Calibration of ultrasound probes
AssigneeMaui Imaging, Inc.
InventorsDavid M. Smith, Sharon L. Adam, Donald F. Specht, Kenneth D. Brewer, John P. Lunsford, David J. Specht
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Abstract
A method of calibrating an ultrasound probe includes mounting an ultrasound probe onto a calibration system, transmitting an ultrasound test signal from an element of the probe through a test medium of the calibration system, and receiving the test signal on a matrix of hydrophones such that an element's position relative to other elements and other arrays within the same probe can be computed. Further, the system described herein is configured to detect the acoustic performance of elements of a probe and report the results to an end user or service provider.
Claims13
An ultrasound probe calibration device, comprising:
- a tank having a top portion, a bottom wall, at least one side wall between the top portion and the bottom wall, an internal volume filled with a gel or a solid filler material, and at least one target within the tank volume;
- and
- the upper portion defining an ultrasound probe docking area having at least one ultrasound probe receiver and a mechanical docking device configured to hold an ultrasound probe in a substantially rigid, consistent, and immobile position,
- wherein the at least one ultrasound probe receiver comprises electrical contacts arranged and configured to interact with corresponding electrical contacts on an ultrasound probe positioned in the at least one ultrasound probe receiver.
An ultrasound probe calibration device, comprising:
- a tank having a top portion, a bottom wall, at least one side wall between the top portion and the bottom wall, an internal volume filled with a gel or a solid filler material, and at least one target within the tank volume wherein the target comprises a hydrophone matrix on the bottom wall of the tank;
- and
- the upper portion defining an ultrasound probe docking area having at least one ultrasound probe receiver and a mechanical docking device configured to hold an ultrasound probe in a substantially rigid, consistent, and immobile position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.