Transducer array imaging system

• US 20080114245A1
• 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: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Weymer, Raymond F., Randall, Kevin S., Urbano, Joseph A., Lannutti, Anthony P., Cannon, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,084,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/447
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/42 Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4411 Device being modular
• 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 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment

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 system for identifying a location of a remote unit, comprising:

a main unit;

a remote unit capable of communicating with the main unit, wherein the main unit and the remote unit are part of an ultrasound imaging system; and

a locator module in communication with the remote unit, wherein the locator module identifies a location of the remote unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module is in communication with the main unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module uses at least one of the following techniques to identify the location of the remote unit:

global positioning, triangulation, radio frequency identification, and ultrawideband communication.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module identifies a location of the main unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote unit communicates with the main unit via at least one of the following:

wirelessly and a wire.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module is located within at least one of the following:

the remote unit, the main unit, and another unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module detects at least one of the following emitted from the remote unit:

an electric field and a magnetic field.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module is activated by at least one of the following:

a user, the remote unit, the main unit, an another unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module is in communication with an antenna.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module senses a proximity to the remote unit using at least one of the following techniques:

optical, infrared, capacitive, inductive, electrically conductive, and radio frequency.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface in communication with the locator module, wherein the user activates the locator module by interacting with the user interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface is a momentary switch that the user depresses continuously to activate the locator module.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising an audible signal module that emits a sound when the locator module identifies a location of at least one of the following:

the remote unit, the main unit, and another unit.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a visible signal module that provides an indication when the locator module identifies a location of at least one of the following:

the remote unit, the main unit, and another unit.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a visible signal module that provides an indication when the locator module identifies an improper remote unit and prevents a user from selecting the improper remote unit.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module identifies a location of the remote unit when the remote unit is within 10 meters.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module attempts to identify the location of the remote unit intermittently.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module provides an indication of a direction and distance to locate at least one of the following:

the remote unit, the main unit, and another unit.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator module passively produces a locator signal when placed into at least one of the following:

an electrical field and a magnetic field.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the magnetic field operates with a relatively low frequency to permit the magnetic field to travel through obstructions to the locator module.

21. A method for identifying a location of a remote unit, comprising:

communicating ultrasound data with a main unit and a remote unit, wherein the main unit and the remote unit are part of an ultrasound imaging system; and

identifying a location of the remote unit.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising identify the location of the remote unit with a locator module in communication with the main unit.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising identifying the location of the remote unit using one of the following techniques:

global positioning, triangulation, radio frequency identification, and ultrawideband communication.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising identifying a location of the main unit.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising communicating with the remote unit and the main unit via at least one of the following:

wirelessly and a wire.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising identifying the location of the remote unit using at least one of the following:

the remote unit, the main unit, and another unit.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising identifying the location of the remote unit by detecting at least one of the following emitted from the remote unit:

an electric field and a magnetic field.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising sensing a proximity to the remote unit using at least one of the following techniques:

optical, infrared, capacitive, inductive, electrically conductive, and radio frequency.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising activating the identification of the location of the remote unit by interacting with a user interface.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising depressing continuously a momentary switch to activate the identification of the location of the remote unit.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating an audible signal when identifying a location of at least one of the following:

the remote unit, the main unit, and another unit.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating a visible signal to indicate identification of a location of at least one of the following:

the remote unit, the main unit, and another unit.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating a visible signal to indicate identification of an improper remote unit and prevent a user from selecting the improper remote unit.

34. The method of claim 21, further comprising identifying a location of the remote unit when the remote unit is within 10 meters.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising attempting to identify the location of the remote unit intermittently.

36. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing an indication of a direction and distance to locate at least one of the following:

the remote unit, the main unit, and another unit.

37. The method of claim 21, further comprising passively producing a locator signal when placed into at least one of the following:

an electrical field and a magnetic field.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the magnetic field operates with a relatively low frequency to permit the magnetic field to travel through obstructions.