METHODS AND ULTRASOUND APPARATUS

Abstract

This invention is the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data and ultrasound images on the removable memory card. The improved methods provide the steps of the operation of the improved ultrasound apparatus, and the improved ultrasound apparatus includes the microprocessor unit and control organs unit, which provide control of an ultrasound unit, comprising piezoelectric devices, a transmission unit, a battery unit, including battery and battery wireless charging control circuitry, indication unit, and includes a card insertion registration device recognizing the presence of a removable memory card in the ultrasound probe.

Claims

1. A method for a recordation of an ultrasound data and an ultrasound image on a removable memory card comprising the steps of: selecting a use of said removable memory card in an ultrasound probe or in a Smart Device; inserting said removable memory card in a slot of said ultrasound probe or in said Smart Device; providing in said ultrasound probe an indication of said use of said removable memory card in said ultrasound probe or in said Smart Device; providing an identification of the used removable memory card; providing, in a control organs unit of said ultrasound probe or in a microprocessor unit of said ultrasound probe, a control signal for turning-on of said recordation on said removable memory card of said ultrasound probe or on said removable memory card of said Smart Device; providing by said ultrasound probe a control and a processing of said ultrasound data and said ultrasound image by an ultrasound intensity I=ƒ{F,Y.sub.m,C,μ}; providing by said ultrasound probe a control of said recordation and a processing of said recordation of said ultrasound data and said ultrasound image on said removable memory card of said ultrasound probe or said control and said processing of said recordation on said removable memory card of said Smart Device; providing by a transmission unit of said ultrasound probe, a wireless transmission or by wires or by a cable of said ultrasound data and said ultrasound image from said ultrasound probe to said Smart Device or to a central ultrasound station; providing by an indication unit of said ultrasound probe, an indication of said recordation of said ultrasound data and said ultrasound image on said removable memory card of said ultrasound probe or on said removable memory card of said Smart Device, wherein said indication unit is controlled by said control organs unit or said microprocessor unit of said ultrasound probe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein further said Smart Device is a Smart Phone or an iPad or an iPhone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein further said ultrasound data and said ultrasound image are transmitted from said transmission unit of said ultrasound probe to said Smart Device or to said central ultrasound station.

4. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0027] In order that the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed can be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof will be described by way of example with reference to the attached flowcharts and drawings, of which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a simplified drawing (block-diagram) of the improved ultrasound probe.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a simplified drawing (block-diagram) of the improved ultrasound probe with the multiplexed bus.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart (algorithm) illustrating the operation of the improved ultrasound apparatus (probe) during battery charging.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart (algorithm) illustrating the operation of the improved ultrasound apparatus (probe) with removable memory card.

[0032] It is understood, that these illustrations and drawings are the examples of the improved methods and apparatus configurations and architectures, and those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous steps, structures, modifications and advantages of the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus (i.e., ultrasound probe with the wirelessly chargeable battery and with the record of the ultrasound data and images on the removable memory card) may be made while retaining the teachings of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0033] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known prior art, the present invention provides an improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card of the ultrasound probe or on the removable memory card of Smart Device (e.g., on Smart Phone, on iPad, on iPhone, etc.). As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described hereinafter in greater details, is to provide the improved methods and wirelessly chargeable ultrasound probe with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card. The improved methods and apparatus have many of the advantages of the wireless charging of the ultrasound probe and recording of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card mentioned hereinabove and mostly heretofore, and many novel features that result in the efficient, secured and convenient methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card, which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested or even implied by any of prior art methods and apparatus/devices for ultrasound probes, either alone or in any combination thereof.

