Calibration of ultrasound probes
AssigneeMaui Imaging, Inc.
InventorsDonald F. Specht, Kenneth D. Brewer, David M. Smith, Sharon L. Adam, John P. Lunsford, David J. Specht
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Abstract
A method of calibrating an ultrasound probe includes mounting an ultrasound probe onto a calibration system, transmitting an ultrasound test signal from an element of the probe through a test medium of the calibration system, and receiving the test signal on a matrix of hydrophones such that an element's position relative to other elements and other arrays within the same probe can be computed. Further, the system described herein is configured to detect the acoustic performance of elements of a probe and report the results to an end user or service provider.
Claims34
A method of calibrating an ultrasound probe, the method comprising:
- mounting an ultrasound probe onto a calibration system;
- transmitting an ultrasound test signal from an element of the probe through a test medium of the calibration system;
- receiving the test signal at a first hydrophone of the calibration system at a first time;
- receiving the test signal at a second hydrophone of the calibration system at a second time;
- receiving the test signal at a third hydrophone of the calibration system at a third time;
- and
- determining an acoustic position of the element based upon differences in the first time, the second time, and the third time.
A method of determining functionality of an ultrasound probe, the method comprising:
- mounting an ultrasound probe onto a calibration system;
- transmitting an ultrasound test signal between a hydrophone of the calibration system and an element of the probe, the transmitting occurring through test medium of the calibration system;
- and
- determining an acoustic performance of the element.
A system for calibrating an ultrasound probe, the system comprising:
- a tank substantially filled with a test medium;
- a dock attached to the tank, the dock configured to hold an ultrasound probe;
- and
- a plurality of hydrophones arranged in a matrix along a wall of the tank opposite the dock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.