Systems and methods for reconfiguring an ultrasound device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9872670-B2
Application number	US-201615221355-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2016
Priority date	Apr 6, 2007
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods (the “utility”) presented herein provide for the assessment of acousto-electrical probes, such as their connections (e.g., transducer leads) and their response characteristics. For example, the utility may provide for readily evaluating transducer leads that have been broken and/or detached from transducers within an ultrasound probe. Due to the increasing complexity of ultrasound probes, identification of broken and/or detached transducer leads also becomes increasingly complex. Being able to identify such disconnected transducer leads may enable a person to repair, or “reterminate”, these transducer leads leading to a potentially substantial cost savings, the least of which being incurred by avoiding total replacement of an ultrasound probe.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
determining, using a processor, a type of acoustic device connected to a connection interface based on a number of transducers associated with the acoustic device and communication between the processor and the acoustic device;
generating, using the processor and the connection interface, a pulsed control signal to stimulate a selected transducer of the acoustic device;
converting an acoustic pulse, received by the connection interface from the selected transducer in response to the pulsed control signal, into an electronic signal;
analyzing at least one of a frequency characteristic or a phase characteristic of the electronic signal to determine an operating status of the selected transducer; and
facilitating repair of the selected transducer based on the operating status and analysis of the at least one of frequency characteristic or phase characteristic of the electronic signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection interface includes a printed circuit board connection configured for at least one electrical lead for a transducer associated with the acoustic device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection interface includes a plurality of connectors, wherein a number of the connectors is greater than or equal to a number of transducer leads associated with the acoustic device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further including multiplexing the control signal based on the type of the acoustic device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein multiplexing the control signal includes multiplexing the control signal to select at least one of a data signal, a clock signal, a voltage, or a variable voltage wave form to stimulate the selected transducer.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including generating information indicating at least one broken transducer lead of the acoustic device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further including displaying the information to a user, wherein the information provides a location of the at least one broken transducer lead of the acoustic device within the connection interface.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of frequency characteristic or phase characteristic of the electronic signal includes a phase amplitude associated with the received acoustic pulse.

9. A storage device including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to at least:
determine a type of acoustic device connected to a connection interface based on a number of transducers associated with the acoustic device and communication between the processor and the acoustic device;
generate a pulsed control signal to stimulate a selected transducer of the acoustic device;
convert an acoustic pulse, received by the connection interface from the selected transducer in response to the pulsed control signal, into an electronic signal;
analyze at least one of a frequency characteristic or a phase characteristic of the electronic signal to determine an operating status of the selected transducer; and
facilitate repair of the selected transducer based on the operating status and analysis of the at least one of frequency characteristic or phase characteristic of the electronic signal.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the connection interface includes a plurality of connectors, wherein a number of the connectors is greater than or equal to a number of transducer leads associated with the acoustic device.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to multiplex the control signal based on the type of the acoustic device.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein multiplexing the control signal includes multiplexing the control signal to select at least one of a data signal, a clock signal, a voltage, or a variable voltage wave form to stimulate the selected transducer.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to generate information indicating at least one broken transducer lead of the acoustic device.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to display the information to a user, wherein the information provides a location of the at least one broken transducer lead of the acoustic device within the connection interface.

15. An apparatus comprising:
a connection interface to connect with an acoustic device;
a memory to store software program instructions;
a processor to execute the software program instructions to at least:
determine a type of acoustic device connected to the connection interface based on a number of transducers associated with the acoustic device and communication between the processor and the acoustic device;
generate a pulsed control signal to stimulate a selected transducer of the acoustic device;
convert an acoustic pulse, received by the connection interface from the selected transducer in response to the pulsed control signal, into an electronic signal;
analyze at least one of a frequency characteristic or a phase characteristic of the electronic signal to determine an operating status of the selected transducer; and
facilitate repair of the selected transducer based on the operating status and analysis of the at least one of frequency characteristic or phase characteristic of the electronic signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the connection interface includes a printed circuit board connection configured for at least one electrical lead for a transducer associated with the acoustic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the connection interface includes a plurality of connectors, wherein a number of the connectors is greater than or equal to a number of transducer leads associated with the acoustic device.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to multiplex the control signal based on the type of the acoustic device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein multiplexing the control signal includes multiplexing the control signal to select at least one of a data signal, a clock signal, a voltage, or a variable voltage wave form to stimulate the selected transducer.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least one of frequency characteristic or phase characteristic of the electronic signal includes a phase amplitude associated with the received acoustic pulse.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Markoff Nickolas
• Cone Christopher M

Classifications

• A61B8/4444

  related to the probe · CPC title

• Y10T29/49004

  including measuring or testing of device or component part · CPC title

• G01N29/30

  Arrangements for calibrating or comparing, e.g. with standard objects · CPC title

• G01R31/11

  using pulse reflection methods · CPC title

• A61B6/586

  Detection of faults or malfunction of the device · CPC title