US6142946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with cordless scanheads
Assignee: ATL Ultrasound Inc
•
Filing: 1998-11-20
•
Granted: 2000-11-07
•
Expires: 2018-11-20
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with cordless scanheads which wirelessly transmit ultrasonic image signals to the imaging system. The transmitted image signals are received by a receiver in the mainframe ultrasound system where they undergo further image processing and are displayed. In a preferred embodiment the scanhead image signals are at least partially beamformed in the scanhead before being transmitted to the ultrasound system, thereby reducing the required transmission bandwidth. The cordless scanheads are battery powered, and are recharged by the ultrasound system when the scanheads are not being used for scanning.
Inventors
- 👤 Juin-Jet Hwang
- 👤 Lauren S. Pflugrath
- 👤 Leo R. Catallo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4472; A61B8/56; A61B8/565; G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/003; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52079; G01S7/5208; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; A61B5/00; A61B5/72; A61B5/7232; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/899
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 83
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing control circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing control circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array; a receive beamformer, coupled to said transducer array, which selectively combines echo signals received by elements of said transducer array to form beamformed echo signals; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said receive beamformer, which transmits beamformed echo signals, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted beamformed echo signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array; a receive beamformer, coupled to said transducer array, which selectively combines echo signals received by elements of said transducer array to form beamformed echo signals; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said receive beamformer, which transmits beamformed echo signals, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted beamformed echo signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; a receive beamformer, coupled to said transducer array, which selectively combines echo signals received by elements of said transducer array to form beamformed echo signals; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; a receive beamformer, coupled to said transducer array, which selectively combines echo signals received by elements of said transducer array to form beamformed echo signals; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said ultrasound system further includes a display for displaying ultrasonic images formed from the echo signal information transmitted by said wireless transmitter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises an r.f. transmitter, and wherein said wireless receiver comprises an r.f. receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1 or 3, wherein said ultrasound system further includes a probe control for controlling ultrasonic scanning by an ultrasonic probe, and wherein said probe further comprises: a wireless receiver which receives scanning control signals from said ultrasound system in response to operation of said probe control for operation of said transmit timing circuitry.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 6, wherein said receiver includes an IF section and a baseband section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 7, wherein said receiver includes a quadrature demodulator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said transmitter has a transmitter bandwidth of at least 4 MBPS.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 9, wherein said transmitter has a transmitter bandwidth of at least 11 MBPS.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said transmitter includes a superhetrodyne modulator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said echo signal information is transmitted as unscanconverted scanlines; and wherein said ultrasound system includes a scan converter for converting said scanlines to a desired image format.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said transmitter comprises a UHF transmitter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said receiver includes an IF section and a baseband section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 14 wherein said receiver includes a quadrature demodulator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said transmitter is a spread spectrum transmitter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said transmitter utilizes an r.f. transmit frequency in the range of approximately 2.4 GHz.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a data compression circuit for compressing echo signal information prior to its transmission by said transmitter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 18, wherein said data compression circuit uses one of JPEG, MPEG or wavelet compression techniques.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said transmitter includes a regulator which regulates the transmitted power as a function of either the quality of signals received by said ultrasound system or the distance between said probe and said ultrasound system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, wherein said transmit timing control circuitry further comprises a pulse generator, having an input coupled to said transmit timing control circuitry and an output coupled to said multielement transducer array, which acts to pulse elements of said transducer array.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 21, wherein said transmit timing control circuitry is located on a digital integrated circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, wherein said transmit timing control circuitry controls the transmission of ultrasound beams for B mode or Doppler imaging.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, wherein said transmit timing control circuitry further controls the active aperture of said transducer array.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 24, wherein said transmit timing control circuitry further includes a multiplexer coupled to the elements of said transducer array.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 25, wherein said multiplexer is located on an integrated circuit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 1, wherein said probe further includes a data storage device for storing a transmit control sequence, wherein said transmit timing control circuitry executes said stored transmit control sequence to control the transmission of ultrasound beams by said transducer array.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 2 or 3, wherein said receive beamformer further includes a weighting circuit for applying a desired apodization function to received echo signals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 2 or 3, further comprising time gain control (TGC) circuitry for applying a gain function to received echo signals as a function of depth from which said echo signals are received.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 2 or 3, wherein said beamformer comprises a sampled data beamformer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 30, wherein said beamformer comprises a CCD beamformer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 30, wherein said beamformer comprises a digital beamformer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 2 or 3, further comprising a digital signals processor for performing one or more of: bandlimiting echo signal information; separating echo signals into quadrature signals; and decimating the sampling rate of echo signal information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 2 or 3, further comprising a detector for detecting B mode echo information.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 2 or 3, wherein said receive beamformer includes a plurality of analog delays.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 35, wherein said analog delays comprise CCD delays.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 2 or 3, wherein said receive beamformer includes a plurality of digital delays.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 3, wherein said transmit timing circuitry controls the transmission of ultrasound beams for B mode or Doppler imaging.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 3, wherein said transmit timing circuitry further controls the active aperture of said transducer array.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 39, wherein said transmit timing circuitry further includes a multiplexer coupled to the elements of said transducer array.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
