US5575288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compact rotationally steerable ultrasound transducer
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1996-11-19
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract According to the present invention, an ultrasonic imaging system having a remote ultrasound console and a probe connected thereto for inspecting an interior region of a body is provided. The ultrasonic imaging system includes a scanhead housing disposed at a distal end of the probe. A transducer is mounted upon a support structure within the scanhead housing and is electrically connected to the ultrasonic imaging system. The present invention also includes a magnetic position sensor located within the scanhead housing and coupled to the ultrasonic imaging system. The magnetic sensor may be attached to the support structure. In addition, the present invention may include a piezomotor mounted within an ultrasound probe, the piezomotor being mechanically coupled to an acoustic device within the probe.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Sliwa, Jr.
- 👤 Thomas G. Cooper
- 👤 Sevig Ayter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/4461; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/35; G10K11/352; G10K11/355
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An ultrasonic imaging system having a remote ultrasound console and a probe connected thereto for inspecting an interior region of a body, comprising: a scanhead housing disposed at a distal end of the probe; a transducer mounted upon a rotatable support structure within the scanhead housing; means for electrically connecting the transducer to the remote ultrasound console; and a magnetic sensor connected to the rotatable support structure and electrically coupled to the remote ultrasound console.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An ultrasonic imaging system having a remote ultrasound console and a probe connected thereto for inspecting an interior region of a body, comprising: a scanhead housing disposed at a distal end of the probe; a transducer mounted upon a rotatable support structure within the scanhead housing; means for electrically connecting the transducer to the remote ultrasound console; and a magnetic sensor connected to the rotatable support structure and electrically coupled to the remote ultrasound console.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a container having ultrasonically attenuative material disposed therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the magnetic sensor is coupled to the container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a multielement phased array transducer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the remote ultrasound console comprises means for acquiring an ultrasound image when the transducer is located in a predetermined position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for generating a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic sensor detects the magnetic field generated by the generating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the magnetic sensor provides at least one signal representing a position of the magnetic sensor with respect to the generating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor provides at least one signal representing a position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the signal is coupled to the remote ultrasound console.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the remote ultrasound console comprises means for recording the position of the transducer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the signal comprises a real time representation of a rotational position of the transducer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the signal comprises a representation of a spatial translational position of the transducer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor is mounted to the support structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the support structure is fabricated from a non-magnetic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a container that is rotatable about an axis defined by a track.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
An ultrasonic imaging system, comprising: a scanhead housing disposed at a distal end of a cable connected to the remote ultrasonic imaging system; a transducer mounted for rotation upon a support structure within the scanhead housing, the support structure comprising a container and being fabricated from a non-magnetic material; means for electrically connecting the transducer to the remote ultrasonic imaging system; and a magnetic position sensor attached to the rotatable support structure and electrically coupled to the remote ultrasonic imaging system through electrical traces formed on the surface of the container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
An ultrasonic imaging system, comprising: a scanhead housing disposed at a distal end of a cable connected to the remote ultrasonic imaging system; a transducer mounted for rotation upon a support structure within the scanhead housing, the support structure comprising a container and being fabricated from a non-magnetic material; means for electrically connecting the transducer to the remote ultrasonic imaging system; and a magnetic position sensor attached to the rotatable support structure and electrically coupled to the remote ultrasonic imaging system through electrical traces formed on the surface of the container.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising means for driving the support structure in rotation about an axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a circular track attached to the support structure, wherein the circular track defines the axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the driving means comprises a carrier band having a distal end that is attached to the support structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the magnetic position sensor comprises at least one wound coil magnetic sensor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the connecting means further comprises a flexible assembly that is electrically coupled to the electrical traces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the magnetic position sensor is electrically coupled to the connecting means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of determining a position of an ultrasound probe containing a rotatable ultrasonic transducer, the method comprising the steps of: providing a magnetic position sensor attached to the transducer, the transducer being mounted upon a rotatable support structure; generating a magnetic field; locating the magnetic position sensor within the magnetic field; and receiving a signal from the magnetic position sensor representing the position of the transducer within the magnetic field.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of determining a position of an ultrasound probe containing a rotatable ultrasonic transducer, the method comprising the steps of: providing a magnetic position sensor attached to the transducer, the transducer being mounted upon a rotatable support structure; generating a magnetic field; locating the magnetic position sensor within the magnetic field; and receiving a signal from the magnetic position sensor representing the position of the transducer within the magnetic field.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the step of acquiring an image when the magnetic position sensor reaches a predetermined position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of acquiring an image is repeated at a plurality of predetermined positions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the signal comprises real-time rotational and spatial position information.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the step of acquiring an image when the ultrasonic transducer reaches a predetermined rotational position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
71 words
An ultrasonic imaging system having a remote ultrasound console and a probe connected thereto for inspecting an interior region of a body, comprising: an acoustic device mounted within the probe; a piezomotor mounted within the probe and mechanically coupled to the acoustic device, the piezomotor being operable to rotate the acoustic device about an axis; and means for electrically coupling the acoustic device and the piezomotor to the remote ultrasound console.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
71 words
An ultrasonic imaging system having a remote ultrasound console and a probe connected thereto for inspecting an interior region of a body, comprising: an acoustic device mounted within the probe; a piezomotor mounted within the probe and mechanically coupled to the acoustic device, the piezomotor being operable to rotate the acoustic device about an axis; and means for electrically coupling the acoustic device and the piezomotor to the remote ultrasound console.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 28, further comprising a rotational position sensor coupled to the piezomotor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the piezomotor comprises a rotor ring and a stator ring.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the axis is defined by the rotor ring and the stator ring.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the piezomotor is mechanically coupled to the acoustic device by attaching the acoustic device to the rotor ring.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the acoustic device comprises a multielement transducer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the coupling means comprises a flexible assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4391282A
Cited
US4399703A
Cited
US4756313A
Cited
US4930515A
Cited
US5159931A
Cited
US5099850A
Cited
US5088495A
Cited
US5207225A
Cited
US5353354A
Cited
EP0509297A1
Cited
US5176142A
Cited
US5181514A
Cited
US5398691A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-19 | 2000-05-20 | 2000-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-19 | 2004-05-20 | 2004-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-19 | 2008-05-20 | 2008-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |