Analysis of real time backscatter data for fault signal generation in a medical HIFU device
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a transducer fault in a high intensity focused ultrasound therapy system, the method comprising:
- transmitting a burst of ultrasonic energy or a pulse of ultrasonic energy from a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer mounted in a therapy head;
after the burst of ultrasonic energy or the pulse of ultrasonic energy is transmitted, applying an electrical clamp to the transducer that provides an impedance across the transducer and accelerates vibration dampening of the transducer after the burst of ultrasonic energy or the pulse of ultrasonic energy;
after the application of the electrical clamp ends, measuring a clamp waveform comprising residual electrical voltage;
comparing the clamp waveform against a stored clamp waveform profile; and
if the clamp waveform does not substantially match the stored clamp waveform profile, generating a fault signal.
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Abstract
A method and system for checking functionality of an ultrasound therapy head. The waveform profile for typical ultrasound reflections for a functional therapy head are stored, and before use of a therapy head, an ultrasound energy burst (700) is sent, and the actual waveform profile of the returned reflections (702) are compared to the stored waveform profiles (706). If the actual profiles are not sufficiently close to the stored profiles, then a first signal (712) may be generated, which may cause the ultrasound therapy device to shut down or may generate a warning. If the actual profiles are sufficiently close to the stored profiles, then operation may continue (714), or a second signal may be produced, permitting operation of the ultrasound therapy device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a transducer fault in a high intensity focused ultrasound therapy system, the method comprising:
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transmitting a burst of ultrasonic energy or a pulse of ultrasonic energy from a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer mounted in a therapy head; after the burst of ultrasonic energy or the pulse of ultrasonic energy is transmitted, applying an electrical clamp to the transducer that provides an impedance across the transducer and accelerates vibration dampening of the transducer after the burst of ultrasonic energy or the pulse of ultrasonic energy; after the application of the electrical clamp ends, measuring a clamp waveform comprising residual electrical voltage; comparing the clamp waveform against a stored clamp waveform profile; and if the clamp waveform does not substantially match the stored clamp waveform profile, generating a fault signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of determining functionality of a medical ultrasound therapy head, the method comprising:
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while a cap of the medical ultrasound therapy head is in contact with the patient, transmitting a burst of ultrasonic energy via a transducer that is mounted in the medical ultrasound therapy head; receiving one or more reflections of the ultrasonic energy in the burst from objects other than the transducer within the medical ultrasound therapy head, the reflections comprising at least one waveform profile; comparing the at least one waveform profile to an expected waveform profile for the therapy head; generating a first signal indicating a fault if the waveform profile does not match the expected waveform profile; and preventing an ultrasound therapy system from operating after the first signal is generated. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An ultrasound therapy system comprising:
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a medical ultrasound therapy head including a transducer and a cap; a processor; and a program module configured upon execution by the processor to determine functionality of the medical ultrasound therapy head, wherein the program module is configured to the determine the functionality of the medical ultrasound therapy head by; while the cap of the medical ultrasound therapy head is in contact with the patient, transmitting a burst of ultrasonic energy via the transducer; receiving one or more reflections of the ultrasonic energy in the burst from objects other than the transducer within the medical ultrasound therapy head, the reflections comprising at least one waveform profile; comparing the at least one waveform profile to an expected waveform profile for the therapy head; generating a fault signal if the waveform profile of the reflection does not meet the expected waveform profile; and preventing the ultrasound therapy system from operating after the fault signal is generated. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification