Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2001-04-10
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213948
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging for medical diagnostic procedures that utilizes a one, one and one-half, or two dimensional scanhead for performing three dimensional imaging. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for diagnostic ultrasound imaging which includes the act of swinging or rotating an array of ultrasound transducer elements about the longitudinal axis of a shaft, at a predetermined distance from the shaft, to enable the transducers to maintain a constant distance from the membrane throughout the swing or rotation of the transducers. This method of ultrasound imaging limits acoustic reverberations during imaging thereby decreasing unusable images.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The rotating of ultrasound transducer arrays contained in ultrasound imaging apparatus in order to produce three-dimensional images is common in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,116 issued to Kondo et al. discloses a multi-plane electronic scan ultrasound probe having a rotary member mounted on the distal end of an elongated catheter and an ultrasound transducer, namely a large number of ultrasound elements positioned in a row, mounted on the rotary member. The ultrasound probe has a tilting mechanism to tilt the rotary member which in turn tilts the ultrasound transducer.
Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,931 issued to Pinni describes an apparatus which achieves the three-dimensional reconstruction of anatomic structures by acquiring two-dimensional echographic images produced by real time processing of signals that are reflected and/or scattered by the structures when they are hit by an ultrasound beam generated by a piezoelectric transducer contained within an echographic probe. In use, the sector scan transducer rotates through a 180 degree angle around the longitudinal axis of the probe.
Another example of a rotating ultrasound transducer array used in an ultrasound imaging apparatus to create a three-dimensional image can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,879 issued to Herres. The Herres patent discloses an ultrasound imaging apparatus having a probe disposed on a longitudinal axis and ultrasound transducer elements arranged along the axis of the probe. The ultrasound array alternates between remaining stationary and oscillating about the axis of the probe in order to define a sector. In the first mode, where the array is held stationary, the transducer elements are operated successively to generate a longitudinal rectilinear scan. In the second mode, where the array is oscillated, the transducer elements are repeatedly operated to generate a transverse sector scan orthogonal to the longitudinal scan. The transducer elements are operated in one mode repeatedly at all of the transducer element positions of the other mode to generate a three-dimensional scan.
Although the generation of three-dimensional images using ultrasound imaging apparatus which contain ultrasound arrays that are rotated about a center axis is common in the field of art, there is a need for an improved ultrasound imaging apparatus for three dimensional ultrasound imaging which utilizes an ultrasound imaging apparatus that utilizes an array which can focus in the elevation dimension and that comprises a structural make-up which limits maintenance and failure of the apparatus
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for performing three-dimensional ultrasound imaging for diagnostic procedures that utilizes a scanhead having a one, one and one-half dimensional, or two-dimensional array of ultrasound transducer elements.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for performing ultrasound imaging for diagnostic procedures that utilizes an array that can focus in the elevation dimension in order to provide more flexibility and better shape of the focal region.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for performing three-dimensional ultrasound imaging having an array of ultrasound transducer elements that are swung in a concentric radius with the acoustic membrane of the apparatus, instead-of rotated, thereby removing any limitations on the size of the array of transducer elements.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for performing ultrasound imaging for diagnostic procedures having a wet module coupled to a dry module which eliminates leakage from the wet module to the dry module, and thereby eliminates damage to the dry module resulting from such leakage.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for diagnostic ultrasound imaging having a wet module comprising an array of ultrasound transducer elements in an oil or other suitable acoustic coupling liquid and means for driving the transducer elements, a dry module comprising the electronics to power the driving means, a fluid impervious seal separating the wet module from the dry module, and a flexible printed circuit board which traverses the seal and connects the electronics to the transducer array.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for performing diagnostic ultrasound imaging where the ultrasound imaging apparatus comprises a wet module, a dry module and a reliable seal between the wet and dry modules thereby increasing performance of the apparatus and enhancing the image quality.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for performing diagnostic ultrasound imaging where the same continuous distance is maintained between the ultrasound transducer array and the scanning membrane of the apparatus in order to decrease acoustic reverberations during imaging.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for performing ultrasound imaging for diagnostic procedures which removes limitations on the size of the transducer elements while controlling the size of the wet module containing the transducer elements to ensure that the resulting apparatus is small enough to be clinically useful.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for performing three-dimensional diagnostic ultrasound imaging that utilizes a concave array of transducer elements that rotate, which as a result, requires a very small coupling area between the scanhead and the body or membrane in order to perform the imaging.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for performing diagnostic ultrasound imaging which involves generating a succession of longitudinal scans which are stacked together to create a three-dimensional image.
In brief, a preferred embodiment the diagnostic ultrasound imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a swing shaft having a longitudinal axis, at least one ultrasound transducer element, but preferably an array of transducer elements connected to the swing shaft at a predetermined distance from its longitudinal axis, means for swinging the transducer array in a concentric radius about the longitudinal axis of the swing shaft, power means for operating the transducer array, and means for displaying the echos that are received from operating the transducer array. The apparatus preferably comprises a wet housing module and a dry housing module. The wet housing module includes the swing shaft, the ultrasound transducer array, and means for swinging the ultrasound transducer array, all of which are contained in a wet medium. The dry housing module includes the electronics for connecting the ultrasound array contained in the wet housing module to a power source and to means for displaying the echos that are received from operating the transducer array, such as computer hardware and software. The wet and dry housing modules are coupled to one another but separated by a fluid impervious seal to prevent the
Barthe Peter G.
Slayton Michael H.
Guided Therapy Systems, Inc.
Imam Ali M.
Lateef Marvin M.
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
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