Portable Electronic Devices With Integrated Imaging Capabilities

Abstract

A portable electronic device (e.g., smart phone or tablet computer) is provided for generating and displaying images (e.g., 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional images) of an imaging target such as a human body. The portable electronic device may include imaging elements configured to receive radiation signals transmitted through and/or reflected by the imaging target, an imaging interface, and one or more processors. The portable electronic device may display what appears to be a window into the imaging target (e.g., a human body), and/or an exploded view (e.g., 3-dimensional, upwardly projected image) of the target. The generated image may be a real-time continuous image of the internal features of the target (e.g., a human body) that is updated to track movements of the target (e.g., breathing patterns) and the relative position of the portable electronic device as the portable electronic device moves relative to a surface of the target.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . An imaging system, comprising:
 a plurality of imaging devices communicatively coupled to each other, each imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices generates at least one radiation signal;   a first imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices receives the at least one radiation signal from a second imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices, the received at least one radiation signal includes at least one of the following: a radiation signal generated by the second imaging device and reflected by a subject to be imaged, and a radiation signal generated by the second imaging device and transmitted through the subject; and   the first imaging device, based on the received at least one radiation signal, renders an image of the subject, thereby providing a simulated virtual window into an interior portion of the subject.   
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein one or more imaging devices in the plurality of imaging devices generate at least one alternate image of the subject. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein each imaging device is a portable imaging device having a housing containing
 at least one imaging element being integrated into the housing, the at least one imaging element is configured to transmit and/or receive one or more radiation signals;   at least one processing element being integrated into the housing and communicatively coupled to the at least one imaging element, the at least one processing element is configured to process one or more radiation signals, wherein processing of one or more radiation signals includes at least one of the following: processing one or more received radiation signals, and causing transmission of one or more radiation signals by the at least one imaging element;   a display being integrated into the housing and being communicatively coupled with the at least one processing element; and   a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processing element.   
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the at least one processing element, based on the at least one processed radiation signal, is configured to perform at least one of the following:
 identify, based on an analysis of the at least one processed radiation signal and a comparison to data stored in the memory of the imaging device, at least one part of the interior portion of the subject;   render the image on the display;   upwardly project, using the display, the image from a surface of the display; and   simulate an updated virtual window into the interior portion of the subject corresponding to a new position of at least one imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices in relation to the subject.   
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein the rendered image includes at least one of the following: a real-time image, a continuous image, a two-dimensional image, a three-dimensional image, a polarized image, an exploded image, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein
 the at least one processing element generates an identification information for display in the virtual window based on information stored in the memory of the imaging device;   the information includes data associated with one or more abnormalities in at least one part of the interior portion of the subject.   
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the identification information includes at least one of the following: text and graphics. 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the identification information includes data associated with at least one of the following: an organ, artery, vein, tissue, bone, and other bodily content or part. 
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the identification information includes data associated with at least one of the following: a shape, color, texture, cellular characteristic, and tissue characteristic of an imaged structure or object. 
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the at least one imaging element includes a transducer. 
     
     
         44 . The system according to  claim 43 , wherein the transducer is an ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein at least one imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices is positioned remotely from the subject. 
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein the rendered image changes to display at least another interior portion of the subject when at least one imaging device is moved relative to the subject. 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein the at least one radiation signal is an ultrasound signal. 
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein the rendered image is adjusted using at least one of the following: a zoom level, a centering position, a level of detail, a depth of the interior portion, a resolution, a brightness, a color, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein the subject includes at least one of the following: a human body and a portion of a human body. 
     
