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US6572547B2
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Transesophageal and transnasal, transesophageal ultrasound imaging systems
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
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Filing: 2001-07-31
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2021-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A semi-invasive ultrasound imaging system for imaging biological tissue includes a transesophageal probe or a transnasal, transesophageal probe connected to a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array, a transmit beamformer, a receive beamformer, and an image generator. The two-dimensional transducer array is disposed on a distal portion of the probe's elongated body. The transmit beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to transmit several ultrasound beams over a selected pattern defined by azimuthal and elevation orientations. The receive beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to acquire ultrasound data from the echoes reflected over a selected tissue volume. The tissue volume is defined by the azimuthal and elevation orientations and a selected scan range. The receive beamformer is constructed to synthesize image data from the acquired ultrasound data. The image generator is constructed to receive the image data and generate images that are displayed on an image display. Preferably, the image generator is constructed to generate, from the image data, several orthographic projection views over the selected tissue volume.
Inventors
- 👤 David G. Miller
- 👤 Michael Peszynski
- 👤 Heather Beck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6814; A61B5/6819; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/4483; A61B8/4488; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; G01S15/8925; G01S15/8927; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01S7/52061; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/0204; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/046; A61B8/48; A61B8/483; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52033; G01S7/52036; G01S7/52074; G01S7/52079
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A semi-invasive ultrasound imaging system for imaging biological tissue, comprising: a probe including an elongated body with a distal end comprising a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array; a transmit beamformer connected to said transducer array and constructed to transmit several ultrasound beams over a selected azimuthal range and a selected elevation range of locations; a receive beamformer, connected to said transducer array, constructed to acquire ultrasound data from echoes reflected over a selected tissue volume delineated by said emitted ultrasound beams and a selected sector scan depth and synthesize image data from said acquired ultrasound data; and an image generator constructed to receive said image data and generate at least one image of the selected tissue volume that are displayed on an image display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A semi-invasive ultrasound imaging system for imaging biological tissue, comprising: a probe including an elongated body with a distal end comprising a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array; a transmit beamformer connected to said transducer array and constructed to transmit several ultrasound beams over a selected azimuthal range and a selected elevation range of locations; a receive beamformer, connected to said transducer array, constructed to acquire ultrasound data from echoes reflected over a selected tissue volume delineated by said emitted ultrasound beams and a selected sector scan depth and synthesize image data from said acquired ultrasound data; and an image generator constructed to receive said image data and generate at least one image of the selected tissue volume that are displayed on an image display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein said image generator is constructed to generate, from said image data, at least two orthographic projection views over the selected tissue volume, and said image display is constructed to display said at least two projection views.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further including a surface detector and a control processor, said surface detector being constructed to receive image parameters from said control processor and generate surface data from the image data; said image generator being constructed to generate from the surface data a projection image for display on said image display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 3 wherein said surface detector is a B-scan boundary detector and said image generator is constructed to generate, from said image data and said surface data, a plane view including said projection image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 4 wherein said image generator is constructed to generate, from said image data and said surface data, at least two orthographic projection views each including said plane view and said projection image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 3 wherein said surface detector is a C-scan boundary detector and said image generator is constructed to generate a C-scan view.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein said transducer array and said beamformers are constructed to operate in a phased array mode and acquire said ultrasound data over said selected azimuthal range for several image sectors each having a designated elevation location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein said transducer array includes a plurality of sub-arrays connected to said transmit and receive beamformers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein said probe is a transesophageal probe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 9 wherein said transesophageal probe includes a locking mechanism co-operatively arranged with an articulation region of said probe and constructed to lock in place said transducer array after orienting said array relative to a tissue region of interest.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein said probe is a transnasal transesophageal probe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 11 wherein said transnasal transesophageal probe includes a locking mechanism co-operatively arranged with an articulation region of said probe and constructed to lock in place said transducer array after orienting said array relative to a tissue region of interest.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 2 further including a control processor constructed and arranged to control said transmission of said ultrasound beams and control said synthesis of said image data based on data provided by a user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 13 wherein said transducer array includes a plurality of sub-arrays connectable to said transmit and receive beamformers and said control processor is constructed to control arrangement of said sub-arrays for optimizing acquisition of said echo data of said tissue volume.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 13 wherein said control processor constructed and arranged to provide to said transmit beamformer and said receive beamformer scan parameters that include an imaging depth, a frame rate, or an azimuth to elevation scan ratio.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 13 wherein said control processor is constructed to receive input data and provide output data causing said transmit and receive beamformers to change said azimuthal range.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 13 wherein said control processor is constructed to receive input data and provide output data causing said transmit and receive beamformers to change said elevation range.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 13 wherein said control processor is constructed to provide data to image generator for adjusting a yaw of said views by recalculating said orthographic projection views.