System for generating synthetic aperture ultrasound images during needle placement

A device, comprising:

• a needle having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an ultrasound transducer element attached to the distal end of the needle,
• the ultrasound transducer element to send and receive ultrasound detection signals;
• a needle guide configured to receive the needle so that a tip of the needle extends beyond a distal end of the needle guide;
• a position encoder for determining an angular position of the needle with respect to the needle guide,
• the position encoder being disposed on the needle guide;
• and
• an ultrasound data processor configured to:
• communicate with the ultrasound transducer element to receive the ultrasound detection signals,
• communicate with a needle sensor system, incorporated into the needle guide, to receive needle angular orientation signals, and
• reconstruct focused ultrasound images using or enabled by tracking information based on the ultrasound detection signals and the needle angular orientation signals,
• synthetic aperture ultrasound images being calculated based on moving the ultrasound transducer element to various locations,
• the ultrasound transducer element being configured to emit and receive the ultrasound detection signals at the various locations,
• the tracking information comprising a determination of a spatial relationship between successive ultrasound detection signals, of the ultrasound detection signals,
• the spatial relationship between the successive ultrasound detection signals is less than a wavelength divided by two, and
• the wavelength corresponding to a central frequency of the ultrasound transducer element.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a device, ultrasound detection signals from an ultrasound transducer element,
• the ultrasound transducer element being positioned at a distal end of a needle,
• the needle being positioned within a needle guide so that a tip of the needle extends beyond a distal end of the needle guide;
• receiving, by the device, needle angular orientation signals from a position encoder,
• the needle angular orientation signals being associated with an angular rotation of the needle with respect to the needle guide;
• and
• reconstructing, by the device, focused ultrasound images using or enabled by tracking information based on the ultrasound detection signals and the needle angular orientation signals,
• synthetic aperture ultrasound images being calculated based on moving the ultrasound transducer element to various locations,
• the ultrasound transducer element being configured to emit and receive the ultrasound detection signals at the various locations,
• a spatial relationship between successive ultrasound detection signals is less than a wavelength divided by two, and
• the wavelength corresponding to a central frequency of the ultrasound transducer element.