     
         50 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein at least one imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices includes at least one of the following: a cellular telephone; a personal digital assistant; a smartphone; a tablet device; a digital camera; a laptop computer; an ultrasound device; an ultrasound transducer; an array of ultrasound transducers; an ultrasound imaging element; a device including at least one of the following: at least one ultrasound transducer, at least one array of ultrasound transducers, at least one ultrasound source, at least one an ultrasound imaging element, at least one ultrasound sensor, at least one radiation element, and any combination thereof; and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         51 . An imaging system, comprising:
 a plurality of imaging devices communicatively coupled to each other, each imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices is positioned at a respective first position in relation to a subject to be imaged;   a first imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices determines a second position of the first imaging device in relation to the subject based on a first position of a second imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices, wherein the first position of the second imaging device is detected by the first imaging device;   the second imaging device transmits at least one radiation signal through the subject; and   the first imaging device, at the determined second position, receives the at least one radiation signal, and, using the at least one received radiation signal, renders an image of the subject, thereby providing a simulated virtual window into an interior portion of the subject.   
     
     
         52 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein each imaging device is a portable imaging device having a housing containing
 at least one imaging element being integrated into the housing, the at least one imaging element is configured to transmit and/or receive one or more radiation signals;   a sensor being integrated into the housing and configured to detect a position of at least another imaging device in the plurality of imaging device;   at least one processing element being integrated into the housing and communicatively coupled to the at least one imaging element, the at least one processing element is configured to process one or more radiation signals, wherein processing of one or more radiation signals includes at least one of the following: processing one or more received radiation signals, and causing transmission of one or more radiation signals by the at least one imaging element;   a display being integrated into the housing and being communicatively coupled with the at least one processing element; and   a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processing element.   
     
     
         53 . The system according to  claim 52 , wherein the at least one processing element, based on the at least one processed radiation signal, is configured to perform at least one of the following:
 identify, based on an analysis of the at least one processed radiation signal and a comparison to data stored in the memory of the imaging device, at least one part of the interior portion of the subject;   render the image on the display;   upwardly project, using the display, the image from a surface of the display; and   simulate an updated virtual window into the interior portion of the subject corresponding to a new position of at least one imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices in relation to the subject.   
     
     
         54 . The system according to  claim 53 , wherein the rendered image includes at least one of the following: a real-time image, a continuous image, a two-dimensional image, a three-dimensional image, a polarized image, an exploded image, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         55 . The system according to  claim 52 , wherein
 the at least one processing element generates an identification information for display in the virtual window based on information stored in the memory of the imaging device;   the information includes data associated with one or more abnormalities in at least one part of the interior portion of the subject.   
     
     
         56 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein the identification information includes at least one of the following: text and graphics. 
     
     
         57 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein the identification information includes data associated with at least one of the following: an organ, artery, vein, tissue, bone, and other bodily content or part. 
     
     
         58 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein the identification information includes data associated with at least one of the following: a shape, color, texture, cellular characteristic, and tissue characteristic of an imaged structure or object. 
     
     
         59 . The system according to  claim 52 , wherein the at least one imaging element includes a transducer. 
     
     
         60 . The system according to  claim 59 , wherein the transducer is an ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         61 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein at least one imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices is positioned remotely from the subject. 
     
     
         62 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein the rendered image changes to display at least another interior portion of the subject when at least one imaging device is moved relative to the subject. 
     
     
         63 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein the at least one radiation signal is an ultrasound signal. 
     
     
         64 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein the rendered image is adjusted using at least one of the following: a zoom level, a centering position, a level of detail, a depth of the interior portion, a resolution, a brightness, a color, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         65 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein the subject includes at least one of the following: a human body and a portion of a human body. 
     
     
         66 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein at least one imaging device in the plurality of imaging devices includes at least one of the following: a cellular telephone; a personal digital assistant; a smartphone; a tablet device; a digital camera; a laptop computer; an ultrasound device; an ultrasound transducer; an array of ultrasound transducers; an ultrasound imaging element; a device including at least one of the following: at least one ultrasound transducer, at least one array of ultrasound transducers, at least one ultrasound source, at least one an ultrasound imaging element, at least one ultrasound sensor, at least one radiation element, and any combination thereof; and any combination thereof.