[0034] This invention, methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card, provides the secure saving of the patient's ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card, which is extremely efficient instrument for using modem Smart Device technology (e.g. such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.) in the field of ultrasound diagnostic. Keeping patient's ultrasound diagnostic images, as a private, on the removable memory card provides a secured convenience for medical organizations and doctors. The removable memory card can be kept in the doctor's archived patient's file or erased after the data/images from the card will be transmitted to (recorded in) the patient's electronic file. The wireless charging of the wireless communicating ultrasound probe provides the unlimited mobility of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (ultrasound probe), for example, for the patients located at the difficult accessible areas (e.g., the emergency patients in the wild mountain forests areas, in the rural and wild Alaskan or other difficult to approach areas, etc.).

[0035] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises ultrasound unit, including piezoelectric devices, and transmission unit, which are controlled by the microprocessor unit and by control organs unit. Also, comprises a battery unit, including battery and wireless charging control circuitry, and comprises a card insertion registration device recognizing the presence of the removable memory card in the ultrasound probe. Additionally, the present invention comprises the wirelessly chargeable battery providing unconditional advantage for mobility of the ultrasound probe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] With reference now to the algorithms and drawings, an improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention.

[0037] As it has been mentioned hereinabove with respect to term of “Smart Device” (e.g. such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.), the term “removable memory card”, hereinabove and hereinbelow solely and/or jointly accumulate (in the same manner as for Smart Device) the meanings of the “removable card”, “memory card”, “card” and/or any other removable (portable) memory, etc. The term “probe”, hereinabove and hereinbelow solely and/or jointly accumulate the meanings of the “ultrasound probe”, “medical ultrasound probe” and/or any other ultrasound sensors (probes), etc. used in the medical diagnostic procedures. The term “chargeable” accumulate the mining of the “rechargeable”, etc. Therefore, the use at least one of the terms does not exclude the other meanings for the used terms, if otherwise not specified. This description (drawings, specification and claims) has many other terms for which this condition is applicable too.

[0038] In the FIG. 1 is shown the simplified block-diagram of the improved ultrasound probe 1. The probe 1 comprises a battery 2. The battery 2 can be a non-chargeable replaceable battery or a chargeable battery. The battery 2 is connected to the wireless charging control unit 3 of the battery unit 4.

[0039] As demonstrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the battery unit 4 provides a power supply line 17 connected to all units of the probe 1 and to the card (removable memory card) 5, which can be inserted in the card slot 6 located in any reasonably convenient place (not shown) of the probe 1. When the card 5 is inserted in the slot 6, the card insertion registration device 7 [which can be represented by a single or a plurality of sprang contacts (not shown) or by a push-button mini/micro switch (not shown)] produces a signal indicating the use and insertion of the probe's removable memory card 5. This signal by ninth control (indication) line 55 follows to the indication unit 8. When the card insertion registration device 7 comprises the electrical element(s), for example, such as electrical relay [not shown], etc., then the power supply line 17 from battery unit 4 can be connected to the card insertion registration device 7 too, as it is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The card insertion registration device 7 connected by control line 55 to the indication unit 8, which is connected to the microprocessor unit 9. It should be understandable, that the title of the microprocessor unit 9 is not limited to the microprocessor only. It can be any appropriate type of controller, CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc., still teaching of the improved method(s) and apparatus of the present invention.

[0040] The microprocessor unit 9 is connected to the card 5, to ultrasound unit 10 and to transmission unit 11, which is connected to antenna 12. Also, the microprocessor unit 9 is connected to control organs unit 13. The control organs unit 13 is connected to ultrasound unit 10, comprising the piezoelectric device 14.

[0041] It is known, that intensity of ultrasound depends on high frequency of ultrasound [sometimes, intensity can be correlated with the length of wave “λ,” (not involved hereinbelow)].

[0042] Therefore:

I=μCV.sub.m.sup.2/2   (1) [0043] wherein: I—intensity of ultrasound; μ—a density of the material/environment (e.g., density of human body, etc.); C—ultrasound's velocity inside of the environment; V.sub.m—maximal amplitude of the velocity.
At the same time, it is known that:

V.sub.m=2πFY.sub.m   (2) [0044] wherein: F—frequency of oscillation; Y.sub.m—amplitude of oscillation.

