# US 10,945,706 B2 · Hand held ultrasound probe

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- Number: US 10,945,706 B2
- Document ID: US10945706B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/785,091
- Filed: 2017-10-16
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-05
- Assignees: Biim Ultrasound AS
- Applicants: Biim Ultrasound AS
- Inventors: Jari Huhtamaki; Tuomo Liedes; Tanar Ulric; Craig Bockenstedt; Blake Little; Trygve Burchardt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945706B2

## CPC

- A61B 8/4455: {Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects}
- A61B 8/4427: {Device being portable or laptop-like}
- A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe}
- A61B 8/4461: {Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe}
- A61B 8/4472: {Wireless probes}
- A61B 8/58: {Testing, adjusting or calibrating the diagnostic device}
- G01S 7/52079: {Constructional features (constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44)}
- G01S 7/5208: {with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead}
- G10K 11/004: {Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device (mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00)}
- G10K 11/30: using refraction, e.g. acoustic lenses
- G10K 11/346: {using phase variation}
- G10K 11/357: {by moving a reflector}
- G16H 40/40: for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
- A61B 8/4254: {using sensors mounted on the probe}
- A61B 8/4281: {characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue}
- A61B 8/44: {Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device}
- A61B 8/4494: {characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements}
- A61B 8/5269: {involving detection or reduction of artifacts}
- A61B 8/56: {Details of data transmission or power supply}
- A61B 8/565: {involving data transmission via a network}
- B06B 1/0215: {for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)

## Abstract

A portable ultrasound probe is described having a mechanical transducer, rotating mirror and mirror motor. The transducer can be used for diagnostic imaging and procedural guidance imaging. The probe has a light weight design for easy one handed use, and can use external processors to provide proper image display with accompanying software.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hand held ultrasound transducer probe comprising:
a housing defining a first chamber and a second chamber within the housing, the first chamber comprising an electronics package and a power supply, and the second chamber being a liquid tight chamber comprising:
an ultrasound transducer having a primary axis of transmission defining a first axis X, wherein the electronics package is configured to drive the ultrasound transducer;
an acoustic mirror;
a drive motor for moving the acoustic mirror;
an acoustic lens aligned with the acoustic mirror;
a flexible membrane to partition the second chamber into a first section and a second section; and
an anechoic region comprising a plurality of annular steps each defining a plane oriented to reflect ultrasound energy outwardly away from the primary axis of transmission, the anechoic region positioned such that the plurality of annular steps are positioned outside of the primary axis of transmission;
wherein the first section is adapted to contain an ultrasound transmission fluid and includes the ultrasound transducer, the acoustic mirror, the anechoic region, and the drive motor, and the second section contains a gas such that the flexible membrane may expand into the second section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 1, wherein a second axis of transmission Y is defined by the acoustic mirror and the acoustic lens.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 2, wherein the ratio of the first axis X to the second axis of transmission Y is less than 1:3.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 1, wherein the electronics package further comprises a wireless communication circuit, a transmit image buffer, and an adjustable network address.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 1, wherein the second chamber further comprises:
a sensor in a fixed position and lined up with the acoustic mirror so the sensor is within a circumference area defined by the acoustic mirror; and
a reflector on the acoustic mirror and positioned to be detected by the sensor, such that as the acoustic mirror moves, the reflector is detected each time it passes over the sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 1, wherein the second chamber further comprises an anechoic feature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of steps has a separate tread arc and rise angle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 6, wherein the anechoic feature is a lining material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 1, wherein the electronics package is configured to perform a decimation reduction of a sample bit to reduce data volume by 80%.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 1, wherein the hand held ultrasound transducer probe weighs less than 250 g.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The hand held ultrasound transducer probe of claim 1, wherein the second chamber further comprises a fill port and an exhaust port.