US 12,678,133 B2 · Ultrasound probe with smart accessory

Abstract

A medical ultrasound system and methods of using the system. The medical ultrasound system can include an ultrasound probe and one of a plurality of optional accessories attached to the ultrasound probe. The accessory can exchange data with the probe and receive power from the probe. The accessory can include processors and logic that governs its operation thereby adding functionality to the probe. The accessory can receive input and provide output via any of a number of communication mechanisms, i.e., wireless, electrical, optical, RFID, IR, and the like. The accessory can add functionality to the probe, such as fiber optic shape sensing, obtaining electrical signals, obtaining bio-impedance measurements, tracking a needle, and determining the orientation of the probe. The accessory may include a needle guide, a triphalangeal support structure, or an acoustically transparent cap.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of using an ultrasound system, the ultrasound system including an ultrasound probe and an accessory, the method comprising:

coupling the ultrasound probe to the accessory across a medical procedural barrier, the accessory comprising a fiber optic system including an optical fiber having a plurality of sensors disposed along a length thereof;
advancing the optical fiber along a blood vessel of a patient;
and
optically exchanging data between the ultrasound probe and the accessory via a communication interface including a fiber-optical coupling mechanism, the data selected from the group consisting of doppler data related to fluid or tissue motion adjacent the optical fiber, an image acquired by the optical fiber, a shape or strain of the optical fiber, a motion of the optical fiber, and combinations thereof.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultrasound probe with smart accessory

Life of this patent

Ultrasound probe with smart accessory

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17