[0045] Then, according to (1) and (2), the intensity would be:

I=2π.sup.2μCY.sub.m.sup.2F.sup.2   (3)

[0046] Thus, the intensity “I” can be described by the following equation:

I=ƒ{F,Y.sub.m,C,μ}  (4) [0047] wherein: ƒ—functional (symbol of function).

[0048] Also, the control organs unit 13 is connected to indication unit 8 and to battery unit 4, which provides the signal(s) to indication unit 8 and control organs unit 13 by the control/indication lines, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein FIG. 2 illustrates the communication of the probe's units with each other via multiplexed bus 15.

[0049] The improved methods provide the following operation of the improved wirelessly chargeable ultrasound probe with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery unit 4 can comprise a battery 2 of different kinds: regular (non-chargeable, replaceable) battery [shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a battery 2] or chargeable by cable battery (battery chargeable by cable) [shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a battery 2] or wirelessly chargeable battery [shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a battery 2]. The battery 2 is connected to the wireless charging control circuitry 3. Depending on the battery type, the operator of the ultrasound probe 1 selects on the control organs unit 13 the appropriate type of battery 2, used at the probe 1 [the selection can be provided by pushing of the appropriate push-button switch (not shown) on the ultrasound probe 1 or selecting the appropriate position on the multi-position switch (not shown), etc.] The first control signal from control organs unit 13 by first control line 16, as it is shown in FIG. 1, follows to the battery unit 4, wherein connects the regular battery [which is non-chargeable, replaceable battery] through the circuitry 3 to the power supply line 17 (if the regular battery in use), or, if the chargeable by cable battery in use, the second control signal from control organs unit 13 by first control line 16 connects the chargeable battery [which is charged by the cable (not shown)] to the power supply line 17 through the circuitry 3, or, if the wirelessly chargeable battery is used, the third control signal from control organs unit 13 by first control line 16 connects the wirelessly chargeable battery to the power supply line 17 through the circuitry 3.

[0051] As it is described hereinabove, the chargeable (rechargeable) battery can be charged by the cable (not shown), as it is illustrated in FIG. 3 [predicates 19, 54, 23 and blocks 18, 20-22, 24, 30]. The wirelessly chargeable battery can be charged wirelessly. If the wirelessly chargeable battery in use, the power supply line 17 is disconnected (by circuitry 3 when the third control signal from control organs unit 13 is presented in the first control line 16) from all units/device(s)/card of the probe 1 during charging period, as it is shown in FIG. 3 [predicates 19, 28 and blocks 18, 25-27, 29, 30]. The type of the selected battery 2 is indicated [e.g., by LED/Light Emitting Diode/(not shown) or on the mini display (not shown), etc.] in the indication unit 8 of the probe 1 by the signal on the second control (indication) line 31. For instance, the indicators (e.g., LED/not shown/) can be of the different color, i.e.: for example LED (not shown) indicating a wireless charging 27 (see FIG. 3) can be green, LED (not shown) indicating a cable charging 22 (see FIG. 3) can be blue, LED (not shown) indicating the presence of the regular non-chargeable battery can be yellow (the indication of presence of the regular non-chargeable battery is not shown in FIG. 3, but for example, could be presented in FIG. 3 by the algorithm's block “indication ‘regular battery’” located between predicate 54 (“NO”) and block “END”). Another example: the algorithm in FIG. 3 conditionally does not require the disconnection of the power from all units if the charging by cable battery is selected, but if the charging instruction requires such disconnection during charging procedure, then the algorithm in FIG. 3 can comprise such blocks (e.g., analogously to the blocks 25, 30/FIG. 3/) which are not shown in FIG. 3 but could be presented in FIG. 3 between blocks 54 and 20, and between blocks 24 and block “END” respectively. Also, the type of indication can be different too, for example, the “low battery” indicator (e.g., LED/not shown/) can blink, “charge completed” indicator (e.g., LED/not shown/) can be in the “turned-on” position without blinking, etc. The analogous principles of indication(s) and indicator(s) can be applicable, for example, to the indication of “probe card inserted” 44 (see FIG. 4) or “phone card inserted” 42 (see FIG. 4), etc. It is clearly understandable, that all drawings/flowcharts are presented in the simplified manner and are not limited to the depicted components (e.g., units/circuitries/card(s)/blocks/predicates, etc.), still teaching of the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus of the present invention.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 4, illustrating the operation of the ultrasound probe 1 with respect to the removable memory card 5, the simplified general operation includes the initial step which is an insertion of the card 5 in the slot 6 of the probe 1 or in the Smart Device (e.g. such as Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.). The selection is provided in control organs unit 13, by pushing appropriate push-button switch (not shown) or positioning multi-position switch (not shown) in the appropriate position. The fourth control signal from control organs unit 13 by third control line 32, as it is shown in FIG. 1, follows to the microprocessor unit 9 for initiation of processing procedures, etc. Also, the appropriate exchange of information/data and control data/commands (e.g., in the digital form) is provided between microprocessor unit 9 and removable memory card 5, ultrasound unit 10, transmission unit 11 and indication unit 8, as it is shown in FIG. 1 (the FIG. 2 illustrates the complete digital communication, for example by the multiplexed bus 15, within the ultrasound probe 1).

