Patent Application
20210386400
The invention relates to the methods and ultrasound apparatus. More specifically, invention relates to the medical ultrasound diagnostic apparatus with the ultrasound probe providing the wireless charging of the chargeable battery and wireless communication with the operator's/doctor's/patient's Smart Device (Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.) and with the record of ultrasound data and/or ultrasound images on the removable memory card of the ultrasound probe or on the removable memory card of Smart Device.
There are known many methods and ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (devices) using ultrasound images in the medical field.
Ultrasound allows to examine inside of a medical subject (e.g.: human or animal bodies) externally (non-destructively and non-harmlessly). It has been applied in various fields such as inner defect examination, disease diagnosis and alike.
Generally, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe [hereinafter may be referred to as “probe”] and a central station (central unit). The probe transmits ultrasonic waves toward a medical subject [hereinafter may be referred to as “subject” or “diagnostic subject”] and receives ultrasonic echoes from the subject, and the central unit electrically/electronically processes the acquired signals to generate an ultrasound image. Ultrasound is applied to an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus which visualizes the inner condition of a medical subject on the basis of a received signal generated from reflection ultrasound from inside of the medical subject by scanning inside the medical subject with ultrasound. Such ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus is provided with an ultrasound probe which transmits and receives ultrasound to and from a medical subject.
Commonly, ultrasound probe is provided with a plurality of piezoelectric devices each of which generates ultrasound by vibrating mechanically based on a driving signal and generates a received signal by receiving reflection ultrasound caused by the acoustic impedance difference in the subject by utilizing the piezoelectric phenomena.
Even in the recently issued patents, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses use the electrical cables for communication between the probe and central unit and/or use the cables for charging battery in the wirelessly communicating probes.
For example, the ultrasound probe and ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus by U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,402,599 and 9,427,209 uses electrical cable for communications between probe and central unit. Specifically, the cable electrically connects the probe and central unit. This ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus generally includes a central unit (an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus “main body”) and an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe of that invention transmits ultrasound to a diagnostic subject and receives reflection wave/echo from the subject. The central unit sends by cable (wire) a drive signal to the probe and visualizes, as an ultrasound image of the inside condition of the medical subject, on the basis of a received electrical signal generated by the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe is provided with transducers formed of a plurality of piezoelectric device(s)
The central unit includes an operation input device, a transmitting device, a receiving device, an image generation device, a memory, a digital scan converter, a display and a control device. The operation input device includes various types of control organs: switches, buttons, a trackball, a mouse, a key board and alike in order to provide the commands, for example such as: turn-on/turn-off the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, start/stop of diagnosis, and the operation input device outputs operation signals to the control device.
The control is provided only from the central station/unit having the control organs. The communication between central station and probe by a cable create a significant limitation of the probe mobility and operator's inconvenience, as a result of such limitation. The apparatus by this invention does not provide: the possibility to use the Smart Devices (e.g., such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.); the secured prevention of the patient's medical ultrasound information/images record on the removable memory card (hereinafter may be referred to as “card”); and does not provide the battery wireless charging circuitry [hereinafter the “battery” may be referred to as “regular non-chargeable battery” or “chargeable by cable battery” (battery chargeable by cable) or “wirelessly chargeable battery”].
The ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus by U.S. Pat. No. 9,408,589 generally includes an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus (central station/unit). The probe include a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged in at least one column; individual electrodes provided on at least one surface of top and bottom surfaces of each of the piezoelectric elements; side electrodes extending toward one side surfaces of the piezoelectric elements from the individual electrodes; and a side electrode substrate including wiring lines that are bonded to the one side surfaces of the piezoelectric elements and are electrically connected to the side electrodes, respectively. The central unit is analogically connected to the probe by the electrical cable too.
This device has the same deficiency, i.e.: the cable create the same significant limitation of the probe mobility and operator's inconvenience, as a result of such limitation, and the device also does not provide: the possibility to use the Smart Devices (e.g., such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.); the secured prevention of the patient's medical ultrasound information/images record on the removable memory card; and does not provide the battery wireless charging circuitry.
