Transducer array imaging system

• US 20080110266A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Penrith Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Randall, Kevin S., Klessel, Jodi Schwartz, Urbano, Joseph A., Lannutti, Anthony P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/661
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4494 characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements devices for short-range imaging using particular transducer elements arrangements under G01S15/8909; arrangements of transducers in generation of mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency B06B1/0607
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/341 Circuits therefor

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments include a method, system, and device for conducting ultrasound interrogation of a medium. The novel method includes transmitting a non-beamformed or beamformed ultrasound wave into the medium, receiving more than one echoed ultrasound wave from the medium, and converting the received echoed ultrasound wave into digital data. The novel method may further transmit the digital data. In some embodiments, the transmitting may be wireless. The novel device may include transducer elements, an analog-to-digital converter in communication with the transducer elements, and a transmitter in communication with the analog-to-digital converter. The transducers may operate to convert a first electrical energy into an ultrasound wave. The first electrical energy may or may not be beamformed. The transducers also may convert an echoed ultrasound wave into a second electrical energy. The analog-to-digital converter may convert the electrical energy into digital data, and the transmitter may transmit the digital data.

Claims

1. A method for conducting ultrasound interrogation of a medium, comprising:

transmitting an ultrasound interrogation wave at a medium using a probe;

receiving an ultrasound echo wave using the probe;

monitoring an operating characteristic of the probe; and

changing a performance characteristic of the probe as a function of the operating characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe communicates wirelessly.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating characteristic of the probe includes at least one of the following:

a power level of the probe, and a temperature of the probe.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the temperature of the probe is determined by thermal sensors located in at least one of the following locations:

proximate to a transducer in the probe and proximate a surface of a probe enclosure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance characteristic of the probe includes at least one of the following:

an image quality provided by the probe, a drive voltage provided to a transducer in the probe, a voltage waveform provided to the transducer in the probe, a quantity of element used to transmit digital data representative of the ultrasound echo wave, and an acquisition frame rate.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication representative of the changes in the performance characteristics of the probe.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the indication is a power saving mode light.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the received ultrasound echo wave to digital data, transmitting the digital data transmitted at a first transmission rate, and transmitting the digital data at a second rate as a function of the operating characteristic.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate when a power level of the probe decreases.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate when a power level of the probe increases.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising monitoring an available transmission capacity.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting to the second transmission rate as a function of the available transmission capacity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate when the available transmission capacity decreases.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate when the available transmission capacity increases.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a battery provides power to the probe.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the transmitted ultrasound interrogation wave using at least one of the following techniques:

focusing, unfocusing, and defocusing.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein an electrical energy source is in communication with the probe.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrical energy source comprises a power supply, and wherein the power supply provides 100-300 volts DC to the probe.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises an analog-to-digital converter, and wherein the analog-to-digital converter is turned off for a period of time.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is turned on for a time duration sufficient to convert the echoed ultrasound wave into digital data.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is turned on for a time duration sufficient for the echoed ultrasound wave to return to the transducer element.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises a user interface.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user initiates powering of the probe by activating a portion of the user interface.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the user changes a power state of the probe from a low power state to a relatively more active power state by at least one of the following:

activating a portion of the user interface, holding the probe, and moving the probe.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the user changes a power state of the probe from at least one of the following:

on to off, off to on, lower power to higher power, and higher power to lower power.

27. A device for conducting ultrasound interrogation of a medium, comprising:

a transducer for transmitting an ultrasound interrogation wave at a medium and for receiving an ultrasound echo wave;

a processor for monitoring an operating characteristic of the device; and

a controller for changing a performance characteristic of the device as a function of the operating characteristic.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the device communicates wirelessly.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the operating characteristic of the device includes at least one of the following:

a power level of the device, and a temperature of the device.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the temperature of the device is determined by thermal sensors located in at least one of the following locations:

proximate to the transducer in the device and proximate a surface of a device enclosure.

31. The device of claim 27, wherein the performance characteristic of the device includes at least one of the following:

an image quality provided by the device, a drive voltage provided to the transducer in the device, a voltage waveform provided to the transducer in the device, a quantity of element used to transmit digital data representative of the ultrasound echo wave, and an acquisition frame rate.

32. The device of claim 27, further comprising a user interface that provides an indication representative of the changes in the performance characteristics of the device.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the indication is a power saving mode light.

34. The device of claim 27, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the received ultrasound echo wave to digital data, and a transmitter for transmitting the digital data at a first transmission rate and at a second rate as a function of the operating characteristic.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate when a power level of the device decreases.

37. The device of claim 34, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate when a power level of the device increases.

38. The device of claim 34, wherein the processor monitors an available transmission capacity of the device.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the controller adjusts to the second transmission rate as a function of the available transmission capacity.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate when the available transmission capacity decreases.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein the first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate when the available transmission capacity increases.

42. The device of claim 27, further comprising a battery that provides power to the device.

43. The device of claim 27, further comprising forming the transmitted ultrasound interrogation wave using at least one of the following techniques:

focusing, unfocusing, and defocusing.

44. The device of claim 27, further comprising an electrical energy source.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the electrical energy source comprises a power supply, and wherein the power supply provides 100-300 volts DC to the device.

46. The device of claim 27, wherein the device comprises an analog-to-digital converter, and wherein the analog-to-digital converter is turned off for a period of time.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is turned on for a time duration sufficient to convert the echoed ultrasound wave into digital data.

48. The device of claim 46, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is turned on for a time duration sufficient for the echoed ultrasound wave to return to the transducer element.

49. The device of claim 27, further comprising a user interface.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein the user initiates powering of the device by activating a portion of the user interface.

51. The device of claim 27, wherein the user changes a power state of the device from a low power state to a relatively more active power state by at least one of the following:

activating a portion of the user interface, holding the device, and moving the device.

52. The device of claim 27, wherein the user changes a power state of the device from at least one of the following:

on to off, off to on, lower power to higher power, and higher power to lower power.