Method and system for monitoring a transducer array in an ultrasound system

Abstract

Methods and systems for monitoring a transducer array in an ultrasound probe are provided. One method includes acquiring ultrasound data using an ultrasound probe during an imaging mode of operation, wherein the ultrasound data includes echo information. The method further includes comparing the echo information from a plurality of transducer elements of a transducer array of the ultrasound probe during the imaging mode of operation, wherein the echo information is non-beamformed signal data. The method also includes determining non-uniformity information for the transducer array using the compared echo information during the imaging mode of operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for monitoring a transducer array of an ultrasound probe, the method comprising:
 acquiring ultrasound data using an ultrasound probe when scanning patient tissue during an imaging mode of operation, the ultrasound data including echo information signals acquired when scanning the patient tissue; 
 utilizing one or more processors to 
 comparingcompare the echo informationsignals from a plurality of transducer elements of a transducer array of the ultrasound probe during the imaging mode of operation, the echo informationsignals being non-beamformed signal data; and 
 determiningdetermine non-uniformity information for the transducer array using the compared echo informationsignals during the imaging mode of operation. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using utilizing the one or more processors to use a threshold to determine valid ultrasound data echo signals for comparing. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising averaging utilizing the one or more processors to average a function of the acquired ultrasound data over a determined time period. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the function comprises a relative channel sensitivity. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining utilizing the one or more processors to determine probe health for the ultrasound probe using the determined non-uniformity information. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising compensating utilizing the one or more processors to compensate for non-uniformities in one or more transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements using the determined non-uniformity information. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising quantifying utilizing the one or more processors to quantify an impact of non-uniformities using the determined non-uniformity information. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating utilizing the one or more processors to generate feedback information using the determined non-uniformity information. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the feedback information is based in part on a detected probe event. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the detected probe event is an excessive acceleration event. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating utilizing the one or more processors to create trend information using the determined non-uniformity information. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the determined non-uniformity information and allowing access to the stored determined non-uniformity information by an ultrasound console not providing non-uniformity information. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating utilizing the one or more processors to update probe information as a function of probe life using the determined non-uniformity information. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparing the echo information signals comprises comparing signal amplitude information for at least a subset of the plurality of transducer elements. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the non-uniformity information during the imaging mode of operation comprises performing the determination during ultrasound data acquisition. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparing is performed on ultrasound data comprising data in a non-beamformed or the echo signals when in non-image formed state. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining utilizing the one or more processors to determine one of a health state or performance index of the ultrasound probe using the determined non-uniformity information and storing the determined health state or performance index in a memory, wherein the determined health state or performance index is linked to the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       18. An ultrasound system comprising:
 an ultrasound probe having a transducer array for acquiring ultrasound data including echo information during an imaging mode of operation;   a memory for storing received echo information; and   a monitoring module for comparing the echo information from a plurality of transducer elements of the transducer array of the ultrasound probe during the imaging mode of operation, the stored echo information being non-beamformed signal data, the monitoring module also determining non-uniformity information for the transducer array using the compared echo information during the imaging mode of operation.   
     
     
       19. The ultrasound system of  claim 18 , wherein the monitoring module at least one of (i) uses apriori response data to predict an image quality deterioration, (ii) determines probe health for the ultrasound probe using the determined non-uniformity information, (iii) compensates for non-uniformities in one or more transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements using the determined non-uniformity information, (iv) quantifies an impact of non-uniformities using the determined non-uniformity information; (v) generates feedback information using the determined non-uniformity information or (vi) creates trend information using the determined non-uniformity information. 
     
     
       20. The ultrasound system of  claim 18 , wherein the memory stores the determined non-uniformity information and allows access to the stored determined non-uniformity information by an ultrasound console not providing non-uniformity information. 
     
     
       21. The ultrasound system of  claim 18 , wherein the monitoring module compares signal amplitude information for at least a subset of the plurality of transducer elements. 
     
     
       22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for monitoring a transducer array of an ultrasound probe using a processor during an imaging mode of operation, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions to command the processor to:
 compare echo information from a plurality of transducer elements of a transducer array of an ultrasound probe during the imaging mode of operation, the echo information being non-beamformed signal data; and   determine non-uniformity information for the transducer array using the compared echo information during the imaging mode of operation.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound data is stored before performing the compare and determine operations. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring the ultrasound data over multiple measurement sessions, wherein the compare operation is performed with the ultrasound data from the multiple measurement sessions. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24, wherein the ultrasound data is acquired over the multiple measurement sessions in connection with at least one of different scanning views, different subjects or different machine setups. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 24, wherein the compare operation comprises calculating, over a time window, at least one of an average magnitude, an accumulated sum of signal magnitude or a statistical measure of individual channels from the ultrasound probe.