Another ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus by U.S. Pat. No. 9,445,788 generally includes a head unit (probe) formed by arraying a plurality of ultrasound transducing elements one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally. Each of the ultrasound transducing elements is connected to the connector through a signal line provided in the cable. Thus, the communication of the central unit (main unit) with the probe (head unit) is also provided by the electrical cable. This ultrasound probe includes a plurality of channels in parallel, each comprising ultrasound transducing element, and a signal line. The main unit includes a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a measuring unit, a display processing unit, a navigation processing unit, a control unit, and a medical diagnosing unit. The transmitting unit transmits excitation signals for exciting the ultrasound transducing elements. The receiving unit receives the signals received by the ultrasound transducing elements, and outputs the received signals. The measuring unit measures the feature values of the signals output from the receiving unit. A feature value includes, for example, the time required between transmitting an ultrasound wave and receiving the reflected ultrasound wave. The measuring unit outputs measurement information indicating the measured feature values to the storage medium unit, interface unit, display processing unit, navigation processing unit, or to control unit under the control of the control unit. The storage medium is a semiconductor memory. The storage medium stores various kinds of information such as the above measurement information. The interface unit performs communication processing conforming to the USB standard. The display processing unit generates an image signal for causing the monitor to display an image on the basis of the above measurement information, supplied from the control unit. The navigation processing unit comprises a microprocessor. The control unit comprises another microprocessor. The medical diagnosing unit also includes an imaging control unit, image generating unit, that massive memory unit, and display unit.
This device has also inherited the same deficiency, such as the electrical cable, creating the same significant limitation of the probe mobility and operator's inconvenience, as a result of such limitation. This patented apparatus in the same manner does not provide: the possibility to use the Smart Devices (e.g., such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.); and does not provide the battery wireless charging circuitry.
There are known many other ultrasound apparatus providing cable communication between central station and ultrasound probe. For example, the ultrasound diagnostic device by U.S. Pat. No. 9,476,861 and ultrasound diagnostic device described in: “Philips Lumify|Portable Ultrasound Machine”:
These devices, communicating via wire (cable), have the same deficiency, such as the electrical cable, which creates the same significant limitation of the probe mobility and operator's inconvenience, as a result of such limitation, and the “Philips Lumify Portable Ultrasound Machine” does not prevent the secured patient's medical ultrasound information/images record on the removable memory card, and does not provide the wireless charging circuitry for ultrasound probe's battery [for example, such wireless charging circuitry as known for “iPhone8”:
The control of the imaging procedure by ultrasound probe, communicating with the host computer (central station/unit) by cable (wire) [for example, by standard high speed serial bus] or wirelessly: by infrared link or by radio frequency, is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 9,402,601.
Referring to the description, the hand-held ultrasound system includes integrated electronics, including control circuitry, beamforming and circuitry transducer drive circuitry. The electronics communicate with a host computer (central station/unit) using an industry standard high speed serial bus. The ultrasonic imaging system is operable on a standard, commercially available, user computing device without specific hardware modifications, and is adapted to interface with an external application without modification to the ultrasonic imaging system to allow a user to gather ultrasonic data on a standard user computing device such as a personal computer.
Additionally, the system may provide the wireless communication with the host computer by infrared link as defined by the Infrared Data Association or utilizing Bluetooth technology.
This device has the same deficiency, such as the electrical cable, creating the same significant limitation of the probe mobility and operator's inconvenience, as a result of such limitation, if the electrical cable is used, and does not provide the secured prevention of the patient's medical ultrasound information/images record on the removable memory card, if the Smart Devices (e.g., such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.) are used, and does not provides the battery wireless charging circuitry.
Another known ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe wirelessly communicating with the Smart Device:
This device does not prevent the secured patient's medical ultrasound information/images record on the removable memory card, and does not provide the battery wireless charging circuitry.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and advantages of the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.
The saving of the patient's ultrasound data/images on the Smart Device's regular memory is prohibited by the patient's medical information privacy privilege, therefore, the removable memory card will be extremely efficient instrument for using modern Smart Device technology (e.g. such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.) in the field of ultrasound diagnosis. Keeping patient's ultrasound diagnostic images, as a private, on the removable memory card but not on the openly wirelessly accessible Smart Device provides a secured convenience for medical organizations and doctors. The removable memory card can be kept in the doctor's archived patient's file or erased after the data/images from the card will be transmitted to (recorded in) the patient's electronic file.
