Ultrasound imaging probe for use in an ultrasound imaging system

Abstract

An ultrasound probe ( 14 ) for use in an ultrasound imaging system ( 10 ) is configured to generate both an ultrasound field-of-view volume ( 26 ) and an electromagnetic (EM) locator field volume ( 24 ). The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound console ( 12 ), the ultrasound probe, and an interventional medical device ( 16 ). The ultrasound probe includes a probe housing, an ultrasound transducer array mounted to the probe housing and configured to generate the ultrasound field-of-view volume, and an EM locator field generator also mounted to the probe housing and configured to generate the EM locator field volume. The EM locator field volume thus advantageously moves in unison with the ultrasound field-of volume. An external EM locator field generator is not required. A tracking element ( 22 ) of the interventional medical device is configured to generate tip location data based on the EM locator field volume. The EM locator field generator may include a plurality of electromagnetic coils.

1 . An ultrasound probe for use in an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
 a probe housing;   an ultrasound transducer array mounted to the probe housing, the ultrasound transducer array configured to generate an ultrasound field-of-view volume; and   an electromagnetic locator field generator mounted to the probe housing, the electromagnetic locator field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic locator field volume, wherein the electromagnetic locator field generator has a plurality of electromagnetic coils incorporated into a material that forms the probe housing.   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils is three. 
     
     
         3 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils is three, and the three electromagnetic coils are arranged in a triangle arrangement that defines a plane that is parallel to a plane of the ultrasound transducer array. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound probe housing includes a handle portion and a head portion, and wherein each of the ultrasound transducer array and the electromagnetic locator field generator is located in the head portion. 
     
     
         5 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound probe housing includes a handle portion and a head portion, and wherein the ultrasound transducer array is located in the head portion and the electromagnetic locator field generator is located in the handle portion. 
     
     
         6 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein a first Z-axis of the electromagnetic locator field volume is axially aligned with a second Z-axis of the ultrasound field-of-view volume. 
     
     
         7 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 1 , wherein a first three-axis origin is defined in a central portion of the electromagnetic locator field volume and a second three-axis origin is defined in the ultrasound field-of-view volume, wherein the second three-axis origin of the ultrasound field-of-view volume is positioned to be coincident with the first three-axis origin of the electromagnetic locator field volume. 
     
     
         8 . An ultrasound probe for use in an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
 a probe housing;   an ultrasound transducer array mounted to the probe housing, the ultrasound transducer array configured to generate an ultrasound field-of-view volume; and   a plurality of electromagnetic coils mounted to the probe housing, the plurality of electromagnetic coils configured to generate an electromagnetic locator field volume, wherein the ultrasound transducer array and the plurality of electromagnetic coils are arranged such that an entirety of the ultrasound field-of-view volume is located within the electromagnetic locator field volume.   
     
     
         9 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils is three, and the three electromagnetic coils are arranged in a triangle arrangement that defines a plane that is parallel to a plane of the ultrasound transducer array. 
     
     
         10 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 8 , wherein a first Z-axis of the electromagnetic locator field volume is axially aligned with a second Z-axis of the ultrasound field-of-view volume. 
     
     
         11 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 8 , wherein a first three-axis origin is defined in a central portion of the electromagnetic locator field volume and a second three-axis origin is defined in a central portion of the ultrasound field-of-view volume, wherein the second three-axis origin of the ultrasound field-of-view volume is positioned to be coincident with the first three-axis origin of the electromagnetic locator field volume. 
     
     
         12 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils is arranged in a triangle arrangement that defines a plane that is non-parallel to a plane of the ultrasound transducer array. 
     
     
         13 . The ultrasound probe of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of electromagnetic coils is incorporated into a material that forms the probe housing. 
     
     
         14 . An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
 an ultrasound console having a graphical user interface;   an interventional medical device communicatively coupled to the ultrasound console, the interventional medical device having a tracking element; and   an ultrasound probe communicatively coupled to the ultrasound console, the ultrasound probe including:
 a probe housing; 
 an ultrasound transducer array mounted to the probe housing, the ultrasound transducer array configured to generate an ultrasound field-of-view volume; and 
 an electromagnetic locator field generator that includes a plurality of electromagnetic coils that are mounted to the probe housing of the ultrasound probe, the plurality of electromagnetic coils configured to generate an electromagnetic locator field volume for identifying a location of the tracking element of the interventional medical device within the electromagnetic locator field volume. 
   
     
     
         15 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils is three electromagnetic coils. 
     
     
         16 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the three electromagnetic coils are arranged in a triangle arrangement that defines a plane that is parallel to a plane of the ultrasound transducer array. 
     
     
         17 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound probe housing includes a handle portion and a head portion, and wherein each of the ultrasound transducer array and the plurality of electromagnetic coils is located in the head portion. 
     
     
         18 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils is three electromagnetic coils, and wherein the three electromagnetic coils are arranged in a triangle arrangement that defines a plane that is non-parallel to a plane of the ultrasound transducer array. 
     
     
         19 . The ultrasound imaging system of  claim 18 , wherein the ultrasound probe housing includes a handle portion and a head portion, and wherein the ultrasound transducer array is located in the head portion and the plurality of electromagnetic coils is located in the handle portion. 
     
     
         20 . The ultrasound imaging system according to  claim 14 , wherein the electromagnetic locator field generator includes a current driver circuit electrically coupled to each of the plurality of electromagnetic coils, and
 wherein a first three-axis origin is defined in a central portion of the electromagnetic locator field volume and a second three-axis origin is defined in the ultrasound field-of-view volume, wherein the second three-axis origin of the ultrasound field-of-view volume is coincident with the first three-axis origin of the electromagnetic locator field volume.   
     
     
         21 - 24 . (canceled)