Systems and methods of 3 dimensional ultrasonic imaging of hard tissue

A system for creating an ultrasonic image of a hard tissue within a target, the system comprising:

• (a) at least one ultrasonic transducer:
• (i) said at least one transducer positioned at a defined location;
• (ii) said at least one transducer capable of transmitting a focused beam of ultrasonic energy towards the target;
• (iii) said at least one transducer capable of receiving a significant portion of said energy as an echo-reflection from a surface of the hard tissue;
• and
• (iv) said at least one transducer transducer capable of communication with a central processing unit;
• (b) a position locator and adjustment mechanism coupled to said at least one transducer;
• (i) said position locator and adjustment mechanism designed and constructed to be capable of adjusting an angle of incidence between said focused beam and said surface of the hard tissue in response to a command from said central processing unit;
• (ii) said position locator and adjustment mechanism further designed and constructed to be capable of defining said location of said transducer in six degrees of freedom and transmitting said definition to said central processing unit;
• (iii) said position locator and adjustment mechanism further designed and constructed to be capable of moving said ultrasonic transducer to a series of different defined location;
• (c) said central processing unit designed and configured to;
• (i) transmit commands to said position locator and adjustment mechanism to cause said transducer to move to said series of different defined locations
• (ii) calculate a set of position co-ordinates for at least portion of said surface of the hard tissue causing said echo-reflection;
• (iii) compile a plurality of said sets of position co-ordinates to generate a map of at least a portion of said surface of the hard tissue by applying a predetermined rule.

A method of creating an ultrasonic image of a hard tissue including irregularities thereupon, the method comprising:

• (a) transmitting a focused beam of ultrasonic energy from at least one ultrasonic transducer at a first defined location towards a surface of the hard tissue;
• (b) receiving a portion of said energy as an echo-reflection at at least one second defined location;
• (c) calculating a set of position co-ordinates corresponding to an ultrasonic reflector for each of said at least one second defined location;
• (d) repeating steps a through c;
• (e) deciding if said reflector is a hard tissue according to a first predetermined criteria;
• (f) deciding if said reflector is an irregularity on the surface of hard tissue according to a second predetermined criteria;
• and
• (g) compiling at least a portion of said sets of position co-ordinates to generate a map of at least a portion of said surface of the hard tissue.

A system for creating an ultrasonic image of a hard tissue and any irregularities thereupon within a target, the system comprising:

• (a) at least one ultrasonic transmitter capable of transmitting a focused beam of ultrasonic energy from at least one first defined location towards a surface of the hard tissue and further capable of communication with a central processing unit;
• (b) at least one ultrasonic receiver capable of receiving a portion of said energy as an echo-reflection at at least one second defined location and further capable of communication with said central processing unit;
• (c) a position locator and adjustment mechanism operably connectable to said at least one transmitter and said at least one receiver and capable of communication with said central processing unit and designed and constructed to be capable of moving said transmitter and said receiver to a series of different defined locations;
• and
• (d) said central processing unit designed and configured to:
• (i) calculate a set of position co-ordinates corresponding to an ultrasonic reflector for each of said at least one second defined location;
• (ii) decide if said reflector is a hard tissue according to a first predetermined criteria;
• (iii) decide if said reflector constitutes an irregularity on the surface of the hard tissue according to a second predetermined criteria
• (iv) compile at least a portion of said sets of position co-ordinates to generate a map of at least a portion of said surface of the hard tissue;
• and
• (v) transmit commands to said position locator and adjustment mechanism to cause said transducer to move to said series of different defined locations