Ultrasound probe with integrated electronics

Abstract

A hand-held ultrasound system includes integrated electronics within an ergonomic housing. The electronics includes control circuitry, beamforming and circuitry transducer drive circuitry. The electronics communicate with a host computer using an industry standard high speed serial bus. The ultrasonic imaging system is operable on a standard, commercially available, user computing device without specific hardware modifications, and is adapted to interface with an external application without modification to the ultrasonic imaging system to allow a user to gather ultrasonic data on a standard user computing device such as a PC, and employ the data so gathered via an independent external application without requiring a custom system, expensive hardware modifications, or system rebuilds. An integrated interface program allows such ultrasonic data to be invoked by a variety of such external applications having access to the integrated interface program via a standard, predetermined platform such as visual basic or c++.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for providing streaming video in an ultrasonic imaging system comprising: 
 providing an ultrasonic application server having at least one ultrasonic operation and corresponding ultrasonic data;    sending, from an external application, a command indicative of at least one of the ultrasonic operations;    executing, in the ultrasonic application server, a result corresponding to the commands; and    sending data from the ultrasonic application server to the external application.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a shared memory in communication with the ultrasonic application server and the external application.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of: 
 defining an integrated interface program having a plurality of entry points into the ultrasonic application server, the entry points operable to access each of the at least one ultrasonic operations;  
 transmitting, via the integrated interface program, the command to the ultrasonic application server;  
 receiving, over a predetermined communication interface, ultrasonic data indicative of ultrasonic image information; and  
 transmitting, via the integrated interface program, the result to the external application.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the integrated interface program is adapted to transmit real-time imaging data including ultrasonic imaging for radiation therapy planning and treatment, minimally invasive and robotic surgery methods including biopsy procedures, catheter introduction for diagnostic and therapeutic angiography, fetal imaging, cardiac imaging, vascular imaging, imaging during endoscopic procedures, imaging for telemedicine applications, imaging for veterinary applications, cryotherapy, and ultrasound elastography.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the streaming video includes radio frequency data.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the result is real-time image data and transformation parameters.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the external application is on a remote computer.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the remote computer is connected to the ultrasonic application server by a public access network.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the public access network is the Internet.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the external application resides on the same computer.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the command includes an instruction and at least one parameter.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the external application communicates with the ultrasonic application server using at least one of a control program using a component object model automation interface and a shared memory interface.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the command includes operations selected from the group consisting of ultrasound application initialization and shutdown functions, ultrasound setup functions and ultrasound image capture functions such as, for example, freeze live data, fetch live data, and resume live imaging.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein control instructions using ActiveX controls are used to transfer data between the ultrasonic application server and the external application.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the command conforms to transmitting via an integrated communication interface and program which conforms to a predetermined protocol.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the protocol is TCP/IP.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the receiving of ultrasonic data further comprises receiving according to a standardized interface.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the standardized interface is IEEE 1394.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ultrasonic application server includes a graphical user interface (GUI).  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the GUI includes image control presets.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the image control presets are operable to store image settings.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the image settings include settings selected from the group consisting of application controls, B-mode controls, M-mode controls, image quality controls, and Doppler controls.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 providing a probe housing having a transducer array that is connected to a processing circuit having a beamforming circuit, a memory, a system controller integrated circuit and a digital communication control circuit;  
 connecting the digital communication control circuit to a personal computer with a standard communication interface; and  
 transmitting data along the communication interface.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising providing an interface housing in which the first circuit board assembly and the second board assembly are mounted.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising providing an interface housing in which a first circuit board assembly having the beamforming circuit and a second circuit board assembly having the memory, controller and communication control circuit are mounted.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising providing a body mounted personal computer.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising providing a body mounted interface housing.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the communication interface is a wireless interface.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the wireless interface is a RF interface.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the wireless interface is an infrared interface.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising the probe housing having a display unit.  
     
