TW201531283A - Tablet ultrasound system - Google Patents

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide systems and methods for portable medical ultrasound imaging. Preferred embodiments utilize a tablet touchscreen display operative to control imaging and display operations without the need for using traditional keyboards or controls. Certain embodiments provide ultrasound imaging system in which the scan head includes a beamformer circuit that performs far field sub array beamfonning or includes a sparse array selecting circuit that actuates selected elements. Exemplary embodiments also provide an ultrasound engine circuit board including one or more multi-chip modules, and a portable medical ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasound engine circuit board with one or more multi-chip modules. Exemplary embodiments also provide methods for using a hierarchical two-stage or three-stage beamforming system, three dimensional ultrasound images which can be generated in real-time.

Description

Tablet ultrasound system [Related application cross-reference]

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial No. 14/037,106, filed on Sep. 25, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Medical ultrasound imaging has become an industry standard for many medical imaging applications. In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for medical ultrasound imaging equipment that can be carried to allow medical personnel to easily transport the device to hospitals and/or on-site locations and to transport the device from hospitals and/or on-site locations, and more Humanely adapt to medical personnel who have a range of skill levels.

Conventional medical ultrasound imaging devices typically include at least one ultrasonic probe/sensor, a keyboard and/or a knob, a computer, and a display. In a typical mode of operation, the ultrasonic probe/sensor produces ultrasonic waves that can penetrate tissue to different depths based on frequency levels and receive ultrasonic waves that are reflected back from the tissue. In addition, medical personnel can input system input to the computer via a keyboard and/or knob, and view the ultrasound image of the tissue structure on the display.

However, conventional medical ultrasound imaging devices employing such keyboards and/or knobs can be large in size and thus may not be suitable for portable use in hospitals and/or field locations. Moreover, because such keyboards and/or knobs typically have an uneven surface, they may be difficult to maintain in a hospital and/or field environment where maintaining a sterile field may be critical to patient health. Some conventional medical ultrasound imaging equipment has been Into touch screen technology to provide a part of the user input interface. However, conventional medical ultrasound imaging devices employing such touch screen technology generally provide only limited touch screen functionality in conjunction with a conventional keyboard and/or knob, and thus may not only be difficult to maintain and complex to use.

In accordance with the present invention, systems and methods for medical ultrasound imaging are disclosed. The presently disclosed system and method for medical ultrasound imaging employs a medical ultrasound imaging device that includes one of a handheld housing in the size of a tablet and one of the front panels disposed on one of the front panels of the housing Control screen display. The touch screen display comprises a multi-touch touch screen, the multi-touch touch screen can recognize and distinguish one or more single points, multiple points and one surface of the touch screen display / or simultaneous touch, thereby allowing the use of gestures ranging from simple single point gestures to complex multi-point movement gestures as user input to medical ultrasound imaging devices.

According to one aspect, an exemplary medical ultrasound imaging system includes a housing having a front panel and a rear panel rigidly mounted to each other in a parallel plane, a touch screen display having at least one processor and at least one memory One computer, one ultrasonic beamforming system and one battery. The housing of the medical ultrasound imaging device is implemented in a tablet size. The touch screen display is disposed on the front panel of the housing and includes one of a plurality of single-point, multi-point and/or simultaneous touches or gestures recognizable and distinguishable on one surface of the touch screen display Point touch LCD touch screen. A computer, ultrasonic beamforming system or engine and battery are operatively disposed within the housing. The medical ultrasound imaging apparatus can use a Firewire connection between a computer operatively coupled to the housing and the ultrasonic engine and one of the probe attachment/discharge levers that facilitates attachment of at least one ultrasonic probe/sensor Head connector. Additionally, an exemplary medical ultrasound imaging system includes an I/O port connector and a DC power input.

In an exemplary mode of operation, medical personnel may employ simple single point gestures and/or The complex multi-point gesture is input to the user of the multi-touch LCD touch screen for controlling the operational mode and/or function of the exemplary medical ultrasound imaging device. Such single-point/multi-point gestures may correspond to mapping to single-point and/or multi-touch events that may be performed by one or more predetermined operations by a computer and/or ultrasound engine. Medical personnel can perform such single-point/multi-point gestures by moving various fingers, palms, and/or stylus movements on the surface of the touch screen display. The multi-touch LCD touch screen receives single-point/multi-point gestures as user input and provides such user input to a computer that uses a processor to execute program instructions stored in the memory to perform such operations A predetermined operation associated with a single point/multipoint gesture (at least in some cases in conjunction with an ultrasound engine). Such single/multi-point gestures on the surface of the touch screen display may include (but are not limited to): a one-click gesture, a pinch gesture, a toggle gesture, a spin gesture, a one-two gesture, an unfold gesture , a drag gesture, a press gesture, a press and drag gesture, and a palm gesture. The preferred embodiment of the present invention employs a single on/off switcher as compared to prior art ultrasound systems that rely on many control features of mechanical switching, keyboard elements or touch pad trackball interface operations. All other operations have been performed using touch screen controls. Moreover, the preferred embodiment employs a capacitive touch screen display that is sensitive enough to detect a touch gesture actuated by the user's bare fingers and the user's gloved fingers. Usually medical personnel must wear sterile plastic gloves during medical procedures. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide a portable ultrasonic device that can be used by a gloved hand; however, many of the applications that require sterility precautions have previously prevented the use of touch screen display control functions in ultrasound systems. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for controlling all ultrasonic imaging operations using a stylized touch gesture on a touchscreen display by a gloved person.

According to an exemplary aspect, at least one toggle gesture can be employed to control the tissue penetration depth of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasound probe/sensor. For example, a single toggle gesture in the "up" direction on the surface of the touch screen display can increase the penetration depth by one (1) centimeter or any other suitable amount, and the "down" direction on the surface of the touch screen display A single toggle gesture reduces penetration depth by one (1) centimeter or any other suitable amount. In addition, one of the "up" or "down" directions on the surface of the touch screen display can increase or decrease the penetration depth by a factor of one (1) centimeter or any other suitable amount. Additional modes of operation and/or functions controlled by specific single-point/multi-point gestures on the surface of the touch screen display may include, but are not limited to, freeze/store operations, two-dimensional mode operations, gain control, color control, segmentation Screen control, PW imaging control, movie/time series image clip scrolling control, zoom and panning control, full screen control, Doppler and 2D beam steering control and/or body marker control. At least some operational modes and/or functions of the exemplary medical ultrasound imaging device can be controlled by one or more touch control items implemented on the touch screen display, wherein the beamforming can be reset by moving the touch gesture parameter. The medical personnel can provide one or more specific single-point/multi-point gestures as user input for specifying at least a selected subset of touch control items to be implemented on the touch screen display as required and/or desired. When some or more virtual buttons or icons are available, a larger number of touch controls achieve greater functionality when operating in full screen mode.

According to another exemplary aspect, a pressing gesture can be employed in an area of the touch screen display, and in response to the pressing gesture, a virtual window can be provided on the touch screen display for displaying the touch screen. At least one enlarged portion of one of the ultrasonic images is displayed on the display. According to yet another exemplary aspect, a pressing and dragging gesture can be employed in the area of the touchscreen display, and in response to the pressing and dragging gestures, one of the predetermined features of the ultrasound image can be tracked. In addition, a one-click gesture (essentially at the same time as one of the pressing and dragging gestures) can be employed in the area of the touch screen display, and in response to the click gesture, the predetermined feature of the ultrasonic image can be tracked. Such operations may operate in different regions having a single display format such that, for example, one of the gestures within one of the regions of the image may perform a different gesture than the one performed within the image but outside the region of interest One of the gestures features.

By providing a medical ultrasound imaging device having a multi-touch touch screen, Medical personnel can control the device using simple single point gestures and/or more complex multi-point gestures without the need for a conventional keyboard or knob. Because the multi-touch touch screen eliminates the need for a traditional keyboard or knob, this medical ultrasound imaging device is easier to keep clean in a hospital and/or field environment, providing an intuitive, user-friendly interface while providing the full Functional operation. In addition, by providing the medical ultrasound imaging device in a tablet form factor, medical personnel can easily transport the device between hospital and/or field locations.

The system is operative to communicate with external and remote devices via a wireless communication network, such as a 3G or 4G wireless cellular network. The system can thus provide voice and data transfer (including via a wireless public access network for mobile device communication).

Certain exemplary embodiments provide a multi-chip module for an ultrasound engine of a portable medical ultrasound imaging system, wherein a transmission/reception (TR) wafer, a preamplifier/time gain compensation (TGC) wafer And a beamformer wafer is assembled into a vertically stacked configuration. The transmission circuit provides a high voltage electrical drive pulse to the sensor element to produce a transmission beam. When the transfer wafer is operated at voltages greater than 80V, one of the CMOS processing procedures using a one micron design rule has been used for the transfer wafer and one micron design rule has been used for the low voltage receive circuit (less than 5V).

The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a micron processing procedure to provide an integrated circuit having sub-circuits operating at a plurality of voltages (e.g., 2.5V, 5V, and 60V or higher). In accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, such features can be used in conjunction with a dual planar sensor probe.

Thus, a high voltage transmission, low voltage amplifier/TGC, and low voltage beamforming circuit can be incorporated into a single IC wafer in a single wafer. Using a 0.25 micron design rule, the mixed signal circuit can accommodate beamforming of 32 sensor channels in a wafer area of less than 0.7 x 0.7 (0.49) cm ² . Thus, 128 channels can be processed using four 32-channel wafers in one of the total board areas of less than 1.5 x 1.5 (2.25) cm ² .

The term "multi-chip module" as used herein refers to an electronic package in which a plurality of integrated circuits (ICs) are packaged using a unified substrate to facilitate its use as a single component (ie, as a package). One of the much larger volumes of higher processing capacity IC). Each IC can include one of the circuits fabricated in a thinned semiconductor wafer. The exemplary embodiments also provide an ultrasound ultrasound engine including one or more of the multi-wafer modules and a portable medical ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasound engine circuit board having one or more multi-wafer modules. The illustrative embodiments also provide methods for facilitating and assembling a multi-wafer module as taught herein. Vertical stacking of TR wafers, preamplifier/TGC wafers, and beamformer wafers onto a single board minimizes package size (eg, length and width) and the footprint of the wafers on the board.

The TR wafer, preamplifier/TGC wafer, and beamformer wafer in a multi-chip module can each contain multiple channels (eg, 8 channels per wafer to 64 channels per wafer). In some embodiments, the high voltage TR wafer, the preamplifier/TGC wafer, and the sample interpolated receive beamformer wafer can each comprise 8, 16, 32, 64 channels. In a preferred embodiment, each of the circuits in a two layer beamformer module has 32 beamformer receiving channels to provide a 64 channel receive beamformer. A second 64 channel two layer module can be used to form a 128 channel handheld tablet ultrasonic device having a total thickness of less than 2 cm. A multi-wafer beamformer can also be transmitted using one of the same or similar channel densities in each layer.

Exemplary numbers of wafers that are vertically integrated into a multi-chip module can include, but are not limited to, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and the like. In one embodiment of an ultrasonic device, a single multi-chip module is provided on one of the ultrasonic engines that performs one of the ultrasonic specific operations. In other embodiments, a plurality of multi-chip modules are provided on one of the ultrasonic engines. The plurality of multi-wafer modules can be vertically stacked on top of each other on the circuit board of the ultrasonic engine to further minimize the package size and footprint of the circuit board.

One or more multi-chip modules are provided to achieve a high channel count on one of the ultrasonic engine boards while minimizing the overall package size and footprint. For example, a multi-wafer module can be used to assemble a 128-channel ultrasonic engine circuit board in an exemplary planar size of about 10 cm x about 10 cm, which is a significant improvement over one of the much larger space requirements of conventional ultrasonic circuits. In some embodiments, a single circuit board of one of the ultrasonic engines including one or more multi-wafer modules can have from 16 to 128 channels. In some embodiments, a single circuit board comprising one of the one or more multi-wafer modules may have 16, 32, 64, 128 or 192 channels and the like.

3‧‧‧ probe

5‧‧‧Host computer

9‧‧‧Remote display and / or recording device

100‧‧‧Medical ultrasound imaging equipment/equipment/portable ultrasound system/system/ultrasound system

101‧‧‧ front panel

102‧‧‧Shell/unit

103‧‧‧Back panel

104‧‧‧Touch Screen Display/Split Touch Screen Display/Monitor/Multi-Touch LCD Touch Screen Display

105‧‧‧ Surface

106‧‧‧Computer motherboard/arithmetic circuit

107‧‧‧Touch Sensor/Sensor

108‧‧‧Ultrasonic Engine/128 Channel Ultrasonic Engine Board

109‧‧‧Touch Processor

110‧‧‧Battery

112‧‧‧Communication link/link/high speed serial interface

114‧‧‧Probe connector/connector

115‧‧‧Probe attachment/discharge lever

116‧‧‧Input/Output (I/O)埠 Connector

118‧‧‧Communication Circuit/User Identification Module (SIM) Interface Circuit

119‧‧‧User Identification Module (SIM) card

120‧‧‧User Identification Module (SIM) Card

140‧‧‧System

150‧‧‧Sensor housing/probe/ultrasonic probe/sensor/handheld sensor probe/probe housing

152‧‧‧Sensor element array/sensor array

154‧‧‧Detector identification circuit

302‧‧‧Click gesture

304‧‧‧ pinch gesture

306‧‧‧Swipe gestures/dynamic, continuous toggle gestures

308‧‧‧Rotate gesture

310‧‧‧ two gestures

312‧‧‧ Expanding gestures

314‧‧‧Swipe gestures/dynamic, continuous toggle gestures

316‧‧‧Rotate gesture

318‧‧‧Drag gestures/dynamic, continuous drag gestures

320‧‧‧Press gesture

322‧‧‧Press and drag gestures

324‧‧‧Hand gesture

340‧‧‧ Ultrasonic beamforming and imaging operations

342‧‧‧beamforming and image processing operations

344‧‧‧Select a first display operation

346‧‧‧Adjust beamforming parameters

348‧‧‧Update and display of displayed images

350‧‧‧ Performing a different gesture with one of a different speed characteristic (direction or rate or both) to adjust one of the first characteristics of the first ultrasonic display operation

352‧‧‧Updated display image

402‧‧‧ subset

404‧‧‧ subset

406‧‧‧ subset

408‧‧‧Touch control item/2D touch control item

410‧‧‧Touch Control/Gain Touch Control

412‧‧‧Touch Control Items/Color Touch Control Items

414‧‧‧Touch Controls/Storage Touch Controls

416‧‧‧Touch Control/Split Touch Control

418‧‧‧Touch Control/PW Imaging Touch Control

420‧‧‧Touch Control/beam-guided touch control

422‧‧‧Touch Control/Annotation Touch Control

424‧‧‧Touch Control/Dynamic Range Operation Touch Control

The touch controls 426‧‧‧ / Teravision ^TM touch controls

428‧‧‧Touch control item/mapping operation touch control item

430‧‧‧Touch Control/Needle-Touch Control

502‧‧‧ Liver

504‧‧‧ cystic lesions/enlarged cystic lesions

506‧‧‧Virtual Window

508‧‧‧ finger

602‧‧‧ heart

604‧‧ ‧ endocardial border

606‧‧‧left ventricle

607‧‧‧ cursor

608‧‧‧dotted line

610‧‧‧ fingers

612‧‧‧ fingers

702‧‧‧ Liver

704‧‧‧ cystic lesions

706‧‧‧Virtual Window

707‧‧‧ first cursor

709‧‧‧Second cursor

710‧‧‧ fingers

712‧‧‧ fingers

802‧‧‧ Liver

804‧‧‧ cystic lesions

806‧‧‧Virtual Window

807‧‧‧First Cursor/Cursor

809‧‧‧ second cursor

810‧‧‧ fingers

811‧‧‧Connecting line

812‧‧‧ fingers

900‧‧‧Software flow chart

904‧‧‧Steps

906‧‧‧Steps

908‧‧‧Steps

910‧‧ steps

912‧‧ steps

914‧‧‧Steps

916‧‧‧Steps

918‧‧ steps

920‧‧‧Steps

921‧‧ steps

922‧‧‧Steps

924‧‧‧Steps

926‧‧‧Steps

928‧‧‧Steps

930‧‧‧Steps

932‧‧‧Steps

934‧‧‧Steps

936‧‧ steps

938‧‧‧Steps

940‧‧‧Steps

942‧‧‧Steps

944‧‧‧Steps

946‧‧‧Steps

948‧‧‧Steps

950‧‧ steps

952‧‧‧Time integral of spectrum Doppler average speed/handheld handheld PC

956‧‧ needle

958‧‧‧System

960‧‧‧ Ultrasonic sensor elements / sensor elements

962‧‧‧needle guide

964‧‧‧Ultrasonic reflector disk/reflector disk

966‧‧‧Needle guide mounting bracket

970‧‧‧Ultrasonic imaging probe assembly

972‧‧‧ Ultrasound

974‧‧‧reflected ultrasound

976‧‧‧distance

978‧‧‧Linear Ultrasonic Sound Array/Ultrasonic Imaging Probe Assembly for Imaging

980‧‧‧ Ultrasonic sensor array / sensor components

982‧‧‧Ultrasonic imaging probe assembly/ultrasound imaging probe assembly for imaging the patient's body

984‧‧‧ Ultrasonic sensor array

986‧‧‧System

1010‧‧‧Personal Computer (PC)/Host Computer

1012‧‧‧USB connection/custom or USB3 chipset

1014‧‧‧Microprocessor

1020‧‧‧Interface unit/two-stage beamforming system/interface circuit

1022‧‧‧USB connection/customized USB3 chipset/USB3 chipset/custom or USB3 chipset

1024‧‧‧System Controller

1025‧‧‧Connector

1026‧‧‧ Field Programmable Gate Array/Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Digital Beamforming/Communication埠

1027‧‧‧Connector

1028‧‧‧A/D converter

1030‧‧‧A/D converter

1032‧‧‧ memory

1034‧‧‧DC-DC Converter

1040‧‧‧Integrated ultrasonic probe/ultrasonic probe/sensor/two-stage beamforming system

1042‧‧‧Power supply

1044‧‧‧ Controller

1046‧‧‧ memory

1048‧‧‧Multiplexer 1

1050‧‧‧Transfer Driver 1

1052‧‧‧Subarray/Aperture/Subarray Beamformer 1

1054‧‧‧Transport driver m

1056‧‧‧Multiplexer m

1058‧‧‧ memory

1060‧‧‧Subarray beamformer n

1062‧‧1D sensor array

1064‧‧‧Image Target

1066‧‧‧ Cable

1068‧‧‧ Cable

1075‧‧‧Device

1082‧‧‧Host computer

1102‧‧‧Image Target

1104‧‧‧ Cable

1106‧‧‧High Voltage Transmission/Reception (TR) Module/Transmission/Reception (TR) Module

1108‧‧‧Preamplifier/Time Gain Compensation (TGC) Module

1110‧‧‧Sampling data beamformer/sample interpolation receiver beamformer/beamformer

1112‧‧‧First In First Out (FIFO) Buffer Module

1114‧‧‧ memory

1116‧‧‧System Controller / Beamformer Control Processor

1118‧‧‧Communication chipset

1120‧‧‧Communication chipset

1122‧‧‧ core computer readable memory/memory

1124‧‧‧Microprocessor/beamformer control processor

1126‧‧‧ display controller

1200‧‧‧ circuit board

1202‧‧‧High Density Interconnect (HDI) Substrate/Substrate

1204‧‧‧First integrated circuit chip

1206‧‧‧First spacer

1208‧‧‧Second integrated circuit chip

1210‧‧‧Metal frame

1212‧‧‧Wiring

1214‧‧‧Wiring

1216‧‧‧Package

1302‧‧‧Steps

1304‧‧‧Steps

1306‧‧‧Steps

1308‧‧‧Steps

1310‧‧‧Steps

1312‧‧‧Steps

1600‧‧‧Multi-chip module

1602‧‧‧Transmission/reception (TR) wafer/wafer

1604‧‧‧Amplifier Wafer/Watch

1606‧‧‧beamformer wafer/wafer

1608‧‧‧First spacer

1610‧‧‧Second spacer

1612‧‧‧Metal frame

1614‧‧‧Substrate

1702‧‧‧Wireless Network Adapter/Adapter

1704‧‧‧Input/Output (I/O) and Graphics Chipsets

1706‧‧‧Serial or parallel interface

1708‧‧‧Power Module

1710‧‧‧First Multi-Chip Module/Multi-Chip Module

1712‧‧‧Second Multi-Chip Module/Multi-Chip Module

1714‧‧‧ Clock generation of complex programmable logic devices (CPLD)

1718‧‧‧Delay Profile and Waveform Generator Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)

1720‧‧‧ memory

1722‧‧‧Scan Sequence Control Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)

1724‧‧‧Power Module

1802‧‧‧ stylus

1804‧‧‧Sheet connector

1806‧‧‧Flexible cable

1900‧‧‧Master Graphic User Interface (GUI)

1902‧‧‧Function list

1904‧‧‧Image display window

1906‧‧‧Image Control Column

1908‧‧‧Tools

2000‧‧‧Medical ultrasound imaging equipment/ultrasonic imaging equipment/devices

2010‧‧‧Touch Screen Display/Ultrasonic Image

2020‧‧‧ Ultrasonic control

2030‧‧‧Shell

2040‧‧‧ Ultrasonic data

2060‧‧‧ front panel

2070‧‧‧ rear panel

2080‧‧‧User Identification Module (SIM) card

2082‧‧‧User Identification Module (SIM) Chuck

2084‧‧‧User Identification Module (SIM) Card

2100‧‧‧ cart system/cart configuration

2102‧‧‧Touch screen display

2104‧‧‧ Tablet PC

2106‧‧‧Adjustable height device

2108‧‧‧ cart/stroll bracket

2110‧‧‧gel holder

2112‧‧‧ keyboard

2114‧‧‧Storage box

2120‧‧‧Hot probe holder

2122‧‧‧Base assembly

2124‧‧‧Complete operator console/operator console

2200‧‧‧ cart system/cart assembly

2210‧‧‧Retainer

2212‧‧‧Vertical support members / support beams / beams

2214‧‧‧Console panel

2216‧‧‧Multiple probe multiplexer devices/multiplexer devices

2218‧‧‧Retainer

2222‧‧‧Storage box attachment mechanism

2224‧‧‧Storage box/accessory holder

2226‧‧‧rope management system / height adjustment device

2228‧‧‧Base

2230‧‧‧Battery

2232‧‧‧ Wheels

2300‧‧‧Configuration

2302‧‧‧Tablet/System

2304‧‧‧Connection station/base connection unit/base unit/connecting element

2305‧‧‧Electrical connector

2306‧‧‧ Attachment mechanism/mount assembly

2307‧‧‧埠

2308‧‧‧Hinged parts

2310‧‧‧ bracket

2312‧‧‧Vertical parts/beams

2400‧‧‧ cart system/configuration

2402‧‧‧ Tablet PC

2404‧‧‧Connector/attach mechanism

2406‧‧‧Installation assembly/hinged parts

2408‧‧‧Vertical support parts

2502‧‧‧ Connection Station

2504‧‧‧ Tablet PC

2506‧‧‧Base assembly

2508‧‧‧ release agency

2510‧‧‧Sensor Head/Sensor Head Connector

2512‧‧‧ Sensors

2526‧‧‧Adjustable bracket/grip

2600‧‧‧Integrated probe system/integrated ultrasonic probe system/system

2602‧‧‧ front end probe/probe

2604‧‧‧Host computer/Windows® based host computer

2606‧‧‧Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)/Remote Display and/or Recording Device/Remote Device/Computer (Remote Device)

2608‧‧‧Communication link/communication link or interface

2610‧‧‧Communication link or interface/wireless link/communication link/wireless communication link

2612‧‧‧Remote computing system

2802‧‧‧ Hub

2804‧‧‧Communication link

2906‧‧‧ imaging system

2910‧‧‧Wireless Agent

2912‧‧‧Wireless Viewer/Viewer

3020‧‧‧Image viewer

3024‧‧‧User interface button

3026‧‧‧User interface button

3028‧‧‧User interface button

3030‧‧‧ Viewer

3142a to 3142n‧‧‧ ultrasonic probe

3144a to 3144n‧‧‧ laptop

3146‧‧‧Image/Patient Information Distributing Server

3148‧‧‧ Structured Query Language (SQL) database server

3152‧‧‧Handheld devices or other computing devices

3264‧‧‧ Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

3266‧‧‧Wireless communication link

3304‧‧‧ memory

3306‧‧‧Data storage

3308‧‧‧ Busbar

3310‧‧‧Link interface or data interface circuit/data interface circuit

3312‧‧‧First connection

3314‧‧‧ Radio Frequency (RF) Circuit / Radio Interface

3316‧‧‧ radio interface

3350‧‧‧RF stacking

3370‧‧‧User interface circuit

3440‧‧‧ Schematic

3446‧‧‧ Clinic

3448‧‧‧ Clinic

3450‧‧ ‧ clinics

3502‧‧‧2D image window

3504‧‧‧2D image scanning

3506‧‧‧Elastic frequency scanning

3600‧‧‧Touch screen display for tablets

3604‧‧‧2D image window

3606‧‧‧Two-dimensional mode imaging / 2D imagery

3608‧‧‧ Sports mode imaging

3700‧‧‧Touch screen display/tablet display for tablets

3702‧‧‧Color Doppler Scanning Information

3704‧‧‧Flexible frequency control

3706‧‧‧Two-dimensional image window

3708‧‧‧Color coded information

3710‧‧‧2D image

3800‧‧‧Touch screen display/tablet display for tablets

3802‧‧‧2D image

3804‧‧‧Adjustable frequency control

3806‧‧‧Mixed mode of operation

3808‧‧‧ Gray Shadow

3810‧‧‧Time/Doppler shift

3812‧‧‧ sample volume or sample gate

3900‧‧‧Touch screen display/tablet display for tablets

3902‧‧‧Two-dimensional window

3904‧‧‧Color coded information

3906‧‧‧Overlay/color code overlay

3908‧‧‧sample volume/sample gate

3910‧‧‧Flexible frequency control

3912‧‧‧Time/Doppler shift

3916‧‧‧2D image

4000‧‧‧Graphic User Interface (GUI) Main Screen / Screen Interface / Graphic User Interface (GUI) Main Screen for User Mode / main graphical user interface (GUI) main screen

