the tank at a third time; and
determining an acoustic position of the first transmitting element within a coordinate system defined relative to the probe based upon differences in the first time, the second time, and the third time.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of calibrating an ultrasound probe includes mounting an ultrasound probe onto a calibration system, transmitting an ultrasound test signal from an element of the probe through a test medium of the calibration system, and receiving the test signal on a matrix of hydrophones such that an element'"'"'s position relative to other elements and other arrays within the same probe can be computed. Further, the system described herein is configured to detect the acoustic performance of elements of a probe and report the results to an end user or service provider.
523 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method of calibrating an ultrasound probe, the method comprising:
-
mounting an ultrasound probe having at least one array of ultrasound elements onto a calibration system adjacent to a tank; transmitting an ultrasound test signal from a first transmitting element of the probe into the tank and through a test medium of the calibration system; receiving the test signal at a first hydrophone disposed in the tank at a first time; receiving the test signal at a second hydrophone disposed in the tank at a second time; receiving the test signal at a third hydrophone disposed in the tank at a third time; and determining an acoustic position of the first transmitting element within a coordinate system defined relative to the probe based upon differences in the first time, the second time, and the third time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A system for calibrating an ultrasound probe, the system comprising:
-
a tank substantially filled with a test medium; a dock attached to the tank, the dock configured to hold an ultrasound probe; and a plurality of hydrophones arranged in a matrix along a wall of the tank opposite the dock, the plurality of hydrophones being configured to receive one or more test signals from a transducer element of the ultrasound probe to determine an acoustic position of the transducer element; and a controller having instructions configured to transmit an ultrasound test signal from a first transmitting element of an ultrasound probe held in the dock into the tank and through the test medium; receiving the test signal at a first hydrophone of the matrix at a first time; receiving the test signal at a second hydrophone of the matrix at a second time; receiving the test signal at a third hydrophone of the matrix at a third time; and determining an acoustic position of the first transmitting element within a coordinate system defined relative to the probe based upon differences between the first time, the second time, and the third time. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
Specification