     
         32 . A system for providing streaming data in an ultrasonic imaging system comprising: 
 a user computing device having an ultrasonic application server operable to receive and process ultrasonic data via a predetermined interface;    an integrated interface program in communication with the ultrasonic application server and operable to invoke an operation in the ultrasonic application server;    an external application operable to generate a command corresponding to the operation, and further operable to transmit the command to the integrated interface program, the integrated interface program invoking the ultrasonic application server to compute a result in response to the command.    
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the integrated interface program is adapted to transmit real-time imaging data including ultrasonic imaging for radiation therapy planning and treatment, minimally invasive and robotic surgery methods including biopsy procedures, catheter introduction for diagnostic and therapeutic angiography, fetal imaging, cardiac imaging, vascular imaging, imaging during endoscopic procedures, imaging for telemedicine applications, imaging for veterinary applications, cryotherapy, and ultrasound elastography.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the result further comprises real time image data and transformation parameters.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32  further comprising a shared memory in communication with the ultrasonic application server and the external application.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32  further comprising a remote computer wherein the external application is on a remote computer.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the streaming data includes radio frequency data.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32  further comprising a public access network, the remote computer being connected to the ultrasonic application via the public access network.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the public access network is the Internet.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the external application resides on the user computing device.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the command further comprises an instruction and at least one parameter.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the command conforms to a predetermined interprocess communication interface.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the command includes operations selected from the group consisting of ultrasound application initialization and shutdown functions, ultrasound setup functions and ultrasound image capture functions such as, for example, freeze live data, fetch live data, and resume live imaging.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 32  wherein at least one of the interfaces is a wireless interface.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the transmitting via the integrated interface program further includes sockets.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the transmitting via the integrated interface program conforms to a predetermined protocol.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the predetermined protocol is TCP/IP.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the external application communicates with the ultrasonic application server using at least one of a control program using a component object model automation interface and a shared memory interface.  
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising a standardized interface, wherein the ultrasonic data is received via the standardized interface.  
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the standardized interface is IEEE 1394.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the ultrasonic application server includes a graphical user interface (GUI).  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51  wherein the GUI includes image control presets.  
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the image control presets are operable to store image settings.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the image settings include settings selected from the group consisting of application controls, B-mode controls, M-mode controls, image quality controls, and Doppler controls.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 32  further comprising: 
 a probe housing having a transducer array;  
 an interface system communicating with the probe housing, the interface system having a beamforming circuit, a memory, a system controller integrated circuit and a communication control circuit connected to the computing device with a standard communication interface.  
 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55  further comprising the probe housing having a display unit.  
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 55  wherein the interface system has a first circuit board assembly and a second circuit board assembly are mounted in an interface housing.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57  wherein the first circuit board assembly and the second circuit board assembly are electrically connected by a connector.  
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 55  wherein the computing device comprises a body mounted system.  
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 55  wherein the memory further comprises a video random access memory (VRAM).  
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 55  wherein the memory comprises a synchronous dynamic random access memory (synchDRAM).  
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 55  wherein the standard communication interface comprises an IEEE 1394 interface.  
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 55  wherein the standard communication interface comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface.  
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 55  wherein the communication system is a wireless interface between the communication control circuit of the interface system and the computing device.  
     
     
         65 . A computer program product having computer program instructions for integration of a external application in an ultrasonic imaging system comprising: 
 computer program instructions for defining an ultrasonic application server having at least one ultrasonic operation;    computer program code for defining an integrated interface program having a plurality of entry points into the ultrasonic application server, the entry points operable to access each of the at least one ultrasonic operations;    computer program code for sending, from the external application, a command indicative of at least one of the ultrasonic operations; and    computer program code for executing, in the ultrasonic application server, a result corresponding to the command.    
     
     
         66 . A method of external application integration in an ultrasonic imaging system comprising: 
 providing an ultrasonic application server having at least one ultrasonic operation;    sending, from the external application, a command indicative of at least one of the ultrasonic operations; and    executing, in the ultrasonic application server, a result corresponding to the command.    
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66  further comprising the steps of: 
 defining an integrated interface program having a plurality of entry points into the ultrasonic application server, the entry points operable to access each of the at least one ultrasonic operations;  
 transmitting, via the integrated interface program, the command to the ultrasonic application server;  
 receiving, over a predetermined communication interface, ultrasonic data indicative of ultrasonic image information; and  
 transmitting, via the integrated interface program, the result to the external application.  
 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the integrated interface program is adapted to transmit information pertinent to data selected from the group consisting of radiation therapy, fetal images, cardiac images, and image guided surgery.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the result is image data and transformation parameters.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the external application is on a remote computer.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the remote computer is connected to the ultrasonic application server by a public access network.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein the public access network is the Internet.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the external application is on the same computer.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the command includes an instruction and at least one parameter.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the command conforms to a predetermined interprocess communication interface.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the command includes operations selected from the group consisting of freeze live data, fetch live data, export image, exit, initialize, and get status.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the transmitting via the integrated interface program employs sockets.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77  wherein the transmitting via the integrated interface program conforms to a predetermined protocol.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the protocol is TCP/IP.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the receiving of ultrasonic data further comprises receiving according to a standardized interface.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80  wherein the standardized interface is IEEE 1394.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the ultrasonic application server includes a graphical user interface (GUI).  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82  wherein the GUI includes image control presets.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the image control presets are operable to store image settings.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the image settings include settings selected from the group consisting of size, depth, focus, time gain compensation (TGC) and TGC lock.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 66  further comprising: 
 providing a probe housing having a transducer array that is connected to a processing circuit having a beamforming circuit, a memory, a system controller integrated circuit and a digital communication control circuit;  
 connecting the digital communication control circuit to a personal computer with a standard communication interface; and  
 transmitting data along the communication interface.  
 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86  further comprising the probe housing having a display unit.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86  further comprising providing an interface housing in which the first circuit board assembly and the second board assembly are mounted.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 86  further comprising providing an interface housing in which a first circuit board assembly having the beamforming circuit and a second circuit board assembly having the memory, controller and communication control circuit are mounted.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 86  further comprising providing a body mounted personal computer.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 86  further comprising providing a body mounted interface housing.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 86  wherein the communication interface is a wireless interface.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92  wherein the wireless interface is a RF interface.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 92  wherein the wireless interface is an infrared interface.  
     