4002‧‧‧Image display window

4004‧‧‧Function list

4006‧‧‧Image Control Column

4008‧‧‧Deep control touch control

4010‧‧‧Two-dimensional gain touch control

4012‧‧‧Full screen touch control

4014‧‧‧Text Touch Control

4016‧‧‧Split screen touch control

4018‧‧‧ENV touch control

4022‧‧‧Pulse Wave Doppler (PWD) Touch Control

4024‧‧‧Freeze touch control

4026‧‧‧Storage touch control

4028‧‧‧Optimized touch controls

4100‧‧‧Graphic User Interface (GUI) Menu Screen Interface / User Interface (GUI) Main Screen / Main Graphic User Interface (GUI) Menu Screen

4102‧‧‧Image display window

4104‧‧‧Function list

4108‧‧‧ Patient touch control items

4110‧‧‧Preset touch controls

4112‧‧‧View touch controls

4114‧‧‧Report touch control items

4116‧‧‧Set touch control items

4120‧‧‧Image Control Column

4122‧‧‧Deep control touch control

4124‧‧‧Two-dimensional gain touch control

4126‧‧‧Full screen touch control

4128‧‧‧Text Touch Control

4130‧‧‧Split screen touch control

4132‧‧‧ Needle Visualization ENV Touch Control

4136‧‧‧Pulse Wave Doppler (PWD) Touch Control

4138‧‧‧Freeze touch control

4140‧‧‧Storing touch controls

4142‧‧‧Optimized touch controls

4200‧‧‧Graphic User Interface (GUI) Patient Data Screen / Screen Interface / Graphic User Interface (GUI) Patient Data Screen / Patient Data Screen for User Operation Mode

4202‧‧‧ Function list

4204‧‧‧New patient touch screen controls

4206‧‧‧New research touch screen controls

4208‧‧‧Research list touch screen controls

4210‧‧‧Worklist touch screen controls

4212‧‧‧Editing touch screen controls

4214‧‧‧ Patient Information Section

4216‧‧‧ Research Information Section

4218‧‧‧Image Control Column

4220‧‧‧Researched touch control items

4222‧‧‧ Close study of touch controls

4224‧‧‧Printing touch controls

4226‧‧‧Print preview touch control

4228‧‧‧Remove touch controls

4230‧‧‧Two-dimensional touch control items

4232‧‧‧Freeze touch control

4234‧‧‧Storing touch controls

4300‧‧‧Graphic User Interface (GUI) Patient Data Screen / Screen Interface / Preset Screen for User Mode

4302‧‧‧Function list

4304‧‧‧Preset selection mode

4308‧‧‧Image Control Column

4310‧‧‧Save settings touch control

4312‧‧‧Delete touch controls

4314‧‧‧Color Doppler (CD) touch control

4316‧‧‧Pulse Wave Doppler (PWD) Touch Control

4318‧‧‧Freeze touch control

4320‧‧‧Storing touch controls

4322‧‧‧Optimized touch controls

4400‧‧‧Graphic User Interface (GUI) View Screen Interface / Screen Interface for User Operation Mode / View Screen

4402‧‧‧Function list

4404‧‧‧Preset extended view

4406‧‧‧Image display window

4408‧‧‧Image

4410‧‧‧Image

4412‧‧‧Image

4414‧‧‧Image

4416‧‧‧Image Control Column

4418‧‧‧ Thumbnail setting touch control

4420‧‧‧Synchronized touch control

4422‧‧‧Select touch control

4424‧‧‧Previous image touch control items

4426‧‧‧Next image touch control

4428‧‧‧2D image touch control

4430‧‧‧Pause image touch control

4432‧‧‧Storing image touch control items

4500‧‧‧screen interface/report screen for user mode

4502‧‧‧ function list

4504‧‧‧Report extended view

4506‧‧‧Display screen

4508‧‧‧Image Control Column

4510‧‧‧Save touch control items

4512‧‧‧Save as touch control

4514‧‧‧Printing touch controls

4516‧‧‧Print preview touch control

4518‧‧ ‧ Close study of touch controls

4520‧‧‧2D image touch control

4522‧‧‧Freeze image touch control

4524‧‧‧Storage image touch control

4600‧‧‧Screen interface/view screen for user mode

4602‧‧‧Function list

4604‧‧‧Enrollment Extended View/Setting Extended Screen

4606‧‧‧General touch control items

4608‧‧‧ Display touch control items

4610‧‧‧Measurement touch control items

4612‧‧‧Note touch control

4614‧‧‧Printing touch controls

4616‧‧‧Storage/acquisition of touch controls

4618‧‧‧ Medical Digital Imaging and Communication (DICOM) Touch Control

4620‧‧‧Export touch control

4622‧‧‧Research information image touch control items

4624‧‧‧Configure screen

4626‧‧‧Softkey connection position

4628‧‧‧Image Control Column

4630‧‧‧ Thumbnail setting touch control

4632‧‧‧Synchronized touch control

4634‧‧‧Select touch control

4636‧‧‧Previous image touch control items

4638‧‧‧Next image touch control

4640‧‧‧2D image touch control

4642‧‧‧Pause image touch control

4644‧‧‧Set control column

4650‧‧‧softkey control arrow

4652‧‧‧ softkey control

4662‧‧‧softkey control

4700‧‧‧Screen interface/setting screen for user operation mode

4702‧‧‧Function list / configuration screen

4704‧‧‧Report Extended View/Setting Extended Screen/Retrospective Acquisition

4706‧‧‧General touch control items

4708‧‧‧ Display touch controls

4710‧‧‧Measurement touch control items

4712‧‧‧Note touch control

4714‧‧‧Printing touch controls

4716‧‧‧Storage/acquisition of touch controls

4718‧‧‧ Medical Digital Imaging and Communication (DICOM) Touch Control

4720‧‧‧Export touch control

4722‧‧‧Research information image touch control items

4728‧‧‧Image Control Column

4730‧‧‧ Thumbnail setting touch control

4732‧‧‧Synchronized touch control

4734‧‧‧Select touch control

4736‧‧‧Previous image touch control items

4738‧‧‧Next image touch control

4740‧‧‧2D image touch control

4742‧‧‧Pause image touch control

4744‧‧‧Set control column

4880‧‧‧Community shared memory

4882‧‧‧Shared memory header structure

4884‧‧‧Header array

4886‧‧‧ memory fragments

4888‧‧‧ Entity systems are mutually exclusive

4890‧‧‧System Events

4908‧‧‧Object transfer interface

4916‧‧‧Object Factory interface

5170‧‧‧ main screen

5172‧‧‧Function list

5174‧‧‧Image display window

5176‧‧‧Image Control Column

5178‧‧‧Tools

5180‧‧‧Tools

5182‧‧‧Tools

5184‧‧‧Tools

5186‧‧‧Tools

5202‧‧‧ nested level archive directory

5400‧‧‧Configuration

5402‧‧‧y direction/y-axis/y-plane

5404‧‧‧x direction/x-axis/x plane

5406‧‧‧z axis/z plane

5408‧‧‧ polarized axis

5410‧‧‧Elevation axis

5412‧‧‧Configuration

5414‧‧‧ Ultrasound images

5420‧‧‧ elevation axis

5422‧‧‧ polarized axis

5424‧‧‧ ultrasound image

5502‧‧‧Top array

5504‧‧‧Bottom array

5506‧‧‧High voltage drive pulse

5508‧‧‧High voltage drive pulse

5510‧‧‧High voltage drive pulse

5512‧‧‧Array

5602‧‧‧High voltage pulse

5604‧‧‧High voltage pulse

5606‧‧‧High voltage pulse

5610‧‧‧Array

5612‧‧‧Top array

5614‧‧‧Bottom array

5704‧‧‧Select bottom array

5708‧‧‧Select top array

5710‧‧‧High voltage driver

5712‧‧‧High voltage driver

5802‧‧‧ apical two-chamber image

5804‧‧‧ Apex Four Chamber Image

5902‧‧‧Image/Pendant 2CH View

5904‧‧‧Image/Mental 4CH View

6002‧‧‧ steps

6003‧‧‧ steps

6004‧‧‧Steps

6005‧‧‧ steps

6006‧‧‧Steps

6007‧‧‧ steps

6008‧‧‧ steps

6009‧‧‧Steps

6010‧‧‧Steps

A, a‧‧‧ method

B, b‧‧‧ method

C, c‧‧‧ method

D, d‧‧‧ method

The above and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will be more apparent from the aspects of the accompanying drawings in which 2A and 2B are side views of a medical ultrasound imaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 3A illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Using exemplary single-point and multi-point gestures as input to a user of a medical ultrasound imaging system; FIG. 3B is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for operating a tablet ultrasound system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 3C to FIG. 3K illustrate details of a touch screen gesture for adjusting beamforming and display operations; and FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate touch control items that can be implemented on a medical ultrasound imaging system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Illustrative subset; FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are diagrams of a liver having a cystic lesion on a touch screen display of a medical ultrasound imaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention Exemplary representation; liver on the touch line in FIG 5C and FIG. 5D of FIGS. 5A and 5B display screen and cystic disease An exemplary representation of a change comprising a virtual window corresponding to one of the enlarged portions of the liver; FIG. 6A is an illustration of one of the apical four (4) chamber views of one of the hearts of the touch screen display of the medical ultrasound imaging system 6B to FIG. 6E illustrate one exemplary manual tracking of one endocardial boundary of one of the left ventricles of the heart on the touch screen display of FIG. 6A; FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate the virtual window of FIGS. 5C and 5D One of the dimensions of the cystic lesion on the liver is exemplary; FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C illustrate one exemplary caliper measurement of the cystic lesion on the liver in the virtual window of FIGS. 5C and 5D; FIG. One of a plurality of sensor arrays attached to the processor housing is shown; FIG. 9B shows a software flow diagram of one of the sensor management modules in an ultrasound application, according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 9C shows A perspective view of one of the needle-sensing position systems of one of the exemplary embodiments; FIG. 9D shows a perspective view of one of the needle guides of the exemplary embodiment; FIG. 9E shows a needle-sensing position system of one of the exemplary embodiments. a perspective view; Figure 9F shows the An exemplary system for receiving a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card for wireless communication; FIG. 10A shows an exemplary method of measuring heart wall motion; FIG. 10B shows an integrated ultrasound with respect to an exemplary embodiment A schematic block diagram of one of the probe heads; FIG. 10C shows an alternative schematic block diagram of one of the integrated ultrasonic probes of the exemplary embodiment; FIG. 11 is an exemplary illustration of an ultrasonic engine (ie, front end ultrasonic specific circuit) A detailed schematic block diagram of one of the exemplary embodiments of a computer motherboard (ie, a host computer) of an embodiment and an exemplary ultrasonic device; FIG. 12 depicts one of the multi-chip modules including one of the vertically stacked configurations Circuit A schematic side view of one of the panels; FIG. 13 is a flow chart for fabricating an exemplary method comprising one of the multi-chip modules assembled into a vertical stack configuration; FIG. 14A includes four vertical stacked crystals A schematic side view of one of the multi-wafer modules, wherein the grains are separated from each other by a passivation layer having a 2-in-1 diced die attach film (D-DAF); FIG. 14B includes four A schematic side view of one of the multi-wafer modules of a vertically stacked die, wherein the grains are separated from each other by a DA film-based adhesive as a die-to-die spacer; FIG. 14C includes four A schematic side view of one of the multi-wafer modules of a vertically stacked die, wherein the grains are separated from one another by a DA paste or film based adhesive as a die to die spacer; Using (a) a passivation layer having a 2-in-1 diced die attach film (D-DAF), (b) a DA paste, (c) a thick DA film, and (d) a 2-in-1 D-DAF Flowchart of another exemplary method of grain-to-die stacking of a film covered wire (FOW); Figure 16 includes vertical integration into a vertical stacking group A schematic side view of one of the multi-chip modules of an ultrasonic transmission/reception IC chip, an amplifier IC chip and an ultrasonic beamformer IC chip; FIG. 17 is one of an ultrasonic engine (ie, a front-end ultrasonic specific circuit) A detailed schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment and one exemplary embodiment of a computer motherboard (ie, a host computer) provided as a single-board complete ultrasound system; FIG. 18 is provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. One perspective view of an exemplary portable ultrasound system; FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary view of one of the primary graphical user interfaces (GUI) of one of the exemplary portable ultrasound systems of FIG. Figure 20A is a medical ultrasound imaging system in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 20B is a top plan view of a medical ultrasound imaging system configured to receive a wireless SIM card in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 21 illustrates a tablet for use in a tablet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A preferred cart system for a computerized ultrasound system; FIG. 22 illustrates a preferred cart system for a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 23A illustrates a Preferred Cartridge System for a Modular Ultrasound Imaging System of the Preferred Embodiment; FIG. 23B illustrates a module for receiving a wireless SIM card configured to receive a module according to another embodiment of the present invention. One of the ultrasonic imaging systems replaces the cart system; FIG. 24 illustrates a preferred cart system for a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 25A-25B illustrate a tablet One of the computer ultrasonic devices is a multi-functional connection substrate; FIG. 26A illustrates an integrated probe system configured according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 26B illustrates the probe and the host computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. One of the wireless communication Figure 26C illustrates a wireless ultrasound system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 27 illustrates an alternative to a wireless ultrasound system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 28 illustrates another embodiment in accordance with the present invention. One of the states replaces the integrated probe system; FIG. 29 illustrates the construction of wireless access to images generated by an ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 30 illustrates an implementation in accordance with the present invention. An image viewer that communicates with a person's computer; 31 illustrates an exemplary ultrasonic image collection and emission system; FIG. 32 illustrates an ultrasonic imaging system having one of the wireless communication links between the remote computing device and the probe, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 33 is a data processing and storage system for wireless operation; FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing one of an imaging and telemedicine system integrating an ultrasound system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. One embodiment uses a 2D imaging mode of operation of a modular ultrasound imaging system; FIG. 36 illustrates a motion mode of operation using a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; A color Doppler mode of operation using a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 38 illustrates the use of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A pulse-wave Doppler mode of operation; FIG. 39 illustrates a triple scan mode of operation using a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention FIG. 40 illustrates a GUI home screen interface for using one of the user operating modes of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 41 illustrates the present invention in accordance with the present invention; FIG. Another embodiment of a GUI function screen interface for using one of the user operating modes of a modular ultrasound imaging system; FIG. 42 illustrates the use of a modular ultrasound imaging in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. One of the user operating modes is a GUI patient data screen interface; FIG. 43 illustrates a GUI preset screen interface for using one of the user operating modes of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 44 illustrates the use of a modular ultrasonic wave in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A GUI viewing screen interface, such as one of the user operating modes of the system; FIG. 45 illustrates a GUI reporting screen interface for using one of the user operating modes of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 46A-46C illustrate a GUI setting display screen interface for use in a user operating mode of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 47 illustrates an embodiment in accordance with the present invention. For setting up a storage/acquisition screen interface using one of the user operation modes of a modular ultrasonic imaging system; FIG. 48 is a block diagram showing the structure of the physical shared memory according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 49 illustrates one of the shared memory systems for enabling communication between ultrasonic and non-ultrasonic operations; Figure 50 is a view of one of the graphical user interfaces configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; One of the graphical user interfaces of one embodiment of the present invention is a main screen display; and FIGS. 52A to 52C show one of the graphical user interfaces alternately displayed according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 53A to FIG. 53B illustrate a patient folder and a video folder of a graphical user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 54A to 54C illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Two XY dual plane probes of one-dimensional, ID multi-element array; FIG. 55 illustrates the operation of forming a xy-detector by a bi-planar image according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 56 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention One embodiment of the dual plane image forms an operation of the xy probe; FIG. 57 illustrates a dual plane image forming xy probe according to an embodiment of the invention. One of the high voltage drive circuits; FIGS. 58A-58B illustrate simultaneous biplane evaluation of the left ventricle condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and FIGS. 59A-59B illustrate the ejection of blood according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fractional probe measurement technique; FIG. 60 illustrates an exemplary method for wirelessly transmitting data to a portable ultrasound imaging device and wirelessly transmitting data from the portable ultrasound imaging device according to an embodiment of the invention .

The present invention discloses systems and methods for medical ultrasound imaging. The presently disclosed system and method for medical ultrasound imaging employs a medical ultrasound imaging device that includes a housing in the size of a tablet computer and a touch screen display disposed on one of the front panels of the housing . The touch screen display comprises a multi-touch touch screen, the multi-touch touch screen can recognize and distinguish one or more single points, multiple points and one surface of the touch screen display / or simultaneous touch, thereby allowing the use of gestures ranging from simple single point gestures to complex multi-point movement gestures as user input to medical ultrasound imaging devices. Further details regarding the ultrasound system and operation of the tablet are described in U.S. Application Serial No. 10/997,062, filed on Nov. 11, 2004, and U.S. Application Serial No. 10/386,360, filed on Mar. The entire contents of these patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of an exemplary medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the medical ultrasonic imaging device 100 includes a housing 102 , a touch screen display 104 , a computer (having at least one processor and at least one memory implemented on a computer motherboard 106 ) An ultrasonic engine 108 and a battery 110. For example, the housing 102 can be implemented in a tablet exterior size or any other suitable exterior size. The housing 102 has a front panel 101 and a rear panel 103. The touch firefly The screen display 104 is disposed on the front panel 101 of the housing 102 and includes one of a plurality of points and/or simultaneous touches that can be recognized and distinguished from one surface 105 of the touch screen display 104. Multi-touch LCD touch screen. The computer motherboard 106, the ultrasonic engine 108, and the battery 110 are operatively disposed within the housing 102. The medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 further includes a Firewire connection 112 (see also FIG. 2A) operatively coupled between the computer motherboard 106 and the ultrasound engine 108 within the housing 102, and having at least one ultrasonic probe/sensor One of the probe attachment/discharge levers 115 is attached to the probe connector 114 (see also Figures 2A and 2B). In some preferred embodiments, the sensor probe housing can include circuit components including a sensor array, transmission and reception circuitry, and beamformer and beamformer control circuitry. In addition, the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 has one or more I/O ports 116 (see FIG. 2A), which may include, but are not limited to, one or more USB connectors, One or more SD cards, one or more network ports, one or more small displays, and a DC power input.

In an exemplary mode of operation, medical personnel (also referred to herein as "users" or "several users") may employ simple single point gestures and/or more complex multi-point gestures as to touch screen display 104. User input to the multi-touch LCD touch screen for controlling one or more modes of operation and/or function of the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100. This gesture is defined herein as a movement, a tap, or a position of at least one finger, a stylus, and/or a palm on the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104. For example, such single point/multi-point gestures can include static or dynamic gestures, continuous or segmented gestures, and/or any other suitable gesture. A single point gesture is defined herein as a gesture that can be performed using a single finger, a stylus, or a palm of a single touch contact point on the touchscreen display 104. A multi-point gesture is defined herein as being performed using a plurality of touch points on the touch screen display 104 by any suitable combination of a plurality of fingers or at least one finger, a stylus, and a palm. a gesture. A static gesture is defined herein as not involving at least one finger, a stylus, or a palm on the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104. One of the gestures on the move. A dynamic gesture is defined herein as a gesture involving at least one finger, a stylus, or a palm movement (such as movement caused by dragging one or more fingers across the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104). A continuous gesture is defined herein as a gesture that can be performed in a single movement or tap on at least one finger, a stylus, or a palm on the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104. A segmented gesture is defined herein as a gesture that can be performed in multiple movements or taps on at least one finger, a stylus, or a palm on the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104.

The single-point/multi-point gestures executed on the surface 105 of the touch screen display 104 may correspond to single-point or multi-touch events that are mapped to the computer and/or ultrasound engine 108. Perform one or more predetermined operations. The user can perform such single-point/multi-point gestures by various single-finger, multi-finger, stylus, and/or palm motion on the surface 105 of the touch screen display 104. The multi-touch LCD touch screen receives a single point/multi-point gesture as user input and provides the user input to the processor, the processor executing program instructions stored in the memory to perform the order The predetermined operation associated with the point/multipoint gesture (at least in some cases in conjunction with the ultrasound engine 108). As shown in FIG. 3A, such single-point/multi-point gestures on the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104 can include, but are not limited to, a one-click gesture 302, a pinch gesture 304, and a toggle gesture 306, 314. A rotation gesture 308, 316, a one-down gesture 310, an expansion gesture 312, a drag gesture 318, a press gesture 320, a press and drag gesture 322, and/or a palm gesture 324. For example, such single-point/multi-point gestures may be stored in at least one gesture library implemented in the memory on the computer motherboard 106. A computer program operable to control system operation can be stored on a computer readable medium and can be implemented using a touch processor coupled to one of the image processors and to a system beamformer control processor. Therefore, the beamformer delay associated with transmission and reception can be adjusted in response to both the static touch gesture and the mobile touch gesture.

According to an illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1, a user of the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 At least one toggle gesture 306 or 314 can be employed to control the tissue penetration depth of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasound probe/sensor. For example, a dynamic, continuous toggle gesture 306 or 314 in the "up" direction on the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104 or any other suitable direction may increase the penetration depth by one (1) centimeter or any other suitable amount. In addition, a dynamic, continuous toggle gesture 306 or 314 in the "down" direction on the surface 105 of the touch screen display 104 or any other suitable direction may reduce the penetration depth by one (1) centimeter or any other suitable amount. . In addition, a dynamic, continuous drag gesture 318 in the "up" or "down" direction on the surface 105 of the touch screen display 104 or any other suitable direction may increase or decrease the penetration depth by a plurality of centimeters or any other combination. Moderate amount.

Additional modes of operation and/or functions controlled by a particular single-point/multi-point gesture on surface 105 of touch screen display 104 may include, but are not limited to, freeze/store operations, two-dimensional mode operations, gain control, color Control, split screen control, PW imaging control, movie/time series image clip scrolling control, zoom and panning control, full screen control, Doppler and 2D beam steering control and/or body mark control. At least some operational modes and/or functions of the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 may be controlled by one or more touch control items implemented on the touch screen display 104. In addition, the user can provide one or more specific single-point/multi-point gestures as user input for specifying at least one selection of touch control items to be implemented on the touch screen display 104 as required and/or required. Subset. A plurality of preset scan parameters displayed as icons or selectable from a menu are associated with each imaging mode such that scan parameters are automatically selected for the mode.

A sequence of processing sequences is shown in FIG. 3B in which ultrasonic beamforming and imaging operations 340 are controlled in response to touch gestures input on a touch screen. Various static and mobile touch gestures have been programmed into the system such that the data processor is operable to control beamforming and image processing operations 342 within the tablet device. A user can select 344 a first display operation having a first plurality of touch gestures associated therewith. Using a static or moving gesture, the user can perform a plurality of operations that are operable to control the imaging operation One of the gestures and a particular selection may adjust one of a plurality of gestures for generating beamforming parameters 346 of the image material associated with the first display operation. The 348 displayed image is updated and displayed in response to the updated beamforming procedure. The user may further select to perform a different gesture having one of a different speed characteristic (direction or rate or both) to adjust 350 one of the first characteristics of the first ultrasonic display operation. The displayed image is then updated 352 based on the second gesture, which may modify the imaging processing parameters or beamforming parameters. An example of such a process is described in further detail herein, wherein changes in the speed and direction of different gestures can be associated with different imaging parameters of a selected display operation.

Ultrasound images of blood flow or tissue movement (whether color flow or spectral Doppler) are basically obtained from measurements of movement. In an ultrasound scanner, a series of pulses are transmitted to detect the movement of blood. The echoes from the fixed target are identical between the pulses. The echo from the moving scatterer shows a slight difference in the time it takes for the signal to return to the scanner.

As can be seen from Figures 3C to 3H, there must be motion in the direction of the beam; if the blood flow is perpendicular to the beam, no relative motion from pulse to pulse is received and no blood flow is detected. These differences can be measured as a direct time difference or, more generally, in the phase shift from which one of the "Doppler frequencies" is obtained. These differences are then processed to produce a color flow display or a Doppler sonogram. In Figures 3C to 3D, the blood flow direction is perpendicular to the beam direction, and the pulse wave spectrum Doppler does not measure any blood flow. In Figures 3G-3H, when the ultrasound beam is directed to an angle that is preferably aligned to the blood flow, a weak blood flow is displayed in the color flow map, and in addition, pulse wave Doppler measures the blood flow. In Figure 3H, the color flow map is stronger when the ultrasound beam is directed to an angle that is better aligned to respond to a moving blood flow direction, and when the corrected angle of the PWD is placed, it is aligned to the blood flow. At the time, the PWD measured a strong blood flow.

In this tablet ultrasound system, an ROI (area of interest) is also used to define the direction in which a gesture is moved in response to one of the ultrasonic transmission beams. One of the liver images with one of the branches of the renal blood flow in the color flow pattern is shown in Figure 3I because the ROI is from the sensor pen. Straight down, the direction of blood flow is almost normal to the ultrasound beam, so very weak renal blood flow is detected. Therefore, the color flow pattern is used to image one of the kidneys in the liver. As can be seen, the beam is almost normal to the blood flow and very weak blood flow is detected. One of the fingers' gestures outside the ROI is used to direct the beam. As can be seen in Figure 3J, directing the ROI by resetting the beamforming parameters causes the beam direction to be more aligned to the direction of blood flow, detecting a stronger blood flow within the ROI. In Figure 3J, one of the finger's toggle gestures outside of the ROI is used to direct the ultrasound beam into a direction that is more aligned to the direction of blood flow. A stronger blood flow within the ROI can be seen. A horizontal movement gesture in which the finger is within the ROI will move the ROI frame to a position that overlaps one of the entire kidney regions, i.e., horizontal movement allows one of the ROI frames to move in translation such that the frame overlaps the entire target region.

