Modular portable ultrasound systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lightweight, high resolution portable ultrasound system using components and methods to improve connectivity and ease of use. A preferred embodiment includes an integrated system in which the beamformer control circuitry can be inserted into the host computer as a peripheral or within the processor housing. The modular system can include a docking assembly for a cart system having a console to operate the system and house additional communications and peripheral systems.

1 . An ultrasound imaging system comprising: 
 an ultrasound image processor housing having a display and a first docking connector; a base assembly that receives the processor housing, the base assembly having a second docking connector; and a control element on the base assembly that controls an operation of an image processor in the processor housing such that ultrasound image data are displayed on the display.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a transducer probe connector on the processor housing.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the processor further comprises an outer housing having the first docking connector, a computer, the display and beamformer housing.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the beamformer housing further comprises a plurality of transducer connectors.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein each transducer connector is connected to a transmit and receive circuit.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein each transmit and receive circuit is connected to a digital control circuit and a beamforming circuit.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the transducer connector includes a housing connector element having a lock assembly.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the lock assembly comprises a manually activated lever that mates with a catch on a transducer probe connector element.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a transducer identification circuit.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the base assembly further comprises a console, the control element being mounted to the console.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the base assembly further comprises a first universal serial bus (USB) hub.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the first USB hub is connect to a printer mounted on the base assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the console further comprises a second USB hub that is connected to the second docking connector.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control element compromises a plurality of controls that control operations of the image processor.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the beamformer housing includes a beamformer device and a Firewire interface connected to the computer.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the image processor housing further comprises an ethernet port, a USB port, as video port, a microphone port, an EKG port, and a power source connector.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the base assembly further comprises a VCR.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the second USB hub is connected to the control element, a second ethernet port, a second USB port and the first USB hub.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the transducer probe connector comprises a probe identification circuit.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the probe identification circuit comprises a radio frequency link to a transducer probe to identify the type of probe transmitting signals to the processor housing.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the connector has at least 160 pins and a pitch between pins of less than 1 mm.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the connector has at least 250 pins.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the pitch between pins is 0.8 mm or less.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the probe connector comprises an insertion device.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the insertion device comprises a lever that engages the probe connector.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the insertion device comprises a lock assembly.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the lever has a mating surface that mates with a catch on the probe cable connector.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a beamformer housing comprising a beamformer, a system controller, a memory, a standard communication interface and a connector that connects the beamformer housing to a transducer probe cable.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of computer programs stored on a computer in the processor housing, the programs including a scan conversion program, a doppler processing program and a transucer identification program.  
   
   
       30 . A portable ultrasound imaging system comprising: 
 a probe housing including a transducer array;    a processor housing including a port for receiving ultrasound image data from the probe housing; and    a probe identification circuit in the housing, the probe identification circuit identifying each of a plurality of probes that can communicate image data to the processor housing.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30  further comprising a cable that connects the probe housing to the processor housing with a connector system.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31  further comprising a cable connector element and a housing connector element that can be attached with a lock assembly.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the lock assembly includes a manually actuated lever that is attached to the housing and having a mating surface that mates with a catch on the cable connector element.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the probe identification circuit comprises an integrated circuit mounted on a connector system assembly in the processor housing.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the probe identification circuit comprises a one-wire identification circuit.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the probe identification circuit comprises a programmable, writable and readable memory to store calibration information.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the processor housing further comprises a display and a control panel.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the processor housing includes a beamforming circuit, a system controller and an image processor.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38  further comprising an analog to digital converter that receives beamformed data and a Firewire interface that delivers converted beamformed data to the image processor.  
   
   
       40 . A method of imaging a region of interest with ultrasound energy comprising: 
 providing a portable ultrasound imaging system including a transducer array within a handheld probe, a cable interface that is connected to a data processor housing having a data processing system, and a peripheral device inserted into a port of the processor housing, the peripheral device including a connector for the cable interface, a beamforming device and a system controller connected to the beamforming device,    providing output signals from the data processor to the handheld probe to actuate the transducer array;    delivering ultrasound energy to the region of interest;    collecting ultrasound energy returning to the transducer array from the region of interest;    transmitting data from the handheld probe to the processor housing with the cable interface; and    performing a beamforming operation with the beamforming device in the peripheral device such that the data processing system receives a beamformed electronic representation of the region of interest from the beamforming device.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising providing a peripheral device including a Firewire interface.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising providing a probe identification circuit in the peripheral device.  
   
   
       43 . A portable ultrasound system for imaging a region of interest comprising: 
 a handheld probe in which a transducer array is mounted; and    a data processing system within a data processor housing the housing including an electronic device that is connected to the handheld probe with a cable interface, such that the data processing system receives a representation of the region of interest, from the electronic device using a communication interface the electronic device including a programmable beamforming device and a system controller connected to the beamforming device.    
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43  further comprising a Firewire connection between the electronic device and the data processing system.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 43  further comprising a probe identification circuit.  
   
   
       46 . A connector device for a Transducer probe of an ultrasound imaging system comprising: A transducer probe having a cable and a first connector; a circuit housing having a second connector that receives ultrasound image signals from the transducer probe; the second connector having an actuator that engages the first connector.  
   
   
       47 . The connector of  claim 46  wherein the actuator comprises a lever that moves from a release position to an engage position.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 43  wherein said gas sampling unit is communicatively coupled to a communications network.  
   
   
       49 . The connector of  claim 46  wherein the first connector has feature that is engaged by the actuator to move the second connector into the first connector as the actuator moves from a first position to a second position.  
   
   
       50 . The connector of  claim 46  wherein the connector has at least 160 pins and a pin pitch of less than 1 mm.  
   
   
       51 . The connector of  claim 50  wherein the connector has at least 250 pins and a pin pitch of 0.8 mm or less.  
   
   
       52 . The connector of  claim 46  wherein the actuator has a cam element.  
   
   
       53 . The connector of  claim 46  wherein movement of the actuator from an engage position to a release position disengages the second connector from the first connector.  
   
   
       54 . A method of using a connector assembly for an ultrasound system comprising: 
 moving a connector actuator from a first position to a second position to engage a housing connector of an ultrasound imaging device with a transducer probe connector.    
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54  further comprising identifying the transducer probe with a probe identification circuit.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising storing probe identification data in a memory.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 54  further comprising providing an identification circuit mounted on the housing connector.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 54  further comprising actuating a computer program that accesses transducer data from a database in accordance with an identified transducer.  
   
   
       59 . The mehtod of  claim 58  further comprising modifying the transducer data or sending a transducer attach signal to an application program or update a usage history or increment a transducer usage counter or record a transducer detach signal.  
   
   
       60 . A method of using a modular ultrasound imaging system comprising; 
 Connecting an image processor housing to a base assembly;    and operating a control element on the base assembly to actuate an ultrasound imaging operation using the image processor housing.    
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising providing a base assembly including a cart having a console with a docking port a plurality of control elements to activate display of image data on a display attached to the processor housing  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising providing a processor housing having a laptop personal computer having a standard graphical user interface having a Windows® format, the computer being connected to a beamformer housing within the processor housing using a firewire interface.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 61  further comprising providing a console having a first USB hub connected to USB port of the processor housing and connected to a second USB hub in the base assembly.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising providing a plurality of transducer connectors on the processor housing.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising providing an ethernet port, and Sviseo port, an EKG port and a microphone port