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 2 wherein said image generator includes at least one view interpolation processor constructed to generate said at least two orthographic projection views, at least one icon generator constructed to generate said at least two icons associated with said at least two orthographic projection views, and at least one boundary detector constructed and arranged to detect a tissue boundary.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 19 wherein the view interpolation processor is arranged to generate a B-scan view and a C-scan view, said C-scan view being generated by receiving C-scan designation information from said B-scan view.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 20 wherein said C-scan designation information includes range gates.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 19 wherein the view interpolation processor is an azimuthal view interpolation processor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 19 wherein the view interpolation processor is an elevation view interpolation processor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 19 wherein the view interpolation processor includes a gated peak detector.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 19 wherein said image generator includes a yaw adjustment processor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 19 wherein said image generator includes a range processor constructed to provide two range cursors for generating a C-scan projection view.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 26 wherein said range processor is arranged to receive a user input defining said two range cursors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 19 wherein said icon generator constructed to generate an azimuthal icon displaying said azimuthal angular range and displaying a maximum azimuthal angular range.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 19 wherein said icon generator is constructed to generate an elevation icon displaying said elevation angular range and displaying a maximum elevation angular range.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
113 words
A semi-invasive ultrasound imaging method, comprising: introducing into the esophagus a probe and positioning a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array at a selected orientation relative to an tissue region of interest; transmitting ultrasound beams over a plurality of transmit scan lines from said transducer array over a selected azimuthal range and a selected elevation range of locations; acquiring by said transducer array ultrasound data from echoes reflected from a selected tissue volume delineated by said azimuthal range, said elevation range and a selected sector scan depth and synthesizing image data from said acquired ultrasound data; generating from said image data at least one image of the selected tissue volume; and displaying said generated image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
113 words
A semi-invasive ultrasound imaging method, comprising: introducing into the esophagus a probe and positioning a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array at a selected orientation relative to an tissue region of interest; transmitting ultrasound beams over a plurality of transmit scan lines from said transducer array over a selected azimuthal range and a selected elevation range of locations; acquiring by said transducer array ultrasound data from echoes reflected from a selected tissue volume delineated by said azimuthal range, said elevation range and a selected sector scan depth and synthesizing image data from said acquired ultrasound data; generating from said image data at least one image of the selected tissue volume; and displaying said generated image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The imaging method of claim 30 wherein said generating includes creating at least two orthographic projection views over the selected tissue volume.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The imaging method of claim 30 further including generating surface data by a surface detector, wherein said generating also includes generating from said surface data a projection image.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The imaging method of claim 32 wherein said surface detector is a B-scan boundary detector and said generating from said image data and said surface data includes creating a plane view including said projection image.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The imaging method of claim 33 wherein said generating includes creating at least two orthographic projection views each including said plane view and said projection image.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The imaging method of claim 32 wherein said surface detector is a C-scan boundary detector and said generating includes creating a C-scan view.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
45 words
The imaging method of claim 30 wherein said transmitting and said acquiring is performed by transmit and receive beamformers constructed to operate in a phased array mode and acquire said ultrasound data over said selected azimuthal range for several image sectors having known elevation locations.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The imaging method of claim 30 wherein said generating includes generating at least two orthographic projection views over the tissue volume, and said displaying includes displaying said at least two orthographic projection views.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The imaging method of claim 37 further including positioning a surgical instrument at a tissue of interest displayed by said orthographic projection views.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The imaging method of claim 38 further including verifying a location of said surgical instrument during surgery based orthographic projection views.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The imaging method of claim 37 further including performing said transmitting, said acquiring, said generating, and said displaying of said orthographic projection views while performing surgery with said surgical instrument.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The imaging method of claim 37 further including performing said transmitting, said acquiring, said generating, and said displaying of said orthographic projection views after performing surgery with said surgical instrument.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
The imaging method of claim 33 further including generating by an azimuthal icon generator an azimuthal icon associated with said selected azimuthal range and a maximum azimuthal range.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
The imaging method of claim 33 further including generating by an elevation icon generator an elevation icon associated with said selected elevation range and a maximum elevation range.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The imaging method of claim 37 wherein said generating said several orthographic projection views includes generating a selected C-scan view.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The imaging method of claim 44 wherein said generating said selected C-scan view includes providing a C-scan designation for said selected C-scan view.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
The imaging method of claim 45 wherein said providing said C-scan designation includes defining a bottom view.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
The imaging method of claim 45 wherein said providing said C-scan designation includes defining a top view.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
33 words
The imaging method of claim 44 wherein generating said C-scan includes detecting a tissue boundary by using a C-scan boundary detector, and selecting ultrasound data for said C-scan by a gated peak detector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |