Diagnostic ultrasound monitoring system and method
Inventors
Koptenko, Sergei • Hayes, Thomas • Lyon, Matthew
Assignees
Ur Sus Medical Technology Inc • Ursus Medical Designs LLC
Publication Number
US-11478227-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-25
Expiration Date
2037-11-13
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Abstract
A distributed patient monitoring system comprises at least one standalone portable ultrasound imaging unit configured to be fixed to a stable position against the skin on a patient's body and capable of prolonged ultrasound data acquisition, including an ultrasound imaging array, transmit-receive circuitry, a beamformer, backend signal and image processing subsystem, power and communication subsystems, and a monitoring workstation connected to each standalone portable ultrasound imaging unit configured to request and receive ultrasound imaging information from each standalone portable ultrasound imaging unit, and configured to analyze and display acquired ultrasound information.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a distributed patient monitoring system comprising at least one standalone portable ultrasound imaging unit configured to be fixed to a stable position against the skin on a patient's body and capable of prolonged ultrasound data acquisition. Each unit includes an ultrasound imaging array, transmit-receive circuitry, a beamformer, backend signal and image processing subsystem, power and communication subsystems. The system also includes a monitoring workstation connected to each portable unit, configured to request and receive ultrasound imaging information, analyze, and display the acquired ultrasound information.
This system addresses the need for long-term, stable, and minimally operator-dependent ultrasound monitoring that is impractical with current systems which rely on manual probe positioning and require continuous presence of trained sonographers. The invention solves the problem of miniaturizing diagnostic ultrasound down to a smartphone form factor with low power consumption and enabling remote, prolonged data acquisition from stable positions on the patient's body.
The invention further provides the capability for distributed monitoring with multiple portable units connected to one or multiple patients, dynamic control of scanning parameters and data acquisition frequency by the monitoring workstation from remote locations, and automated analysis and alerting based on integrated ultrasound and ancillary sensor data. The portable ultrasound units may include 2D arrays formed as single-chip systems, and may provide various imaging modalities including B-mode, Doppler, elastography, and more. The system also supports image fusion from multiple units and position tracking through sensors, enabling enhanced diagnostic and monitoring functions.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim encompassing the main inventive aspects of a distributed patient monitoring system using portable ultrasound units and a monitoring workstation. The claims cover multiple novel features relating to ultrasound unit design, system configuration, data acquisition control, and monitoring functionalities.
Distributed patient monitoring system architecture
A system comprising multiple standalone portable ultrasound imaging units each fixed to a stable position on a patient's body with low power consumption (less than 40 milliwatts per channel), including ultrasound imaging arrays, transmit-receive circuitry, beamformers, backend processing, power, and communication subsystems, coupled to a monitoring workstation that requests, receives, analyzes, and displays ultrasound data.
Dynamic and remote control of scanning parameters
The monitoring workstation sets and controls scanning parameters, including frequency and orientation of acquisition, dynamically and from a remote location for each portable ultrasound imaging unit.
Integration and alerting based on ancillary sensor data
The monitoring workstation displays integrated patient health parameters inferred from ultrasound images and ancillary sensor data, and alerts operators to changes indicating worsening patient condition or equipment malfunction, including suggesting optimal courses of action.
Wireless transmission and visual display on ultrasound units
Wireless transmission of patient data from the monitoring workstation to ancillary portable displays, and small visual displays on each ultrasound unit configured to show health parameters or scan progress.
Ultrasound array design and data modalities
Each ultrasound imaging array comprises a 2D array formed as a single-chip ultrasound system, capable of recording multiple data types such as raw RF, B-mode, continuous wave Doppler, color Doppler, vector flow imaging, shearwave elastography, and acoustic radiation pressure imaging.
Position and orientation sensors and organ tracking
At least one standalone portable ultrasound imaging unit is equipped with position and orientation sensors and configured to aid in organ position tracking.
Combined fused imaging from multiple units
The monitoring workstation can obtain and display combined fused images or data volumes from multiple standalone portable ultrasound imaging units.
The claims collectively cover the design and operation of a distributed ultrasound patient monitoring system with portable low-power ultrasound units fixed to the patient, remotely controlled dynamic scanning, data integration and alerting functionalities, multi-modality ultrasound imaging arrays, position tracking capabilities, and advanced visualization through fused imaging.
Stated Advantages
Significant reduction in system size, power consumption, and production cost compared to current ultrasound systems.
Ability for long-term stable ultrasound data acquisition without requiring constant operator presence.
Remote monitoring capability with wireless transmission to any display equipped to receive data.
Scalable architecture enabling distributed arrays and fusion of image data for enhanced diagnostics.
Improved image quality and reduced costs with novel single-chip 2D ultrasound arrays.
Documented Applications
Long-term patient monitoring including monitoring of healing progress in trauma or surgery sites.
Detection of blood clots in blood vessels.
Heart monitoring to predict cardiac collapse in trauma patients.
Monitoring during surgery or treatment.
Providing feedback during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures regarding chest compression efficacy, return of spontaneous circulation, and underlying cardiac rhythm without cessation of CPR.
Telemedicine applications enabling remote diagnostics.
Organ position tracking during image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT), surgery, or long-term organ monitoring.
Use in non-destructive testing (e.g., pipeline, airframe, turbine blade inspections), sonar, radar, terahertz, optical imaging systems, and seismic geophysical exploration requiring long-term monitoring.
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