Relative position determination medical ultrasound scans
OwnerRomain Moreau-Gobard, Gianluca Paladiniinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Using a conformal array or an ultrasound probe sequentially positioned at different locations, scans of overlapping regions are performed. A fiber optic sensor or light intensity based sensor determines the relative position of the probe or arrays for each of the scans. This relative position simplifies data correlation by limiting the search and/or is used to determine the relative position of the scans or data. The data may be aligned and combined.
Claims21
A method for determining relative position of ultrasound scans, the method comprising:
- scanning a first region with a first ultrasound transducer;
- scanning a second region with a second ultrasound transducer;
- measuring a relative position of the first ultrasound transducer with the second ultrasound transducer as a function of light intensity;
- and
- spatially aligning data from the scanning of the first region with data from the scanning of the second region, the spatially aligning being a function of the relative position.
A system for determining relative position of ultrasound scans, the system comprising:
- a plurality of arrays;
- a blanket flexibly connecting the plurality of arrays;
- a fiber optic sensor connected with or adjacent each of the arrays of the plurality;
- and
- a processor operable to determine a bend of the blanket between the arrays as a function of output of the fiber optic sensor.
A medical ultrasound transducer comprising:
- a conformal array of transducer elements;
- fiber optic strands connected with the conformal array;
- and
- a sensor operable to determine bend of the conformal array as a function of light transmitted in the fiber optic strands.
A system for determining relative position of ultrasound scans, the system comprising:
- an ultrasound array of elements;
- a fiber optic sensor connected with or adjacent to the ultrasound array and connectable at another location;
- and
- a processor operable to determine a position of the ultrasound array as a function of output of the fiber optic sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.