Figure 3K demonstrates a horizontal movement gesture. With the finger inside the ROI, the finger can move the ROI box anywhere in the image plane. In the above embodiments, it is easy to distinguish that one of the "one" fingers outside the "ROI" box is intended to be used to guide a beam and one of the fingers is within the "ROI". The Move, ie Horizontal Move gesture is intended to be used to move the ROI box. However, there is an application in which no ROI is used as a reference area, and it is obvious that it is difficult to distinguish a "toggle" or a "horizontal movement" gesture. In this case, the touch screen program needs to track the initial speed or acceleration of the finger. To determine whether the gesture is a "toggle" gesture or a "drag and move" gesture. Thus, the touch engine that receives data from the touch screen sensor device is programmed to distinguish between speed thresholds indicating different gestures. Thus, the time, rate, and direction associated with different moving gestures can have a preset threshold. Two and three finger static and moving gestures may have separate thresholds to distinguish such control operations. Note that the preset displayed icon or virtual button can have a different static pressure or duration threshold. When operating in full screen mode, the touch screen processor, which preferably operates on a system central processing unit that performs other imaging operations, such as scan conversion, turns off the static icon.

4A-4C depict that the user of the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 can be implemented by a touch An exemplary subset 402, 404, 406 of touch controls on the display 104 is controlled. It should be noted that any other suitable subset of the touch control(s) can be implemented on the touchscreen display 104 as required and/or desired. As shown in FIG. 4A, the subset 402 includes a touch control item 408 for performing a two-dimensional (2D) mode operation, a touch control item 410 for performing a gain control operation, and a color control operation. A touch control item 412 and a touch control item 414 for performing an image/edit freeze/store operation. For example, a user may employ a press gesture 320 to actuate the touch control item 408 to return the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 to the 2D mode. In addition, the user can press the pressing gesture 320 on one side of the touch control item 410 to lower a gain level, and the other side of the touch control item 410 adopts a pressing gesture 320 to increase the gain level. In addition, the user can employ a drag gesture 318 on the touch control item 412 to identify a range of densities on a 2D image using a predetermined color code. In addition, the user may employ a press gesture 320 to actuate the touch control item 414 to freeze/store a still image or acquire a movie image clip.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the subset 404 includes a touch control item 416 for performing a split screen control operation, a touch control item 418 for performing a PW imaging control operation, for performing Doppler and two-dimensional One of the beam steering control operations is a touch control item 420 and one of the touch control items 422 for performing an annotation operation. For example, a user may press the touch gesture 320 against the touch control item 416 to allow the user to split the opposite side of the touch screen display 104 by alternately using the click gesture 302 on each side of the split screen. Switch between. In addition, the user can use the pressing gesture 320 to actuate the touch control item 418 and enter the PW mode, which allows (1) the user to control the angle correction, and (2) to move by using the pressing and drag gesture 322 (eg, "upward" " or "down") may be displayed on a baseline of the touchscreen display 104, and/or (3) may be increased or decreased by using a click gesture 302 on a scale displayed on the touchscreen display 104. proportion. In addition, the user may press the gesture 320 on one side of the touch control item 420 to perform 2D beam steering to "left" or any other suitable direction in increments of five (5) or any other suitable increments, And touch control The other side of item 420 employs a press gesture 320 to perform 2D beam steering to "right" or any other suitable direction in increments of five (5) or any other suitable increment. In addition, the user can use the click gesture 302 on the touch control item 422 to allow the user to input annotation information via a pop-up keyboard that can be displayed on the touch screen display 104.

Shown in FIG. 4C, subset 406 comprises one of a dynamic range for performing the operation of the touch controls 424, for performing one Teravision ^TM software to operate the touch controls 426, for performing a mapping operation of one touch control Item 428 and a touch control item 430 for performing a needle guiding operation. For example, a user may use the press gesture 320 and/or the press and drag gesture 322 against the touch control item 424 to control or set the dynamic range. In addition, the user can use the click gesture 302 on the touch control item 426 to select a desired level of one of the Teravision ^(TM) software to be executed from the memory by the processor on the computer motherboard 106. Moreover, the user can employ a click gesture 302 on the touch control item 428 to perform a desired mapping operation. In addition, the user can employ the pressing gesture 320 against the touch control item 430 to perform a desired needle guiding operation.

According to the present invention, a single point/multi-point gesture can be used on the surface 105 of the touch screen display 104 of the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 (see FIG. 1) to perform an object displayed as an ultrasonic image on the touch screen display 104 ( Various measurements and/or tracking of such things as organs, tissues, and the like. The user can directly image the original ultrasonic image of one of the displayed objects, an enlarged version of the ultrasonic image of the displayed object, and/or a virtual window 506 on the touch screen display 104 (see FIGS. 5C and 5D). One of the ultrasonic images within the image is subjected to such measurement and/or tracking of the object by the enlarged portion.

5A and 5B depict one of the original ultrasound images of one exemplary object (i.e., one liver 502 having one cystic lesion 504) displayed on the touchscreen display 104 of the medical ultrasound imaging device 100 (see FIG. 1). It should be noted that this ultrasound image can be generated by the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 in response to ultrasound waves (which are generated by operatively connecting to one of the ultrasound probes/sensors of the apparatus 100) penetrating the liver tissue. can The measurement and/or tracking of the liver 502 having the cystic lesion 504 is performed directly on the original ultrasound image displayed on the touchscreen display 104 (see FIGS. 5A and 5B) or on an amplified version of the ultrasound image. For example, the user can use one of the two (2) fingers to be placed on the surface 105 of the touch screen display 104 and unfolded to separate the one of the original ultrasound images (for example, see FIG. 3 for expansion). The gesture 312) obtains an enlarged version of the ultrasound image. Such measurements and/or tracking of liver 502 and cystic lesion 504 may also be performed on an enlarged portion of one of the ultrasound images in virtual window 506 (see FIGS. 5C and 5D) on touch screen display 104.

For example, using his or her finger (eg, see one of the fingers 508 of FIGS. 5A-5D), the user can abut the touchscreen display near the area of interest, such as the area corresponding to the cystic lesion 504. The surface 105 of 104 takes a push gesture (see, for example, press gesture 320 of FIG. 3) (see FIG. 5B) to obtain virtual window 506. In response to the pressing gesture, the virtual window 506 (see FIGS. 5C and 5D) is displayed on the touch screen display 104 (possibly at least partially superimposed on the original ultrasonic image), thereby providing the user with a lesion near the cystic lesion 504. One of the enlarged portions of one of the livers 502 is a view. For example, virtual window 506 of FIG. 5C can provide a view of one of the enlarged portions of the ultrasound image of cystic lesion 504, which is pressed by finger 508 against surface 105 of touch screen display 104. Overlay. To reposition the enlarged cystic lesion 504 within the virtual window 506, the user can apply a pressing and drag gesture against the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104 (see, for example, the press and drag gestures 322 of FIG. 3) (see, for example) 5D) whereby the image of the cystic lesion 504 is moved to a desired location within the virtual window 506. In an embodiment, the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 can be configured to allow a user to select one of the magnification levels within the virtual window 506 that is 2 times, 4 times, or any other suitable multiple of the original ultrasound image. The user can remove the virtual window 506 from the touch screen display 104 by lifting his or her finger from the surface 105 of the touch screen display 104 (see, for example, the finger 508 of FIGS. 5A-5D).

FIG. 6A depicts an ultrasound image of another illustrative object (ie, one of the apical four (4) chamber views of one heart 602) displayed on the touchscreen display 104 of the medical ultrasound imaging device 100 (see FIG. 1). It should be noted that this ultrasound image can be generated by the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 in response to ultrasound waves (which are generated by an ultrasound probe/sensor operatively coupled to one of the devices 100) penetrating the heart tissue. The measurement and/or tracking of the heart 602 can be performed directly on the original ultrasound image displayed on the touchscreen display 104 (see Figures 6A-6E), or on an amplified version of the ultrasound image. For example, using his or her fingers (see, for example, fingers 610, 612 of FIGS. 6B-6E), the user can perform the heart by employing one or more multi-finger gestures on the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104. One of the left ventricles 606 (see FIGS. 6B-6E) 602 is manually tracked by one of the endocardial borders 604 (see FIG. 6B). In one embodiment, using his or her fingers (eg, see fingers 610, 612 of FIGS. 6B-6E), the user may employ a one-two gesture on the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104 (eg, See Figure 3A for a second gesture 310) to obtain a cursor 607 (see Figure 6B), and by using a finger (such as finger 610) to employ a drag gesture (e.g., see drag gesture 318 of Figure 3A). The cursor 607 is moved to move the cursor 607 to a desired portion of the touch screen display 104. The systems and methods described herein can be used for the quantitative measurement of cardiac wall motion and are specifically described for the measurement of ventricular asynchrony, as described in detail in U.S. Application Serial No. 10/817,316, filed on Apr. 2, 2004. The entire contents of this application are hereby incorporated by reference.

Once the cursor 607 is at the desired location on the touchscreen display 104 (as determined by the location of the finger 610), the user can take a one-click gesture by using another finger (such as the finger 612) (eg, see the click gesture) 302; see Figure 3) and the cursor 607 is fixed at the site. To perform manual tracking of one of the endocardial borders 604 (see FIG. 6B), the user can use a finger 610 with a press and drag gesture (eg, see the press and drag gestures 322 of FIG. 3), as in FIGS. 6C and 6D. Drawn. The endocardium can be highlighted on the touch screen display 104 in any suitable manner, such as by a dashed line 608 (see FIGS. 6C-6E). This manual tracking of boundary 604. This manual tracking of the endocardial border 604 can continue until the finger 610 reaches any suitable location on the touchscreen display 104, or until the finger 610 returns to the location of the cursor 607, as depicted in Figure 6E. Once the finger 610 is at the location of the cursor 607 or any other suitable location, the user can complete the manual tracking operation by using the finger 612 with a one-click gesture (eg, see the click gesture 302; see FIG. 3). It should be noted that this manual tracking operation can be employed to track (several) any other suitable features and/or waveforms (such as a pulsed wave Doppler (PWD) waveform). In an embodiment, the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 can be configured to manually track (any) any of the (several) features and/or waveforms based on one (several) of the respective features/waveforms (several) Suitable for calculation and / or measurement.

As described above, the user can perform the measurement and/or tracking of one of the original ultrasonic images of one of the displayed objects in one of the virtual windows on the touch screen display 104 via the enlarged portion. 7A-7C depict one of the original ultrasound images of one exemplary object (i.e., liver 702 having one of the cystic lesions 704) displayed on the touchscreen display 104 of the medical ultrasound imaging device 100 (see FIG. 1). 7A-7C further depict one virtual view 706 of one of the enlarged portions of the ultrasound image providing the cystic lesion 704, the ultrasound image of the cystic lesion 704 being pressed against the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104. One of the user's fingers (such as a finger 710) is overlaid. Using his or her fingers (see, for example, fingers 710, 712 of FIGS. 7A-7C), the user can perform virtual window 706 by employing one or more multi-finger gestures on surface 105 of touch screen display 104. The size of one of the cystic lesions 704 is measured.

For example, using his or her fingers (eg, see fingers 710, 712 of FIGS. 7A-7C), the user can assume a gesture by tapping twice on the surface 105 (eg, see point 3 of FIG. 3) And obtaining a first cursor 707 (see FIG. 7B, FIG. 7C), and moving the first cursor by using a drag gesture (eg, see the drag gesture 318 of FIG. 3) using a finger (such as the finger 710) 707, thereby moving the first cursor 707 to a main part Bit. Once the first cursor 707 is at the desired location (eg, by the location of the finger 710), the user can employ a one-click gesture by using another finger (such as the finger 712) (eg, see the click gesture 302; see figure 3) Fixing the first cursor 707 at the location. Similarly, the user can obtain a second cursor 709 (see FIG. 7C) by using a one-two-down gesture on the surface 105 (for example, see the two-point gesture 310 of FIG. 3), and by using the finger 710. The second cursor 709 is moved using a drag gesture (see, for example, the drag gesture 318 of FIG. 3), thereby moving the second cursor 709 to a desired location. Once the second cursor 709 is at the desired location (eg, as determined by the location of the finger 710), the user can employ the one-click gesture using the finger 712 (eg, see the click gesture 302; see FIG. 3) The second cursor 709 is fixed at the portion. In an embodiment, the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 can be configured to perform any suitable size calculation and/or measurement associated with the cystic lesion 704 based at least in part on the locations of the first cursor 707 and the second cursor 709. .

8A-8C depict one of the original ultrasound images of one exemplary object (ie, liver 802 having one cystic lesion 804) displayed on the touchscreen display 104 of the medical ultrasound imaging device 100 (see FIG. 1). 8a-8c further depict a virtual window 806 of one of the enlarged portions of the ultrasound image providing the cystic lesion 804, the ultrasound image of the cystic lesion 804 being pressed against the surface 105 of the touchscreen display 104. One of the user's fingers, such as a finger 810, is overlaid. Using his or her fingers (see, for example, fingers 810, 812 of FIGS. 8A-8C), the user can perform virtual window 806 by employing one or more multi-finger gestures on surface 105 of touch screen display 104. One of the inner cystic lesions 804 is measured by a caliper.

For example, using his or her fingers (see, for example, fingers 810, 812 of FIGS. 8A-8C), the user may employ a one-on-two gesture on surface 105 (eg, see point 3 of FIG. 3 gesture 310) And obtaining a first cursor 807 (see FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C), and moving the cursor 807 by using a drag gesture (eg, see the drag gesture 318 of FIG. 3) using a finger (such as the finger 810), Thereby the cursor 807 is moved to a desired part. once The cursor 807 is at the desired location (e.g., as determined by the location of the finger 810), and the user can employ a one-click gesture by using another finger (such as the finger 812) (e.g., see the click gesture 302; see Figure 3). The cursor 807 is fixed at the portion. Next, the user can employ a press and drag gesture (see, for example, the press and drag gestures 322 of FIG. 3) to obtain a connection line 811 (see FIGS. 8B, 8C) and extend from the first cursor 807 across the cystic lesion 804. The connecting line 811 is to a desired portion on one of the other sides of the cystic lesion 804. Once the connecting line 811 extends across the cystic lesion 804 to the desired location on the other side of the cystic lesion 804, the user can use the finger 812 to take a one-click gesture (see, for example, the click gesture 302; see Figure 3). A second cursor 809 (see Fig. 8C) is obtained and fixed at the desired location. In an embodiment, the medical ultrasound imaging apparatus 100 can be configured to perform any (several) of the cystic lesions 804 based at least in part on the connecting line 811 extending between the locations of the first cursor 807 and the second cursor 809 Suitable caliper calculation and / or measurement.

FIG. 9A shows a system 140 in which a sensor housing 150 having a sensor element array 152 can be attached to the housing 102 at the connector 114. Each probe 150 can have a probe identification circuit 154 that uniquely identifies one of the attached probes. When a user inserts a different probe having one of a different array, the system identifies the operational parameters of the probe. The preferred embodiment may include a display 104 having a touch sensor 107 connectable to analyze touch screen data from the sensor 107 and transmit commands to the two images. A processing operation (1124 as shown in FIG. 11) and a touch processor 109 to a beamformer control processor (1116 as shown in FIG. 11). In a preferred embodiment, the touch processor can include a computer readable medium storing instructions for operating an ultrasonic touch screen engine, the ultrasonic touch screen engine being operative to control the display and imaging operations described herein. .

9B shows a software flow diagram 900 of a typical sensor management module 902 within an ultrasound application. When a sensor attachment (TRANSDUCER ATTACH) 904 event is detected, the sensor management software module 902 first reads the sensor type ID 906 and the hardware version information from the IDENTIFICATION segment. This information is used to remove from the hard drive The specific sensor profile data set 908 is loaded into the application's memory. Next, the software reads the adjustment data 910 from the factory (FACTORY) segment and applies the adjustments to the profile data just loaded into the memory 912. Next, the software module sends a sensor attachment message 914 to the main ultrasound application, which uses the loaded sensor profile. After confirmation 916, an ultrasound imaging sequence is performed and the USAGE segment 918 is updated. Next, the sensor management software module waits for a sensor to detach (TRANSDUCER DETACH) event 920 or 5 minutes past. If a 921 sensor disconnection event is detected, a 926 message 924 is sent and acknowledged, the 928 sensor profile data set is removed from the memory and the module returns to wait for another sensor attachment event. If a 5-minute time period expires without detecting a sensor detachment event, the software module adds a cumulative usage counter to the usage segment 922 and waits for another 5 minute time period or a sensor detachment event. The accumulated usage is recorded in memory for maintenance and replacement of records.

There are many types of ultrasonic sensors. They differ in geometry, number of components, and frequency response. For example, a linear array having a center frequency of 10 MHz to 15 MHz is preferably suitable for chest imaging, and a curved array having a center frequency of 3 MHz to 5 MHz is preferably suitable for abdominal imaging.

Different types of sensors are often required for the same or different ultrasound scanning sessions. For an ultrasound system with only one sensor connection, the operator will change the sensor before starting a new scanning session.

In some applications, it may be necessary to switch between different types of sensors during an ultrasound scanning session. In this case, it is more convenient to have multiple sensors connected to the same ultrasound system, and the operator can control by clicking the operator without physically unloading and reattaching the sensor (which takes a long time) One of the buttons on the stage switches quickly between these connected sensors. A preferred embodiment of the present invention can comprise a multiplexer within a tablet housing, the multiplexer being selectable between a plurality of probe connector turns within the tablet housing, or alternatively, the slab The computer case can be connected to the safe An external multiplexer attached to one of the carts as described herein.

Figure 9C is a perspective view of an exemplary needle-sensing position system using an ultrasonic sensor without requiring any of the active electronics in the sensor assembly. The sensor sensor can include a passive ultrasonic sensor element. These elements can be used in a manner similar to one of the typical sensor probes of one of the ultrasonic engine electronics. System 958 includes an increase in ultrasonic sensor element 960 that is added to a needle guide 962, which is shown in Figure 9C but can be of any suitable appearance size. The ultrasonic sensor element 960 and the needle guide 962 can be mounted to an ultrasonic sensor probe sound grip or an ultrasonic imaging probe head assembly 970 using a needle guide mounting bracket 966. The magnetic disk (ultrasonic reflector disk 964) mounted on the exposed end is reflective to ultrasonic waves.

The ultrasonic sensor element 960 on the needle guide 962 can be coupled to an ultrasonic engine. The connection can be made by separating the cable to one of the dedicated probe connectors (similar to a common pencil CW probe connector) on the engine. In an alternate embodiment, a short cable can be plugged into a larger image sensor probe grip or a split cable connected to the same probe connector at the engine. In another alternative embodiment, the electrical connector can be connected via an electrical connector between the image capture head grip and the needle guide (without a cable between them). In an alternate embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor element on the needle guide can be coupled to the ultrasonic engine by enclosing the needle guide and the sensor elements in the same mechanical enclosure of the imaging probe grip.

Figure 9D is a perspective view of one of the needle guides 962 positioned with the sensor element 960 and the ultrasonic reflector disk 964. The position of the reflector disk 964 is located by transmitting ultrasonic waves 972 from the sensor element 960 on the needle guide 962. The ultrasonic wave 972 travels through the air toward the reflector disk 964 and is reflected by the reflector disk 964. The reflected ultrasonic waves 974 reach the sensor element 960 on the needle guide 962. The distance 976 between the reflector disk 964 and the sensor element 960 is calculated from the elapsed time and the rate of sound in the air.

Figure 9E uses an ultrasonic sensor without any active electronics in the sensor assembly A perspective view of one of the alternative embodiments of the exemplary needle sensing position system of the device. The sensor sensor can include a passive ultrasonic sensor element. These elements can be used in a manner similar to one of the typical sensor probes of one of the ultrasonic engine electronics.

System 986 includes a needle guide 962 mountable to a needle guide mounting bracket 966 that can be coupled to an ultrasound imaging probe assembly 982 for imaging the patient's body or can be an alternative Appropriate appearance size. An ultrasonic reflector disk 964 can be mounted at the exposed end of the needle 956. In this embodiment, a linear ultrasonic sound array 978 is mounted parallel to the direction of movement of the needle 956. The linear ultrasonic sound array 978 includes an ultrasonic sensor array 980 positioned parallel to the needle 956. In this embodiment, an ultrasound imaging probe assembly 982 is positioned for imaging the patient's body. The ultrasonic imaging probe assembly 982 for imaging the patient's body is configured using an ultrasonic sensor array 984.

In this embodiment, the position of the ultrasonic reflector disk 964 can be detected by using an ultrasonic sensor array 980 coupled to one of the ultrasonic imaging probe assemblies 978 for imaging. The position of the reflector disk 964 is located by transmitting ultrasonic waves 972 from the sensor element 980 on the ultrasonic imaging probe head assembly 978 for imaging. The ultrasonic wave 972 travels through the air toward the reflector disk 964 and is reflected by the reflector disk 964. The reflected ultrasonic waves 974 arrive at the sensor element 980 on the ultrasonic imaging probe head assembly 978 for imaging. The distance 976 between the reflector disk 964 and the sensor element 980 is calculated from the elapsed time and the rate of sound in the air. In an alternate embodiment, an alternate algorithm can be used to sequentially scan the polarity of the components in the sensor array and analyze the reflections produced by each sensor array component. In an alternate embodiment, multiple scans may occur prior to forming an ultrasound image.

FIG. 9F illustrates a system 140 similar to the system shown in FIG. 9A and configured to receive one of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card for wireless communication. In this particular embodiment, communication circuit 118 is coupled to operational circuit 106, and a SIM card 119 is configured to receive a SIM card 120 and to connect the SIM card 120 to the communication circuit 118 via a plurality of conductive contacts. In some embodiments, a SIM card 119 configuration capable of accepting a standard SIM card, a small SIM card, a micro SIM card, a nano SIM card, an embedded SIM card, or other similar wireless identification/authorization card or circuit can be used. Ultrasonic device. The system incorporates a SIM card interface circuit 118 (such as a SIM card interface circuit available from NXP Semiconductors NV of Eindhoven, The Netherlands), which may include electromagnetic interference ( EMI) filtering and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection features. The identification card incorporates an identification circuit (usually an integrated circuit embedded in a plastic card or substrate) that includes an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and a mobile wireless network (such as 3G or 4G) Communication network) A memory device that identifies and authenticates one of the user's keys.

FIG. 10A illustrates an exemplary method for monitoring synchronization of a heart, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In the method, a reference template is loaded into the memory and used to guide a user to identify an imaging plane (according to step 930). Next, a user identifies an image to be imaged (according to step 932). One of the apical 4-chamber views of the heart is typically used; however, other views may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Sometimes, identifying the endocardial border can be difficult, and when encountering such difficulties, tissue Doppler imaging of the same view can be employed (according to step 934). A reference template for identifying the septum and the lateral free wall is provided (according to step 936). Next, standard tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) with a preset speed level of, for example, ±30 cm/sec can be used (according to step 938).

Next, a reference to the desired triple image can be provided (according to step 940). B mode or TDI can be used to guide the distance gate (follow step 942). The B mode can be used to guide the distance gate (according to step 944) or TDI to guide the distance gate (according to step 946). Using the TDI or B mode to guide the distance gate also allows the use of a directional correction angle to allow the radial average velocity of the partition wall in the spectral Doppler display. Next, a first pulse wave spectrum Doppler is used to measure the average wall velocity in the double or triple mode (according to step 948). A software for processing data and calculating out-of-synchronization can utilize a part (for example, a center point) to automatically set a note on the wall of the heart. An angle between the date of the date (dated) to help simplify the setting of the parameters.

A dual image or a TDI is also used to guide a second distance gate position (according to step 950), and a direction correction angle can be used if desired. After step 950, the average velocity of the intermediate and lateral free walls is tracked by the system. Next, the time integral 952 of the spectral Doppler mean velocity at the region of interest (eg, the septal wall and the left ventricular free wall) provides displacement of the septum and left free wall, respectively.

The above method steps can be utilized in conjunction with high-pass filtering components (analog or digits) known in the related art for removing any baseline interference present in the collected signal. In addition, the disclosed method employs multiple simultaneous PW spectral Doppler lines for tracking the movement of the interventricular septum and left ventricular free wall. In addition, a multi-gate structure can be employed along each spectral line, thus allowing for quantitative measurement of regional wall motion. Averaging multiple gates allows for measurement of global wall motion.

FIG. 10B is a detailed schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000 having an integrated ultrasonic probe 1040 that is connectable to any personal computer (PC) 1010 through an interface unit 1020. The ultrasonic probe 1040 is configured to transmit ultrasonic waves and reduce ultrasonic waves reflected from one or more image targets 1064. Sensor 1040 can be coupled to interface unit 1020 using one or more cables 1066, 1068. The interface unit 1020 can be positioned between the integrated ultrasonic probe 1040 and the host computer 1010. The two-stage beamforming systems 1040 and 1020 can be connected to any PC via a USB connection 1022, 1012.

Ultrasonic probe 1040 can include a sub-array/aperture 1052 comprised of adjacent elements having an aperture that is less than one of the apertures of the entire array. The returned echoes are received by the 1D sensor array 1062 and transmitted to the controller 1044. The controller initiates the formation of a coarse beam by transmitting a signal to memory 1058, 1046. The memory 1058, 1046 transmits a signal to a transmission driver 1 1050 and a transmission driver m 1054. Next, the transmission driver 1 1050 and the transmission driver m 1054 send signals to the multiplexer 1 1048 and the multiplexer m 1056, respectively. Transmitting the signal to the subarray beamformer 1 1052 and subarray beamformer n 1060.