43 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 3, wherein said probe further includes a data storage device for storing a transmit control sequence, wherein said transmit timing circuitry executes said stored transmit control sequence to control the transmission of ultrasound beams by said transducer array.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 3, wherein said transmit timing circuitry further comprises a pulse generator, having an input coupled to said transmit timing circuitry and an output coupled to said multielement transducer array, which acts to pulse elements of said transducer array.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 3, wherein said transmit timing circuitry is located on a digital integrated circuit.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
90 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; digital transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
90 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; digital transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and a wireless transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 44, further comprising a multiplexer coupled between said digital transmit timing circuitry and said multielement transducer array.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 44, wherein said digital transmit timing circuitry is located on an integrated circuit.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 46, wherein said integrated circuit comprises a beamformer integrated circuit.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 47, further comprising a receive beamformer coupled between said multielement transducer array and said wireless transmitter, wherein at least a portion of said receive beamformer is located on said beamformer integrated circuit.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 48, further comprising a detector coupled to the output of said receive beamformer, wherein said wireless transmitter transmits detected echo information signals.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 44, wherein said wireless transmitter includes a regulator which regulates the transmitted power as a function of either the quality of signals received by said ultrasound system or the distance between said probe and said ultrasound system.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and an r.f. transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes an r.f. receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and an r.f. transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes an r.f. receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 51, wherein said r.f. transmitter transmits digital echo signal information.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 52, wherein said r.f. transmitter transmits compressed digital echo signal information.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 51, wherein said r.f. transmitter comprises a spread spectrum transmitter.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 51, wherein said r.f. transmitter communicates between said probe and said ultrasound system through simplex operation.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 55, wherein said r.f. transmitter receives probe control data originating from the user interface of said ultrasound system.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 51, wherein said r.f. transmitter communicates between said probe and said ultrasound system through duplex operation.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 57, wherein said r.f. transmitter receives probe control data originating from the user interface of said ultrasound system.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and an omnidirectional transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic probe which wirelessly communicates with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for display of ultrasonic information acquired by said probe, comprising: a multielement transducer array which transmits beams of ultrasonic energy and receives ultrasonic echo signals; transmit timing circuitry coupled to said transducer array to control the transmission of electronically steered and/or focused ultrasound beams by said transducer array; and an omnidirectional transmitter, coupled to said transducer array, which transmits echo signal information, wherein said ultrasound system includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted echo signal information.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter comprises an r.f. transmitter, and wherein said wireless receiver comprises an r.f. receiver.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter transmits digital echo signal information.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 61, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter transmits compressed digital echo signal information.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 62, wherein said compressed digital echo signal information comprises one of JPEG, MPEG or wavelet compressed data.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter comprises a spread spectrum transmitter.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter communicates between said probe and said ultrasound system through simplex operation.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 65, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter receives probe control data originating from the user interface of said ultrasound system.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter communicates between said probe and said ultrasound system through duplex operation.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 67, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter receives probe control data originating from the user interface of said ultrasound system.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
56 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said ultrasound system further includes a probe control for controlling ultrasonic scanning by an ultrasonic probe, and wherein said probe further comprises: an omnidirectional receiver which receives scanning control signals from said ultrasound system in response to operation of said probe control for operation of said transmit timing circuitry.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said transmit timing circuitry controls the transmission of ultrasound beams for B mode or Doppler imaging.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter has a transmitter bandwidth of at least 4 MBPS.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 71, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter has a transmitter bandwith of at least 11 MBPS.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter includes a superhetrodyne modulator.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, further comprising a receive beamformer coupled between said transducer array and said omnidirectional transmitter.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 74, further comprising a detector coupled between said received beamformer and said omnidirectional transmitter, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter transmits detected echo signal information to said ultrasound system.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59 or 75, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter transmits echo signal information in packets of data.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ultrasonic probe of claim 59, wherein said omnidirectional transmitter includes a regulator which regulates the transmitted power as a function of either the quality of signals received by said ultrasound system or the distance between said probe and said ultrasound system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS55151952A
Cited
US4413629A
Cited
US5295485A
Cited
US5640960A
Cited
WO1996032888A1
Cited
US5590658A
Cited
US5690114A
Cited
US5964709A
Cited
EP0762142A1
Cited
US5715823A
Cited
US5851186A
Cited
US5722412A
Cited
EP0833266A2
Cited
US5882300A
Cited
US5865733A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-07 | 2004-05-08 | 2004-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-07 | 2008-05-08 | 2008-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-05-08 | 2012-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |