Systems for measuring force and torque on ultrasound probe during imaging through strain measurement
First Claim
1. A medical instrument, comprising:
- an ultrasound probe configured to contact an anatomical region,wherein the ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound transducer positioned at a distal end of the ultrasound probe for acquiring images of the anatomical region;
a handle attached to a proximal end of the ultrasound probe; and
a strain sensor arranged on the ultrasound probe adjacent the handle to measure a longitudinal strain applied by the anatomical region to the ultrasound probe as the ultrasound transducer contacts the anatomical region to acquire ultrasound images of the anatomical region,wherein the longitudinal strain measured by the strain sensor represents at least one of an axial force and a bending force applied by the anatomical region to the ultrasound probe as the ultrasound transducer contacts the anatomical region, andwherein the strain sensor includes a plurality of strain gauges arranged in a grid pattern along the ultrasound probe and encircling a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound system employs an ultrasound probe (31), a strain sensor (33) and a workstation (20). The ultrasound probe (31) includes an ultrasound transducer for acquiring ultrasound images (40) of an anatomical region. The strain sensor (33) is arranged on the ultrasound probe (31) to measure a longitudinal strain applied by the anatomical region to the ultrasound probe (31) as the ultrasound transducer acquires ultrasound images (40) of the anatomical region. The strain sensor (33) encircles a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe (31) and is spaced from the ultrasound transducers relative to the longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe (31). The workstation (20) reconstructs an ultrasound volume (41) from the ultrasound images (40) acquired by ultrasound transducer, and responsive to the longitudinal strain measured by strain sensor (33), determines an axial force and/or 36 a bending force applied by the anatomical region to the ultrasound probe (31) as the ultrasound transducer acquires ultrasound images (40) of the anatomical region.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A medical instrument, comprising:
-
an ultrasound probe configured to contact an anatomical region, wherein the ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound transducer positioned at a distal end of the ultrasound probe for acquiring images of the anatomical region; a handle attached to a proximal end of the ultrasound probe; and a strain sensor arranged on the ultrasound probe adjacent the handle to measure a longitudinal strain applied by the anatomical region to the ultrasound probe as the ultrasound transducer contacts the anatomical region to acquire ultrasound images of the anatomical region, wherein the longitudinal strain measured by the strain sensor represents at least one of an axial force and a bending force applied by the anatomical region to the ultrasound probe as the ultrasound transducer contacts the anatomical region, and wherein the strain sensor includes a plurality of strain gauges arranged in a grid pattern along the ultrasound probe and encircling a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. An ultrasound system, comprising:
-
an ultrasound probe configured to contact an anatomical region, wherein the ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound transducer positioned at a distal end of the ultrasound probe for acquiring images of the anatomical region; a handle attached to a proximal end of the ultrasound probe; a strain sensor arranged on the ultrasound probe adjacent the handle to measure a longitudinal strain applied by the anatomical region to the ultrasound probe as the ultrasound transducer contacts the anatomical region to acquire ultrasound images of the anatomical region, wherein the strain sensor includes a plurality of strain gauges arranged in a grid pattern along the ultrasound probe and encircling a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe; and a workstation configured to reconstruct an ultrasound volume from the ultrasound images acquired by the ultrasound transducer, wherein, responsive to the longitudinal strain measured by the strain sensor, the workstation is further configured to determine at least one of an axial force and a bending force applied by the anatomical region to the ultrasound probe as the ultrasound transducer contacts the anatomical region. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification