Modular apparatus for diagnostic ultrasound

Abstract

A modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus is provided comprising a core unit, system electronics and an I/O port. The core unit comprises a housing and a system electronics package within the housing. The system electronics has one or more concatenated filters, including a front end transmit/receive circuit, a processor, a back end circuit for scan conversion, a system clock and a programmable system memory device. There is at least one I/O port connected to the front end and the back end of the system electronics package and extending through the core unit housing wherein all system data processing information is transmitted or received through the I/O port.

1 . A modular diagnostic ultrasound system, said system comprising:
 a core module having at least one I/O port; and   a receptacle module releasably mated with said core module for connecting a plurality of diagnostic probes to said core module via said at least one I/O port,   wherein when said core module is mated to said receptacle module, said core module detects which of said plurality of diagnostic probes are attached to said receptacle module, switches between said plurality of diagnostic probes at the direction of a user, and selects beamformer programming and data processing to match said selected diagnostic probe.   
     
     
         2 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 2 , said receptacle module further comprising:
 a receptacle housing;   a plurality of peripheral ports mounted in said receptacle housing; and   a receptacle for releasably mating with said at least one I/O port and electrically communicating with said plurality of peripheral ports.   
     
     
         3 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 3  wherein said electrically communicating occurs through a pass-through connection. 
     
     
         4 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 3  wherein said electrically communicating occurs through an active connection. 
     
     
         5 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 4 , said receptacle module further comprising:
 at least one active circuit.   
     
     
         6 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 2 , said receptacle module further comprising:
 a latching mechanism for securing said receptacle module to said core module.   
     
     
         7 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 2  wherein said receptacle module is attached to a docking station. 
     
     
         8 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 7  wherein said docking station is stationary. 
     
     
         9 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 7  wherein said docking station is mobile. 
     
     
         10 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 1  wherein said core module switches between said plurality of diagnostic probes using a plurality of electromechanical switches. 
     
     
         11 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound system of  claim 1  wherein said core module switches between said plurality of diagnostic probes using a soft switch within said core module. 
     
     
         12 . A modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus comprising:
 a core module including a system electronics package mated to at least one plug; and   a receptacle module having a receptacle for matingly engaging said at least one plug of said core module,   wherein said receptacle reads data from said core module and sends data to at least one peripheral device in electronic communication with said receptacle.   
     
     
         13 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus of  claim 12 , said system electronics package further comprising:
 a transmit/receive ASIC which receives echo data;   a front end ASIC which transforms said echo data into beamformed scan line signals; and   a back end ASIC which converts said beamformed scan line signals to video output signals.   
     
     
         14 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus of  claim 13 , said system electronics package further comprising:
 a digital signal processing ASIC which filters said beamformed scan line signals.   
     
     
         15 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus of  claim 14 , said back end ASIC Further comprising:
 a central processor coupled to said front end ASIC and said digital signal processing ASIC to control and synchronize processing and control functions for said core module.   
     
     
         16 . The modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus of  claim 12 , said system electronics package further comprising:
 at least one programmable system memory device.   
     
     
         17 . A modular ultrasound diagnostic system, said system comprising:
 a core module including at least one I/O port; and   a mini-dock to connect at least one peripheral device to said core module, said mini-dock comprising a receptacle housing, a plurality of peripheral device ports and a receptacle for matingly engaging with said at least one I/O port of said core module, said receptacle in electronic communication with said plurality of peripheral device ports,   wherein said core module communicates with said at least one peripheral device through said mini-dock.   
     
     
         18 . The modular ultrasound diagnostic system of  claim 17  wherein each of said plurality of peripheral device ports is mounted in said receptacle housing and is connected to one or more electrical connectors for electrical communication with said receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The modular ultrasound diagnostic system of  claim 17  having one or more means for removably connecting said mini-dock to said core module. 
     
     
         20 . The modular ultrasound diagnostic system of  claim 17  wherein at least one of said plurality of peripheral device ports comprises an ultrasound transducer adaptor.