Patent Application
20180021014
The present invention relates to a device for use in combination with an ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasonic probe, in particular a handheld device that holds the ultrasonic probe and allows convenient addition of conductive gel to the probe tip during the ultrasonic scanning process. The present invention also discloses a kit comprising said device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,099 discloses a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a pistol-shaped housing, and an LCD for displaying a result of ultrasonic diagnosis installed in a portion of the pistol-shaped housing.
China Utility Model Patent No. 201182611 Y discloses a handheld monitoring device for ultrasonic guide operation and anesthesia, comprising an ultrasonic probe and a handhold part, the ultrasonic probe being positioned at a front end of the handhold part. The monitoring device is characterized in that a display is configured at a rear end of the handhold part.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a device for use in combination with an ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasonic probe. The device comprises a housing, a holder, a duct for conveying conductive gel, and a control means.
The housing includes a main body and a handle. The main body extends along a first axis from a first end to a second end. In addition, the main body has an accommodating space for receiving the ultrasonic probe and the holder.
The holder is adapted for holding the ultrasonic probe, and is slidably movable within the accommodating space along the first axis with the ultrasonic probe held therein.
The duct for conveying conductive gel has an opening or outlet at the first end of the housing.
The control means is adapted for controlling the supply of conductive gel from the opening or outlet of the duct.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, the ultrasound imaging system may further include a master device. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a communication module adapted to communicate with the master device.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, the ultrasonic probe may be an integrated handheld ultrasonic scanner. In such embodiments, the master device may be a device selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a personal computer.
According one specific embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises an adjustable display configured on the housing. The adjustable display may be detachably or securely mounted on the housing.
In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, the control means is further adapted for controlling the movement of the holder within the accommodating space along the first axis.
According to the present invention, the device may further comprise a conductive gel source connected to the duct.
According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the holder normally holds the ultrasonic probe in a first position such that the tip of the ultrasonic probe is exposed from the first end of the main body for performing the ultrasonic scanning. Further, the ultrasonic probe can be moved, by the holder along the first axis toward the second end of the main body, to a second position where its tip retreats to the accommodating space. In one embodiment, the movement of the holder along the first axis is controlled by the control means.
According to the present invention, the opening of the duct may be configured at a location adapted for supplying conductive gel to the tip of the ultrasonic probe when the ultrasonic probe is in the second position.
Preferably, the control means is adapted for synchronously moving the holder along the first axis and supplying conductive gel through the duct to the tip of the ultrasonic probe.
Preferably, after the conductive gel is added to the tip of the ultrasonic probe, the control means automatically moves the holder along the first axis toward the first end of the main body, such that the ultrasonic probe automatically returns to its first position.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a device as described above, and a base for said device.
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a battery and the base is a charging base.
In one further aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a device as described above that has a communication module, and an intermediate apparatus. Such kit is designed for use in combination with a conventional ultrasonic imaging system whose master device is an ultrasound machine includes a console or control panel with physical buttons. The intermediate apparatus comprises a receiver for receiving a signal from the communication module, and an actuator for pressing a physical button of the console or control panel.
Preferably, the device further comprises a battery. According to the present invention, the actuator may be selected from the group consisting of electric magnets, electric motors, piezoelectric components, valves, pressure controllers, and combinations thereof.
These and other aspects will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications therein may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawing. In the drawings:
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which this invention belongs.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a sample” includes a plurality of such samples and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a device for use in combination with an ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasonic probe. The device comprises a housing, a holder, a duct for conveying conductive gel, and a control means. The housing includes a main body and a handle. The main body extends along a first axis from a first end to a second end, and the main body has an accommodating space for receiving the ultrasonic probe and the holder. The holder is adapted for holding the ultrasonic probe. Further, the holder is slidably movable along the first axis within the accommodating space with the ultrasonic probe held therein. The duct for conveying conductive gel has an opening or outlet at the first end of the main body. The control means is adapted for controlling the supply of conductive gel from the opening or outlet of the duct.
The device of the present invention is a handheld device. That is to say, the handle of the housing is adapted to be grasped by a human hand. In one embodiment of the present invention, the handle is connected to the second end of the main body. Preferably, the handle is pivotally connected to the main body and is adjustable and collapsible (by rotation with respect to the point where it is pivoted to the main body).
According to the present invention, the holder is preferably configured as a detachable element from the device. This is because to fit with different models of ultrasonic probes, there may be different models of holders correspondingly. Given an ultrasonic probe, a user may choose an appropriate or matched holder to hold the ultrasonic probe, and install the holder along with the probe into the accommodating space of the main body of the housing. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the holder takes the form of a casing of the ultrasonic probe. In one embodiment, the holder includes an upper casing and a lower casing which can engage with each other to form a casing that covers and holds the ultrasonic probe. In addition, the casing may have an exterior shape that fits with a (concave) track formed in the accommodating space, allowing the holder to slidably move along the first axis of the main body within the accommodating space. In another embodiment of the present invention, to enable the slidable movement the holder is connected to a wheel a rail rotationally attached to a rail configured in the accommodating space.
According to the present invention, the device may further comprise a conductive gel source connected to the duct. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the conductive gel source is configured inside the handle. Preferably, the conductive gel source is a removable container containing conductive gel. More specifically, an accommodating space may be formed within the handle to receive the removable container.