The output of each coarse beamforming operation may include further processing through one of the second level beamforming in interface unit 1020 to convert the beamformed output to a digital representation. The coarse beamforming operations can be consecutively summed to form a fine beam output for the array. Signals may be transmitted from ultrasonic probe 1040 sub-array beamformer 1 1052 and sub-array beamformer n 1060 to A/D converters 1030 and 1028 within interface unit 1020. Within the interface unit 1020 are A/D converters 1028, 1030 for converting the first stage beamformed output to a digital representation. The digital conversion can be performed from A/D converters 1030, 1028 by a customer specific application integrated circuit (ASIC), such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) 1026, to complete the second stage beamforming. The FPGA digital beamforming 1026 can transmit information to the system controller 1024. The system controller can transmit information to a memory 1032 that can send a signal back to the FPGA digital beamforming 1026. Alternatively, system controller 1024 can transmit information to custom USB3 chipset 1022. The USB3 chipset 1022 can then transmit information to a DC-DC converter 1034. In turn, the DC-DC converter 1034 can transmit the power from the interface unit 1020 to the ultrasonic probe 1040. Within the ultrasonic probe 1040, a power supply 1042 can receive a power signal and interface with the transmission driver 1 1050 to provide power to the front end integrated probe.

The interface unit 1020 customization or USB3 chipset 1022 can be used to provide a communication link between the interface unit 1022 and the host computer 1010. The custom or USB3 chipset 1022 transmits a signal to the custom or USB3 chipset 1012 of the host computer 1010. Next, the custom or USB3 chipset 1012 interfaces with the microprocessor 1014. The microprocessor 1014 can then display information or send information to a device 1075.

In an alternate embodiment, a narrow band beamformer can be used. For example, an analog analog phase shifter is applied to each of the received echoes. Next, the phase shifted outputs within each subarray are summed to form a coarse beam. An A/D converter can be used to digitize these coarse beams Each; a digital beamformer is then used to form a fine beam.

In another embodiment, forming a 64-element linear array can use eight adjacent elements to form a coarse beam output. This configuration utilizes eight output analog cables that connect the output of the integrated probe to the interface unit. The coarse beam can be sent over the cable to a corresponding A/D converter positioned in the interface unit. The digital delay is used to form a fine beam output. Eight A/D converters may be required to form a digital representation.

In another embodiment, forming a 128 element array can use sixteen subarray beamforming circuits. Each circuit can form a coarse beam provided in a first stage output to the interface unit from an array of adjacent eight elements. This configuration utilizes a sixteen output analog cable that connects the output of the integrated probe to the interface unit to digitize the output. A PC microprocessor or a DSP can be used to perform down conversion, base-banding, scan conversion, and post-image processing functions. The microprocessor or the DSP can also be used to perform all Doppler processing functions.

10C is a detailed schematic block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a system 1080 of an integrated ultrasonic probe 1040 having a first subarray beamforming circuit, and the second stage beamforming circuitry is integrated within the host computer 1082. The computer with the second stage beamforming circuit can be a PDA, tablet or mobile device housing. Ultrasonic probe 1040 is configured to transmit ultrasound waves and reduce ultrasound reflected from one or more image targets 1064. Sensor 1040 is coupled to host computer 1082 using one or more cables 1066, 1068. Note that the A/D circuit components can also be placed in the sensor probe housing.

Ultrasonic probe 1040 includes a sub-array/aperture 1052 comprised of adjacent elements having an aperture that is less than one of the apertures of the entire array. The returned echoes are received by the 1D sensor array 1062 and transmitted to the controller 1044. The controller initiates the formation of a coarse beam by transmitting a signal to memory 1058, 1046. The memory 1058, 1046 transmits a signal to a transmission driver 1 1050 and a transmission driver m 1054. Then, the transmission driver 1 1050 and the transmission driver m 1054 respectively send signals to the multiplexer 1 1048 and more Tool m 1056. The signal is transmitted to subarray beamformer 1 1052 and subarray beamformer n 1060.

The output of each coarse beamforming operation is then passed through one of the second level beamforming in interface unit 1020 to convert the beamformed output to a digital representation. The coarse beamforming operations can be consecutively summed to form a fine beam output for the array. Signals are transmitted from ultrasonic probe 1040 sub-array beamformer 1 1052 and sub-array beamformer n 1060 to A/D converters 1030 and 1028 within host computer 1082. Within the host computer 1082 are A/D converters 1028, 1030 for converting the first stage beamformed output into a digital representation. Digital conversion can be performed from A/D converters 1030, 1028 by a customer ASIC (such as an FPGA 1026) to complete the second stage beamforming. The FPGA digital beamforming 1026 transmits information to the system controller 1024. The system controller transmits the information to a memory 1032, which can send a signal back to the FPGA digital beamforming 1026. Alternatively, system controller 1024 can transmit information to custom USB3 chipset 1022. The USB3 chipset 1022 can then transmit information to a DC-DC converter 1034. In turn, the DC-DC converter 1034 can transmit the power from the interface unit 1020 to the ultrasonic probe 1040. Within the ultrasonic probe 1040, a power supply 1042 can receive a power signal and interface with the transmission driver 1 1050 to provide power to the front end integrated probe. The power supply can include a battery that enables wireless operation of the sensor assembly. A wireless transceiver can be integrated into the controller circuit or a separate communication circuit to enable wireless transmission of image data and control signals.

The custom or USB3 chipset 1022 of the host computer 1082 can be used to provide a communication link between the custom or USB3 chipset 1012 to transmit a signal to the microprocessor 1014. The microprocessor 1014 can then display information or send information to a device 1075.

11 is an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic engine 108 (ie, a front end ultrasonic specific circuit) and a computer motherboard 106 (ie, a host computer) of the ultrasonic device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2A. A detailed schematic block diagram. The ultrasonic engine 108 and / or components of the computer motherboard 106 can be implemented in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). An exemplary ASIC has a high channel count and can package 32 or more channels per wafer in some exemplary embodiments. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that the ultrasound engine 108 and the computer motherboard 106 can include more or fewer modules than the modules shown. For example, the ultrasound engine 108 and the computer motherboard 106 can include the modules shown in FIG.

A sensor array 152 is configured to transmit ultrasound waves to one or more image objects 1102 and to receive ultrasonic waves reflected from the one or more image objects 1102. The sensor array 152 is coupled to the ultrasonic engine 108 using one or more cables 1104.

The ultrasonic engine 108 includes a high voltage transmission/reception (TR) module 1106 for applying drive signals to the sensor array 152 and for receiving return echo signals from the sensor array 152. The ultrasonic engine 108 includes a preamplifier/TGC module 1108 for amplifying the return echo signal and applying a suitable time gain compensation (TGC) function to the signals. The ultrasound engine 108 includes a sample data beamformer 1110 in which the delay coefficients for each channel after returning the echo signals have been amplified and processed by the preamplifier/TGC module 1108.

In some exemplary embodiments, the high voltage TR module 1106, the preamplifier/TGC module 1108, and the sample interpolated receive beamformer 1110 may each have one to eight channels per wafer, but The illustrative embodiments are not limited in scope. In some embodiments, the high voltage TR module 1106, the preamplifier/TGC module 1108, and the sample interpolated receive beamformer 1110 can each have 8, 16, 32, 64 channels, and the like. One of the wafers. As shown in FIG. 11, an exemplary TR module 1106, an exemplary preamplifier/TGC module 1108, and an exemplary beamformer 1110 can each take the form of a wafer containing one of 32 channels.

The ultrasound engine 108 includes a first in first out (FIFO) buffer module 1112 that is used to buffer processed data output by the beamformer 1110. The ultrasound engine 108 also includes a memory for storing program instructions and data. 1114 and a system controller 1116 for controlling the operation of the ultrasonic engine module.

The ultrasound engine 108 interfaces with a computer motherboard 106 via a communication link 112 that can follow a standard high speed communication protocol, such as Firewire (IEEE 1394 standard serial interface) or fast (eg, 200 megabits/ Universal to 400 megabits per second or faster) Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0 USB 3.0) protocol. The standard communication link to the computer motherboard operates at 400 megabits per second or higher, preferably at 800 megabits per second or higher. Alternatively, link 112 can be a wireless connection, such as an infrared (IR) link. The ultrasound engine 108 includes a communication chip set 1118 (eg, a Firewire chipset) that establishes and maintains a communication link 112.

Similarly, computer motherboard 106 also includes a communication chipset 1120 (eg, a Firewire chipset) that establishes and maintains communication link 112. The computer motherboard 106 includes a core computer readable memory 1122 for storing data and/or computer executable instructions for performing ultrasonic imaging operations. The memory 1122 forms the main memory of the computer and, in an exemplary embodiment, can store approximately 4 GB of DDR3 memory. The computer motherboard 106 also includes a microprocessor 1124 for executing computer executable instructions stored on the core computer readable memory 1122 for performing ultrasonic imaging processing operations. An exemplary microprocessor 1124 can be an existing commercial computer processor (such as an Intel-Core i5 processor). Another exemplary microprocessor 1124 may be based on a digital signal processor (DSP) of a processor (such as from one or more Texas Instruments DaVinci ^TM processors). The computer motherboard 106 also includes a display controller 1126 for controlling a display device that can be used to display ultrasound data, scans, and maps.

Exemplary operations performed by microprocessor 1124 include, but are not limited to, down conversion (for generating I, Q samples from received ultrasound data), scan conversion (for converting ultrasound data into one of display devices) Display format), Doppler processing (for determining and/or imaging movement and/or flow information from ultrasound data), color flow processing (for autocorrelation using an embodiment to generate superimposed on a B-mode ultrasound) One of the Doppler shifts on the image Color coded map), energy Doppler processing (for determining energy Doppler data and/or generating an energy Doppler map), spectral Doppler processing (for determining spectral Doppler data and/or generating a Spectral Doppler map) and post signal processing. Such operations are described in further detail in WO 03/079038 A2, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety in its entirety in its entirety in the the the the the the the the the

To achieve a smaller and lighter portable ultrasonic device, the ultrasonic engine 108 includes a reduction in the overall package size and footprint of a circuit board that provides one of the ultrasonic engines 108. To this end, the illustrative embodiments provide a portable ultrasonic device that minimizes overall package size and footprint while providing one of the high channel counts that is small and lightweight. In some embodiments, a high channel count circuit board of an exemplary ultrasonic engine can include one or more multi-wafer modules, wherein each wafer provides multiple channels (eg, 32 channels). The term "multi-chip module" as used herein refers to an electronic package in which a plurality of integrated circuits (ICs) are packaged into a unified substrate to facilitate their use as a single component (ie, as a Big IC). A multi-chip module can be used in an exemplary circuit board to enable two or more active IC components integrated on a high density interconnect (HDI) substrate to reduce overall package size. In an exemplary embodiment, a multi-chip module can be assembled by vertically stacking one of the ultrasonic engines for transmitting/receiving (TR) a silicon wafer, an amplifier chip, and a beamformer chip. A single circuit board of an ultrasonic engine can include one or more of these multi-chip modules to provide a high channel count while minimizing the overall package size and footprint of the board.

Figure 12 depicts a schematic side view of a portion of a circuit board 1200 comprising one of the multi-wafer modules assembled into a vertical stack configuration. Two or more layers of the active electronic integrated circuit component are vertically integrated into a single circuit. The IC layers are oriented in spaced planes that extend substantially parallel to each other in a vertical stacked configuration. In FIG. 12, the circuit board includes an HDI substrate 1202 for supporting a multi-wafer module. Including, for example, a first beamformer One of the first integrated circuit wafers 1204 of the device is coupled to the substrate 1202 using any suitable coupling mechanism (eg, epoxy application and curing). A first spacer layer 1206 is applied to the surface of the first integrated circuit wafer 1204 opposite the substrate 1202 using, for example, epoxy coating and curing. A second integrated circuit wafer 1208 having, for example, a second beamformer device is coupled to the surface of the first spacer layer 1206 opposite the first integrated circuit wafer 1204 using, for example, epoxy application and curing. A metal frame 1210 for mechanical and/or electrical connection between integrated circuit wafers is provided. An exemplary metal frame 1210 can be in the form of a lead frame. The first integrated circuit wafer 1204 can be coupled to the metal frame 1210 using wires 1212. The second integrated circuit wafer 1208 can be coupled to the same metal frame 1210 using wires 1214. A package 1216 is provided to encapsulate the multi-wafer module assembly and maintain the plurality of integrated circuit wafers in a configuration that is substantially parallel with respect to each other.

As shown in FIG. 12, the vertical three-dimensional stacking of the first integrated circuit wafer 1204, the first spacer layer 1206, and the second integrated circuit wafer 1208 provides high density functionality on the circuit board while minimizing overall package size and Occupied area (compared to an ultrasonic engine board that does not use a vertically stacked multi-wafer module). One of ordinary skill will appreciate that an exemplary multi-wafer module is not limited to two stacked integrated circuit chips. Exemplary numbers of wafers that are vertically integrated into a multi-chip module can include, but are not limited to, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and the like.

In one embodiment of an ultrasonic engine circuit board, a single multi-chip module as illustrated in FIG. 12 is provided. In other embodiments, a plurality of multi-wafer modules are also shown in FIG. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of multi-wafer modules (eg, two multi-chip modules) can be stacked vertically on top of each other on one of the ultrasonic engines to further minimize packaging of the board. Size and footprint.

In addition to reducing the footprint, it is also desirable to reduce the overall package height in a multi-wafer module. The exemplary embodiment may use wafers that are thinned to a few hundred microns to reduce the package height in a multi-wafer module.

Any suitable technique can be used to assemble a multi-chip module onto a substrate. Exemplary assembly techniques include, but are not limited to, laminated MCM (MCM-L), wherein the substrate is a multi-layer printed circuit board; deposited MCM (MCM-D), wherein the multi-chip module is deposited on the substrate using thin film technology On the substrate; and a ceramic substrate MCM (MCM-C), wherein a plurality of conductive layers are deposited on a ceramic substrate and embedded in a glass layer (which is co-fired at high temperature (HTCC) or low temperature (LTCC)).

Figure 13 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for fabricating a circuit board comprising one of a multi-wafer module assembled into a vertical stack configuration. In step 1302, an HDI substrate is fabricated or provided. In step 1304, a metal frame (eg, a lead frame) is provided. In step 1306, a first IC layer is coupled or bonded to the substrate using, for example, epoxy application and curing. The first IC layer is wire bonded to the metal frame. In step 1308, a spacer layer is coupled to the first IC layer using, for example, epoxy application and curing such that the layers are vertically stacked and extend substantially parallel to each other. In step 1310, a second IC layer is coupled to the spacer layer using, for example, epoxy application and curing such that all of the layers are vertically stacked and extend substantially parallel to each other. The second IC layer is wire bonded to the metal frame. In step 1312, a package is used to encapsulate the multi-wafer module assembly.

Exemplary wafer layers in a multi-wafer module can be coupled to each other using any suitable technique. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 12, a spacer layer may be provided between the wafer layers to separate the wafer layers at intervals. A passivation layer, a die attach paste layer, and/or a die attach film layer may be used as the spacer layer. An exemplary spacer technology that can be used to fabricate a multi-wafer module is further described (from May 27-30, 2008) at the 58th Electronic Components and Technology Conference in Florida, USA (Electronic Components and "Technical Conference" (ECTC 2008) Toh CH et al., "Die Attach Adhesives for 3D Same-Sized Dies Stacked Packages", pages 1538 to 1543, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

An important requirement for die attach (DA) paste or film is the passivation material for adjacent grains Excellent adhesion. Again, a uniform bond chain thickness (BLT) is required for a large die application. In addition, high cohesive strength at high temperatures and low hygroscopicity is preferred for reliability.

14A-14C are schematic side views of an exemplary multi-wafer module including vertically stacked dies that can be used in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Both perimeter and center pad wire bonding (WB) packages are shown and can be used to wire bond an exemplary wafer layer in a multi-wafer module. 14A is a schematic side view of a multi-wafer module comprising one of four vertically stacked dies, wherein the dies are passivated by one of a 2-in-1 diced die attach film (D-DAF). Separated from each other. Figure 14B is a schematic side view of one of the multi-wafer modules comprising four vertically stacked dies, wherein the dies are spaced apart from one another by a DA film based adhesive as a die to die spacer. Figure 14C is a schematic side view of one of the multi-wafer modules comprising four vertically stacked dies, wherein the dies are separated by an AD paste or film based adhesive spacer as a die to die spacer. These DA paste or film based adhesives may have wire penetration capabilities in some exemplary embodiments. In the exemplary multi-wafer module of Figure 14C, a film wrap (FOW) is used to allow die bonding of long wire bonds and center bond pad stacks. The FOW employs a die attach film having a wire penetration capability that allows wire bonding of the same or similar dimensions to be directly stacked on top of each other without a passivation layer. This solution poses the problem of directly stacking the same or similarly sized die on top of each other, which presents a further challenge because there are no gaps or insufficient gaps for the lower die bond wires.

The DA material illustrated in Figures 14B and 14C preferably maintains a bond line thickness (BLT) with little void and is discharged through the assembly process. After assembly, the DA material sandwiched between the grains maintains excellent adhesion to the grains. The material properties of the DA material are tailored as needed to maintain high cohesive strength for high temperature reliability pressurization without lumps. Customizing the properties of the DA material as needed to also minimize or better eliminate packaging reliability failures (eg, popping, whereby the build-up due to pressure buildup from moisture in the package occurs) Moisture accumulation in surface or block cracking).

Figure 15 is a use of (a) a passivated germanium layer having a 2-in-1 diced die attach film (D-DAF), (b) a DA paste, (c) a thick DA film, and (d) having a tolerance to the same or similar dimensions. Specific exemplification of the grain-to-die stack of the film-encapsulated wire (FOW) of the die attach film of one of the wire-bonding dies on the top of each other without the passivation 矽 spacer One of the methods of the flowchart. Each method performs backside grinding of the wafer to reduce wafer thickness to achieve stacking of integrated circuits and high density packaging. The wafers are sawed to separate individual dies. A first die is bonded to one of the substrates of a multi-wafer module using, for example, epoxy in an oven. Wire bonding is used to couple the first die to a metal frame.

In method (A), a first passivation layer is bonded to the first die in a stacked manner using a dicing die attach film (D-DAF). A second die is bonded to the first passivation layer in a stack using D-DAF. Wire bonding is used to couple the second die to the metal frame. A second passivation layer is bonded to the second die in a stack using D-DAF. A third die is bonded to the second passivation layer in a stack using D-DAF. Wire bonding is used to couple the third die to the metal frame. A third passivation layer is bonded to the third die in a stack using DAF. A fourth die is bonded to the third passivation layer in a stack using D-DAF. Wire bonding is used to couple the fourth die to the metal frame.

In method (B), repeated die attach (DA) paste application and curing is applied for multiple thin grain stacks. The DA paste is applied to a first die, and a second die is provided on the DA paste and cured to the first die. Wire bonding is used to couple the second die to the metal frame. A DA paste is applied to the second die, and a third die is provided on the DA paste and cured to the second die. Wire bonding is used to couple the third die to the metal frame. A DA paste is applied to the third die, and a fourth die is provided on the DA paste and cured to the third die. Wire bonding is used to couple the fourth die to the metal frame.

In method (C), the die attach film (DAF) is cut and pressed to a bottom die and then a top die is placed and thermally compressed onto the DAF. For example, a DAF is pressed to the first die and a second die is thermally compressed onto the DAF. Wire bonding is used to couple the second die to the metal frame. Similarly, a DAF is pressed to the second die and a third die is thermally compressed onto the DAF. Wire bonding is used to couple the third die to the metal frame. A DAF is pressed to the third die and a fourth die is thermally compressed onto the DAF. Wire bonding is used to couple the fourth die to the metal frame.

In the method (D), the film wrap (FOW) employs one of the wire penetration capabilities of a wire having the same or similar size to allow the wire bonding die to be directly stacked on top of each other without a passivation layer. membrane. A second die is bonded and cured to the first die in a stacked manner. A film covered wire bond is used to couple the second die to the metal frame. A third die is bonded and cured to the first die in a stacked manner. A film covered wire bond is used to couple the third die to the metal frame. A fourth die is bonded and cured to the first die in a stacked manner. A film wrap bond is used to couple the fourth die to the metal frame.

After the above steps are completed, in each of the methods (a) to (d), wafer forming and post-forming curing (PMC) are performed. Subsequently, bead mounting and singulation are performed.

"Die Attach Adhesives for Toh CH et al. at the 58th Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC2008) held in Florida, USA, May 27-30, 2008 Further details regarding the die attach technology described above are provided in 3D Same-Sized Dies Stacked Packages, pages 1538 to 1543, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

16 is a schematic side view of a multi-wafer module 1600 comprising one of a TR wafer 1602, an amplifier wafer 1604, and a beamformer wafer 1606 vertically integrated on a substrate 1614 in a vertically stacked configuration. Any suitable technique illustrated in Figures 12-15 can be used to fabricate a multi-wafer module. One of ordinary skill will recognize that stacking wafers in other embodiments The particular order can be different. A first spacer layer 1608 and a second spacer layer 1610 are provided to separate the wafers 1602, 1604, 1606 at intervals. Each wafer is coupled to a metal frame (eg, a lead frame) 1612. In certain exemplary embodiments, heat transfer and heat dissipation mechanisms may be provided in the multi-wafer module to maintain high temperature reliability pressurization without lumps. Other components of FIG. 16 are described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 14.

In this exemplary embodiment, each multi-wafer module can handle full transmission, reception, TGC amplification, and beamforming operations for a larger number of channels (eg, 32 channels). By vertically integrating the three germanium wafers into a single multi-chip module, the space and footprint required for the printed circuit board is further reduced. A plurality of multi-chip modules can be provided on a single ultrasonic engine board to further increase the number of channels while minimizing package size and footprint. For example, a 128 channel ultrasonic engine circuit board 108 can be fabricated in an exemplary planar size of about 10 cm x about 10 cm, which is a significant improvement in one of the spatial requirements of conventional ultrasonic circuits. In a preferred embodiment, a single circuit board comprising one of the one or more multi-wafer modules may have from 16 channels to 128 channels. In some embodiments, a single circuit board of one of the ultrasonic engines including one or more multi-wafer modules can have 16, 32, 64, 128 channels, and the like.

17 is a schematic illustration of one exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic engine 108 (ie, a front end ultrasonic specific circuit) and one exemplary embodiment of a computer motherboard 106 (ie, a host computer) that provides a single board complete ultrasonic system. Sexual block diagram. An exemplary single-plate ultrasonic system as illustrated in Figure 17 can have an exemplary planar size of about 25 cm x about 18 cm, although other dimensions are also possible. The single-board complete ultrasound system of Figure 17 can be implemented in the ultrasonic device illustrated in Figures 1, 2A, 2B, and 9A, and can be used to perform the processes depicted in Figures 3-8, 9B, and 10 operating.

The ultrasonic engine 108 includes a probe connector 114 that facilitates the connection of at least one ultrasonic probe/sensor. In the ultrasonic engine 108, a TR module, an amplifier module and a beamformer module can be stacked vertically to form a multi-wafer module as shown in FIG. Group, thereby minimizing the overall package size and footprint of the ultrasonic engine 108. The ultrasonic engine 108 can include a first multi-chip module 1710 and a second multi-chip module 1712. Each module includes a TR chip vertically integrated into one of the stacked configurations as shown in FIG. The generator and receiver, an amplifier chip including a time gain control amplifier, and the same data beamformer chip. The first multi-die module 1710 and the second multi-wafer module 1712 can be stacked vertically on top of each other to further minimize the desired area on the board. Alternatively, the first multi-chip module 1710 and the second multi-chip module 1712 can be horizontally disposed on the circuit board. In an exemplary embodiment, the TR die, the amplifier die, and the beamformer die are each a 32 channel wafer, and each of the multiple die modules 1710, 1712 has 32 channels. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that the exemplary ultrasound engine 108 can include, but is not limited to, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight multi-chip modules. Note that in a preferred embodiment, one of the first beamformers in the sensor housing and the second beamformer configuration system in one of the tablet housings can be used.

The ASIC and multi-chip module configuration enables a 128-channel complete ultrasound system to be implemented on a small single board in the size of a tablet format. An exemplary 128-channel ultrasonic engine 108, for example, can be accommodated in an exemplary planar size of about 10 cm x about 10 cm, which is a significant improvement in one of the spatial requirements of conventional ultrasonic circuits. An exemplary 128 channel ultrasonic engine 108 can also be housed within an exemplary area of about 100 cm ² .

The ultrasound engine 108 also includes a complex programmable logic device (CPLD) 1714 for generating a timing clock to perform an ultrasonic scan using the sensor array. The ultrasound engine 108 includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 1716 for transforming the analog ultrasound signal received from the sensor array into a digital RF formed beam. The ultrasound engine 108 also includes one or more delay profiles and waveform generator field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) 1718 for managing reception delay profiles and generating transmission waveforms. The ultrasound engine 108 includes a memory 1720 for storing a delay profile for ultrasound scanning. One The exemplary memory 1720 can be a single DDR3 memory chip. The ultrasound engine 108 includes a configuration to manage the ultrasound scan sequence, transmit/receive timing, store profiles to and from the memory 1720, and buffer and move the digital RF data stream via a high speed serial interface 112. A scan sequence control field programmable gate array (FPGA) 1722 is provided to one of the computer motherboards 106. The high speed serial interface 112 can include a Fire Wire or other serial or parallel bus interface between the computer motherboard 106 and the ultrasonic engine 108. The ultrasound engine 108 includes a communication chip set 1118 (e.g., a Fire Wire chip set) that establishes and maintains a communication link 112.

