Ultrasonic diagnostic systems for imaging medical instruments within the body

An ultrasonic imaging system for depicting the location of a medical instrument within the body of a patient comprising:

• an ultrasonic imaging transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves over a planar interior region of the body;
• a medical instrument for use within the body and having an ultrasonic transducer associated therewith for exchange of ultrasonic wave energy with said imaging transducer as said instrument transducer approaches and intersects said planar region;
• amplitude detection means, responsive to the exchange of ultrasonic wave energy by said imaging and instrument transducers, for detecting the level of ultrasonic wave energy exchanged therebetween and producing a level signal representative thereof;
• means, coupled to said amplitude detection means, for producing a variable signal which varies as a function of changes in the level of exchanged ultrasonic wave energy;
• means for producing an audible tone;
• and
• means, responsive to said variable signal and coupled to said audible tone producing means, for modulating said tone as a function of changes in the level of ultrasonic wave energy exchanged by said imaging and instrument transducers.

An ultrasonic imaging system for depicting the location of a medical instrument within the body of a patient comprising:

• an ultrasonic imaging transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves over a planar interior region of the body;
• a medical instrument for use within the body and having an ultrasonic transducer associated therewith for reception of ultrasonic wave energy from said imaging transducer as said instrument transducer approaches and intersects said planar region;
• amplitude detection means, responsive to reception of ultrasonic wave energy by said instrument transducer, for detecting the level of received ultrasonic wave energy and producing a level signal representative thereof;
• means, coupled to said amplitude detection means, for producing a variable signal which varies as a function of changes in the level of received ultrasonic wave energy;
• means for producing an audible tone;
• and
• means, responsive to said variable signal and coupled to said audible tone producing means, for modulating said tone as a function of changes in the level of ultrasonic wave energy received by said instrument transducer.

In an ultrasonic imaging system for depicting the location of a medical instrument within the body of a patient, including

• imaging transducer means for producing imaging signals of an interior region of the body,
• an ultrasonic image display means for displaying a depth calibrated ultrasonic image of an interior region of the body in response to imaging signals produced by said imaging transducer means,
• an invasive medical instrument having an ultrasonic transducer affixed thereto for actuation within the body, and
• apparatus, coupled to said ultrasonic image display means and to said invasive medical instrument, for generating a visual marker in response to actuation of said ultrasonic transducer for display in said ultrasonic image indicating the location of said invasive medical instrument in said interior region, said apparatus further comprising:
• actuation timing measurement means for measuring the time of actuation of said ultrasonic transducer of said invasive medical instrument;
• and
• means for generating a calibration signal, including means for coupling said calibration signal to said ultrasonic image display means for display calibration of said actuation timing measurement means in relation to said depth calibrated ultrasonic image.