     
         95 . A system for external application integration in an ultrasonic imaging system comprising: 
 a user computing device having an ultrasonic application server operable to receive and process ultrasonic data via a predetermined interface;    an integrated interface program in communication with the ultrasonic application server and operable to invoke operations in the ultrasonic application server;    an external application operable to generate a command corresponding to the operations, and further operable to transmit the commands to the integrated interface program, wherein the integrated interface program invokes the ultrasonic application server to compute a result in response to the command, and transmits the result back to the external application.    
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 95  wherein the integrated interface program is adapted to transmit information pertaining to data selected from the group consisting of radiation therapy data, fetal images, cardiac images, and image guided surgery.  
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 95  wherein the result further comprises image data and transformation parameters.  
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 95  further comprising a remote computer wherein the external application is on a remote computer.  
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 95  further comprising a public access network, wherein the remote computer is connected to the ultrasonic application via the public access network.  
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 99  wherein the public access network is the Internet.  
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 95  wherein the external application is on a remote computer.  
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 95  wherein the command further comprises an instruction and at least one parameter.  
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 102  wherein the command conforms to a predetermined interprocess communication interface.  
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 103  wherein the command includes operations selected from the group consisting of freeze live data, fetch live data, export image, exit, initialize, and get status.  
     
     
         105 . The system of  claim 95  wherein at least one of the interfaces is a wireless interface.  
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 100  wherein the transmitting via the integrated interface program further includes sockets.  
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 100  wherein the transmitting via the integrated interface program conforms to a predetermined protocol.  
     
     
         108 . The system of  claim 101  wherein the predetermined protocol is TCP/IP.  
     
     
         109 . The system of  claim 100  further comprising a standardized interface, wherein the ultrasonic data is received via the standardized interface.  
     
     
         110 . The system of  claim 103  wherein the standardized interface is IEEE 1394.  
     
     
         111 . The system of  claim 100  wherein the ultrasonic application server includes a graphical user interface (GUI).  
     
     
         112 . The system of  claim 106  wherein the GUI includes image control presets.  
     
     
         113 . The system of  claim 95  further comprising: 
 a probe housing having a transducer array;  
 an interface system communicating with the probe housing, the interface system having a beamforming circuit, a memory, a system controller integrated circuit and a communication control circuit connected to the computing device with a standard communication interface.  
 
     
     
         114 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the interface system has a first circuit board assembly and a second circuit board assembly are mounted in an interface housing.  
     
     
         115 . The system of  claim 114  wherein the first circuit board assembly and the second circuit board assembly are electrically connected by a connector.  
     
     
         116 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the computing device comprises a body mounted system.  
     
     
         117 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the memory further comprises a video random access memory (VRAM).  
     
     
         118 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the probe housing further comprising a display unit.  
     
     
         119 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the standard communication interface comprises an IEEE 1394 interface.  
     
     
         120 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the standard communication interface comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface.  
     
     
         121 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the communication system is a wireless interface between the communication control circuit of the interface system and the computing device.  
     
     
         122 . A system for accessing and displaying ultrasonic imaging data, comprising: 
 a portable information device having a wireless interface port; and    a computing device having a wireless interface port being operable to communicate with the portable information device and able to respond to requests for transmitting ultrasonic imaging data to the portable information device.    
     
     
         123 . The system of  claim 122  further comprising a standardized interface in the portable information device and the computing device, wherein the ultrasonic data is requested and received via the standardized interface.  
     