A power module 1724 is provided to supply power to the ultrasonic engine 108, manage a battery charging environment, and perform power management operations. The power module 1724 can generate regulated, low noise power for the ultrasonic circuit and can generate a high voltage for the ultrasonic transmission pulse generator in the TR module.

The computer motherboard 106 includes a core computer readable memory 1122 for storing data and/or computer executable instructions for performing ultrasonic imaging operations. The memory 1122 forms the main memory of the computer and can store about 4 Gb of DDR3 memory in an exemplary embodiment. The memory 1122 can include a solid state drive (SSD) for storing an operating system, computer executable instructions, programs, and image data. An exemplary SSD can have a capacity of about 128 GB.

The computer motherboard 106 also includes a microprocessor 1124 for executing computer executable instructions stored on the core computer readable memory 1122 to perform ultrasonic imaging processing operations. Exemplary operations include, but are not limited to, down conversion, scan conversion, Doppler processing, color blood flow processing, power Doppler processing, spectral Doppler processing, and post signal processing. An exemplary microprocessor 1124 can be an existing commercial computer processor (such as an Intel Core-i5 processor). Another exemplary microprocessor 1124 may be based on a digital signal processor (DSP) of a processor (such as a processor from Texas Instruments of DaVinci ^TM).

The computer motherboard 106 includes an input/output (I/O) and graphics chipset 1704, the input The /output (I/O) and graphics chipset 1704 includes a coprocessor configured to control I/O and graphics peripherals such as USB ports, video displays, and the like. The computer motherboard 106 includes a wireless network adapter 1702 that is configured to provide a wireless network connection. An exemplary adapter 1702 supports the 802.11g and 802.11n standards. The computer motherboard 106 includes a display controller 1126 that is configured to interface the computer motherboard 106 to one of the displays 104. The computer motherboard 106 includes a communication chipset 1120 (e.g., a Fire Wire chipset or interface) configured to provide a fast data communication between the computer motherboard 106 and the ultrasound engine 108. An exemplary communication chip set 1120 can be an IEEE 1394b 800 Mbit/sec interface. Other serial or parallel interfaces 1706, such as USB3, Thunder-Bolt, PCIe, and the like, may alternatively be provided. A power module 1708 is provided to supply power to the computer motherboard 106, manage a battery charging environment, and perform power management operations.

An exemplary computer motherboard 106 can be housed within an exemplary planar size of about 12 cm x about 10 cm. An exemplary computer motherboard 106 can be housed within an exemplary area of about 120 cm ² .

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of one exemplary portable ultrasound system 100 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The system 100 includes one of the housings 102 in one of the apparent dimensions of the tablet as shown in FIG. 18 but in any other suitable form factor. An exemplary housing 102 can have a thickness of less than 2 cm and preferably between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm. A front panel of the housing 102 includes a multi-touch LCD touch screen display 104 configured to recognize and distinguish one of the touch screen displays 104. One or more multi-points and/or simultaneous touches on the surface. The surface of the display 104 can be touched by one or more of a user's finger, a user's hand, or a selective stylus 1802. The housing 102 includes one or more I/O ports 116 (the one or more I/O ports 116 may include, but are not limited to) one or more USB connectors, one or more SD cards One or more network small displays (及) and a DC power input. The embodiment of the housing 102 of Figure 18 can also be configured to have an appearance dimension of one of the palms of 150 mm x 100 mm x 15 mm (225000 mm ^{3 by} one volume) or less. The housing 102 can have a weight of less than 200 g. The cable laying between the sensor array and the display housing can include an interface circuit 1020 as described herein, as desired. The interface circuit 1020 can include, for example, a beamforming circuit and/or an A/D circuit in a pod suspended from the tablet. The split connectors 1025, 1027 can be used to connect the hanging pods to the sensor probe cable. The connector 1027 can include a probe identification circuit as described herein. Unit 102 can include a camera, a microphone and a speaker, and a radiotelephone circuit for voice and data communication, and a software for voice activation that can be used to control ultrasonic imaging operations as described herein.

The housing 102 includes a probe connector 114 that facilitates connection of at least one ultrasonic probe/sensor 150 or is coupled to the probe connector 114. The ultrasonic probe 150 includes a sensor housing that includes one or more sensor arrays 152. The ultrasonic probe 150 can be coupled to the probe connector 114 using a housing connector 1804 provided along a flexible cable 1806. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that the ultrasonic probe 150 can be coupled to the housing 102 using any other suitable mechanism, such as an interface housing that includes circuitry for performing ultrasonic specific operations, such as beamforming. Other exemplary embodiments of the ultrasound system are described in further detail in WO 03/079038 A2, entitled "Ultrasound Probe with Integrated Electronics", filed on March 11, 2003, the entire contents of In this article. The preferred embodiment may employ a wireless connection between the hand-held sensor probe 150 and the display housing. Beamformer electronics can be incorporated into the probe housing 150 to provide beamforming of a sub-array in a 1D or 2D sensor array as described herein. The display housing can be sized to be held in the palm of the user's hand and can include wireless network connectivity to a public access network such as the Internet.

19 is an illustrative view of one of the main graphical user interfaces (GUI) 1900 of the touch screen display 104 of the portable ultrasound system 100 of FIG. When starting super The main GUI 1900 can be displayed by the sonic system 100. To assist a user in viewing the main GUI 1900, the GUI can be viewed as including four exemplary work areas: a function list 1902, an image display window 1904, an image control column 1906, and a toolbar 1908. Additional GUI components can be provided on the main GUI 1900 to, for example, enable a user to close the GUI/or the window in the GUI, adjust the size of the GUI/or the window in the GUI, and exit the GUI and/or The window in the GUI.

The function list 1902 enables a user to select ultrasound data, images, and/or video for display in the image display window 1904. The menu list 1902 can include, for example, a GUI component for selecting one or more files in a patient folder directory and an image folder directory. The image display window 1904 displays ultrasound data, images, and/or video and provides patient information as needed. Toolbar 1908 provides functionality associated with an image or video display, including but not limited to: saving a current image and/or a video to a file save button, saving a maximum allowable number of previous frames ( One of the scenes such as a movie playback (Cine loop), a playback button, a print button for printing one of the current images, a freeze image button for freezing one image, and a replay for controlling the playback of a movie playback. Toolbar and similar. An exemplary GUI functionality that can be provided in the main GUI 1900 is further described in detail in WO 03/079038 A2, entitled "Ultrasound Probe with Integrated Electronics", filed on March 11, 2003, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference. The way is explicitly incorporated into this article.

The image control column 1906 includes touch control items operable by a user to directly apply touch and touch gestures to the surface of the display 104. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, a 2D touch control item 408, a gain touch control item 410, a color touch control item 412, a storage touch control item 414, and a split touch control. controls 416, a PW 418 controls the imaging touch, touch controls a beam guide 420, a comment 422 controls the touch, a dynamic range 424 controls operation of the touch, a touch controls Teravision ^TM 426, a The map operation touch control item 428 and a needle guide touch control item 430. These exemplary touch control items are described in further detail in conjunction with Figures 4a through 4c.

20A depicts an illustrative embodiment of an exemplary medical ultrasound imaging device 2000 implemented in a tablet computer sized in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The tablet may have a size of 12.5" x 1.25" x 8.75" or 31.7 cm x 3.175 cm x 22.22 cm but it may also be in any other suitable appearance size having a volume of less than 2500 cm ³ and a weight of less than 8 lbs. As shown in FIG. 20A, the medical ultrasonic imaging device 2000 includes a housing 2030, a touch screen display 2010, wherein the ultrasonic image 2010 and the ultrasonic data 2040 are displayed and the ultrasonic control item 2020 is configured to be touched by a touch. The display panel 2030 can have a front panel 2060 and a rear panel 2070. The touch screen display 2010 forms the front panel 2060 and includes an identifiable and distinguishable user on the touch screen display 2010. One or more multi-point and/or simultaneous touch one-touch multi-touch LCD touch screen. The touch screen display 2010 can have a capacitive multi-touch and AVAH LCD screen. For example, capacitive multi-point The touch and AVAH LCD screen allows a user to view images from multiple angles without loss of resolution. In another embodiment, a user can use a stylus to input data into On the touch screen, the tablet may include an integrated foldable stand that allows a user to rotate the stand from a storage position conforming to the apparent size of the tablet such that the device can lie flat On the panel, or alternatively, the user can rotate the bracket to enable the tablet to stand in an upright position at one of a plurality of angles of inclination with respect to a support surface.

The capacitive touch screen module includes an insulator (eg, glass) coated with a transparent conductor such as indium tin oxide. The process can include a bonding process between the glass, the x sensor film, the y sensor film, and a liquid crystal material. The tablet is configured to allow a user to perform multi-touch gestures (such as pinching and opening) while wearing a dry glove or a wet glove. The surface of the screen records the electrical conductors that are in contact with the screen. This contact distorts the electrostatic field of the screen, resulting in a measurable change in capacitance. Then, a processor interprets the static electricity The change of the field. Increase response levels by using "in-cell" technology to reduce layers and create touch screens. The "in-cell" technique reduces layers by placing capacitors in the display. Applying "in-cell" technology to reduce the visual distance between the user's finger and the touch screen target, thereby creating more direct contact with one of the displayed content and enabling the click gesture to have A response increased.

20B depicts an illustrative embodiment of an exemplary medical ultrasound imaging device 2000 implemented in a tablet form factor and configured to receive a wireless SIM card in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this particular embodiment, the ultrasound imaging device/device 2000 includes a SIM card 2080 that is configured to receive a SIM card 2084 and to connect the SIM card circuit to one of the wireless communication circuits within the device. The SIM card 2080, in this embodiment, includes a metal contact that internally connects the ID circuit of the SIM card 2084 to the circuitry of the device 2000. In this particular example, a SIM card 2082 is configured to receive the SIM card 2084 and connect it to the SIM card 2080. In some embodiments, SIM card 2080 and/or SIM card 2082 can be configured to accept a standard SIM card, a small SIM card, a micro SIM card, a nano SIM card, or other similar wireless identification/authorization card or circuit. .

21 illustrates a preferred cart system for a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The cart system 2100 uses a base assembly 2122 that includes one of the receiving racks of the receiving tablet. The cart configuration 2100 is configured to interface a tablet 2104 including a touch screen display 2102 to a cart 2108, which may include a complete operator console 2124. After the tablet 2104 is engaged to the cart stand 2108, the system forms a complete feature rotation about one of the systems. The complete feature rotation about the system can include an adjustable height device 2106, a gel holder 2110 and a bin 2114, a plurality of wheels 2126, a thermal probe holder 2120, and an operator console 2124. The control device can be included in one of the keyboards 2112 on the operator console 2124, which can also have additional peripheral devices (such as a printer or a video interface or other control device) that are added.

22 illustrates a preferred cart system for use in an embodiment having a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The cart system 2200 can be configured using a vertical support member 2212 coupled to one of the horizontal support members. One of the auxiliary device connectors 2018 having one of the locations for the auxiliary device attachment 2014 can be configured to connect to the vertical support member 2212. A 3-inch probe MUX connection device 2016 can also be configured to connect to a tablet. A storage bin 2224 can be configured to be attached to the vertical support member 2212 by a storage bin attachment mechanism 2222. The cart system can also include a rope management system 2226 that is configured to attach to a vertical support member. The cart assembly 2200 includes a support beam 2212 mounted on a base 2228 having wheels 2232 and a battery 2230 that provides power to the extended operation of the tablet. The assembly can also include one of the accessory holders 2224 mounted using the height adjustment device 2226. The holders 2210, 2218 can be mounted to the beam 2212 or the console panel 2214. The multi-head multiplexer device 2216 is coupled to the tablet to provide simultaneous connection of a plurality of sensor probes that the user can select sequentially using the displayed virtual switch. A virtual button or icon that moves a touch gesture (such as a three-finger tap) or a touch display to one of the displayed images can be switched between the connected probes.

23A illustrates a preferred cart mount system for a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Configuration 2300 depicts tablet 2302 coupled to docking station 2304. The docking station 2304 is secured to the attachment mechanism 2306. The attachment mechanism 2306 can include a hinge member 2308 that allows the user display to tilt to one of the desired positions of the user. The attachment mechanism 2306 is attached to the vertical member 2312. A tablet 2302, as described herein, can be mounted to a base docking unit 2304 that is mounted to one of the mount assemblies 2306 on top of the beam 2212. The base unit 2304 includes a bracket 2310, an electrical connector 2305 that connects the system 2302 to the battery 2230 and the multiplexer device 2216, and a port 2307.

23B illustrates a cart mount system for a modular ultrasound imaging system configured to receive a wireless SIM card in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Specific in this In an embodiment, the docking station 2304 includes a SIM card 2080 configured to receive a SIM card 2084 and to connect the SIM card circuit to one of the wireless communication circuits positioned within the docking station 2304 or tablet 2302. In this particular example, a SIM card 2084 can be inserted directly into the SIM card 2080, while in other examples a SIM card (such as the SIM card shown in Figure 20B) can be used to connect the SIM card 2084 to Metal contacts in the SIM card 2080. In some embodiments, SIM card 2080 and/or SIM card 2082 can be configured to accept a standard SIM card, a small SIM card, a micro SIM card, a nano SIM card, or other similar wireless identification/authorization card or circuit. .

24 illustrates a preferred cart system 2400 for a modular ultrasound imaging system in which a tablet 2402 is attached to the mounting assembly 2406 using a connector 2404, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Configuration 2400 depicts tablet 2402 coupled to vertical support member 2408 via attachment mechanism 2404 without engagement element 2304. Attachment mechanism 2404 can include one of hinge members 2406 for display adjustment.

25A and 25B illustrate a multi-functional docking station system 2500. 25A illustrates a docking station 2502 and a tablet 2504 having a base assembly 2506 coupled to the docking station 2502. The tablet 2504 and the docking station 2502 can be electrically connected. The tablet 2504 can be released from the docking station 2502 by the engagement release mechanism 2508. The docking station 2502 can include a sensor port 2512 for connecting to a sensor probe 2510. The docking station 2502 can contain three USB 3.0 ports, a LAN port, a headphone jack, and one of the power connectors for charging. 25B is a side elevational view of a tablet 2504 and a docking station 2502 having a stand in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The docking station can include an adjustable bracket/grip 2526. The adjustable bracket/grip 2526 can be tilted for multiple viewing angles. The adjustable bracket/grip 2526 can be flipped up for transport purposes. The side view also shows a sensor port 2512 and a sensor head connector 2510.

Referring to Figure 26A, the integrated probe system 2600 includes a front end probe 2602, a host computer 2604, and a portable information device (such as a number of person assistants (PDA) 2606). The A PDA 2606, such as a Palm Pilot device or other handheld computing device, is a remote display and/or recording device 2606. In the illustrated embodiment, front end probe 2602 is coupled to host computer 2604 by communication link 2608, which is a wired link. A host computer 2604 (an computing device) is coupled to the PDA 2606 by a communication link or interface 2610 (which is a wireless link 2610).

Since the integrated ultrasonic probe system 2600 in the described embodiment has a Windows® based host computer 2604, the system can take advantage of the wide selection of software available for the Windows® operating system. A potentially useful application is to electrically connect the ultrasound system to allow the physician to use the system to send and receive messages, diagnose images, commands, reports or even remotely control the front end probe 2602.

The connection through the communication link or interfaces 2608 and 2610 can be wired through an Ethernet network or through a wireless communication link (such as but not limited to: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, hyperlink or HomeRF) ) for wireless. FIG. 26A shows a wired link for one of the communication links 2608 and one for the communication link 2610. It should be appreciated that other wired embodiments or protocols may be used.

Wireless communication link 2610 can use a variety of different protocols, such as an RF link, and can be implemented using all or a portion of a proprietary protocol, such as an IEEE 1394 protocol stack or a Bluetooth system protocol stack. IEEE 1394 is a preferred interface for high-bandwidth applications such as high-quality digital video editing of ultrasound imaging data. The Bluetooth protocol uses a combination of circuit and packet switching. The time slot for synchronizing packets can be reserved. Bluetooth supports an asynchronous data channel (up to three simultaneous sync channels) or one channel for asynchronous data and simultaneous voice. Each sync channel supports a 64 kb/s sync (voice) channel in each direction. The asynchronous channel can support a maximum of 723.2 kb / s asymmetry or 433.9 kb / s symmetry.

The Bluetooth system consists of a radio unit, a link control unit, and a support unit for link management and host terminal interface functions. The link controller implements a baseband protocol and other low-order link routines.

The Bluetooth system provides a point-to-point connection (only two Bluetooth units are involved) or a single point-to-multipoint connection. In this single point to multipoint connection, channels are shared between several Bluetooth units. Two or more units sharing the same channel form a piconet. One Bluetooth unit acts as the master unit of the piconet, while the other units act as slave units. Up to seven slave units can be active in a piconet.

The Bluetooth Link Controller has two main states: STANDBY and CONNECTION. In addition, there are seven substates: paging, paging scanning, query, query scanning, master response, slave response, and query response. These sub-states are used to add a new slave unit to a temporary state of a piconet.

The link can also be implemented using, but not limited to, Home RF or IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN specifications. For more information on the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN specifications, see the IEEE standard for wireless LANs incorporated herein by reference. The IEEE standard can be found on the World Wide Web's Global Source Locator (URL) at www.ieee.org. For example, the hardware support IEEE standard 802.11b provides one of the communication links of two personal computers at 2 Mbps and 11 Mbps. The frequency band allocated for transmission and reception of signals is about 2.4 GHz. In contrast, IEEE standard 802.11a provides 54 Mbps communications. The frequency allocation for this standard is approximately 5 GHz. Recently, merchants (such as Proxim) have manufactured PC cards and access points (base stations) that use a proprietary data doubling, chipset technology to achieve 108 Mbps communications. A wafer (AR5000) that is doubled by Atheros Communications. As with any radio system, the actual data rate maintained between the two computers is related to the physical distance between the transmitter and the receiver.

Wireless link 2610 can also take other forms (such as, for example, an infrared communication link as defined by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA)). Depending on the type of communication desired (i.e., Bluetooth, infrared, etc.), the host computer 5 and the remote display and/or recording device 9 each have the desired communication port.

Figure 26B shows the communication link 2608 between the probe 3 and the host computer 5 as a wireless link. Communication link 2610 between host computer 2604 and PDA 2606 is shown as a wired link.

The integrated probe system 2600 of Figure 26C has a wireless link for both the communication link 2608 between the probe 2602 and the host computer 2604 and the communication link 2610 between the host computer 2604 and the PDA 2606. . It will be appreciated that the wired link and the wireless link may be used together or alternatively may be purely a wired link or a wireless link in a system 2600.

The remote display and/or recording device 2606 of the integrated probe system 2600 of FIG. 27 is a remote computing system 2612. The remote computing system 2612 can remotely control the probe 2602 in addition to having remote display and/or recording capabilities. Communication link 2610 is shown as a wireless link. Communication link 2608 between probe 2602 and host computer 2604 is shown as a wired link.

An example of a remote control system includes the use of a wearable computer (such as a portable computer manufactured by Xybernaut), a pair of high-speed, wireless PC cards (such as PC cards supplied by Proxim), and ultrasonic programs and probes. Head 2602. A portable, network-connected ultrasound system can be configured to weigh less than 2.5 pounds. Using one of the programs similar to Microsoft® NetMeeting, you can build an instant connection between a remote PC and a portable computer. The remote host can monitor all interactions with the portable computer, including instant ultrasound imaging (at display rates of up to 4 frames per second). NetMeeting can also be used to "control" portable computers and instantly manage ultrasound sessions from remote PCs. In addition, the image of the hard disk archived on the portable computer and the repeated executable software instructions can be transmitted to the host computer at 108 Mbps. With this technology, instant ultrasonic diagnosis can be performed at a rate of a hardwired 100 megabit (100 Mbps) area network (LAN) and the ultrasound diagnostics can be relayed to a remote field of view.

28 illustrates an integrated probe system 2800 having a hub 2802 for connecting a plurality of remote devices 2606 to a host computer 2604. From the hub 2802 to the far end The communication link 2804 of the device is shown as both a wireless link and a wired link. It should be appreciated that a fully wired network (such as a LAN or Ethernet) can be used. Alternatively, a wireless network/communication system can be easily built using one of the wireless transceivers and ports of the computer (remote device) 2606. Using the recently emerging high-speed wireless standards (such as IEEE 802.11a), communication between the remote machine and the local machine can rival a wired, 100 Mbps regional network (LAN) communication. Another alternative is to use a Bluetooth system to form a piconet.

The increased use of combined audio-visual and computer data has led to a greater need for multimedia network connectivity capabilities and the emergence of solutions included in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Standardization of multimedia network connections is underway, and IEEE 1394 has emerged as an important competitor capable of interfacing to many audio-visual (AV) computers and other digital consumer electronic devices and providing transmission bandwidths of up to 400 Mbps.

The preferred embodiment uses IEEE 1394 technology that uses a wireless solution for 1394 via IEEE 802.11 (an emerging standard for wireless data transmission in the enterprise environment and increasingly in the home) Transmission of the agreement. In a preferred embodiment, the IEEE 1394 system is implemented as a protocol adapter layer (PAL) on top of the 802.11 radio hardware and Ethernet protocols, thereby bringing about convergence of one of these important technologies. This protocol adapter layer enables the PC to operate as a wireless 1394 device. The engineering design goal is to make the actual delivered IEEE 1394 bandwidth sufficient for a single high-definition MPEG2 video stream (or multiple standard definition MPEG2 video streams) from one room to another. One room transmission.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention encompasses the use of IEEE 1394 wireless transmission at 2.4 GHz using Wideband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (W-OFDM) technology for Wi-LAN. This development builds W-OFDM (the most bandwidth efficient wireless transmission technology) as one of the technologies that can provide the data rate required for home multimedia network connections.

The wireless IEEE 1394 system includes an MPEG-2 data stream generator that feeds a multi-transport stream to, for example, by Philips Semiconductors offers one of the set-top boxes (STB). The STB converts this signal to an IEEE 1394 data stream and applies the IEEE 1394 data stream to a W-OFDM radio system such as that provided by Wi-LAN.TM. The radio transmitter then transmits the IEEE 1394 data stream via air to, for example, a corresponding W-OFDM receiver in the host computer. On the receiving side, the IEEE 1394 signal is demodulated and sent to two STBs that display the contents of different MPEG-2 data streams on two separate TV monitors. Use IEEE 1394 as the wired part of the network to optimize the entire system for transmitting isochronous information (voice, live video) and to provide an ideal interface to one of the multimedia devices in the facility. The W-OFDM technology is essentially unaffected by multipath effects. As with all modulation schemes, OFDM encodes data within a radio frequency (RF) signal. Radio communications are often hampered by the presence of noise, stray and reflected signals. OFDM technology provides robust communication by simultaneously transmitting high speed signals on different frequencies. OFDM-capable systems are highly tolerant of noise and multipathing to make wide-area and home multi-point coverage possible. Moreover, because such systems are very efficient in terms of bandwidth usage, more high speed channels are possible in one frequency band. W-OFDM is a cost-effective variant of OFDM that allows for a much larger throughput than conventional OFDM by using a wide frequency band. W-OFDM further processes the signal to maximize the range. Such improvements to conventional OFDM result in a drastically increased transmission rate.

OFDM technology is becoming more and more visible because the US and European Standardization Committees are choosing it as the only technology that can provide reliable wireless high data rate connections. European terrestrial digital video broadcasting uses OFDM and the IEEE 802.11 working group recently selected OFDM in its proposed 6 Mbps to 54 Mbps wireless LAN standard. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute is considering W-OFDM for the ETSI BRAN standard. Detailed information on Wi-LAN.TM. can be found at http://www.wi-lan.com/Philips Semiconductors, a semiconductor based in Eindhoven, Netherland. A division of Philips Electronics. By Http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/ access to its home page for additional information about Philips Semiconductors.

In addition, an IEEE 1394 high speed serial bus based NEC capable of reaching 400 megabits (Mbps) in a transmission range of up to 7 meters through the inner wall and up to 12 meters in the line of sight can also be used in the preferred embodiment. The company's wireless transmission technology. With the development of an amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation scheme and a low cost transceiver, this embodiment uses 60 GHz millimeter wavelength transmission, which does not require any kind of authorization. This embodiment incorporates one of the echo detection functions of NEC's PD72880 400 Mbps long-distance transmission physical layer device to prevent signal reflection (this is a significant obstacle to IEEE 1394's stable operation via a wireless connection).

Wireless IEEE 1394 can play an important role in bridging a PC to a cluster of interconnected IEEE 1394 devices, which can be in another room in the facility. Three exemplary applications are source video or audio streaming from a PC source, providing Internet content and connectivity to an IEEE 1394 cluster, and providing command, control, and configuration capabilities to the cluster. In a first embodiment, the PC can provide information to a location in another room in a facility. In a second embodiment, the PC can provide one channel for the 1394 enabled device to access the Internet. In a third embodiment, the PC plays a role in carefully scheduling the activities in the 1394 cluster and routing data within the cluster and via the bridge (although the actual data does not flow through the PC).

29 is a diagram showing the construction of wireless access to images produced by a preferred embodiment ultrasound imaging system and associated architecture 2902. Imaging system 2906 exports patient information and images to a file in corresponding folder 2908. The executable software instructions have all of the functionality required to implement the ultrasonic imaging methods described above.

The wireless proxy 2910 is configured to detect the patient directory and video files and enable the wireless client to obtain a connection thereto. After establishing a connection 2914, it sends the patient list and corresponding image back to the client. For example, the wireless proxy 2910 can include a data interface circuit that can include a first port (such as an RF interface).

Wireless viewer 2912 residing on a handheld device side can be built into a wireless proxy The device 2910 connects and captures patient and image information. After the user selects the patient and the image, it initiates a file transfer from the wireless agent. After receiving an image, viewer 2912 displays the image along with the patient information. The image is stored on a handheld device for future use. A handheld device user can view images captured in a previous session or can request a new image transmission.

