Control system that distinguishes between imaging and nonimaging environments in an ultrasound system
US5654509A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 8, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 5, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 8, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2560/0209
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In the present invention, a control system uses acoustic data produced by an ultrasound system to assess whether the acoustic environment presented to the ultrasound system's transducer is an imaging environment, such as patient's body, or a nonimaging environment, such as air. Various operating parameters of the ultrasound system may be controlled based on the assessment. In the nonimaging environment, the control system reduces the amplitude of a drive signal applied to the transducer, substantially reducing power dissipation in the transducer. The control system detects a transition to the imaging environment and returns the drive signal to the amplitude used in the previous imaging environment. If the nonimaging environment persists for greater than a predetermined time period, the control system initiates a standby mode which substantially reduces power consumption by the ultrasound system. The control system is readily integrated into the imaging stream of an ultrasound system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.