Method and apparatus for two dimensional ultrasonic imaging

Claim 2

A non-real time ultrasonic imaging system for scanning a body the system comprising: an untethered probe adapted for use on the exterior surface of the body and having an ultrasonic transducer, capable of transmitting signals and receiving signals along a scanline, wherein the scanline is fixed in orientation and unmovable with respect to the untethered probe; ultrasound electronic in communication with the probe, the ultrasound electronics transmitting signals and receiving signals from the probe; means on the probe for sensing position information relating to the scanline; and means in communication with the sensing means and coupled to the electronics for computing the spatial position and the orientation of the scanline relative to a coordinate system and transmitting the scanline orientation and spatial position to the electronics wherein the electronics identifies each scanline by a unique spatial address; a memory coupled to the electronics for storing the addressed scanlines; a display coupled to the memory and electronics for displaying an image generated by the electronics from the addressed scanlines, wherein the movement of the probe results in the accumulation of multiple spatially addressed scanlines displayable as an image in a scanplane.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, further comprising a means for marking the location of the probe on the body being examined during examination, wherein the marking is triggered by one of user control or automatic system recognition of features of interest in the ultrasound data.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer has at least one single concave piezoelement.

Claim 5

The device of claim 3, wherein the piezoelement is circular in shape.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is a multielement annular array.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer has at least one single convex piezoelement.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6, wherein the piezoelement is circular in shape.

Claim 9

A non-real time ultrasonic imaging system the system comprising: a probe adapted for use on the exterior surface of the body and having an ultrasonic transducer, the transducer capable of imaging along a scanline, wherein the scanline is fixed in orientation and unmovable with respect to the probe wherein the transducer has at least one piezoelement capable of transmitting signals and receiving signals along the scanline; ultrasound electronics in communication with the probe, the ultrasound electronics transmitting signals and receiving signals from the probe; an electromagnetic positioning receiving sensor mechanically coupled to the probe; an electromagnetic positioning transmitter for transmitting probing magnetic fields to the positioning receiving sensor, wherein the transmitter is stationary relative to the freehand probe; means coupled to the electronics and the electromagnetic positioning receiving sensor for computing the spatial position and the orientation of at least one sampled scanline using position information from the sensor and transmitting the scanline orientation and spatial position to the electronics wherein the electronics identifies each scanline by a unique spatial address; a memory coupled to the electronics for storing the addressed scanlines; and a display coupled to the memory and electronics for displaying the addressed scanlines wherein the movement of the probe results in the accumulation of multiple spatial addressed scanlines displayable as an image in a scanplane.

Claim 10

A non-real time ultrasonic imaging system the system comprising: a probe adapted for use on the exterior surface of the body and having an ultrasonic transducer, the transducer capable of imaging along a scanline, wherein the scanline is fixed in orientation and unmovable with respect to the probe wherein the transducer has at least one piezoelement capable of transmitting signals and receiving signals along the scanline; ultrasound electronics in communication with the probe, the ultrasound electronics transmitting signals and receiving signals from the probe; an electromagnetic positioning receiving sensor mechanically coupled to the probe; an electromagnetic positioning transmitter for transmitting probing magnetic fields to the positioning receiving sensor, wherein the transmitter is stationary relative to the freehand probe; means coupled to the electronics and the electromagnetic positioning receiving sensor for computing the spatial position and the orientation of at least one sampled scanline using position information from the sensor and transmitting the scanline orientation and spatial position to the electronics wherein the electronics identifies each scanline by a unique spatial address; a memory coupled to the electronics for storing the addressed scanlines; and a display coupled to the memory and electronics for displaying the addressed scanlines wherein the movement of the probe results in the accumulation of multiple spatial addressed scanlines displayable as an image in a scanplane.

Claim 11

The device of claim 8, further comprising a means for marking the location of the probe on the body being examined during examination.

Claim 12

The device of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic transducer has at least one single concave piezoelement.

Claim 13

The device of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic transducer has a circular piezoelement.

Claim 14

The device of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is a multielement annular array.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of defining a nonplanar image slice of the body by a two dimensional image which is either planar or curved in at least one direction.

Claim 18

The device of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic transducer has at least one single convex piezoelement.

Claim 19

The device of claim 15, wherein the piezoelement is circular in shape.