33 is a block diagram of a portable information device, such as a PDA or any computing device, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The link interface or data interface circuit 3310 illustrates, but is not limited to, one of the link interfaces for establishing a wireless link to one of the other devices. The wireless link is preferably an RF link defined by the IEEE 1394 communication specification. However, the wireless link can take on other forms (such as, for example, an infrared communication link defined by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA)). The PDA includes a processor 3360 capable of executing an RF stack 3350 that communicates with a data interface circuit 3310 via a bus 3308. The processor 3360 is also coupled to the user interface circuit 3370, the data storage 3306, and the memory 3304 via the bus 3308.

The data interface circuit 3310 includes a buffer (such as an RF interface 埠). The RF link interface can include a first connection 3312 that includes a radio frequency (RF) circuit 3314 for converting a signal to a radio frequency output and for receiving a radio frequency input. The RF circuit 3314 can transmit and receive RF data communications via one of the transceivers of the communication port 1026. The RF communication signals received by RF circuitry 3314 are converted to electrical signals and relayed via bus bar 3308 to RF stack 3350 in processor 3360. The radio interface 3314, 3316 and link between the laptop personal computer (PC) (host computer) and the PDA can be implemented by, but not limited to, the IEEE 1394 specification.

Similarly, a PC host computer has an RF stack and circuitry that can communicate to a remotely located image viewer. In a preferred embodiment, the remote image viewer can be used to monitor and/or control the ultrasound imaging operation (rather than merely displaying the resulting imaging material).

The current market offers many different options related to wireless connectivity. In a better In the example, a spread spectrum technology wireless LAN is used. Among the wireless LAN solutions, the most advanced is the 802.11b standard. Many manufacturers offer 802.11b compliant devices. Compatibility with selected handheld devices is one of the main criteria in the specified wireless connectivity options.

The handheld device market also offers a variety of handheld devices. For imaging purposes, it is important to have a high quality screen and sufficient processing power to display an image system. Taking into account these factors, in a preferred embodiment, a Compaq iPAQ is used, specifically a Compaq iPAQ 3870. A wireless PC card (such as Compaq's wireless PC card WL110 and corresponding wireless access point) compatible with the handheld device is used.

30 illustrates an image viewer 3020 in communication with a probe in a personal computer or an alternate embodiment in a preferred embodiment. The image viewer has user interface buttons 3022, 3024, 3026, 3028 that allow a user to interface with an ultrasound imaging system computer or probe in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, a communication interface, such as button 3022, allows the user to initiate connection to one of the ultrasound imaging applications. Similarly, button 3024 is used to terminate the connection with one of the ultrasound imaging applications. A button 3026 serves as a selection button for providing one of a selectable patient list and a corresponding image. Store these images at the local or remote end. If selected, the image that can be stored remotely is transferred to the viewer. The selected image is displayed on viewer 3030.

An additional communication interface button (such as button 3028) acts as an option button that can, but is not limited to, allow for changing configuration parameters (such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address).

31 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic image collection and emission system 3140, which is a preferred embodiment of four main software components. The main hardware components of the system are ultrasonic probes 3142a to 3142n. The probes in communication with the laptops 3144a through 3144n allow the generation of ultrasound images and associated patient information and the delivery of images and information to an image/patient information dissemination server 3146. The distribution server utilizes an SQL database server 3148 to store and retrieve images and associated patient information. The SQL server provides distributed database management. Multiple workstations can manipulate the data stored on the server, and the server coordinates operation and execution Resource intensive computing.

Image viewing software or executable instructions may be implemented in two different embodiments. In a first embodiment, a fully fixed version of one of the image viewers as depicted in Figure 30 can reside on a workstation or laptop equipped with a high frequency wide network connection. In a second embodiment, a lightweight version of the image viewer may reside on a small handheld personal computer (PocketPC) 3020 equipped with one of IEEE 802.11b and/or IEEE 802.11a compliant network cards. The Palm PC Image Viewer implements only limited functionality that allows for basic image viewing operations. Wireless network protocol 3150, such as IEEE 802.11, can be used to transmit information to one of the handheld devices or other computing devices 3152 that communicates with a hospital network.

This preferred embodiment describes an ultrasound imaging system that covers the hospital's extensive image collection and retrieval needs. It also provides instantaneous access to information about non-image patients. To provide information exchange between hospitals, image distribution servers have the ability to maintain connectivity across a wide area network.

In another preferred embodiment, the probe 3262 can communicate directly with a remote computing device (such as a PDA 3264) using a wireless communication link 3266, as shown in system 3260 of FIG. The communication link can use the IEEE 1394 protocol. Both the probe and PDA 3302 have one of the RF stacks and circuits described with reference to Figure 33 for communication using wireless protocols. The probe includes a sensor array, a beamforming circuit, a transmission/reception module, a system controller, and a digital communication control circuit. The ultrasound image data is provided in the PDA for processing (including scan conversion).

Figure 34 is a schematic diagram 3440 of an imaging and telemedicine system incorporating an ultrasound system 3442 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The preferred embodiment of the system outputs real-time RF digital data or front-end data.

As will be appreciated, the various wireless connections described herein (such as connection 3444 between clinics 3442, 3446, 3448, and 3450; and the connections shown in Figures 26A-29 and 31-32) may include use Any number of communication protocols 3G, 4G, GSM, CDMA, CDMA2000, W-CDMA or any other suitable wireless connection. In some sentiments In this case, the ultrasound imaging device can be configured to wirelessly connect to one of the remote computers or other electronic devices in response to a command from a user via a touch sensitive user interface (UI) of the ultrasound imaging screen. . For example, during, before, or after an ultrasound procedure is performed, a user can initiate a wireless connection with one of a hospital or a physician to transmit ultrasound imaging data. The data may be transmitted immediately when the data is generated, or the data already generated may be transmitted. An audio and/or video connection can also be initiated via the same wireless network so that the user of the ultrasound imaging device can communicate with a hospital or doctor while executing the program. The options described herein can be viewed via the touch screen UI provided on the ultrasound imaging screen. In some embodiments, all or a portion of the touchscreen UI can be provided to the user via a wireless network using, for example, JavaScript or some other browser-based technology. Portions of the UI can be executed on the device or remotely, and various device side and/or server end technologies can be implemented to provide the various UI features described herein.

35 illustrates a 2D imaging mode of operation using a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The touch screen of the tablet 2504 can display images obtained by a two-dimensional sensor probe using a 256-digit beamformer channel. The 2D image window 3502 depicts a 2D image scan 3504. A two-dimensional image can be obtained using the elastic frequency control 3506, where the control parameters are represented on the tablet.

36 illustrates a motion mode of operation using a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The touch screen display 3600 of the tablet can display an image obtained by a motion mode. The tablet touch screen display 3600 can simultaneously display two-dimensional mode imaging 3606 and motion mode imaging 3608. The touch screen display 3600 of the tablet can display a two-dimensional image window 3604 having a two-dimensional image 3606. The elastic frequency control 3506 displayed using the graphical user interface can be used to adjust the frequency from 2 MHz to 12 MHz.

37 illustrates a color Doppler mode of operation using a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Tablet touch screen display 3700 shows borrow An image obtained by a color Doppler mode of operation. A two-dimensional image window 3706 is used as the substrate display. The color coded information 3708 is overlaid on the two-dimensional image 3710. Ultrasound-based imaging of red blood cells derived from received echoes of transmitted signals. The main characteristics of the echo signal are frequency and amplitude. The amplitude depends on the amount of moving blood within the volume sampled by the ultrasonic beam. The display can be adjusted to a high frame rate or high resolution to control the quality of the scan. Higher frequencies can be produced by rapid blood flow and can be displayed in lighter colors, while lower frequencies are displayed in darker colors. The elastic frequency control item 3704 and the color Doppler scan information 3702 can be displayed on the tablet display 3700.

38 illustrates a pulse wave Doppler mode of operation using a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The touch screen display 3800 of the tablet can display images obtained by the pulse wave Doppler mode of operation. The pulse wave Doppler scan produces a series of pulses for analyzing the movement of blood flow along a desired ultrasonic vernier (referred to as sample volume or sample gate 3812) in a small area. The tablet display 3800 can depict a two-dimensional image 3802 in which the sample volume/sample gate 3812 is overlaid. The tablet display 3800 can use a mixed mode of operation 3806 to depict a two-dimensional image 3802 and a time/Doppler shift 3810. If a suitable angle between the beam and the blood flow is known, the time/Doppler shift 3810 can be converted to velocity and blood flow. The gray shading 3808 in this time/Doppler shift 3810 may indicate the strength of the signal. The thickness of the spectral signal can indicate laminar blood flow or turbulence. The tablet display 3800 can depict an adjustable frequency control item 3804.

39 illustrates a triple scan mode of operation using a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The tablet display 3900 can include a two-dimensional window 3902 that can display a two-dimensional image alone or in combination with color Doppler or directional Doppler features. The touch screen display 3900 of the tablet can display images obtained by the color Doppler mode of operation. A two-dimensional image window 3902 is used as the substrate display. The color coded information 3904 is overlaid 3906 on the two-dimensional image 3916. Pulse wave Doppler features can be used alone or in combination with two-dimensional imaging or color Doppler imaging. Tablet Monitor 3900 can be packaged A pulse wave Doppler scan is represented by one of the sample volume/sample gate 3908 overlaid on the two-dimensional image 3916 or via the color code overlay 3906 (alone or in combination). The tablet display 3900 can depict a split screen representing time/Doppler shift 3912. If a suitable angle between the isolated beam and the blood flow is known, the time/Doppler shift 3912 can be converted to velocity and blood flow. The gray shading 3914 in this time/Doppler shift 3912 may indicate the strength of the signal. The thickness of the spectral signal can indicate laminar blood flow or turbulence. The tablet display 3900 can also depict an elastic frequency control item 3910.

40 illustrates a GUI master screen interface 4000 for use in a user mode of operation using a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The screen interface 4000 for a user mode of operation can be displayed when the ultrasound system is activated. To assist a user in patrolling the GUI main screen 4000, the main screen can be viewed as including three exemplary work areas: a function list 4004, an image display window 4002, and an image control column 4006. Additional GUI components may be provided on the main GUI main screen 4000 to enable a user to close the GUI main screen and/or the window in the GUI main screen, adjust the GUI main screen and/or the window in the GUI main screen. Size and exit the GUI main screen and / or the window in the GUI main screen.

The function list 4004 enables the user to select ultrasound data, images, and/or video for display in the image display window 4002. The menu list can include components for selecting one or more files in a patient folder directory and an image folder directory.

The image control column 4006 includes a touch control item that can be operated by a touch and touch gesture applied directly by the user to the surface of the display. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to: a depth control touch control item 4008, a two-dimensional gain touch control item 4010, a full screen touch control item 4012, a text touch control item 4014, and a The split screen touch control item 4016, an ENV touch control item 4018, a CD touch control item 4020, a PWD touch control item 4022, a freeze touch control item 4024, a storage touch control item 4026, and a Better control touch item 4028.

41 illustrates a GUI menu screen 4100 for use in a user operating mode of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. When the menu selection mode is triggered from the function list 4104 to initiate the operation of the ultrasound system, the screen interface 4100 for a user mode of operation can be displayed. To assist a user in patrolling the GUI main screen 4100, the main screen can be viewed as including three exemplary work areas: a function list 4104, an image display window 4102, and an image control column 4120. Additional GUI components can be provided on the main GUI menu screen 4100 to, for example, enable a user to close the GUI menu screen and/or the window in the GUI menu screen, adjust the GUI menu screen and/or The size of the window in the GUI menu screen and exit from the GUI menu screen and/or the window in the GUI menu screen.

The function list 4104 enables the user to select ultrasound data, images, and/or video for display in the image display window 4102. The menu list 4104 can include touch control components for selecting one or more files in a patient folder directory and an image folder directory. The function list depicted in an extended format 4106 can include an exemplary touch control item, such as a patient touch control item 4108, a preset touch control item 4110, a view touch control item 4112, and a report touch. Control item 4114 and a set touch control item 4116.

The image control column 4120 includes a touch control item operable by a touch and touch gesture applied directly to the surface of the display by a user. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, a depth control touch control item 4122, a two-dimensional gain touch control item 4124, a full screen touch control item 4126, a text touch control item 4128, and a segmentation. a touch control item 4130, a needle visualized ENV touch control item 4132, a CD touch control item 4134, a PWD touch control item 4136, a freeze touch control item 4138, a storage touch control item 4140, and A touch control item 4142 is optimized.

42 illustrates a GUI patient data screen interface 4200 for use in a user mode of operation of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. When the ultrasound system is activated, it can be displayed for one when the patient selection mode is triggered from the function table column 4202. User interface mode screen 4200. To assist a user in viewing the GUI patient data screen 4200, the patient data screen can be viewed as including five exemplary work areas: a new patient touch screen control item 4204, a new research touch screen control item 4206, a The research list touch screen control item 4208, a work list touch screen control item 4210 and an edit touch screen control item 4212. Further information input fields 4214, 4216 are available in each touch screen control item. For example, patient information section 4214 and research information section 4216 can be used to record data.

Within the patient data screen 4200, the image control column 4218 includes touch control items that can be manipulated by touch and touch gestures applied directly by the user to the surface of the display. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, accept research touch control items 4220, closely study touch control items 4222, print touch control items 4224, print preview touch control items 4226, and eliminate touch. The control item 4228, a two-dimensional touch control item 4230, a freeze touch control item 4232, and a storage touch control item 4234.

43 illustrates a GUI patient profile screen interface 4300 (such as a preset parameter screen interface) for use in a user mode of operation of a modular ultrasound imaging system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. When the ultrasound system is activated, the screen interface 4300 for a user mode of operation can be displayed when the preset selection mode 4304 is triggered from the menu list 4302.

In the preset screen 4300, the image control column 4308 includes a touch control item that can be operated by a touch and touch gesture applied directly by the user to the surface of the display. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, a save setting touch control item 4310, a delete touch control item 4312, a CD touch control item 4314, a PWD touch control item 4316, and a freeze touch control. Item 4318, a storage touch control item 4320 and an optimized touch control item 4322.

Figure 44 illustrates a GUI view screen interface 4400 for use in one of the user modes of operation of a modular ultrasound imaging system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. When the ultrasound system is activated, it can be displayed for one when the preset extension view 4404 is triggered from the function table column 4402. User interface mode screen 4400.

In the view screen 4400, the image control column 4416 includes a touch control item that can be operated by a touch and touch gesture applied directly by the user to the surface of the display. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, a thumbnail setting touch control item 4418, a synchronous touch control item 4420, a selection touch control item 4422, a previous image touch control item 4424, and a next image. The touch control item 4426, a two-dimensional image touch control item 4428, a pause image touch control item 4430, and a stored image touch control item 4432.

An image display window 4406 allows the user to view images in a plurality of formats. Image display window 4406 may allow a user to view images 4408, 4410, 4412, 4414 in a combination or subset or to allow individual viewing of any images 4408, 4410, 4412, 4414. Image display window 4406 can be configured to display up to four images 4408, 4410, 4412, 4414 to be viewed simultaneously.

45 illustrates a GUI reporting screen interface for use in a user operating mode of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. When the ultrasound system is activated, a screen interface 4500 for a user mode of operation can be displayed when the report extension view 4504 is triggered from the menu list 4502. Display screen 4506 contains ultrasound report information 4526. The user can use the work order selection in the ultrasound report 4526 to enter notes, patient information, and research information.

Within the report screen 4500, the image control column 4508 includes touch control items that can be manipulated by touch and touch gestures applied directly by the user to the surface of the display. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, a save touch control item 4510, a save control item 4512, a print touch control item 4514, a print preview touch control item 4516, and a close A touch control item 4518, a two-dimensional image touch control item 4520, a frozen image touch control item 4522, and a stored image touch control item 4524 are studied.

46A illustrates a GUI setting screen interface for use in a user operating mode of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. When starting the ultrasound system In the meantime, the screen interface 4600 for a user mode of operation can be displayed when the report extension view 4604 is triggered from the menu list 4602.

In the setting expansion screen 4604, the setting control column 4464 includes a touch control item that can be operated by a touch and touch gesture applied directly by the user to the surface of the display. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, a universal touch control item 4606, a display touch control item 4608, a measurement touch control item 4610, an annotation touch control item 4612, and a print touch control. The control item 4614, a storage/acquisition touch control item 4616, a DICOM touch control item 4618, a reversal touch control item 4620, and a research information image touch control item 4622. The touch control items may contain a display screen that allows the user to input configuration information. For example, the universal touch control item 4606 includes a configuration screen 4624 in which the user can enter configuration information. In addition, the universal touch control item 4606 contains a selection that allows the user to configure the soft key engagement position 4626. Figure 46B depicts a softkey control item 4652 with a right side alignment. Figure 46B further illustrates that activation of the softkey control arrow 4650 will cause the key alignment to change to the opposite side (in this case, the left side alignment). Figure 46C depicts the left side alignment of the softkey control 4662, which can be initiated by the user by using the softkey control arrow 4660 to change the position to the right alignment.

In view screen 4600, image control column 4628 includes touch control items that can be manipulated by touch and touch gestures applied directly by the user to the surface of display 4664. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, a thumbnail setting touch control item 4630, a synchronous touch control item 4632, a selection touch control item 4634, a previous image touch control item 4636, and a next image. The touch control item 4638, a two-dimensional image touch control item 4640, and a pause image touch control item 4642.

Figure 47 illustrates a GUI setting screen interface for use in a user operating mode of a modular ultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. When the ultrasound system is activated, the screen interface 4700 for a user mode of operation can be displayed when the report extension view 4704 is triggered from the menu list 4702.

In the setting extension screen 4704, the setting control column 4744 includes touch control items that can be operated by the user's touch and touch gestures directly applied to the surface of the display. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, a plurality of icons, such as a universal touch control item 4706, a display touch control item 4708, a measurement touch control item 4710, and an annotation touch control item 4712. A print touch control item 4714, a storage/acquisition touch control item 4716, a DICOM touch control item 4718, a reversal touch control item 4720, and a research information image touch control item 4722. The touch control items may contain a display screen that allows the user to input storage/acquisition information. For example, the store/acquire touch control item 4716 includes a configuration screen 4702 in which the user can input configuration information. The user can actuate a virtual keyboard that allows the user to enter alphanumeric characters in the fields of different touch activations. In addition, the store/acquire touch control item 4702 contains one of the options that allows the user to enable the traceability acquisition 4704. When the user enables the storage function, the system is preset to store the expected movie playback. If the user enables retroactive acquisition, the storage function can retroactively collect movie playback.

In the setting screen 4700, the image control column 4728 includes a touch control item that can be operated by a touch and touch gesture applied directly by the user to the surface of the display. The exemplary touch control items may include, but are not limited to, a thumbnail setting touch control item 4730, a synchronous touch control item 4732, a selection touch control item 4734, a previous image touch control item 4736, and a next image. The touch control item 4738, a two-dimensional image touch control item 4740, and a pause image touch control item 4742.

A preferred embodiment of a miniaturized PC-enabled ultrasound imaging system operates on an industry standard PC and Windows® 2000 operating system (OS). As a result, a network that is both cost-effective and ideal for telemedicine solutions is ready. Provides open architecture support for embedding and therefore integration with third-party applications. The preferred embodiment includes an improved application programming interface (API), a common interface, for third party applications (for example, but not limited to: radiation therapy planning, image guided surgery, integrated Export support for solutions (eg, compute, 3D, and report encapsulation). The API provides a supply process Use to initiate a group of software interrupts, calls, and data formats in communication with a network service, host communication program, telephone device, or program-to-program communication. Software-based feature enhancements reduce hardware obsolescence and provide an effective upgrade.

In addition, the preferred embodiment includes on-wafer system integrated circuits (ICs) that run on a PC and have a large number of channels, a large dynamic range, high image quality, and a complete feature set. Widely diagnosed overlays, minimum supply chain requirements, simplified design for simple testing and high reliability, and very low maintenance costs.

As previously described herein, the preferred embodiment includes a PC-based design that is intuitive, has a simple graphical user interface, is easy to use, and is trained to utilize PC industry know-how, robust electronics, and high quality. Display and low manufacturing costs. Support for software control communication with other applications that allow patient data, scanner images, current program terminology (CPT) code management embedded applications, and current program terminology (CPT) code management A digital coding system is used by the physician to record all of the programs and services, the physician's plan, and the results evaluation report on an integrated PC by the digital coding system. Pressure on healthcare reforms to reduce costs, highlighting the need for first-time/in-field diagnostics, data storage and retrieval solutions that combine technological innovations (for example, based on medical digital imaging and Communications (DICOM) standard data storage and retrieval, broadband and image archiving and communication systems (PACS), driving changes in patient record storage and retrieval and transmission, in lower cost/handheld devices for ultrasound data acquisition The innovations of the aspects, all of which implement the preferred embodiments of the invention. The DICOM standard facilitates the dissemination and viewing of medical images such as, for example, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scans. Broadband is a wide area network term that refers to a transmission facility that provides a bandwidth greater than 45 Mbps. Broadband systems are generally fiber optic in nature.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides image acquisition and end user applications (eg, radiation therapy, surgery, angiography), all applications executing on the same platform on. This provides low cost, user-friendly control through a common software interface. The ultrasound system features a scalable user interface for advanced users and an intuitive Windows® based PC interface. One preferred embodiment of the ultrasound system is also provided with an improved diagnostic capability for the characteristics of one-stop image capture, analysis, storage, retrieval and transmission capabilities of data and images. Provides a high image quality with a 128 channel bandwidth. In addition to being easy to use, the ultrasound system is also accessible to patients at any time, anywhere, and using any tool. A point of care imaging is provided using a 10 ounce probe in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Data storage and retrieval capabilities are based on DICOM standards and are compatible with existing third party analysis and patient record systems. Ultrasound systems in accordance with a preferred embodiment also provide direct image transfer capabilities using, for example, but not limited to, email, LAN/WAN, DICOM, and Digital Imaging Network Image Archiving and Communication Systems (DINPAC). The choice of displaying captured images includes, but is not limited to, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a portable personal computer, and a handheld device (such as a personal digital assistant).

As described above, the ultrasound system of the present invention is used in minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery methods, including but not limited to: biopsy procedures, catheterization for diagnostic and therapeutic angiography, fetal imaging, Cardiac imaging, angiography, imaging during endoscopic procedures, imaging for telemedicine applications, imaging for veterinary applications, radiation therapy, and cold therapy. These embodiments use a computer based tracking system and CT and MR images to accurately locate the precise location of the target area. An alternate embodiment of the ultrasonic system can provide images at a lower cost and with a smaller footprint device to provide the image just before the program, during the program, and immediately after the program. The preferred embodiment overcomes the need for a separate ultrasound device that requires a process room to be propelled and a method of moving the image from the ultrasound to the tracking position and to the target of the previously captured CT and MR image registration targets. One preferred embodiment of the ultrasound system provides a fully integrated solution as it can run its ultrasound application on the same platform as any third party application that processes the image. The system includes a streaming video interface (a third-party application and the system) An interface between the ultrasound applications). One of the key components of this system allows the two applications to run on the same computer platform (using the same operating system (OS)), for example, such as the Windows®-based platform, other platforms (such as Linux) can also be used and therefore Provide seamless integration of one of the two applications. The details of moving the image from the system's ultrasound application to the software interface of another application are described below.

The preferred embodiment includes a control and data transfer method that allows a third-party Windows®-based application to run an ultrasound application as a background task, send control commands to the ultrasound application, and receive images as an exchange ( Data) to control, for example, a portable Windows®-based ultrasound system. In addition, the embodiment configures a portable ultrasound Windows® based application as one of the live ultrasound image frames for another Windows® based application (which acts as a client). The client application receives these ultrasound image frames and processes them further. In addition, an alternate embodiment configures a portable ultrasound Windows®-based application to be activated and controlled via two communication mechanisms (eg, by a third party (hereinafter interchangeably referred to as external or a client) Portable Ultrasound One of the Windows®-based applications, the Component Object Model (COM) automation interface and one of the high-speed shared memory interfaces for delivering live ultrasound images) interacts with a third-party client application.

A preferred embodiment includes and configures a shared memory interface as a streaming video interface between a portable Windows® based ultrasound application and another third party Windows® based application. The streaming video interface is designed to provide ultrasound images to a third party client in real time.

A preferred embodiment allows a third-party Windows®-based application to control the flow rate of images from a portable ultrasound Windows®-based application over a shared memory interface within the same PC platform and the memory required to implement the interface The amount. These controls are set by the number of image buffers, the size of each buffer, and the rate at which images are transmitted. to make. This flow rate control can be set for zero data loss, ensuring that each frame is delivered from the ultrasound system to a third-party Windows®-based application, or this flow rate control is set for the lowest latency, which is first generated by the ultrasound system The latest frames are delivered to third-party Windows®-based applications.

A preferred embodiment formats the ultrasound image frame such that the third party is based on a third-party Windows®-based application that retrieves images (from a portable ultrasound Windows®-based application) from a shared memory interface. The Windows® app interprets probe head, space and time information. The actual image data passed between the server (ie, the portable ultrasound application) and the client application (a third-party Windows®-based application) has one of 8-bit pixels and a 256-item color table. Device Independent Bit Map (DIB). The image frame also contains a header that provides one of the following additional information, such as (but not limited to): probe type, probe number, frame serial number, frame rate, frame timestamp, frame trigger timestamp, image Width (in pixels), image height (in pixels), pixel size (on X and Y), pixel origin (the first pixel in the image is positioned relative to the x, y of the sensor head), and direction ( The direction of the space along or across the lines of the image).

Moreover, the preferred embodiment controls the shared memory interface for transmitting ultrasound images between a Windows®-based portable ultrasound system and a third-party Windows®-based system by using ActiveX controls. The Windows®-based portable ultrasound application contains an ActiveX control that transfers a frame to the shared memory and sends out a Windows® event (which contains an indicator for the frame just written) ) to third-party Windows®-based applications. This third-party application has one of the ActiveX controls that receive this event and retrieve one of the image frames from the shared memory.