The implementation of the wireless charging devices in the procedures of the medical ultrasound diagnosis provides complete mobility of the ultrasound diagnostic probe, as well as doctor's/operator's independence on the patient's location (e.g., for the emergency patients in the wild mountain forests areas, in the rural Alaskan or other difficult to approach areas, etc.)
Thus, the known prior art does not provide the efficient, secured and convenient methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe, and with the record of the ultrasound data and images on the removable memory card of the ultrasound probe or on the removable memory card of Smart Device (e.g., on Smart Phone, on iPad, on iPhone or on the other suitable portable devices, etc.), and the present invention substantially departs from the devices of the prior art.
In order that the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed can be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof will be described by way of example with reference to the attached flowcharts and drawings, of which:
It is understood, that these illustrations and drawings are the examples of the improved methods and apparatus configurations and architectures, and those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous steps, structures, modifications and advantages of the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus (i.e., ultrasound probe with the wirelessly chargeable battery and with the record of the ultrasound data and images on the removable memory card) may be made while retaining the teachings of the present invention.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known prior art, the present invention provides an improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card of the ultrasound probe or on the removable memory card of Smart Device (e.g., on Smart Phone, on iPad, on iPhone, etc.). As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described hereinafter in greater details, is to provide the improved methods and wirelessly chargeable ultrasound probe with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card. The improved methods and apparatus have many of the advantages of the wireless charging of the ultrasound probe and recording of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card mentioned hereinabove and mostly heretofore, and many novel features that result in the efficient, secured and convenient methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card, which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested or even implied by any of prior art methods and apparatus/devices for ultrasound probes, either alone or in any combination thereof.
This invention, methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card, provides the secure saving of the patient's ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card, which is extremely efficient instrument for using modern Smart Device technology (e.g. such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.) in the field of ultrasound diagnostic. Keeping patient's ultrasound diagnostic images, as a private, on the removable memory card provides a secured convenience for medical organizations and doctors. The removable memory card can be kept in the doctor's archived patient's file or erased after the data/images from the card will be transmitted to (recorded in) the patient's electronic file. The wireless charging of the wireless communicating ultrasound probe provides the unlimited mobility of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (ultrasound probe), for example, for the patients located at the difficult accessible areas (e.g., the emergency patients in the wild mountain forests areas, in the rural and wild Alaskan or other difficult to approach areas, etc.).
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises ultrasound unit, including piezoelectric devices, and transmission unit, which are controlled by the microprocessor unit and by control organs unit. Also, comprises a battery unit, including battery and wireless charging control circuitry, and comprises a card insertion registration device recognizing the presence of the removable memory card in the ultrasound probe. Additionally, the present invention comprises the wirelessly chargeable battery providing unconditional advantage for mobility of the ultrasound probe.
With reference now to the algorithms and drawings, an improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention.
As it has been mentioned hereinabove with respect to term of “Smart Device” (e.g. such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.), the term “removable memory card”, hereinabove and hereinbellow solely and/or jointly accumulate (in the same manner as for Smart Device) the meanings of the “removable card”, “memory card”, “card” and/or any other removable (portable) memory, etc. The term “probe”, hereinabove and hereinbellow solely and/or jointly accumulate the meanings of the “ultrasound probe”, “medical ultrasound probe” and/or any other ultrasound sensors (probes), etc. used in the medical diagnostic procedures. The term “chargeable” accumulate the mining of the “rechargeable”, etc. Therefore, the use at least one of the terms does not exclude the other meanings for the used terms, if otherwise not specified. This description (drawings, specification and claims) has many other terms for which this condition is applicable too.
In the
As demonstrated in
The microprocessor unit 9 is connected to the card 5, to ultrasound unit 10 and to transmission unit 11, which is connected to antenna 12. Also, the microprocessor unit 9 is connected to control organs unit 13. The control organs unit 13 is connected to ultrasound unit 10, comprising the piezoelectric device 14.
It is known, that intensity of ultrasound depends on high frequency of ultrasound [sometimes, intensity can be correlated with the length of wave “X” (not involved hereinbelow)].
