Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110152690 | HANDHELD FORCE-CONTROLLED ULTRASOUND PROBE - A handheld ultrasound probe includes force detection and feedback to permit control and/or characterization of applied forces. The probe may, for example, be operated to maintain a substantially constant applied force over a period of use independent of a user's hand position, or to measure applied forces that might contribute to deformation of an imaging subject. | 06-23-2011 |
20110166453 | HANDHELD FORCE-CONTROLLED ULTRASOUND PROBE - A handheld ultrasound probe includes force detection and feedback to permit control and/or characterization of applied forces. The probe may, for example, be operated to maintain a substantially constant applied force over a period of use independent of a user's hand position, or to measure applied forces that might contribute to deformation of an imaging subject. | 07-07-2011 |
20110172541 | HANDHELD FORCE-CONTROLLED ULTRASOUND PROBE - A handheld ultrasound probe includes force detection and feedback to permit control and/or characterization of applied forces. The probe may, for example, be operated to maintain a substantially constant applied force over a period of use independent of a user's hand position, or to measure applied forces that might contribute to deformation of an imaging subject. | 07-14-2011 |
20120172710 | QUANTITATIVE ELASTOGRAPHY - A contact force sensor is used to detect an instantaneous contact force for an ultrasound probe while an ultrasound image is obtained. The contact force can be used to evaluate tissue deformation in response to the applied force, which permits enhanced imaging such as estimation of undeformed tissue shapes and a determination of tissue elasticity. | 07-05-2012 |
20120316407 | SONOGRAPHER FATIGUE MONITORING - Quantitative measurement of parameters pertaining to scan technique, such as applied force and transducer angulation, is used to identify ultrasound users at increased risk for injury. Usage patterns known to increase risk of injury can also be used to identify poor scanning techniques during a scan and provide in-scan feedback to an ultrasound user to change scanning behavior. Data regarding scan technique can be aggregated to determine the risk of injury to an individual ultrasound machine operator. This data may be used by ultrasound machine operators and ultrasound managers to prevent injury by pre-emptively correcting scan technique associated with injury. | 12-13-2012 |
20130278756 | Sensor for Simultaneous Measurement of Thickness and Lateral Position of a Transparent Object - System for measuring thickness and lateral position of a transparent object. The system includes a camera having a sensor for receiving light, the camera including an objective lens for focusing on an object plane and having an optical axis and a field of view. A source of light is provided to illuminate a surface having variations in reflected light intensity. The surface is spaced apart from the objective lens and disposed at an angle with respect to the optical axis of the objective lens. A transparent object disposed fully or partially between the objective lens and the surface will shift the position of the object plane, the shift in object plane being proportional to the thickness of the object, and the transparent object, when partially inserted between the objective lens and the surface, will focus a fraction of the light on a lower plane, this fraction of light being proportional to the fraction of the lens field of view occupied by the transparent object that is related to lateral position. | 10-24-2013 |
20130296707 | USER INTERFACE FOR ULTRASOUND SCANNING SYSTEM - An ultrasound scanning system includes a graphical user interface that provides visually intuitive feedback to a user to assist the user in properly aligning an ultrasound scanner to a desired acquisition state. In addition to providing pose information, the feedback may direct the user as to a target contact force applied by the ultrasound scanner to a surface undergoing a scan. | 11-07-2013 |
20130317365 | ULTRASOUND SCANNING SYSTEM - A three dimensional ultrasound scanning system includes devices to capture an acquisition state for a scan including quantitative data about the conditions under which the scan was obtained. The conditions may include pose and contact force of an ultrasound probe in relation to a target. This data may be used to obtain a three dimensional reconstructed volume of a target. | 11-28-2013 |
20140114193 | ULTRASOUND SCANNING SYSTEM - A force-controlled ultrasound imaging device uses a linear drive system to maintain a suitable contact force with a subject. A combination of hardware and software limits on travel for the linear drive system provide intuitive user feedback while helping to ensure that the linear drive system remains active throughout the scan, while responding appropriately to initiation and termination of scans. | 04-24-2014 |