Portable ultrasound imaging system

Abstract

A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a scan head coupled by a cable to a portable battery-powered data processor and display unit. The scan head enclosure houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode for transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of ultrasound imaging comprising:
 providing a hand-held probe housing having a transducer array, and interface unit connected to the probe housing and a personal computer connected to the interface unit;   receiving ultrasound signals with the transducer array from a region of interest and generating a continuous time input signal;   sampling the continuous time input signal and generating discrete time sampled signals;   delaying the discrete time sampled signals with a beamformer circuit;   generating an electronic representation of the region of interest with the delayed discrete time sampled signals; and   forwarding the electronic representation from the interface unit to the personal computer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sampling step further comprises generating analog discrete time sampled signals. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hand-held housing is selected from the group comprising a linear array probe, a curved array probe, and a phased array probe. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing an interface circuit having a digital signal processor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a cable between the interface unit and personal computer and sending real-time data along the cable. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the delaying step further comprises providing a charge coupled device (CCD) beamformer circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of sending real-time data further comprises sending digital data along the cable. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a personal computer further comprises providing a portable computer with a liquid crystal display. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a personal computer further comprises providing a laptop computer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a personal computer further comprises providing a handheld computer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising filtering the real-time data with a filter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising demodulating the real-time data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting beamformer circuit control signals from the interface to the probe housing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a wireless connection between the interface and a computer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the providing step further comprises providing a two dimensional transducer array. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising a modem connected to the computer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the providing step further comprises providing a probe housing, an interface, a computer and a cable having a weight of ten pounds or less. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a computer housing and a cable connecting the interface to the computer housing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising providing a battery and scan conversion circuitry within the computer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the generating step further comprises generating a plurality of images of the region of interest and selecting one of the images on a display. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising storing the selected image in an electronic memory. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the generating step further comprises generating a real time series of images of the region of interest on a display, and freezing an image on the display, or alternatively, alter the image as a function of depth in the region of interest. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a window operating system on the personal computer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a display connected to the personal computer and a graphical used interface.