# US 12,758,187 B2 · Ultrasonic system for point of care and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,758,187 B2 - Document ID: US12758187B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/191,741 - Filed: 2023-03-28 - Published: 2023-10-05 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-31 - Assignees: KBR Wyle Services, LLC - Applicants: KBR Wyle Services, LLC - Inventors: F Jeffrey Scott Arndt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758187B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/4455: {Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects} - A61B 8/4227: {characterised by straps, belts, cuffs or braces} - A61B 8/4488: {the transducer being a phased array} - A61B 8/5276: {due to motion} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An ultrasonic diagnostic system that may include a transducer having a deformable housing, at least one securing member, and an ultrasonic transducer array disposed in the deformable housing. The transducer array may include a plurality of transducer elements and the deformable housing flexes to conform to a surface contour of a selected region on a body of a patient. An information processing device may be in signal communication with the transducer and may include at least one beamforming algorithm and at least one image enhancement algorithm. The at least one beamforming algorithm may be configured to correct for arbitrary positions of the transducer elements of the ultrasonic transducer array. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasonic diagnostic system, comprising: a single transducer comprising: a deformable housing configured to conform to a surface contour of a selected region; one or more securing members configured to removably affix the deformable housing to a surface; and an ultrasonic transducer array disposed in the deformable housing and comprising a plurality of transducer elements configured to assume arbitrary positions when the housing is deformed, wherein the transducer elements are arranged at a pitch of about 450 μm to 710 μm, and a center frequency for the transducer array is from about 1.2 MHz to about 5.7 MHz, and wherein the transducer is configured to collect image data while in a fixed position and to communicate the image data to an information processing device that comprises at least a beamforming algorithm or an image enhancement algorithm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein each transducer element of the ultrasonic transducer array is movable relative to one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the beamforming algorithm is configured to correct for: (i) changes in relative locations of one or more of the plurality of transducer elements of the transducer array, and (ii) changes in relative orientations of one or more of the plurality of the transducer elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the information processing device further comprises a distance correction algorithm configured to correct for changes in distance between one or more of the plurality of transducer elements and internal body tissue. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the information processing device further comprises a motion correction algorithm configured to correct for a displacement of an internal feature below the surface contour and one or more of the plurality of transducer elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the information processing device further comprises a motion correction algorithm configured to correct for a displacement of a feature of interest inside a body of a patient, wherein the feature of interest comprises: (i) bodily tissue, or (ii) a fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the image enhancement algorithm is configured to perform segmentation of an image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 1, further comprising a display device in signal communication with the information processing device. ### Claim 9 A method for collecting image data, comprising: securing a single transducer to a selected location, the transducer comprising a deformable housing, at least one securing member, and an ultrasonic transducer array comprising a plurality of transducer elements having a center frequency ranging from about 1.2 MHz to about 5.7 MHz and disposed within the deformable housing arranged at a pitch of about 450 μm to 710 μm; collecting image data by operating the transducer via an information processing device while keeping the transducer stationary relative to the selected location; correcting the collected image data using at least one beamforming algorithm, wherein the at least one beamforming algorithm corrects for arbitrary positions of one or more of the plurality of transducer elements of the ultrasonic transducer array; and enhancing an image representative of the collected image data using at least one image enhancement algorithm to provide an enhanced image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying the enhanced image on a display device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the securing the transducer comprises one of: (i) securing the transducer using an adhesive, and (ii) compressing the transducer to the selected location using a band. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising correcting the image data collected to reduce errors arising from relative motion between the transducer and a region of interest below a surface of the selected location. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the selected location comprises a body region of a patient and the transducer is secured to a cutaneous surface of the body of the patient. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising correcting the image data collected to reduce errors arising from relative motion between the transducer and an internal organ within the body of the patient. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a machine program embedded therein and accessible to at least one processor for executing the machine program, the at least one processor being associated with a single transducer configured to acquire image data below a selected surface, wherein the single transducer comprises an ultrasonic transducer array having a plurality of transducer elements arranged at a pitch of about 450 μm to 710 μm, wherein the machine program comprises: instructions to operate the transducer at a center frequency ranging from about 1.2 MHz to about 5.7 MHz and to collect image data; instructions to correct the collected image data for arbitrary positions of the transducer elements of the ultrasonic transducer array; and instructions to enhance an image representative of the collected image data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the transducer is configured to acquire image data representative of internal body tissue.