Ultrasound ranging for localization of imaging transducer
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorN. Parker Willis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for localizing an ultrasound imaging transducer. The ultrasound imaging transducer is operated in a first resonant mode to transmit an ultrasound imaging signal. Image data is generated based on this transmitted ultrasound imaging signal. The ultrasound imaging transducer is also operated in a second resonant mode to transmit or receive an ultrasound positioning signal. The position of the imaging transducer can then be determined based on the transmitted or received ultrasound positioning signal.
Claims33
A method of localizing an ultrasound imaging transducer, comprising:
- operating the ultrasound imaging transducer in a first resonant mode to transmit an ultrasound imaging signal;
- generating image data based on the transmitted ultrasound imaging signal;
- operating the ultrasound imaging transducer in a second resonant mode to transmit or receive an ultrasound positioning signal, the second resonant mode being different from the first resonant mode;
- and
- determining a position of the imaging transducer based on the transmitted or received ultrasound positioning signal.
An ultrasound imaging transducer localization system, comprising:
- an ultrasound imaging transducer having first and second resonant modes;
- and
- control/processing circuitry coupled to the imaging transducer for operating the imaging transducer in the first resonant mode to transmit an ultrasound imaging signal, and for operating the imaging transducer in the second resonant mode to transmit or receive an ultrasound positioning signal, the control/processing circuitry configured for generating image data based on the transmitted imaging signal, and for determining a position of the imaging transducer based on the transmitted or received positioning signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.