# US 2026/0083433 A1 · Ultrasound probe with improved center position detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0083433 A1 - Document ID: US20260083433A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/335,831 - Filed: 2025-09-22 - Published: 2026-03-26 - Earliest claimed: 2024-09-23 - Assignees: GE Precision Healthcare LLC - Applicants: GE Precision Healthcare LLC - Inventors: Christian Heinrich; Krystof Jezek; Bernhard Aschenbrenner; Reinhard Wimmer; Wolfgang Knoll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260083433A1 ## CPC - A61B 8/445: {Details of catheter construction} - A61B 8/4461: {Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe} - A61B 8/08: Clinical applications (A61B8/02, A61B8/04, A61B8/06 take precedence) - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/4254: {using sensors mounted on the probe} - A61B 8/4405: {Device being mounted on a trolley} - A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe} - A61B 8/4494: {characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements} - A61B 8/461: {Displaying means of special interest} - A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device} - A61B 8/58: {Testing, adjusting or calibrating the diagnostic device} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Systems and methods for providing an ultrasound imaging system with improved center position detection are described herein. In one example, the ultrasound imaging system includes a probe with a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a processing circuit. The distal portion includes a first magnet and a first sensor. The proximal portion is positioned at a head of the probe and includes a transducer, a second magnet, and a second sensor. The processing circuit is configured to detect a first voltage signal edge via the first magnet and the first sensor, rotate the transducer from a first position to a second position to locate a second voltage signal edge via the second magnet and the second sensor, determine a difference between the first voltage signal edge and the second voltage signal edge, and rotate transducer from the second position to the first position, the first position being a central position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasound imaging system comprising: a probe comprising: a distal portion comprising a first magnet and a first sensor; and a proximal portion comprising a transducer, a second magnet, and a second sensor, the proximal portion positioned at a head of the probe; a processing circuit comprising a processor coupled to a memory device storing instructions thereon, the processing circuit configured to: detect a first voltage signal edge via the first magnet and the first sensor; rotate, based on locating the first voltage signal edge, the transducer from a first position to a second position to locate a second voltage signal edge via the second magnet and the second sensor; determine a difference between the first voltage signal edge and the second voltage signal edge; and rotate, based on the difference being within a predetermined threshold, the transducer from the second position to the first position, the first position being a central position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to display a message on a user interface communicatively coupled to the probe during initialization of the probe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 2, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to: based on failing to locate the second voltage signal edge, deselect the probe and display an error message on the user interface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 2, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to: based on the difference being outside of the predetermined threshold, deselecting the probe and displaying an error message on the user interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a motor, the motor including: a first end configured to facilitate movement of the first magnet, a second end configured to drive a rotation assembly in the head, the rotation assembly configured to facilitate movement of the transducer and the second magnet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the probe is an endocavity probe, and the distal portion is a handle of the endocavity probe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor are hall-effect sensors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is positioned on a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), the flexible PCB mounted to a stationary carrier of the probe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a transducer housing, the transducer housing enclosing the second magnet at the head, thereby creating a barrier between the second sensor and the second magnet. ### Claim 10 An ultrasound probe comprising: a distal portion comprising a first magnet and a first sensor; and a proximal portion comprising a transducer, a second magnet, and a second sensor, the proximal portion positioned at a head of the ultrasound probe; and a processing circuit comprising a processor coupled to a memory device storing instructions thereon, the processing circuit configured to: detect a first voltage signal edge via the first magnet and the first sensor; rotate, based on locating the first voltage signal edge, the transducer from a first position to a second position to locate a second voltage signal edge via the second magnet and the second sensor; determine a difference between the first voltage signal edge and the second voltage signal edge; and rotate, based on the difference being within a predetermined threshold, the transducer from the second position to the first position, the first position being a central position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ultrasound probe of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to display a message on a user interface communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe during initialization of the ultrasound probe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ultrasound probe of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to: based on failing to locate the first voltage signal edge, deselect the ultrasound probe and display an error message on the user interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The ultrasound probe of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to: based on the difference being outside of the predetermined threshold, deselecting the ultrasound probe and displaying an error message on the user interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The ultrasound probe of claim 11, further comprising a motor, the motor including: a first end configured to facilitate movement of the first magnet, a second end configured to drive a rotation assembly in the head, the rotation assembly configured to facilitate movement of the transducer and the second magnet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The ultrasound probe of claim 10, wherein the ultrasound probe is an endocavity probe, and the distal portion is a handle of the endocavity probe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The ultrasound probe of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor are hall-effect sensors. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The ultrasound probe of claim 10, wherein the first sensor is positioned on a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), the flexible PCB mounted to a stationary carrier of the ultrasound probe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The ultrasound probe of claim 10, further comprising a transducer housing, the transducer housing enclosing the second magnet at the head, thereby creating a barrier between the second sensor and the second magnet. ### Claim 19 A system for initializing an ultrasound probe comprising: a processing circuit comprising a processor coupled to a memory device storing instructions thereon, the processing circuit configured to: detect a first voltage signal edge via a first magnet and a first sensor positioned at a distal portion of the ultrasound probe; rotate, based on locating the first voltage signal edge, a transducer from a first position to a second position to locate a second voltage signal edge via a second magnet and a second sensor positioned at a proximal portion of the ultrasound probe; determine a difference between the first voltage signal edge and the second voltage signal edge; and rotate, based on the difference being within a predetermined threshold, the transducer from the second position to the first position, the first position being a central position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to display a message on a user interface communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe during initialization of the ultrasound probe.