According to the present invention, the control means may include a button configured on the housing, and a pump for conductive gel. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the button is slidably mounted on the housing, and the pump is a press pump. The press pump may be connected to the conductive gel source. The button is adapted to press on a piston of the press pump. Through pressing the button, the press pump pumps from the conductive gel source a certain amount of conductive gel into the duct, and in turn causes a certain amount of conductive gel to be supplied from the opening or outlet of the duct. Preferably, the press pump includes a spring for pushing the piston and the button back to their original positions. As an alternative, the pump may be an electronically controlled pump which can be controlled through the button.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, the ultrasound imaging system may further include a master device. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a communication module adapted to communicate with the master device.
For a conventional ultrasound imaging system, the master device is a so-called “ultrasound machine” which has a console or control panel with physical buttons. Examples for said conventional ultrasound imaging system include GE's LOGIQ E9 XDclear 2.0 ultrasound system, Philips' IE33 Ultrasound Machine, and Siemens' Acuson X150 Ultrasound Machine.
In some other embodiments of the present invention, the ultrasonic probe may be an integrated handheld ultrasonic scanner. For example, Philips' Lumify C5-2 broadband curved array transducer, SonoStar's Portable B Scanner, and a Clarius' L7 Linear Array Ultrasound Scanner. In such embodiments, the master device may be a device selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a personal computer.
Optionally, the main body further includes a rear opening formed at its second end. The rear opening allows the wire of the ultrasonic probe to pass through.
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a communication module adapted to communicate with the master device. The communication module may communicate with the mater device through a wire or wirelessly. The communication module functions, at least in part, to transmit certain control signals to the master device, and/or to receive image data from the master device for showing on the display. The communication module may include one or more push buttons for functional controls on ultrasound imaging. For example, the push buttons may be used to switch between different imaging modes (e.g. B-mode, US-mode, Doppler mode, etc.) and/or to enable/disable the image freezing or image recording functions of the master device.
According one specific embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises an adjustable display configured on the housing. The adjustable display may be detachably or securely mounted on the housing. The adjustable display allows a medical personnel to conveniently observe the ultrasonic images when performing the scanning. The adjustable display may be adjustable in the sense that it can collapse toward the main body of the housing, either for storage or for convenience of observation.
In the cases that the ultrasonic probe is an integrated handheld ultrasonic scanner, the device of the present invention may further comprise a dock, configured on the housing, for the smartphone, personal digital assistant, or tablet computer, which partially serves as the display. The dock may also be adjustable in the sense that a user can adjust the angle of the screen of the smartphone, personal digital assistant, or tablet computer.
In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, the control means is further adapted for controlling the movement of the holder within the accommodating space along the first axis.
According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the holder normally holds the ultrasonic probe in a first position such that the tip of the ultrasonic probe is exposed from the first end of the main body for performing the ultrasonic scanning. Further, the ultrasonic probe can be moved, by the holder along the first axis toward the second end of the main body, to a second position where its tip retreats to the accommodating space. In one embodiment, the movement of the holder along the first axis is controlled by the control means.
According to the present invention, the opening of the duct may be configured at a location adapted for supplying conductive gel to the tip of the ultrasonic probe when the ultrasonic probe is in the second position.
Preferably, the control means is adapted for synchronously moving the holder along the first axis and supplying conductive gel through the duct to the tip of the ultrasonic probe.
Preferably, after the conductive gel is added to the tip of the ultrasonic probe, the control means automatically moves the holder along the first axis toward the first end of the main body, such that the ultrasonic probe automatically returns to its first position.
As mentioned above, for gel supply, the control means may include a button slidably mounted on the housing, and a press pump for conductive gel. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the button is mechanically coupled to the holder such that the holder with the ultrasonic probe held therein can be moved along the first axis toward the second end of the main body by pressing the button. Accordingly, the button of the control means can be used to synchronously move the holder along the first axis and to supply conductive gel through the duct to the tip of the ultrasonic probe. In addition, the control means may further include a spring configured between the holder and the main body, such that after the conductive gel is added to the tip of the ultrasonic probe and the button is released, the spring automatically moves the holder along the first axis toward the first end of the main body, bring the ultrasonic probe back to its first position.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a device as described above, and a base for said device.
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a battery and the base is a charging base.
In one further aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a device as described above that has a communication module, and an intermediate apparatus. Such kit is designed for use in combination with a conventional ultrasonic imaging system whose master device is an ultrasound machine includes a console or control panel with physical buttons. The intermediate apparatus comprises a receiver for receiving a signal from the communication module, and an actuator for pressing a physical button of the console or control panel. The physical buttons are used to, for example, switch between different imaging modes (e.g. B-mode, US-mode, Doppler mode, etc.) and/or to enable/disable the image freezing or image recording functions of the master device.
Preferably, the device further comprises a battery. According to the present invention, the actuator may be selected from the group consisting of electric magnets, electric motors, piezoelectric components, valves, pressure controllers, and combinations thereof.
Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below.
With reference to
As shown in
As illustrated in
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
With reference to
It is believed that a person of ordinary knowledge in the art where the present invention belongs can utilize the present invention to its broadest scope based on the descriptions herein with no need of further illustration. Therefore, the descriptions and claims as provided should be understood as of demonstrative purpose instead of limitative in any way to the scope of the present invention.