[0053] The control signals also follow by the fourth control line 33 from the control organs unit 13 to the indication unit 8 for control of the electronics [e.g., relays, transistors, triggers, etc. (not shown)] of the indication unit 8. The controlling signal(s) (e.g., such as ultrasound image recordation condition/stage, etc.) from microprocessor unit 9 follow by fifth control line 34 to the control organs unit 13. Additionally, the control signals (e.g., alarmed condition of the battery or presence of the charging process, etc.) from wireless charging control circuitry 3 of battery unit 4 follow by the six control line 35 to the control organs unit 13. The control of the ultrasound unit 10 is provided by the seventh control line 52, and the appropriate responses (e.g., “start/end diagnosis”, etc.) can follow by the eighth control line 53 to the control organs unit 13 for further controlling procedures.

[0054] It should be understandable, that the quantity of the control lines and their functional meaning are presented conditionally in the FIG. 1 for more specific and full description of the signals' functional purposes. The control signals (control lines) can be represented by an electrical cable (not shown) or can be represented by a single digital control line (not shown), or by an additional multiplexed bus (not shown) or by the same multiplexed bus 15, as for example, shown in FIG. 2, etc. The presentation of the signal/data lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 are not limited to the described in this invention and can be reasonably equivalently inter-distributed (inter-re-distributed) between the units/device(s)/circuitries/card, still teaching of the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus of the present invention.

[0055] Additionally, the control of the ultrasound unit 10 and piezoelectric device 14 can be provided by the control organs unit 13 via microprocessor unit 9, and vice versa. The microprocessor unit 9 also can provide the initial processing of ultrasound information/data and ultrasound images with transmission through the transmission unit 11 and antenna 12 to the central station (not shown) for complete processing of the ultrasound images and displaying them on the display/monitor (not shown) of the central station (not shown), or can provide the full processing of ultrasound information/data and ultrasound images with transmission them to the Smart Device (e.g., Smart Phone, iPad, iPhone, etc.). It should be understandable, that the transmission of ultrasound information/data and images, processed in the improved probe, to the Smart Device can be provided by the cable instead of the wireless transmission, but it still continue teaching of the improved methods and apparatus of the present invention.

[0056] It is also understood, that the ultrasound unit 10 can comprise its own additional microprocessor device/unit (not shown) or any other controller (not shown), etc., and the processing of the ultrasound information/data/images can be provided by either one of them or both of them.

[0057] Also, it is still should be understandable, that some units/circuitries/card(s)/blocks, etc. can be included in the central station (not shown), but it will still continue teaching of this invention.

