Ultrasound imaging systems and methods for detecting object motion
Inventors
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Assignees
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MAUI ImagingMAUI Imaging develops ultrasound-based medical imaging solutions designed to overcome the limitations of traditional ultrasound, particularly in visualizing anatomy beyond bone, air, and metal barriers. Founded in 2006, the company has pioneered Computed Echo Tomography (CET) to enable diagnostic imaging in settings where conventional CT or MRI are impractical. With over 160 patents granted and FDA clearance for its K3900 system, MAUI Imaging targets applications in trauma medicine, critical care, neurosurgery, and interventional radiology, aiming to enhance timely diagnostics and interventions in both civilian and military environments.
MAUI Imaging develops ultrasound-based medical imaging solutions designed to overcome the limitations of traditional ultrasound, particularly in visualizing anatomy beyond bone, air, and metal barriers. Founded in 2006, the company has pioneered Computed Echo Tomography (CET) to enable diagnostic imaging in settings where conventional CT or MRI are impractical. With over 160 patents granted and FDA clearance for its K3900 system, MAUI Imaging targets applications in trauma medicine, critical care, neurosurgery, and interventional radiology, aiming to enhance timely diagnostics and interventions in both civilian and military environments.
Publication Number
US-11068689-B2
Publication Date
2021-07-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
Ping-based imaging systems may be used for tracking motion of hard or soft objects within an imaged medium. Motion detection and motion tracking may be performed by defining fingerprint points and tracking the position of each fingerprint point based on the echoes of multiple transmitted pings.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method and an imaging system to track motion of an object using ping-based imaging with a controller, a transducer array, and a fiducial region defined in a region of interest. A series of unfocused ultrasound pings is transmitted into the region of interest from the transducer array, and echoes from the series are received by a plurality of transducer elements. Within the fiducial region, the controller identifies a fingerprint comprising a pattern of data in the received echoes that is identifiable as a data string.
The approach detects movement of the fingerprint and tracks the movement of the fingerprint to a new position with the controller, and communicates a signal indicating a new position of the fingerprint or a new position of the object. Echo data received by each plurality of transducer elements is stored in a separate memory string. Motion tracking is performed by identifying fingerprint movement based on the stored echo data and determining the fingerprint new position.
In the disclosed implementations, the method and system generate images from echo data and use a motion processor to define the fiducial region, identify the fingerprint in the fiducial region, detect movement of the fingerprint, and track movement of the fingerprint to a new position. Tracking can be further structured using pre-movement fingerprint patterns and post-movement search regions, where fingerprint pattern searching is used to locate the fingerprint and determine a new position. The system is implemented as coordinated subsystems including a transmit control subsystem, a receive subsystem, and an image generation subsystem together with the motion processor and raw data memory.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. Across the independent claims, the core coverage includes defining a fiducial region, transmitting a series of unfocused ultrasound pings, identifying an echo-based fingerprint data string within the fiducial region, storing echo data in separate memory strings per transducer element, detecting movement, tracking the fingerprint to a new position, and communicating or producing results via the controller and subsystems.
Fingerprint-based motion tracking using a fiducial region
Defining a fiducial region in a region of interest, identifying a fingerprint within the fiducial region, wherein the fingerprint comprises a pattern of data in the received echoes that is identifiable as a data string, detecting movement of the fingerprint, and tracking movement of the fingerprint to a new position.
Unfocused ping transmission and echo reception
Transmitting a series of unfocused ultrasound pings into the region of interest from a transducer array, receiving echoes from the series of transmitted unfocused ultrasound pings with a plurality of transducer elements of the transducer array, and identifying the fingerprint within the fiducial region based on the received echoes.
Separate memory strings per transducer element
Storing echo data received by each of the plurality of transducer elements in a separate memory string, and using the stored echo data to detect movement of the fingerprint and track the fingerprint to a new position.
Communicating a new position signal
Communicating a signal with the controller indicating a new position of the fingerprint or a new position of the object.
Imaging system subsystems for fingerprint motion detection
An imaging system comprising a transducer array, a controller including a transmit control subsystem configured to transmit a series of unfocused ultrasound pings from each of a plurality of transmit transducers, and a receive subsystem configured to receive and digitize echoes and store echo data in a separate memory string in a raw data memory.
Image generation and motion processor coordination
A controller including an image generation subsystem configured to produce images from the echo data and a motion processor configured to define a fiducial region, identify a fingerprint within the fiducial region, detect movement of the fingerprint, and track movement of the fingerprint to a new position.
The independent claims collectively cover ping-based motion detection and tracking by using an echo-based fingerprint data string within a defined fiducial region, storing per-transducer-element echo data in separate memory strings, and then detecting fingerprint movement and tracking it to a new position, with results communicated as a new-position signal and implemented via coordinated transmit, receive, image generation, and motion processor components.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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