Therefore:
I=μCV
m
2/2 (1)
V
m=2πFYm (2)
Then, according to (1) and (2), the intensity would be:
I=2π2μCYm2F2 (3)
Thus, the intensity “I” can be described by the following equation:
I=ƒ{F,Y
m
,C,μ} (4)
Also, the control organs unit 13 is connected to indication unit 8 and to battery unit 4, which provides the signal(s) to indication unit 8 and control organs unit 13 by the control/indication lines, shown in
The improved methods provide the following operation of the improved wirelessly chargeable ultrasound probe with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card.
Referring to
As it is described hereinabove and below, the ultrasound probe chargeable (rechargeable) battery can be charged by the cable (not shown in
Referring to
The control signals also follow by the fourth control line 33 from the control organs unit 13 to the indication unit 8 for control of the electronics [e.g., relays, transistors, triggers, etc. (not shown)] of the indication unit 8. The controlling signal(s) (e.g., such as ultrasound image recordation condition/stage, etc.) from microprocessor unit 9 follow by fifth control line 34 to the control organs unit 13. Additionally, the control signals (e.g., alarmed condition of the battery or presence of the charging process, etc.) from wireless charging control circuitry 3 of battery unit 4 follow by the six control line 35 to the control organs unit 13. The control of the ultrasound unit 10 is provided by the seventh control line 52, and the appropriate responses (e.g., “start/end diagnosis”, etc.) can follow by the eighth control line 53 to the control organs unit 13 for further controlling procedures.
It should be understandable, that the quantity of the control lines and their functional meaning are presented conditionally in the
Additionally, the control of the ultrasound unit 10 and piezoelectric device 14 can be provided by the control organs unit 13 via microprocessor unit 9, and vice versa. The microprocessor unit 9 also can provide the initial processing of ultrasound information/data and ultrasound images with transmission through the transmission unit 11 and antenna 12 to the central station (not shown) for complete processing of the ultrasound images and displaying them on the display/monitor (not shown) of the central station (not shown), or can provide the full processing of ultrasound information/data and ultrasound images with transmission them to the Smart Device (e.g., Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.). It should be understandable, that the transmission of ultrasound information/data and images, processed in the improved probe, to the Smart Device can be provided by the cable instead of the wireless transmission, but it still continue teaching of the improved methods and apparatus of the present invention.
It is also understood, that the ultrasound unit 10 can comprise its own additional microprocessor device/unit (not shown) or any other controller (not shown), etc., and the processing of the ultrasound information/data/images can be provided by either one of them or both of them.
Also, it is still should be understandable, that some units/circuitries/card(s)/blocks, etc. can be included in the central station (not shown), but it will still continue teaching of this invention.
The operations with the probe's removable memory card 5 or Smart Device's removable memory card (not shown) are presented in
As it was described hereinabove, when the card 5 is inserted in the slot 6, the card insertion registration device 7 [which can be represented by a pair of sprang contacts (not shown) or by a push-button mini/micro switch (not shown)] produces a signal indicating the insertion and use of the probe's removable memory card 5. When the card insertion registration device 7 comprises the electrical element(s), for example, such as electrical relay [not shown], etc., then the power supply line 17 from battery unit 4 can be connected to the card insertion registration device 7, as it is shown in
It should be understandable, that the structures and functions of the units/devices/card/circuitry presented in
The improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card are significantly needed to provide the ultrasound diagnosis independently from the length of electrical cables and/or from the necessity of the A/C power source presence, and independently from the patient location (e.g. emergency patients in the wild mountain forests areas, in the rural Alaskan or other difficult to approach areas, etc.), etc.
Accordingly the reader will see that, according to the invention, the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card are provided. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention. In this respect, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of steps, construction/structures and to the arrangements of the components (units/devices, etc.) set forth in the description and/or drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but as exemplification of the presently-preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications are possible within the teaching to the invention. For instance, the improved methods and structure(s) can be fully and successfully used in the biology science for research of the specific tissues by ultrasound probes, etc.
The persons of ordinary skills and/or creativity in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and advantages of the improved methods and ultrasound probe may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, can readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other ultrasound probes, for carrying out the several purpose of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