     
         124 . The system of  claim 123  wherein the standardized interface is an IEEE 1394 interface.  
     
     
         125 . The system of  claim 122  further comprising: 
 a probe having a transducer array, a beamforming circuit, a memory, a system controller integrated circuit and a communication control circuit, the probe being operable to communicate with at least one of the computing device and the portable information device.  
 
     
     
         126 . A method for accessing and displaying ultrasonic imaging data comprising the steps of: 
 sending a connection request from a portable information device to a computing device in communication with a probe having a transducer array, control circuitry and communication control circuitry;    accepting and responding to the connection request by the computing device; and    sending ultrasonic imaging data from the computing device to the portable information device.    
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 126 , wherein the portable information device and the computing device communicate amongst each other using at least one wireless link.  
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 127 , wherein the wireless link is a radio-frequency (RF) communication link.  
     
     
         129 . A computer readable medium having stored therein a set of instructions for causing a processing unit to execute the steps of the method of  claim 126 .  
     
     
         130 . A portable information device for accessing and displaying ultrasonic imaging data, comprising: 
 an interface for receiving a user input;    a wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless messages; and    a processor coupled to the interface and the wireless transceiver, the processor being configured to execute an ultrasonic imaging application, the processor being further configured to format a wireless message in accordance with a predetermined protocol suitable for communication with a computing device having ultrasonic imaging data, the processor sending a wireless connection message to the wireless transceiver for transmission.    
     
     
         131 . The portable information device of  claim 130 , wherein the wireless transceiver further comprises a radio frequency transmitter and receiver and wherein the predetermined protocol further comprises a radio frequency protocol such as one complaint with IEEE 1394.  
     
     
         132 . The portable information device of  claim 130  further comprising one of at least controlling and monitoring a plurality of operations of the collection and processing of the ultrasonic imaging data in at least one of a probe assembly and at a computing device.  
     
     
         133 . An ultrasonic imaging system comprising: 
 a probe having a transducer array, and a control circuitry and a digital communication control circuit, the control circuitry including a transmit/receive module, beamforming module and a system controller; and    a computing device connected to the digital communication control circuit of the probe with a communication interface, the computer processing display data.    
     
     
         134 . The system of  claim 133  wherein the communication interface between the probe and the computing device is a wireless interface.  
     
     
         135 . The system of  claim 134  wherein the wireless interface is a RF interface.  
     
     
         136 . The system of  claim 134  wherein the wireless interface is an infrared interface.  
     
     
         137 . The system of  claim 133  wherein the communication interface between the probe and the computing device is a wired link.  
     
     
         138 . The system of  claim 133  wherein the beamforming module is a charge domain processor beamforming module and wherein the control circuitry further comprises a pre-amp/TGC module.  
     
     
         139 . The system of  claim 133  further comprising a supplemental display device connected to the computing device by a second communication interface.  
     
     
         140 . The system of  claim 139  wherein the supplemental display device is a computing device.  
     
     
         141 . The system of  claim 139  wherein the communication interface between the probe and the computing device is a wireless interface and the second communication interface between the supplemental display device and the computing device is wireless.  
     
     
         142 . The system of  claim 139  wherein the second communication interface includes a hub to connect a plurality of secondary supplemental devices.  
     
     
         143 . The system of  claim 139  wherein the computing device has a different velocity estimation system further comprising one of color-flow imaging, power-Doppler and spectral sonogram.  
     
     
         144 . The system of  claim 133  wherein the probe has a display integral with a probe housing.  
     
     
         145 . An ultrasound imaging system, comprising: 
 a probe housing having a transducer array and a display unit; and    a processing unit in communication with the probe housing.    
     
     
         146 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 145  wherein the display unit is at least a 2.5 inch color liquid crystal display (LCD) panel display.  
     
     
         147 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 145  wherein the screen resolution ranges from a quarter VGA (320×240 pixels) to full VGA (640×480 pixels).  
     
     
         148 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 145  wherein the display unit is integrated into the probe housing.  
     
     
         149 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 145  wherein the display unit is detachably mounted onto the probe housing.  
     
     
         150 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 145  wherein the processing unit comprises a single board computer and beamforming electronics.  
     
     
         151 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 150  wherein the beamforming electronics and the single board computer interface have, a standardized Firewire.  
     
     
         152 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 150  wherein the single board computer comprises a processor, a memory unit and a plurality of interface ports.  
     
     
         153 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 152  wherein the interface ports comprises an IEEE 1394 port, LAN, Audio, IDE, PCMCIA and Flash memories.  
     
     
         154 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 145  further comprising a trapzoidal display.