Ultrasonic imaging device and imaging method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11617566-B2
Application number	US-202017112424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2020
Priority date	Dec 6, 2019
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

The present invention provides an ultrasonic imaging device, comprising: an imaging assembly, the imaging assembly comprising an ultrasonic transducer for imaging tissue to be imaged; an adjustable arm, wherein one end of the adjustable arm is connected to the imaging assembly; a counterweight, the counterweight being connected to the other end of the adjustable arm through a cable; a frame, the frame being capable of guiding movement when the counterweight and/or adjustable arm moves; and a transmission assembly, the transmission assembly comprising a driving device and a transmission belt, wherein the driving device is connected to the transmission belt, and the transmission belt is connected to the counterweight; the driving device is capable of acting on the counterweight through the transmission belt, so as to adjust pressure applied by the imaging assembly onto the tissue to be imaged. The present invention further provides some imaging methods using the ultrasonic imaging device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An ultrasonic imaging device, comprising:
an imaging assembly, the imaging assembly comprising an ultrasonic transducer for imaging tissue to be imaged;
an adjustable arm, wherein one end of the adjustable arm is connected to the imaging assembly;
a counterweight, the counterweight being connected to the other end of the adjustable arm through a cable;
a frame, the frame being capable of guiding movement when the counterweight and/or adjustable arm moves; and
a transmission assembly, the transmission assembly comprising a driving device and a transmission belt, wherein the driving device is connected to the transmission belt, and the transmission belt is connected to the counterweight; the driving device is capable of acting on the counterweight through the transmission belt, so as to adjust pressure applied by the imaging assembly onto the tissue to be imaged,
wherein the driving device comprises a motor assembly and a clutch, the motor assembly is connected to the clutch, and the clutch is connected to the transmission belt,
wherein the motor assembly comprises a motor and a reducer; an output shaft of the motor comprises a worm structure; the reducer comprises a worm gear mated with the worm structure; the worm is mated with the worm gear to enable automatic locking of a position of the counterweight in an OFF state of the motor, and
wherein, when the pressure applied by the imaging assembly onto the tissue is adjusted to an expected value, the position of the counterweight is automatically locked by the motor being toggled to the OFF state.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a first pulley block, wherein the first pulley block comprises a number of pulleys disposed on the frame and the other end of the adjustable arm; the cable is wound through the pulley block and has two ends disposed on the counterweight.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a number of pillar structures, and the counterweight is provided with through-holes for the pillar structures to pass through; the pillar structures are usable for guiding movement during movement of the counterweight.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a hollow structure, and at least part of the adjustable arm is disposed in the hollow structure; the hollow structure is usable for guiding movement during movement of the adjustable arm.

5. The device according to claim 5 claim 1 , wherein the clutch is connected to the transmission belt through a driving wheel.

6. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising a driven wheel, wherein the driven wheel is disposed on the frame and connected to the transmission belt.

7. The device according to claim 6 , further comprising a driven wheel adjusting device, wherein the driven wheel is disposed on the frame by means of the driven wheel adjusting device; the driven wheel adjusting device comprises a fixing seat and an adjusting rod;
the driven wheel is disposed on the fixing seat; the adjusting rod is threadedly connected to the fixing seat and the frame, so that a position of the driven wheel is capable of being adjusted by rotating the adjusting rod.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the driven wheel adjusting device further comprises a guide rod, one end of the guide rod is disposed on the frame, and the other end passes through the fixing seat.

9. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the driving wheel comprises a gear structure, and a portion of the transmission belt in contact with the driving wheel has a tooth-like structure that is engaged with the gear structure.

10. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising a tensioning device, wherein the tensioning device comprises a movable tensioning wheel; the movable tensioning wheel is disposed on the frame and movably attached to the transmission belt through a torsion spring.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the tensioning device further comprises a fixed tensioning wheel, and the fixed tensioning wheel is disposed opposite to the movable tensioning wheel and attached to the transmission belt.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein one side of the transmission belt is connected to the counterweight to drive the counterweight to move.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch comprises an electromagnetic clutch body, a base, an adapter, a support bearing, a bearing seat, and a driving wheel; the electromagnetic clutch body is disposed on the base and connected to the adapter; the adapter is rotatably connected to the support bearing and is connected to the driving wheel through a rotating shaft; the support bearing is disposed on the bearing seat; the driving wheel is connected to the transmission belt.

14. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second pulley block disposed on the frame and a third pulley block disposed on the counterweight; the second pulley block is used for sliding connection between the frame and the adjustable arm; the third pulley block is used for sliding connection between the frame and the counterweight.

15. An imaging method using the device according to claim 1 , comprising:
adjusting a position of an imaging assembly so that the imaging assembly is close to a surface of tissue to be imaged;
controlling the driving device to act on the counterweight, and adjusting pressure applied by the imaging assembly onto the tissue to be imaged; and
using the imaging assembly to perform imaging.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein when the position of the imaging assembly is adjusted, the clutch in the driving device is in a disengaged state; at this time, the position of the imaging assembly is adjusted manually.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein when the driving device acts on the counterweight, the clutch in the driving device is in an engaged state; at this time, the driving device is capable of acting on the counterweight to change a force applied by the counterweight to the adjustable arm, thereby changing a force applied to the imaging assembly.

Assignees

• Ge Prec Healthcare Llc

Inventors

• Jin Lu
• Li Bing
• Yao Qiang
• Chen Liping
• Liu Lanping
• Shi Kejian

Classifications

• A61B8/4218

  characterised by articulated arms · CPC title

• A61B8/4405

  Device being mounted on a trolley · CPC title

• A61B8/0825 Primary

  for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography · CPC title

• G01S7/52079

  Constructional features (constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44) · CPC title

• A61B8/463 Primary

  characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display · CPC title