[0058] The operations with the probe's removable memory card 5 or Smart Device's removable memory card (not shown) are presented in FIG. 4. The operations with the probe's card 5 are described by the predicates 37, 47 and blocks 36, 44-46, 48-51, and operations with the Smart Device's card are described by the predicates 37, 40, 47 and blocks 36, 38, 39, 41-43, 46, 48-51.

[0059] As it was described hereinabove, when the card 5 is inserted in the slot 6, the card insertion registration device 7 [which can be represented by a pair of sprang contacts (not shown) or by a push-button mini/micro switch (not shown)] produces a signal indicating the insertion and use of the probe's removable memory card 5. When the card insertion registration device 7 comprises the electrical element(s), for example, such as electrical relay [not shown], etc., then the power supply line 17 from battery unit 4 can be connected to the card insertion registration device 7, as it is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. If the Smart Device's card is used, the signal of the presence of the card in the Smart Device is wirelessly (or by cable) transmitted to the ultrasound probe 1. With the wireless transmission, the received signal follows (via probe's transmission unit 11 and microprocessor unit 9) to the indication unit 8, where is illuminated by the appropriate LED (not shown) or, for example, appears on the probe's mini display (not shown), etc.

[0060] It should be understandable, that the structures and functions of the units/devices/card/circuitry presented in FIGS. 1-4 are not limited to the described in this invention and can be reasonably equivalently inter-distributed (inter-re-distributed) between each other, still teaching of the improved apparatus of the present invention. Also, it is understood that exemplification of the improved structures and steps of the methods are simplified and presented conditionally, and may be represented by any similar structures and steps, continuing teaching of the improved methods and apparatus of the present invention.

[0061] The improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card are significantly needed to provide the ultrasound diagnosis independently from the length of electrical cables and/or from the necessity of the A/C power source presence, and independently from the patient location (e.g. emergency patients in the wild mountain forests areas, in the rural Alaskan or other difficult to approach areas, etc.), etc.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION AND SCOPE

[0062] Accordingly the reader will see that, according to the invention, the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data/images on the removable memory card are provided. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention. In this respect, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of steps, construction/structures and to the arrangements of the components (units/devices, etc.) set forth in the description and/or drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0063] While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but as exemplification of the presently-preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications are possible within the teaching to the invention. For instance, the improved methods and even structures can be fully and successfully used in the biology science for research of the specific tissues by ultrasound probes, etc.

[0064] The persons of ordinary skills and/or creativity in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and advantages of the improved methods and ultrasound probe may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.

[0065] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, can readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other ultrasound probes, for carrying out the several purpose of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

THE DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0066] 1.—an ultrasound probe;

[0067] 2.—a battery;

[0068] 3.—a wireless charging control circuitry;

[0069] 4.—a battery unit;

[0070] 5.—a removable memory card;

[0071] 6.—a removable memory card's slot;

[0072] 7.—a card insertion registration device;

[0073] 8.—an indication unit;

[0074] 9.—a microprocessor unit;

[0075] 10.—an ultrasound unit;

[0076] 11.—a transmission unit;

[0077] 12.—an antenna;

[0078] 13.—a control organs unit;

[0079] 14.—a piezoelectric device;

[0080] 15.—a multiplexed bus;

[0081] 16.—a first control line;

[0082] 17.—a power supply line;

[0083] 18, 20-22, 24, 25-27, 29, 30—the algorithm's blocks (FIG. 3);

[0084] 19, 23, 28—algorithm's predicates (FIG. 3);

[0085] 31.—a second control line;

[0086] 32.—a third control line;

[0087] 33.—a fourth control line;

[0088] 34.—a fifth control line;

[0089] 35.—a sixth control line;

[0090] 36, 38, 39, 41-46, 48-51—the algorithm's blocks (FIG. 4);

[0091] 37, 40, 47—algorithm's predicates (FIG. 4);

[0092] 52.—a seventh control line;

[0093] 53.—an eighth control line;

[0094] 54.—algorithm's predicate (FIG. 3);

[0095] 55.—a ninth control line.