Optoacoustic component utilization tracking

• US 9,733,119 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seno Medical Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seno Medical Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Schmid, Gregory, Clingman, Bryan, Ackerman, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Siripurapu, Rajeev
• Application Number:
  US13/842,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/028 Arrangements to prevent overuse, e.g. by counting the number of uses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7253 characterised by using transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/003 of rotating machines G01H1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

A serialized probe component for an optoacoustic device has a unique identifier associated therewith and includes, in an embodiment, an operative connection between a read-write memory and the optoacoustic device. Software adapted to generate and store logs in a read-write memory is executed on the optoacoustic device and stores logs concerning utilization of the serialized probe component on the read-write memory. A method for logging operational information concerning an optoacoustic device is further disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for logging operational information concerning an optoacoustic device for imaging a subject,

the optoacoustic device having:

a light generator adapted to create light pulses sufficient to generate an optoacoustic response in the subject,

a light output port for outputting at least a portion of the light pulses,

a light output port connector,

a waveguide adapted to connect with the light output port connector and capable of directing the light pulses to the subject,

a first sensor adapted to provide a first measurement representative of the power of each light pulse entering the waveguide;

a handheld probe adapted to connect with the waveguide, the handheld probe having;

a unique identifier;

a second sensor adapted to provide a second measurement representative of the power of each light pulse leaving the waveguide; and

an ultrasound transducer array having an active end, the ultrasound transducer array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, the ultrasound transducer array having an inner surface of an acoustic lens at its active end;

a multi-pin connector adapted to receive a plurality of electrical signals produced by the ultrasound transducer array and reflective of an optoacoustic response in the subject,

a signal processing system for responding to the electrical signals received by the multi-pin connector,

a read-write memory for storing data concerning utilization of the handheld probe;

a plurality of electrical paths, each electrical path running from each ultrasound transducer element in the ultrasound transducer array to a probe component connector adapted to interconnect with the multi-pin connector;

software for operating the optoacoustic device having software version information;

the software further adapted to generate and store logs concerning utilization of the serialized probe component on the read-write memory, and

a switch for operation of the optoacoustic device,

the method comprising;

engaging the switch for operation of the optoacoustic device;

logging operational information concerning the operation of the optoacoustic device during an operative period after engaging the switch but before disengaging the switch, wherein the operational information includes the average difference between each of the first measurements and each of the second measurements;

disengaging the switch;

creating a log entry comprising;

time and date of the logged operational information;

the unique identifier of the handheld probe;

the software version information;

the logged operational information concerning operation of the optoacoustic device during the operative period;

writing the log entry to the read-write memory; and

identify in a variation in the operation performance of the waveguide based on the logged operational information.

2. The method for logging operational information concerning an optoacoustic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information concerning operation of the optoacoustic device during the operative period includes one or more of:

a count of the number of light pulses occurring during the operative period;

a variation in performance of a discrete component of the optoacoustic device during the operative period;

a measurement of the peak light energy;

a measurement of the total light energy; and

a variation in the absolute performance of each of the ultrasound transducer elements.

3. The method for logging operational information concerning an optoacoustic device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the information concerning operation of the optoacoustic device during the operative period includes one or more of:

a count of the number of light pulses occurring during the operative period;

a variation in performance of a discrete component of the optoacoustic device during the operative period; and

a variation in the relative performance of each of the ultrasound transducer elements.

4. The method for logging operational information concerning an optoacoustic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

reading at least one previously created log entry;

analyzing the logged operational information contained in the least one previously created log entry to determine a baseline for the optoacoustic device;

comparing the operational information concerning operation of the optoacoustic device during the operative period with the baseline for the optoacoustic device; and

reporting changes between the compared operational information and the baseline for the optoacoustic device.