Ultrasound probe positioning system

Abstract

An ultrasound probe positioning system comprises a positioning unit for holding an ultrasound probe unit and for moving the ultrasound probe unit and positioning it at a target position and a positioning control unit configured to provide target positioning data indicative of a target position that establishes a mechanical contact of the ultrasound probe unit with an external object and to control the mechanical positioning unit in moving and positioning the ultrasound probe at the target position. The positioning unit comprises a force actuation unit configured to adapt a pressing force amount of a mechanical pressing force exerted on the object in response to a variation of a counterforce amount so as to maintain a predetermined net pressing force amount exerted by the mechanical pressing force against the counterforce.

1 . An ultrasound probe positioning system, comprising:
 a controllably drivable positioning unit for holding an ultrasound probe unit and for moving the ultrasound probe unit and positioning it at a target position; and   a positioning control unit configured to provide target positioning data indicative of a target position that establishes a mechanical contact of the ultrasound probe unit with an external object and to control the mechanical positioning unit in moving and positioning the ultrasound probe at the target position; wherein   the positioning unit comprises a force actuation unit which is operatively connectable to the ultrasound probe unit and which is configured to exert a mechanical pressing force on the ultrasound probe unit against a counterforce exerted on the ultrasound probe unit by the external object upon establishing the mechanical contact at the target position, and to adapt a pressing force amount of the mechanical pressing force by increasing or decreasing the pressing force amount in response to a variation of a counterforce amount of the counterforce so as to maintain a predetermined net pressing force amount exerted by the mechanical pressing force against the counterforce.