Portable ultrasound apparatus, portable ultrasound system and diagnosing method using ultrasound
Inventors
JIN, Gil-ju • AHN, Mi-Jeoung • Kim, Hyoung-jin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12213833-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided are a portable ultrasound apparatus, a portable ultrasound system, and an ultrasound diagnosis method performed by using the portable ultrasound apparatus. The portable ultrasound apparatus includes at least two probes having different specifications; a first display unit for displaying an ultrasound image; and a second display unit for displaying a control screen.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a portable ultrasound apparatus that includes a first probe and a second probe having different specifications compared to the first probe. A sensing unit detects an activated probe from between the first probe and the second probe, and activation display units formed around each probe show activation of the corresponding probe. The apparatus further includes first and second digital beamformers configured to control the first and second probes, respectively, while a control unit controls elements included in the portable ultrasound apparatus.
The apparatus supports different transducer constructions and signal processing for the differently specified probes, including linear array-type transducer and convex array-type transducer configurations. The digital beamformers are configured to control ultrasound signals and echo signals, including focusing and dynamic focusing of ultrasound signals and echo signals reflected from a target object. Activation behavior is tied to ultrasound transmission from the activated probe, and the activation display is responsive to which probe is transmitting.
A related aspect is a method for controlling the portable ultrasound apparatus. The method transmits an ultrasound signal from an activated probe between the first probe and the second probe, and in a first case activates a first activation display unit, while in a second case activates a second activation display unit. The turning on of at least one of the activation display units is determined based on a direction in which the ultrasound signal is transmitted from the activated probe, and the method includes receiving an echo signal and generating and displaying an ultrasound image.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims identified are clm-00001 and clm-00008, and the inventive features mainly cover probe activation detection with corresponding activation display units, separate digital beamformers for different probes, and control/display behavior for activation determined by the transmission direction, including optional image generation and echo reception.
Activated probe detection with probe-specific activation display units
A sensing unit detects an activated probe from between the first probe and the second probe, and first and second activation display units formed around the first probe and the second probe show activation of the corresponding probe.
Separate digital beamforming for first and second probes
A first digital beamformer controls the first probe and a second digital beamformer controls the second probe.
Directional determination of activation display unit turning on
Turning on of at least one of the first activation display unit and the second activation display unit is determined based on a direction in which the ultrasound signal is transmitted from the activated probe.
Ultrasound transmission from activated probe with case-based display control
The method transmits an ultrasound signal from an activated probe between the first probe and the second probe; in a first case where the activated probe is the first probe, the method turns on the first activation display unit; in a second case where the activated probe is the second probe, the method shows activation of the second probe by turning on the second activation display unit formed around the second probe.
Echo reception, focusing, and ultrasound image generation for activated probe
Using the activated probe to receive an echo signal corresponding to an ultrasound signal transmitted to an object; focusing an ultrasound signal and dynamically focusing an echo signal reflected from a target object; generating an ultrasound image from the echo signal and displaying the ultrasound image on at least one display unit.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on detecting which probe is activated, indicating activation via corresponding activation display units, and controlling probe-specific beamforming with separate digital beamformers. For the method, the activation display unit selection is determined by the direction of ultrasound signal transmission from the activated probe, and, in narrower embodiments, echo reception, focusing/dynamic focusing, and ultrasound image generation and display are performed.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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