Balance body ultrasound system

Abstract

A hand held ultrasound system includes a balance body incorporating system electronics and a transducer assembly connected to the balance body. The hand held ultrasound system also includes control elements that are arranged in an ergonomic fashion on the balance body so that a user can hold the system and operate at least one of the control elements with the same hand. The system may also include a user interface that comprises a D-controller and a touch screen.

1 . A medical ultrasound system comprising:
 a balance body, which has a center of gravity positioned close to the strength of a user's hand when the ultrasound system is held by the user, said balance body incorporating system electronics, a power supply and a user interface wherein said user interface comprises a D-controller and a touch screen; and   a transducer assembly attached to said balanced body via a cable, wherein the system electronics comprises:
 a digital beam former, an image processor, and a first digital signal processor capable of processing B mode, M mode and flow (2D Doppler) scans; and 
 a second digital signal processor comprising:
 a digital Doppler QBP filter for filtering PW Doppler signals; and 
 a digital signal processor core for PW Doppler signal processing, wherein the first digital signal processor and the second digital signal processor are integrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 
 
   
     
     
         2 . A medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , wherein control of the medical ultrasound device is achieved through selecting through a series of window menus either by using the D-controller or the touch screen or a combination of both. 
     
     
         3 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound system weighs less than three and a half pounds (3.50 lbs.) and the balance body can be held with the same hand that operates the D-controller. 
     
     
         4 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the touch screen responds to a series of on screen commands and is re-programmable to make one or more hot menus. 
     
     
         5 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the touch screen further comprises a QWERTY style keypad. 
     
     
         6 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , wherein said transducer assembly is a pen transducer. 
     
     
         7 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising an I/O port for connecting to a docking station. 
     
     
         8 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 7 , wherein the I/O port still further comprises a data path, a control path, and a power path for communicating with a docking station, such that data can move between said medical ultrasound system and said docking station, such that said medical ultrasound system can be controlled through the docking station, and such that the power supply can be recharged through the power path. 
     
     
         9 . The medical ultrasound system of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle. 
     
     
         10 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a holster for retaining a transducer assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a data storage means for ultrasound scans. 
     
     
         12 . A lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument comprising:
 a body having a power supply, a user interface for controlling the instrument, a display screen, and a system electronics package capable of a plurality of diagnostic ultrasound modes, said body weighing less than three pounds, wherein said user interface comprises a controller and wherein said ultrasound instrument is configured so that a user may hold said ultrasound system with one hand and operate said controller with said one hand and wherein the system electronics comprises an image processor, and a first digital signal processor capable of processing B mode, M mode and flow (2D Doppler) scans, having a second digital signal processor comprising:
 a digital Doppler QBP filter for filtering PW Doppler signals; and 
 a digital signal processor core for PW Doppler signal processing wherein the first digital signal processor and the second digital signal processor are integrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC); 
   a transducer assembly comprising an A/D converter circuit, and a transducer array, the transducer assembly weighing less than one pound;   a wire connecting said body and said transducer assembly, the wire having a path for feeding power from the power supply to the transducer assembly, and a signal path for transmitting digital signals between the system electronics and the transducer assembly; and   a digital beam former.   
     
     
         13 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument as described in  claim 12 , wherein said controller comprises a D-controller. 
     
     
         14 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument as described in  claim 12 , wherein the display screen is a touch screen. 
     
     
         15 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument as described in  claim 14 , wherein the touch screen responds to a series of on screen commands and is reprogrammable for hot menus. 
     
     
         16 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument as described in  claim 14 , wherein the touch screen further comprises a QWERTY style keypad. 
     
     
         17 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument of  claim 12 , further comprising a holster for retaining a transducer assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , wherein said balance body comprises an aperture and internal components arranged to achieve said balance body. 
     
     
         19 . The medical ultrasound system as described in  claim 1 , wherein said balance body is configured so that the user's palm and fingers support the weight of said balance body by being essentially flat against a backside of said balance body. 
     
     
         20 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument as described in  claim 12 , wherein said body is balance body. 
     
     
         21 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument as described in  claim 12 , wherein said body comprises an aperture and internal components arranged such that said body is balanced for comfortable holding in a user's hand. 
     
     
         22 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument as described in  claim 12 , wherein said body is configured so that the user's palm and fingers support the weight of said body by being essentially flat against a backside of said body. 
     
     
         23 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument as described in  claim 12 , wherein said system electronics comprise said digital beam former. 
     
     
         24 . The lightweight diagnostic ultrasound instrument as described in  claim 12 , wherein said transducer comprises said digital beam former. 
     
     
         25 . A medical ultrasound system comprising:
 a balance body, which has a center of gravity positioned close to the strength of a user's hand when the ultrasound instrument is held by the user, said balance body incorporating system electronics, a power supply and a user interface wherein said user interface comprises a controller and a touch screen; and   a transducer assembly wirelessly connected to said balance body, wherein the system electronics comprises:
 a digital beam former, an image processor, and a first digital signal processor capable of processing B mode, M mode and flow (2D Doppler) scans; and 
 a second digital signal processor comprising:
 a digital Doppler QBP filter for filtering PW Doppler signals; and 
 a digital signal processor core for PW Doppler signal processing, wherein the first digital signal processor and the second digital signal processor are integrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).