Peripheral ultrasound device

Abstract

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for acquiring circulatory system information from one or more patients. In one implementation, a device for acquiring ultrasound-generated data includes a housing, an imaging mechanism, and an adjustment mechanism. The housing has an interfacing surface with an opening, and the imaging mechanism is positioned in the opening. The imaging mechanism is rotatable in a plane generally parallel to the interfacing surface and pivotal about an axis generally orthogonal to the interfacing surface. The adjustment mechanism is positioned within the housing and associated with the imaging mechanism to cause the imaging mechanism to rotate in the plane or pivot about the axis. The adjustment mechanism comprises an orientation adjuster having an orientation actuator and a direction adjuster having a direction actuator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for acquiring ultrasound-generated data, comprising:
 a housing having an interfacing surface with an opening;   an imaging mechanism positioned in the opening and being rotatable in a plane generally parallel to the interfacing surface and being pivotal about an axis generally orthogonal to the interfacing surface; and   an adjustment mechanism positioned within the housing and associated with the imaging mechanism to cause the imaging mechanism to rotate in the plane or pivot about the axis, the adjustment mechanism comprising an orientation adjuster having an orientation actuator and a direction adjuster having a direction actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the orientation adjuster comprises an annular ring having gear teeth on a periphery thereof and the orientation actuator is a stationary screw positioned tangentially to the periphery of the annular ring. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the direction adjuster includes a ball gear with gear teeth on an arcuate surface thereof and the direction actuator is a stationary screw positioned tangentially to the arcuate edge of the semicircular gear. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a control module in data communication with the imaging mechanism and the adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the control module further comprises an imaging mechanism component configured to control the sending and receiving of ultrasonic signals from the imaging mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the control module further comprises an adjustment mechanism component configured to control orientation and direction adjustments of the imaging mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the control module further comprises a gating component adapted to continuously adjust the imaging direction to accommodate cyclical motion of a patient due to breathing. 
     
     
         8 . A device for acquiring data from a patient, the device comprising:
 a securing system having an anchor configured to adhere to a target surface;   an opening defined in an interfacing surface of a housing, the securing system configured to connect to the housing;   an imaging mechanism having an ultrasound transducer configured to send and receive ultrasound signals along an imaging direction, the imaging mechanism positioned in the opening and adjustable relative to the interfacing surface to adjust the imaging direction;   an orientation adjuster having an orientation guide operably connected to an orientation actuator, the orientation guide positioned parallel to and offset from the interfacing surface, the orientation actuator having a first motor configured to move the orientation guide to adjust the imaging mechanism about a first axis orthogonal to the interfacing surface; and   a direction adjuster having a direction guide operably connected to a direction actuator, the direction guide extending from the imaging mechanism along a plane orthogonal to the interfacing surface, the direction actuator having a second motor configured to move the direction guide to adjust the imaging mechanism about a second axis parallel to the interfacing surface.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the orientation guide includes an annular ring. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the orientation actuator includes a screw driven by the first motor, the screw positioned tangentially along a periphery of the annular ring. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the direction guide includes a gear. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the direction actuator includes a screw driven by the second motor, the screw positioned tangentially to an arcuate edge of the gear. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the anchor includes a patch having an adhesive membrane to adhere the securing system to the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the anchor includes at least one of: one or more straps; one or more hooks; one or more loops; one or more elastics; one or more hook and loop bands; one or more belts; or one or more tie-downs. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the securing system includes one or more straps connected to the anchor, the one or more straps configured to connect the housing. 
     
     
         16 . A device for acquiring data from a patient, the device comprising:
 a securing system having an anchor configured to adhere to a target surface;   an opening defined in an interfacing surface of a probe, the securing system configured to connect to the probe;   an imaging mechanism having an ultrasound transducer configured to send and receive ultrasound signals along an imaging direction, the imaging mechanism positioned in the opening and adjustable relative to the interfacing surface to adjust the imaging direction;   an annular ring positioned offset from the interfacing surface and configured to adjust the imaging mechanism about a first axis orthogonal to the interfacing surface; and   a gear extending from the imaging mechanism and configured to adjust the imaging mechanism about a second axis parallel to the interfacing surface.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the imaging mechanism is positioned within the annular ring and supported by a pivot pin extending parallel to the interfacing surface. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the securing system includes a recognition module configured to communicate with the probe, the recognition module including at least one of: an embedded electronic computerized chip; a bar code; a circuit; or a wireless communication link. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the securing system is configured to connect to the housing using at least one of: one or more straps; one or more belts; one or more paired hook and loop straps; a tube; a slide track; a press fit connection; a latching connection; or a magnetic connection. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the anchor includes at least one of: one or more patches; one or more straps; one or more hooks; one or more loops; one or more elastics; one or more hook and loop bands; one or more belts; or one or more tie-downs.