Multi-headed imaging probe and imaging system using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9532768-B2
Application number	US-201313913124-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2013
Priority date	Aug 17, 2007
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A diagnostic imaging system is provided that includes an image acquisition component, a transmitter operatively coupled to the image acquisition component to transmit a signal therefrom, and a beamformer operatively coupled to the image acquisition component to receive image data therefrom. Also included is a processor configured to assemble images from the acquired image data and a display configured to display the images. The image acquisition component includes a multi-headed probe that has a plurality of transducers configured to permit a change of active transducers during an imaging session without a change of the image acquisition component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A diagnostic imaging system comprising:
an image acquisition component configured to provide image data;
a processor configured to assemble images from said image data; and
a display configured to display said images;
wherein said image acquisition component comprises:
a multi-headed probe having a single probe body having at least first and second windows in the single probe body; and
at least first and second transducer heads in the single probe body and covered by the corresponding first and second windows for transmission of ultrasound waves and receiving echoes;
wherein the probe body is elongated from a first end to an opposite second end with the first transducer head located at the first end of the probe body and the second transducer head located at the second end of the probe body, and
wherein the first and second windows are located at fixed positions within the single probe body and are physically separated from one another such that, when one of the first or second windows is positioned against a patient at a region of interest (ROI), the other of the first or second windows is not positioned against the patient.

2. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transducer heads are configured to provide distinct and different functions such that the first transducer head is active when the second transducer head is inactive.

3. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transducer heads are different types of transducers.

4. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-headed probe is one of a two-headed probe or a three-headed probe.

5. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first transducer head includes a curved array of transducer elements and the second transducer head includes a linear array of transducer elements.

6. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein said probe body includes at least one button configured to be operated by a user and configured to switch an active one of the first or second transducer heads and an inactive one of the first or second transducer heads.

7. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein only one of the first or second transducer heads is active during a scanning session.

8. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the probe body includes at least one of a visible or audible signaling device to provide at least one of a visual or audible indication, of which one of the first and second transducer heads is active.

9. The imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a probe case encasing the multi-headed probe, said probe case having case windows at opposed scanning ends of the probe case, the case windows coinciding with the first and second windows and transducer heads in the single probe body.

10. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein said multi-headed probe includes a transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of said processor or said display.

11. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein said probe body includes at least one of a button configured to start and to freeze acquisition of an image, a button configured to select one of said first and second transducer heads on said probe for activation, or a visual or audible signaling device configured to signal which one of said transducers has been selected for activation.

12. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transducer heads each perform a different one of a 2D function, 3D function, curved array function or linear array function.

13. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein said processor and said display are enclosed in a portable imaging system weighing about 10 pounds.

14. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein said processor and said display are enclosed in a portable imaging system weighing between about 10 pounds and about 3 ounces.

15. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the display is a touch screen display.

16. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-headed probe wirelessly communicates with a portable imaging system.

17. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transducer heads are fixed in position and orientation with respect to one another in the probe body.

18. The imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a standard computer cable, the image acquisition component in the multi-head probe configured to communicate with at least one of the processor or the display through the computer cable.

19. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second windows are located at the first and second ends of the single probe body, respectively.

20. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein a probe cable is joined to the single probe body at a location that is approximately equal distance between the first and second windows.

21. The imaging system of claim 20 , wherein the at least first and second transducer heads consist of only two transducer heads.

22. A diagnostic ultrasound multi-head probe, comprising:
a single probe body having at least first and second windows in the single probe body; and
at least first and second transducer heads in the single probe body and covered by the corresponding first and second windows, respectively, for transmission of ultrasound waves and receiving echoes;
wherein the first and second windows are located at fixed positions within the single probe body and are physically separated from one another such that, when one of the first and second windows is positioned against a patient at a region of interest (ROI), the other of the first or second windows is not positioned against the patient,
wherein the probe body is elongated from a first end to an opposite second end with the first transducer head located at the first end of the probe body and the second transducer head located at the second end of the probe body.

23. The probe of claim 22 , wherein the multi-headed probe is one of a two-headed probe or a three-headed probe.

24. The probe of claim 22 , wherein the first transducer head includes a curved array of transducer elements and the second transducer head includes a linear array of transducer elements.

25. The probe of claim 22 , wherein said probe body includes at least one button configured to be operated by a user and configured to switch an active one of the first or second transducer heads and an inactive one of the first or second transducer heads.

26. The probe of claim 22 , wherein the probe body includes at least one of a visible or audible signaling device to provide at least one of a visual or audible indication of which one of the first and second transducer heads is active.

27. The probe of claim 22 , wherein the first window and the first transducer head are located at the first end of the single probe body and the second window and the second transducer head are located at the second end of the single probe body.

28. The probe of claim 22 , wherein the single probe body is elongated and a probe cable is joined to the single probe body at a location that is approximately equal distance between the first and second windows.

29. The probe of claim 22 , wherein the at least first and second transducer heads consist of only two transducer heads.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Marteau Jean-Michel
• Roncaglioni Aurelie
• Wodecki Lionel

Classifications

• A61B8/469

  for selection of a region of interest · CPC title

• A61B8/463

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

• A61B8/466

  adapted to display 3D data · CPC title

• A61B8/4472

  Wireless probes · CPC title

• A61B8/4494

  characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements · CPC title