The graphical user interface includes one or more control programs, each of which is preferably a self-contained type (eg, a client-side instruction code). These control programs are independently configured for (in addition to other functions) to generate graphical or text-based user controls in the user interface For generating a display area in a user interface, such as by a user control, or for displaying the processed streaming media. The control programs can be implemented as ActiveX controls, Java applets or any other self-contained and/or self-executing application or the like that can operate in a media gateway container environment and are controllable via web pages.

The ultrasound content can be displayed in one of the graphical user interfaces. In one embodiment, the program generates an instance of an ActiveX control. ActiveX refers to a set of object-oriented programming techniques and tools provided by Microsoft® of Redmond, Wash. (Washington). The core part of ActiveX technology is the Component Object Model (COM). One of the programs that run under the ActiveX environment is called a "component", which runs a self-sufficient program anywhere in the network (as long as it is supported). This component is often referred to as an "ActiveX Control." Therefore, an ActiveX control item can reuse one of the component program objects by a plurality of applications in a computer or a plurality of computers on a network, irrespective of the programming language in which it is generated. An ActiveX control runs in a so-called container, which uses one of the COM application interfaces.

One advantage of using one component is that it can be reused by many applications (which are referred to as "component containers"). Another advantage is that an ActiveX control can be generated using one of several well-known languages or development tools (including C++, Visual Basic, or PowerBuilder) or using a scripting tool such as VBScript. ActiveX controls can be downloaded, for example, as smaller executables, or downloaded as self-executable code for web animation. A system applet similar to ActiveX controls and suitable for client-side scripts. An applet is typically written as a self-contained, self-executing computer in Java.TM. (a web-based object-oriented programming language released by Sun Microsystems, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.). Program.

The local storage and access control program can be stored at the client system, or the control program can be downloaded from the network. The download is typically done by encapsulating a control program in one or more files based on the markup language. Control programs can also be used in one of several operating system environments One of the tasks that an application usually needs. Windows®, Linux, and Macintosh are examples of operating system environments that may be used in the preferred embodiment.

One preferred embodiment of an ultrasound imaging system has a particular software architecture for video streaming capabilities. The ultrasound imaging system controls an ultrasound probe of a preferred embodiment and an application that allows for the acquisition and display of visual images for medical purposes. The imaging system has its own graphical user interface. This interface has been characterized and conveniently organized to provide maximum flexibility in working with separate images and image streams. Some possible medical applications require the development of graphical user interfaces with significantly different characteristics. This involves integrating the imaging system into other, more complex medical systems. The preferred embodiment allows imaging data to be exported in a highly efficient and convenient manner for direct access by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

The quality of the video streaming solution in accordance with a preferred embodiment is measured by the following criteria, such as data transfer performance. Imaging data consumes a lot of memory and processor power. A larger number of separate image frames are required to generate a live medical video patient exam. Minimizing the data handling operations in the processing of one of the processing procedures for transmitting data from one of the generated video data to one of the processing devices for consuming video data becomes very important. The second criterion includes an industry standard imaging format. Because it is intended to develop applications that consume video imaging data through third-party companies, it can be represented in industry standard formats. A third criterion is convenience. The imaging material can be presented by a programming interface that is convenient to use and does not require additional learning.

In addition, the guidelines include scalability and scalability. A streaming data architecture can be easily extended to accommodate new data types. It provides one of the basic architectures for future multiplication of video streams that target more than one data receiving handler.

The video stream architecture of the preferred embodiment provides a method of data transfer between two processing programs. The video stream architecture defines operational parameters that regulate the data transfer handler and mechanisms that describe the transfer of parameters between handlers. One of the methods of transferring operational parameters from a third party client application to an imaging system of a preferred embodiment is by using an existing COM interface.

In a preferred embodiment, the image transfer architecture focuses on the object-oriented programming methodology and the inter-process capabilities of the Microsoft Windows® operating system. The object-oriented methodology provides the necessary foundation to allow one of the architectural solutions to meet the necessary requirements. It also lays the foundation for future enhancements and extensions that make the modifications relatively simple and backward compatible.

Video imaging data represents a complex data structure that interferes with each other between different data elements. It also allows and often requires different interpretations of the same data elements. A preferred embodiment of the following image transfer architecture includes one of the shared memory for physical data exchange. For example, the Windows® shared memory system is a fast and economical way to exchange data between processing programs. Moreover, in some embodiments the shared memory can be subdivided into separate segments having a fixed size. Each segment can then be at a minimum controllable unit. In addition, imaging data can be abstracted into objects. Each frame of the imaging data can be represented by a separate object. The objects can then be mapped to segments of shared memory.

The preferred embodiment may include a lock-unlock of a segment object. The programming API notification mechanism used is an event-driven mechanism. The event-driven mechanism is based on the implementation of the C++ pure virtual function.

In a preferred embodiment, the image transfer architecture consists of three layers: an application programming interface (API) layer, a programming interface implementation and a shared memory access layer, and a physical shared memory layer. The application design interface layer provides two different C++ class library interfaces to an application on the client and server side. All associated sequences of instructions belonging to the application itself are also part of this layer. Application-derived categories and their implementations are key elements of the application design interface layer. As the server of the imaging data provider, for example, the object transmitter category and related derivative and substrate categories are used. As the client of the imaging data consumer, for example, an Object Factory category and related derivative and substrate categories are used.

The programming interface implementation layer provides two different dynamic link library (DLL) implementation categories for the application. This layer maps the objects of the category associated with the application to An internal implementation of an object that accesses a shared memory entity system object. This layer allows to hide all implementation-specific member variables and functions from the scope of the application. As a result, the application design interface layer becomes uncluttered, easy to understand, and usable. The server-side application can use, for example, Object-Xmitter.DLL, while the client-side application can use, for example, ObjectFactory.DLL.

The physical shared memory layer represents the operating system object that implements the shared memory functionality. It also describes the structure of the shared memory, its segmentation, and the memory control block.

Regarding the organization of shared memory, since the shared memory is intended for inter-program communication, the operating system specifies a unique name at the time of its creation. To manage shared memory, other inter-program communication (IPC) system objects are required. They also need to have a unique name. To simplify the process of generating a unique name, only one base name is required. All other names are derived from the base name by an implementation code. Therefore, the application programming interface requires only one base name specification for logically shared memory objects. The same unique name can be used by both the server side of the application and the client side of the application.

The server side of the application is responsible for the generation of shared memory. In a generation handler, not only must the unique name of the shared memory be specified, but other configuration parameters must be specified. These parameters include (but are not limited to): the number of segments specifying the number of segments to be allocated, the segment size, and the operation flag. There are three such flags in a preferred embodiment. The first flag specifies the segment submission and retrieval order. The order can be one of last in, first out (LIFO), first in first out (FIFO) or last in and out (LIO). The LIO is a normal LIFO so that whenever one of the new frames arrives, if one finds a frame that is ready for retrieval but is still unlocked for retrieval, one of the ways to erase the frame is modified. The second flag specifies the shared memory implementation behavior under one of the conditions when a new segment allocation is requested but no segments are available. Usually this happens when the receiving application processes the data slower than when the application is submitted. This flag may allow deletion of one of the previously assigned segments. If it does not allow deletion of one of the previously assigned segments, it reports an exception back to the application. Make The flag application can automatically choose to rewrite the data into a shared memory or it can control the data rewriting handler itself. The third flag may be used only when the second flag allows the fragment to be rewritten into a shared memory. It specifies how to select one of the fragments to be rewritten. By default, the shared memory implementation deletes the youngest or most recently submitted pieces of information. Alternatively, the oldest segment can be selected for use in the rewrite handler.

Initialize its physical layout when generating shared memory. Since the operating system does not allow address calculations in an entity shared memory, no data indicators are used in the shared memory. The shared memory control block and all addressing within the segment can be implemented based on the relative displacement from the virtual origin (VO). The shared memory header structure is allocated by shifting zero from VO. It contains all the parameters listed above. FIG. 48 is a block diagram showing the structure of the physical shared memory 4880.

The sequence following the allocation of the shared memory header structure 4882 produces a header array 4884 for each memory segment. The memory fragment header contains the size of the fragment, the unique label of the object category mapped to the fragment, and the state of the fragment. Each segment can be one of four states: an unused state, wherein the segment is available for allocation; a state of being locked for writing, wherein the segment is mapped to one of a particular class of objects and is currently formed; a state in which a segment is mapped to one of a particular category and available for retrieval; and a state of being locked for reading, wherein the segment is mapped to one of a particular category and is currently in one of the data retrieval processes . Because each segment has its own state, it is possible for an application to lock more than one segment for object formation and object retrieval. This allows the system to have a flexible multi-threaded architecture on both the server side and the client side of the application. In addition, the ability to have more than one segment in a "write" state provides a "buffer" mechanism that cancels or minimizes the performance difference between the application on the server and the client.

The last element in a physical shared memory layout contains a memory segment 4888. In addition to the physical shared memory, the logical shared memory also contains a physical system that is mutually exclusive 4886 and Event 4890. This entity mutually exclusive provides mutually exclusive access to the entity shared memory. This entity event has a manual control type. It remains at the level "high" when at least one of the segments has a "write" state. It only goes to the level "low" when there is no single segment in a "write" state. This mechanism allows the "write" object to be fetched from the shared memory if the control is not passed to an operating system within the same time segment allocation for the thread.

In a preferred embodiment, the object transfer programming interface consists of three categories: AObjectXmitter, USFrame, and BModeFrame. The AObjectXmitter class allows the start of an object transfer service that specifies one of the parameters to be operated. Once the AObjectXmitter class object is instantiated, an initialized object of the USFrame and BmodeFrame categories can be generated. The USFrame class builder needs to reference one of the AObjectXmitter categories. The first action that must be completed after instantiating the USFrame object is to associate the object with one of the segments in the shared memory. The function Allocateo maps an object to an unused shared memory fragment and locks the fragment for use by the current object. A one-dimensional map size can be provided by an application when mapping an object. The supplied size represents only the size required for the bit map material (not including the memory size required for other data elements of the object).

The BModeFrame category is one of the categories exported from the USFrame category. It inherits all the methods and functionality of the base class. The only additional functionality provided by the BModeFrame category is the additional method of providing information specific to the BMode operation.

After instantiating a USFrame or BModeFrame class object and mapping it to a shared memory segment, the application can populate all of the desired data elements of the object. It is not necessary to provide a value for each data element. When an object is mapped to a shared memory segment, all of the data elements of the object are initialized using a preset value. The only material element that is not initialized after mapping is the bit map material element. When the server side of the application has provided all the required data elements, it can object by calling a method (for example, Submit()). Hand over to the client of the app.

The USFrame or BModeFrame object can be reused by subsequent remapping and resubmission. Alternatively, the object can be deleted and a new object can be created when the object is suitable for an application. Since object instantiation does not require any inter-program communication mechanism, it is as simple as memory allocation for a common variable.

There are at least two advantages of the architecture of the preferred embodiment. Since the ObjectXmitter class does have knowledge about the USFrame or BModeFrame class, it is very simple to introduce similar or additional categories that are derived directly or indirectly from the USFrame class. This allows future versions of the object transfer programming interface to be generated without any modification to the code or sequence of instructions developed for use with existing embodiments. In addition, the object transfer programming interface category does not have any member variables. This provides two other benefits of the interface. A first benefit is that these categories are oriented via the COM object interface and can be used directly in COM object interface specifications and implementations. A second benefit is that these categories effectively hide all of the specific details of the implementation, making the interface very clear, easy to understand and use.

The object transfer programming interface is implemented by ObjectXmitter.DLL. For each object generated by the application, there is one image implementation object generated by the code residing in the ObjectXmitter.DLL. Because each programming interface category has a corresponding mirroring category in the implementation, the modifications are facilitated and the modifications are currently extended to the specified image type. This can be done by generating a corresponding mirror class in implementation DLL 4910. The implementation object is responsible for handling the mapping of shared memory and programming interface objects. One embodiment of the present invention includes allowing a DLL that instantiates only one ObjectXmitter class object using only one communication channel having a client application. The object transfer implementation not only transmits the item data but also provides additional information describing the type of object being transmitted.

The Object Factory programming interface consists of three categories: AObjectFactory, USFrame, and BModeFrame. This class AObjectFactory contains three pure virtual member functions. This makes this category an abstract category that cannot be instantiated by an application. must It must be derived from the application definition of its own category from the AObjectFactory category. It is not necessary to define any "special" categories that are derived from the AObjectFactory category. Because the application is intended to process the images it will receive, it will have a very high chance of having one of the categories of images processed. An image processing category is well derived from the AObjectFactory class.

Categories derived from an AObjectFactory class must define and implement only pure virtual functions, such as OnFrameOverrun(), OnUSFrame(), and OnBModeFrame(). For example, an exported category can be defined as follows: Class ImageProcessor: public AObjectFactory { public: ImageProcessor(void); ~ImageProcessor(void); virtual unsigned long OnFrameOverrun(void); virtual unsigned long OnBModeFrame(const BModeFrame * frame); virtual unsigned long OnUSFrame(const USFrame * frame); };

After instantiating a class object, the image processor base class member function Open( ) can be called. This function provides a shared memory name that matches one of the shared memory names used by the application's server side. The function Open( ) connects the client application to the server application via a specified shared memory.

At any time after the shared memory is turned on, the application can expect to call one of the virtual functions OnFrameOverrun( ), OnUSFrame( ), and OnBModeFrame( ). Each call to the OnUSFrame( ) function carries one of the USFrame class types as an argument. Each call of the OnBModeFrame( ) function carries one of the BModeFrame class types as an argument. There is no need to instantiate an application to instantiate one of the USFrame or BModeFrame categories. By the bottom of an AObjectFactory class The scheme "given" the USFrame and BModeFrame objects to an application.

The only action the application needs to complete is to process the received frame and release the "given" object. The application did not attempt to delete a frame object because the deletion was done by an underlying implementation. The member function Release() of the USFrame object is called only when the application completes all data processing or the application no longer needs USFrame objects or objects of the exported category.

Once the application has received an object of a category USFrame or BModeFrame, it can capture the imaged data and process it appropriately. The application needs to be aware that it does handle the frame object data in a separate thread and ensures that it is written to the processing function using a thread-safe programming technique. Because either of the pure virtual functions is separated from the in-thread call by one of the implementation DLLs, subsequent calls are not possible until the virtual function returns control to the calling thread. This means that as long as the application has not returned control to the thread generated by the implementation, the application will not be able to receive any new frames. At the same time, the server side of the application can continue to submit additional frames. This ultimately results in a shared memory overflow and prevents any new frame transmission.

When the application processes the frame data, it always keeps the shared memory resources from subsequently remapping the lock. The more frames that are not released by the application, the fewer shared memory segments that can be used for the object transfer interface on the server side of the application. If the frame mating object is not released at an appropriate rate ratio, then all of the memory segments of the shared memory are eventually locked by the client application. At that time, the image transfer application stops sending new frames or rewrites frames that have not been locked by the receiving application. If the receiving application locks all clips, the transfer application cannot even choose to overwrite the existing frame.

The function OnFrameOverrun( ) is called when the Frame Overrun is raised by the service application. This condition is raised whenever the service application attempts to submit a new frame and there is no any available shared segment to map an object to. This strip can be cleared only by the client of the application with the call function ResetFrameOverrun( ) Pieces. If the client application does not call this function, the Frame Overrun condition is raised and the OnFrameOverrun( ) pure virtual function is called again.

The Object Factory interface has the same advantages outlined above when describing the object transport interface. In addition to these advantages, it also implements an event driver design method that minimizes programming effort and maximizes execution performance. There are also functions, such as USFrames(), BModeFrames(), GetUSFrame(), and GetBModeFrame(). These functions can be used to implement a less efficient "polling" programming approach.

Implement the Object Factory programming interface with ObjectFactory.DLL4918. This DLL retrieves an object category type information and object related data from the shared memory. It produces one of the types of types used by the transmitter. The Object Factory implementation maps the newly generated objects to the corresponding materials. The Object Factory implementation has a separate thread that separates the newly generated and mapped objects via pure virtual function events. The application "owns" the object throughout the processing and instructs the application to no longer need the object by calling the Releaseo function. The factory implementation releases the resources allocated for the object and the shared memory resources.

The process flow 4900 described above is illustrated graphically in block diagram 49. The preferred embodiment includes ease of code maintenance and feature enhancements to the image transfer mechanism. The object transfer interface 4908 and the Object Factory interface 4916, and the like, allow for such modifications to be made at relatively low development costs. Regarding object modification, the shared memory implementation is completely independent of the type of data being transmitted. Therefore, any type of modification does not require any changes to the underlying code that controls the shared memory. Because the transmitted data is encapsulated within a particular type of category, the only action required to modify the transfer of an object is to modify the corresponding category of the object. Since the object represents a category export tree, any modification of the base category causes an appropriate change for each item of the derived category. Such modifications to the object type do not affect application code that is not related to the modified object category.

A new type of object can be introduced by deriving a new category from one of the existing categories. A newly derived category can be derived from the appropriate level of the base category. One alternative to generating a new object type is by creating a new substrate class. This approach can be advantageous in situations where the newly defined category is significantly different from the existing category.

With respect to a plurality of object transfer channels, instead of the preferred embodiment, more than one AObjectXmitter class object and one or more corresponding communication channels can be supported. It may also be extended in such a way that it allows one of the communication channels for transporting objects in opposite directions. This allows the application to distribute imaging data to more than one client application. It accepts incoming communications that control image generation and probe operation.

Moreover, the wireless and far-end video stream channels can be adapted to the preferred embodiment. An identical object transfer programming interface can be implemented to transfer images not via shared memory but via a high speed wireless communication network, such as, for example, ISO 802.11a. The same object transfer programming interface can also be used to transfer images across a wired Ethernet connection. Remote and wireless video streams assume that the receiver computing system can be different in performance. This makes the selection of one of the recipient's devices an important factor in a successful implementation.

Thus, the streamed imaging included in the preferred embodiment utilizes a high frequency wide shared memory client-server architecture at low overhead.

A preferred embodiment of the ultrasound imaging system software application is used by a client application 4904 as a server 4902 for a live ultrasound image frame. This client-server relationship is supported by two communication mechanisms as described above. The client application uses a COM automation interface to launch and control the ultrasound imaging system application 4906. A high speed shared memory interface 4912 delivers live ultrasound images with probe identification, spatial and temporal information from the application to the client application.

The complexity of implementing a shared memory implementation for a client application in a simple ActiveX COM API (TTFrameReceiver). Shared memory communication has elastic parameters specified by the client application. Queue order, number of buffers, large buffer Both small and rewrite licenses are specified by the client when streaming video frames. The queue order mode can be specified as first in first out (FIFO), last in first out (LIFO), and last in and out (LIO). In general, the FIFO mode is preferred when zero data loss is more important than the lowest delay. The LIO mode only delivers the most recent image frame and is preferred when the lowest latency is more important than the data loss. The LIFO mode can be used when the minimum delay and minimum data loss are equally important. However, in LIFO mode, frames may not always be delivered in a sequential order and a more complex client application is needed to classify them after receiving the frame. When all of the shared memory buffers are full, the rewrite permission is specified to not allow, rewrite the oldest frame, and rewrite the latest frame.

Each image frame contains a single ultrasound image, probe identification information, pixel space information, and time information. The image format is a standard Microsoft device-independent bit map (DIB) with 8-bit pixels and a 256-item color table.

The TTFrameReceiver ActiveX control provides two options for receiving frames. The first program is event driven. A COM event FrameReady is triggered when a frame has been received. After the FrameReady event, the image and associated data can be read using the interface's data access method. After the image and other data have been copied, the user releases the frame by calling the ReleaseFrame method. The next FrameReady event will not occur until the previous frame is released. In another embodiment, the client can poll the next available frame using the WaitForFrame method.

In a preferred embodiment, both the client application and the server application are executed on the same computer. The computer can run (such as but not limited to) the Microsoft® Windows® 2000/XP operating system. The client application (USAutoView) can be developed using Microsoft® Visual C++ 6.0 and MFC. The source code can be compiled in, for example, Visual Studio 6.0. The server-side COM automation interface and TTFrameReceiver ActiveX controls are compatible with other MS Windows® software development environments and languages.

In an embodiment of the invention, the name of the server-side COM automation interface (ProgfD) The system is called "Ultrasound.Document" and is registered on the computer the first time the application is run. The scheduling interface can be imported from a type of library into a client application.

In a preferred embodiment, the automation interface is extended to support frame streaming by adding different methods, such as void OpenFrameStream (BSTR*queneName, short numBuffers, long buffersize, BSTR*queueOrder, short overwrite permission). Enable the frame streamer on the server side; open the shared memory interface with the client application. The queueName shares the unique name of the memory "file" and is the same name as when the receiver is turned on. , numBuffer is the number of buffers in the shared memory queue, bufferSize is the size of each buffer in the shared memory queue in units of bytes, wherein the buffer size is 5120 larger than the maximum image that can be transmitted. The byte, queueOrder is "LIO", "FIFO" or "LIFO", for which the overwritePermission is not allowed to be 0, for the oldest overwrite overwritePermission is 1 or for the latest overwrite overwritePermission is 2. Note that OpenFrameStream must be called before the TTFrameReceiver control is turned on.

The next additional method consists of: void CloseFrameStream( ), which closes the frame streamer on the server side; void StartTransmitting( ), which tells the server to start transmitting the ultrasound frame; void StopTransmitting( ), which tells the server The end stops transmitting the ultrasound frame; and short GetFrameStreamStatus( ), which gets the state of the frame stream transmitter. It is important to check that the stream transmitter is turned on before turning on the TTFrameReceiver. The COM Automation interface is not blocked and the OpenFrameStream call cannot occur at the instant the user application calls it.

In a preferred embodiment, the TTFrameReceiver ActiveX control is interfaced with the client application of the live ultrasound frame stream. The frame stream control method includes a boolean Open (BSTR name) that opens the frame stream sink. Until the servo has been turned on The frame stream receiver can be turned on after the frame streamer on the server. The frame stream control method also includes: boolean Close( ), which closes the frame stream receiver; long WaitForFrame (long timeoutms), which waits for a frame to be ready or until the end of the timeout period; and boolean ReleaseFrame( ), It releases the current image frame. Once all the required data has been copied, the current frame can be released. The next frame is not received until the current frame has been released. The return value of other data access functions is not valid after the current frame is released until the next FrameReady event.

The data access method for images in a preferred embodiment includes long GetPtrBitmapinfo( ) which obtains an indicator for the header (with color table) of the DIB containing the image. The ultrasound image is stored as a standard Microsoft device-independent bit map (DIB). The BITMAPINFO and BITMAPINFOHEADER structures can be cast to the returned indicator. The memory system for the BITMAPINFO structure is allocated in the shared memory and cannot be unassigned; instead, ReleaseFrame( ) can be called to transfer the memory back to the shared memory mechanism. A further method includes long GetPtrBitmapBits( ), which gets an indicator of one of the image pixels. The returned metrics can be used as needed to work with the Microsoft DIB API. The memory system for the bit map pixels is allocated in the shared memory and cannot be unassigned; instead, ReleaseFrame( ) can be called to return the memory to the shared memory mechanism.

Methods related to probe identification include: short GetProbeType( ), which obtains the defined type of ultrasonic probe used; BSTR GetProbeType( ), which obtains the defined probe name; long GetProbeSN( ), which is used The serial number of the probe.

Regarding time information, the method includes short GetSequenceNum( ), which obtains the serial number of the current frame. The serial number is derived from an 8-bit counter and is therefore repeated every 256 frames. It is useful for determining the gaps in the sequence of frames and reordering the received frames when using the LIFO buffer sequencing mode. Also, double GetRate() is in The frame number is obtained when the serial number is combined, and the accurate relative timing is provided for the received frame; BSTR GetTimestamp( ), which obtains a time stamp of the current frame, which provides the current frame when synchronizing to an external event. Useful for one absolute time. The resolution is approximately milliseconds. The time stamp can be averaged and the combination rate and serial number used together to achieve higher accuracy. Finally, with respect to time information, the method includes BSTR GetTriggerTimestamp( ), which obtains a time stamp of the activation of the ultrasound scan, wherein the ultrasound probe is stopped when the image is "frozen". The trigger timestamp is recorded when live imaging is resumed.

The spatial information in the preferred embodiment has the following methods: short GetXPixels( ), which obtains the width of the image in pixels; short GetYPixels( ), which obtains the height of the image in pixels; double GetXPixelSize( ), which The size of each pixel in the x direction is obtained, (the x direction is defined as horizontal and parallel to each image line); and double GetYPixelSize( ), which obtains the size of each pixel in the y direction. The y-direction is defined as being perpendicular and perpendicular to each image line. In addition, double GetXOrigin( ), which obtains the x position of the first pixel in the image relative to the sensor head; and double GetYOrigin( ), which obtains the y positioning of the first pixel in the image relative to the sensor head. The positive y-direction is defined as being away from the sensor head in the patient's body. Another method involves short GetXDirection( ), which takes the spatial direction along the lines of the image. The positive x direction is defined as being away from the probe mark. Short GetYDirection( ), which obtains the spatial direction of each line across the image. The positive y-direction is defined as being away from the sensor head in the patient's body.

The spatial position of any pixel in the image relative to the sensor head can be easily calculated as follows: PX = OX + NX * SX * DX PY = OY + NY * SY * DY

Where P = pixel relative to the position of the sensor head, O = origin, N = index value of the pixel in the image, S = pixel size, D = direction of the pixel.

