Methods for Needle Identification on an Ultrasound Display Screen

Abstract

A needle assembly for use with an autonomous ultrasound imaging system includes a needle having a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be inserted into a patient. The needle assembly also includes a needle transducer mounted to an exterior surface of the needle and is electrically coupled to a power source. The needle transducer is configured to receive data signals from the autonomous ultrasound imaging system which contain information relating to a plurality of ultrasound waves generated by an ultrasound probe of the autonomous ultrasound imaging system. The needle assembly further includes at least one processor configured to perform one or more operations, including but not limited to, generating a location signal for at least one portion of the needle based on the data signals from the autonomous ultrasound imaging system and modifying at least one characteristic of the location signal so as to improve visibility of the location signal on the display screen, wherein the modified location signal is displayed on a display screen during use of the needle assembly so as to locate the at least one portion of the needle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.