In addition, when a frame is prepared and the data can be read, the event void FrameReady( ) in a preferred embodiment is used. The handler copies the data from the data access method and then calls ReleaseFrame( ). It is recommended to avoid any kind of indefinite processing in the handler (for example, the function that calls the message loop). In addition, void FrameOverrun( ) is used when the server is unable to send a frame or has to rewrite a frame in the buffer (since the buffer is full). This applies only to FIFO and LIFO modes, since LIO automatically releases the old buffer. This event is useful for determining whether the client application is fast enough to read the frame and the number of allocated buffers is sufficient for the delay of the client.

In a preferred embodiment, US AutoView enables the client to automate and display a sample client application of the live ultrasound image frame. It has the functions of verifying the start and stop of the server, hiding and displaying the server, switching between the graphics on the displayed image and the graphics on the non-displayed image, freezing and restoring the ultrasonic acquisition, loading a preset check, changing the Specify the size of the patient, change the image size, spatial information, and reverse the image.

Figure 50 is a view of one of the graphical user interfaces 4950 for a USAutoView UI in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The USAutoView program has one of the three ActiveX components of the Windows® Conversation application. TTFrameReceiver, which supplies the ActiveX interface for receiving ultrasound frames; TTAutomate, which encapsulates the automation of the server side; and TTSimplelmageWnd, which is the image display window. CUSAutoViewDlg is the main conversation. It manages the automation of the server through the TTAutomate control, receives the ultrasound frame through the TTFrameReceiver and displays it through the TTSimplelrnageWnd image. CUSAutoViewDlg's OnStartUS( ) method calls to start or stop the TTAutomate and TTFrameReceiver methods required for automation and data transfer from the server side.

The method OnFramReady( ) handles the FrameReady event from TTFrameReciever. It copies the desired material from the TTFrameReceiver and then releases the frame using the TTFrameReceiver's ReleaseFrame( ) method. It avoids any function that performs indeterminate processing (such as a function that calls a message loop).

TTAutomate is one of the automation functions that encapsulates the server's automation function. The native COM automation interface on the server side is not blocked and needs to wait with GetStatusFlags to coordinate functions. TTAutomate wraps each function in the desired wait loop. These wait loops allow Windows® messages to be processed so that the user interface of the client application is not blocked while waiting. Although the automation method in TTAutomate cannot return before completing the function, it still processes other Windows® messages before completing the function. It is recommended to prevent multiple concurrent calls from the message handler to the TTAutomate method, which is generally not reentrant because of coordination with the server. The source code used for this control is included in the USAutoView workspace. It can be reused or modified as needed.

TTSimplelmageWnd provides an ActiveX control for one of the display windows for device-independent bit map (DIB). The two properties of the display interface are long DIBitmaplnfo and long DIBits. DIBitmaplnfo corresponds to an indicator of one of the blocks of memory containing the BITMAPINFO structure for the DIB. DIBits correspond to an indicator of one of the blocks of memory containing image pixels. To load a new image, set DIBitmapInfo as an indicator of the mapping information for the bits of the DIB. The DIBits are then set to the index of the bit map bit. When DIBits are set, it is expected that the metrics set for DIBitmapInfo are still valid and both the bit mapping information and the bit mapping bits are internally copied for display on the screen. Set DIBitmapInfo and DIBits to zero to clear the image. The source code used for this control is included in the USAutoView workspace. It can be reused or modified as needed.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of probe types. For example, the probes include, but are not limited to: one of a convex linear sensor array operating between 2 MHz and 4 MHz, one phase-controlled linear sensor array operating between 2 MHz and 4 MHz, at 4 MHz A linear linear cavity sensor array operating between 8 MHz, a linear sensor array operating between 4 MHz and 8 MHz, and a linear sensor array operating between 5 MHz and 10 MHz.

The preferred embodiment of the portable ultrasound system of the present invention provides a high resolution image during an examination, such as the following images: B mode, M mode, color Doppler (CD), pulse wave Doppler (PWD), orientation Energy Doppler (DirPwr) and Energy Doppler (PWR). Once the system software is installed, the probe device is connected to a desktop or laptop. The probe can be an industry standard sensor that is connected to one of the 28oz. boxes of the beamforming hardware containing the system. If the probe is connected to a laptop, a 4-pin FireWire cable is connected to an IEEE 1394 serial connection located on a built-in MediaBay. However, if the probe is connected to a desktop computer, the computer may not be equipped with a MediaBay. We can connect the probe with an external DC module (EDCM) connector. Before connecting the probe, we need to make sure that Firewire is connected to both the right and left sides of the computer.

In one embodiment, the EDCM is designed to accept a 6-pin IEEE 1394 (also known as FireWire) cable at one end and a Lemo connector from one of the probes at the other end. The EDCM accepts an input DC voltage from +10 volts to +40 volts. Moreover, in an embodiment, the system can be connected to a host computer using IEEE 1394. The 6-pin IEEE 1394 input to the EDCM can be derived from any IEEE 1394-equipped host computer running, for example, a Windows® 2000 operating system. An external IEEE 1394 hub may also be necessary to provide the required DC voltage to the EDCM. In a host computer equipped with IEEE 1394, there is one of two types of IEEE 1394 connectors (a 4-pin or a 6-pin). The 6-pin connector is most commonly found in PC-based workstations that use internal PCI bus cards. Typically, a 6-pin connector provides the required DC voltage to the EDCM. A 6-pin male to 6-pin male IEEE 1394 cable is used to connect the host computer to the EDCM.

The 4-pin connector is not included in a MediaBay or in accordance with a preferred embodiment Found in a laptop for a DC voltage output. When using this connector type, an external IEEE-1394 hub can be used to power the EDCM and probe.

When not powered by the host computer, an external IEEE-1394 hub can be used between the host computer and the EDCM. The hub derives its power from a wall outlet and uses a medical grade power supply connection that complies with the IEC 60601-1 electrical safety standard.

To connect the hub to the host computer, a 4-pin male to 6-pin male or 6-pin male to 6-pin male IEEE cable is required. Insert the appropriate connector (4-pin or 6-pin) into the host computer and plug the 6-pin connector into the hub. Next, connect the hub to the EDCM using a 6-pin male to 6-pin male IEEE 1394 cable. An IEEE 1394 hub is required only if the host computer cannot supply at least +10 volts to +40 volts direct current (DC) and 10 watts of power to the EDCM. If the host computer can supply sufficient voltage and power, a 6-pin male to 6-pin male IEEE 1394 cable can be used to connect the computer directly to the EDCM.

Figure 51 is a view of one of the main screen displays of one of the graphical user interfaces in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. When the user activates the system in accordance with the present invention, the main screen 5170 is displayed. To help users navigate, the main screen can be viewed as four separate work areas that provide information to help us perform tasks. The work areas include a function list 5172, an image display window 5174, an image control column 5176, and a toolbar 5178 to 5186.

To adjust the size of the window and area, the user can click the small button at the top right of the window to close, resize and exit the program. A user interface or button closes the window but leaves the program to run (minimizes the window). A system button appears at the bottom of the screen, in the area called the work column. The window is reopened by clicking the system button in the task bar. The other interface button magnifies the window to fill the entire screen (referred to as maximizing), however, when the window is at its maximum, the frame rate can be reduced. The other interface button returns the window to its size before zooming in. The system program can be closed by another interface button.

Users can increase or decrease the width of each area of the application to meet our needs Want. For example, to make the Explorer window narrower, place the cursor at either end of the area and get the new desired size by clicking and dragging. We can reposition the size and location of each area so that it becomes a floating window. To create a floating window, the user simply selects his or her own mouse on the double edge boundary of a particular area and drags it until it appears to be a floating window. In order to restore the floating window back to its original form, we clicked twice in the window. Such functionality is depicted in Figures 52A-52C, which are views of one of the graphical user interfaces 5200, 5208, 5220 in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The Explorer window provides a nested level archive directory 5202 for all patient folders that are generated and saved by the user-generated image. The folder directory structure contains the following (but not limited to): patient folder and an image folder. The patient folder directory is where the patient information file is stored along with any associated images. The image folder directory contains images by date and type of inspection. The images in this catalog are not associated with a patient and are generated without patient information. 53A-53B illustrate a patient folder 5340 and an image folder 5350 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The menu bar at the top of the screen provides nine options that we can use to perform basic tasks. To access a menu option, simply select the menu name to display the drop-down menu options. The user can also access any menu by using its shortcut key combination.

The image display window provides two index tabs: Image Display and Patient Information. The user clicks on the image display index tab to view the ultrasound image. The image is displayed in the window based on the defined control settings. Once the image is saved, the classification, date and time of the image are also displayed in the image display window when the user retrieves it again. The Patient Information Index tab is used to enter new patient information that will later be stored in a patient folder. Users can access this index tab to also modify and update patient information.

54A and 54C illustrate an XY dual plane probe consisting of two one-dimensional, multi-element arrays. The arrays can be stacked on top of one another, wherein one of the arrays has the same polarization axis Align in the direction. The elevation axes of the two arrays may be at right angles to each other or orthogonal to each other. Illustrative embodiments may employ a sensor assembly, such as the sensor assembly described in U.S. Patent No. 7,066,887, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in Sensors sold by Vernon of Tours Cedex. Array orientation is represented by configuration 5400, as illustrated by FIG. 54A. The polarization axes (5408, 5422) of the two arrays are indicated in the z-axis 5406. The elevation axis of the bottom array is indicated in the y-direction 5402 and the elevation axis of the top array is in the x-direction 5404.

As further illustrated in FIG. 54B, a one-dimensional multi-element array forms an image as depicted in configuration 5412. A one-dimensional array having an elevation axis 5410 in a y-direction 5402 forms an ultrasound image 5414 on the x-axis 5404, z-axis 5406 plane. A one-dimensional array having an elevation axis 5410 in the x-direction 5404 forms an ultrasound image 5414 on the y-axis 5402 and the z-axis 5406. A one-dimensional sensor array having an elevation axis 5410 along a y-axis 5402 and a polarization axis 5408 along a z-axis 5406 will result in one of the ultrasound images 5414 being formed along the x-plane 5404 and the z-plane 5406. One one-dimensional sensor array having an elevation axis 5420 on an x-axis 5404 and a polarization axis 5422 in the direction of the z-axis 5406 is depicted by an alternate embodiment illustrated in FIG. 54C. An ultrasound image 5424 is formed on the y-plane 5402 and the z-plane 5406.

Figure 55 illustrates the operation of a dual planar image forming xy probe, wherein array 5512 has a high voltage applied to form an image. High voltage drive pulses 5506, 5508, 5510 can be applied to the bottom array 5504 having a y-axis elevation angle. This application may result in a transmission pulse for forming a received image on the XZ plane while maintaining the components of the top array 5502 at a ground level. These probes enable the use of one of the simpler 3D imaging modes of an electronic device than a full 2D sensor array. A touch screen activated user interface as described herein can employ a screen icon and gesture to actuate a 3D imaging operation. The imaging operations can be augmented by software running on a tablet data processor that processes the image data into 3D ultrasound images. This image processing software may employ smoothing filtering and/or interpolation operations known in the art. Beam steering can also be used Enable 3D imaging operations. A preferred embodiment uses a plurality of 1D sub-array sensors configured for biplane imaging.

Figure 56 illustrates the operation of a dual planar image to form an xy probe. Figure 56 illustrates an array 5610 having a high voltage applied thereto for forming an image. High voltage pulses 5602, 5604, 5606 can be applied to the top array 5612 having an elevation angle on the x-axis to produce a transmission pulse for forming a received image on the yz plane while maintaining the component ground 5608 of the bottom array 5614. This embodiment may also utilize an orthogonal 1D sensor array using sub-array beamforming operations as described herein.

Figure 57 illustrates the circuit requirements for forming a xy probe with a dual plane image. Receive beamforming requirements are depicted for a dual plane probe. A connection to one of the receiving electronics 5702 is made. Next, the elements from the select bottom array 5704 and the select top array 5708 are connected to share to one of the receiving electronics 5702 channels. A two to one multiplexer circuit can be integrated on the high voltage drivers 5706, 5710. The two to one multiplexer circuit can be integrated on the high voltage drivers 5706, 5712. A receive beam is shaped for each transmit beam. A two-plane system requires a total of 256 transmission beams. For the 256 transmission beams, 128 transmission beams are used to form an XZ plane image and another 128 transmission beams are used to form a YZ plane image. Beam forming techniques that are received multiple times can be used to improve the frame rate. An ultrasound system with dual receive beam capabilities for each transmit beam provides one system in which two receive beams can be formed. The dual plane probe requires only a total of 128 transmission beams for forming two orthogonal plane images, of which 64 are used to form an XZ plane image and the other 64 are used to form a YZ plane image. Similarly, for an ultrasound system with one or four or four reception beam capabilities, the probe requires 64 transmission beams to form two orthogonal planar images.

58A-58B illustrate one application for simultaneous biplane evaluation. The ability to measure LV mechanical out-of-synchronization using echocardiography can help identify patients who are more likely to benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy. The quantified LV parameter system Ts-(lateral-septal), Ts-SD, Ts-peak, etc. The Ts-(lateral-septal) can be measured on a 2D apical 4-chamber view echo image, while Ts-SD, Ts-peak (medial), Ts-onset (medial), Ts-peak (basal), Ts-onset (basal) can be obtained on two separate parasternal short-axis views with 6 segments (providing a total of 12 segments) at the mitral and papillary muscle levels, respectively. 58A-58B depict one of the apical four chamber images 5804 and the apical two chamber images 5802 that are to be viewed simultaneously.

59A to 59B illustrate the ejection fraction detecting head measuring technique. The biplane probe provides EF measurements when the visualization of the two orthogonal planes ensures that the on-axis view is obtained. The automatic boundary detection algorithm provides quantized echo results to select the implant responder and the pilot AV delay parameter settings. As depicted in Figure 59A, the XY probe acquires instant simultaneous images from two orthogonal planes and the images 5902, 5904 are displayed on a split screen. A manual contour tracking or automated boarder tracking technique can be used to track endocardial boarders (from which EF is calculated) at both end-systolic and end-diastolic conditions. The LV regions (A1 and A2, respectively) in the apical 2CH view 5902 and the apical 4CH view 5904 were measured at the end of diastole and at the end of systole. LVEDV (left ventricular end-diastolic volume) and LVESV (left ventricular end-systolic volume) are calculated using the following formula: . And the ejection fraction is Calculation.

60 illustrates an exemplary method for wirelessly transmitting data to and transmitting data from a portable ultrasonic imaging device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method can select 6001 to begin the wireless communication menu option for one of the various wireless connections available to the user. For example, a user may wish to connect to a WiFi network, a 3G or 4G cellular network, or some other wireless network. The method can select 6002 to continue the wireless connection. The method can further include selecting 6003 to transmit one or more destinations of the ultrasound data. In some embodiments, this selection can be performed by selecting one or more hospitals, doctors, clinics, etc. using the touch screen UI, similar to my own A list of contact lists for a contact person. The method can further include determining 6004 whether an audio connection and/or a video connection is desired. In some embodiments, in addition to transmitting ultrasound and other medical data between the portable ultrasound device and a remote hospital or clinic, the user can also establish an audio and/or video connection via the same wireless network. . This feature allows a user of an ultrasound imaging device to, for example, perform and transmit ultrasound data remotely when in direct audio and/or video contact with a hospital or medical professional. In one example, initiating an audio and/or video call with a hospital may allow a user of the portable ultrasound imaging device to receive guidance and/or advice from a physician while performing an ultrasound procedure. If an audio and/or video call is desired, the method can further include initiating 6005 an audio/video call with the desired destination.

If no audio/video connection is desired, or after initiating an audio/video call, the method may further include determining whether 6006 is intended to transmit the ultrasound imaging material instantaneously, or whether the user only wishes to transmit the generated ultrasound data. If an instant connection is desired, the method can further include initiating a 6007 ultrasound scan and instantaneously transmitting 6008 ultrasound data to (several) desired destinations. If instant ultrasonic data transmission is not required, the method can select 6009 (several) of the desired files and transmit 6010 (or the selected) files to (several) desired destinations to proceed.

In some embodiments, a user can perform the method described above by navigating through various windows, folders, sub-folders, function tables, and/or sub-menu presentations presented via the touch-sensitive UI. You can use one of the touch screen gestures on an icon (by dragging and dropping an icon from one location to another, selecting or deselecting one or more checkboxes, or performing any other fully unique or distinguishable touch Control screen commands) to execute various UI commands for selecting a menu option, destination, file, and the like. In some embodiments, the various touchscreen commands described herein may be configurable by a user, while in other embodiments they are hardcoded. As will be understood, the various elements of the methods described herein can be performed in any desired order. For example, in some embodiments, a user may choose to wait at 6009. The transmitted (several) archives previously select 6003 one or more destinations, while in other embodiments, a user may select 6009 one or more archives prior to selecting 6003 desired destinations. Similarly, other elements of the methods described above can be performed in various sequences or simultaneously, and the methods described herein are not intended to be limited to any particular sequence unless otherwise indicated.

It should be noted that the operations described herein are purely illustrative and do not imply any particular order. Moreover, such operations may be used in any sequence as appropriate, and/or may be used in part. Exemplary flow diagrams are provided herein for illustrative purposes and are non-limiting examples of the methods. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the illustrative methods may include more or fewer steps than those illustrated in the flowcharts, and that the steps in the exemplary flowcharts may be performed in a different order than the one shown.

In describing the illustrative embodiments, specific terminology is used for the sake of clarity. For the purposes of the description, the specific terms are intended to include at least all of the technical and functional equivalents in a similar manner. Furthermore, in some instances in which a particular exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of system elements or method steps, a single element or step can be substituted for the elements or steps. Similarly, a single element or step can be replaced by a plurality of elements or steps serving the same purpose. Moreover, where the parameters for the various properties are specified herein for exemplary embodiments, the parameters may be adjusted up and down by one-twentieth, one-tenth, one-fifth, unless otherwise specified. , one-third, one-half, etc., or an approximation of the rounding up.

In view of the above illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that such embodiments can be practiced with various computers involved in transferring or storing data in a computer system. These operations are operations that require entities to manipulate physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, such quantities are in the form of electrical, magnetic and/or optical signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared and/or otherwise manipulated.

Moreover, any of the operations described herein that form part of the illustrative embodiments are useful machine operations. The illustrative embodiments are also directed to performing such operations One device or one device. The device may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or may be incorporated into a general purpose computer device selectively activated or configured by a computer program stored in a computer. In particular, various general purpose machines coupled to one or more processors of one or more computer readable mediums can be used with a computer program written in accordance with the teachings disclosed herein, or constructed to perform one of the required operations. More specialized devices may be more convenient.

The foregoing description has directed to specific illustrative embodiments of the invention. However, it will be appreciated that other variations and modifications can be made to the described embodiments to obtain some or all of their associated advantages. Furthermore, the programs, processing programs, and/or modules described herein can be implemented in a combination of hardware, software ( embodied as one of computer-readable media having program instructions), firmware, or the like. For example, one or more of the functions described herein can be performed by a processor executing one of the program instructions from a memory or other storage device.

Modifications and variations of the systems and methods described above may be made without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Therefore, the invention is not to be considered as limited, except by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧Medical ultrasound imaging equipment/equipment/portable ultrasound system/system/ultrasound system

102‧‧‧Shell/unit

104‧‧‧Touch Screen Display/Split Touch Screen Display/Monitor/Multi-Touch LCD Touch Screen Display

106‧‧‧Computer motherboard/arithmetic circuit

108‧‧‧Ultrasonic Engine/128 Channel Ultrasonic Engine Board

110‧‧‧Battery

112‧‧‧Communication link/link/high speed serial interface

Claims (52)

A mobile medical ultrasound imaging device comprising: a sensor probe that houses a sensor array; a tablet housing having a front panel; a computer in the housing, the computer including at least one processor And at least one memory; displaying a touch screen display of the ultrasonic image, the touch screen display being positioned on the front panel; and an ultrasonic beamformer processing circuit disposed in the housing, the ultrasonic beamformer Processing circuitry receives image data from the sensor array, the touchscreen display and the ultrasonic beamformer processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the computer, the computer operable in response to a first gesture input from one of the touchscreen displays To operate one of the ultrasonic beamformer processing circuits; and a cart, the tablet housing can be mounted to the cart. The device of claim 1, wherein the first gesture input corresponds to a movement gesture on the touch screen display. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor array comprises a dual planar sensor array. The device of claim 3, further comprising a second input comprising a two-point gesture against one of the touch screen displays. The device of claim 3, further comprising: in response to the second input from the touchscreen display, displaying a first cursor within an area of a virtual window, the virtual window displaying an enlarged image. The device of claim 5, further comprising receiving, at the computer, a third input from the touch screen display, the third input being received within the area of the virtual window. The device of claim 6, wherein the third input corresponds to the touch screen display One of the drag gestures. The device of claim 6, further comprising, in response to the third input from the touchscreen display, moving the first cursor to a first portion of the interior of the region of the virtual window. The device of claim 8, further comprising receiving, at the computer, a fourth input from the touch screen display, the fourth input being received at the first portion of the area of the virtual window. The device of claim 1, wherein a fourth input corresponds to pressing a gesture against one of the touch screen displays. The device of claim 10, further comprising receiving, at the computer, a second further input from the one of the touch screen displays, the second further input being received substantially simultaneously with the further input. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensor arrays operated by a probe beamformer processing circuit. The device of claim 11, further comprising, in response to the second further input from the touchscreen display, securing the first cursor to the first portion of the interior of the region of the virtual window. The device of claim 13, further comprising performing, by the computer, at least one measurement of the ultrasound image based at least in part on the first cursor at the first location. The device of claim 13, further comprising receiving a third further input from the one of the touch screen displays at the computer. The device of claim 15, wherein the third further input corresponds to a two-click gesture against one of the touch screen displays. The device of claim 15 further comprising: responsive to the third further input from the touchscreen display, displaying one of the interiors of the virtual window One of the second positions is the second cursor. The device of claim 17, wherein the computer processes the at least one measurement of the ultrasound image based at least in part on the respective locations of the first and second cursors within the region of the virtual window. The device of claim 13, wherein the computer receives a fourth further input from one of the touch screen displays, the fourth further input being received within the area of the virtual window. The device of claim 19, wherein the fourth further input corresponds to pressing and dragging a gesture against one of the touch screen displays. The device of claim 19, further comprising, in response to the fourth further input from the touch screen display, connecting a line from the first cursor extending from at least a portion of the ultrasonic image to the touch screen display One of the second parts of the virtual window within the area. The device of claim 1 further comprising a needle guiding device. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensor connectors operative to select a sensor from the plurality of connected sensors. The device of claim 22, further comprising simultaneously operating an imaging program and a network-connected communication protocol in a second window on the display. The device of claim 1, further comprising an amount of the ultrasonic image based at least in part on the connecting line extending between the respective portions of the first and second cursors within the region of the virtual window Measurement. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor connector coupled to the sensor array of the housing. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing has a volume of less than 2500 cubic centimeters. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is coupled to a bracket. The device of claim 28, wherein the bracket rotates relative to the housing. The device of claim 1, further comprising connecting the device to a wireless network connection, such as one of the public access networks of the Internet. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the multiplexers on the cart is electrically connectable to the housing for connection to a plurality of sensor arrays. The device of claim 28, wherein the housing is coupled to the bracket. The device of claim 32, wherein the bracket housing is electrically connected to the bracket and wherein the bracket has an external communication portion. The device of claim 31, wherein the multiplexer is switchable using a touch gesture. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless card and a card reader. A method of operating a portable medical ultrasonic imaging system, the portable medical ultrasonic imaging system comprising: a sensor detecting head; a housing in a size of a tablet, the housing having a front panel; a computer in the housing, the computer comprising at least one processor and at least one memory; a touch screen display for displaying an ultrasonic image, the touch screen display being disposed on the front panel; An ultrasonic beamformer circuit in the housing, the touch screen display and the ultrasonic engine being communicably coupled to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first input from the touch screen display at the computer Retrieving a predetermined feature of the ultrasonic image in response to the first input from the touch screen display; receiving a second input from the touch screen display at the computer, the second input and the first input A portion is received substantially simultaneously; and in response to the second input from the touch screen display, the ultrasound image is completed Given the characteristics of the track. The method of claim 36, wherein the first input corresponds to the touch screen display One of the indicators presses and drags the gesture. The method of claim 36, wherein the second input corresponds to a click gesture against one of the touch screen displays. The method of claim 36, further comprising receiving a third input from the touch screen display at the computer. The method of claim 39, wherein the third input corresponds to a two-point gesture against one of the touch screen displays. The method of claim 39, further comprising displaying a first cursor within one of the areas of the touch screen display in response to the third input from the touch screen display. The method of claim 41, further comprising receiving, at the computer, a fourth input from the one of the touch screen displays. The method of claim 42, wherein the fourth input corresponds to one of the drag gestures on the touchscreen display. The method of claim 42, further comprising, in response to the fourth input from the touch screen display, moving the first cursor to a first portion of the interior of the area of the touch screen display. The method of claim 44, further comprising receiving, at the computer, a fifth input from the touch screen display, the fifth input being received at the first portion of the area of the touch screen display. The method of claim 45, wherein the fifth input corresponds to pressing a gesture against one of the touch screen displays. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving, at the computer, a sixth input from the touch screen display, the sixth input being received substantially simultaneously with the fifth input. The method of claim 47, wherein the sixth input corresponds to the touch screen display Click one of the indicators to select a gesture. The method of claim 47, further comprising, in response to the sixth input from the touch screen display, securing the first cursor to the first portion of the interior of the area of the touch screen display. The method of claim 49, wherein the tracking of the predetermined feature of the ultrasound image comprises tracking the predetermined feature of the ultrasound image, starting from the first cursor at the first location within the region of the touchscreen display . The method of claim 36, further comprising performing, by the computer, at least one measurement of the ultrasound image based at least in part on the tracking of the predetermined feature of the ultrasound image. The method of claim 36, further comprising connecting to a wireless data network using one of the tablets inserted into the tablet having a card reader circuit.