Device for tracking the focus position for a therapy apparatus

US6221014A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• RICHARD WOLF GMBH · DE

Inventor

• Edgar Bauer · Gondelsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 24, 1997
• Grant date: Apr 24, 2001
• Expiry date: Nov 24, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B17/2258
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

There is disclosed a device for tracking a target mark with a diagnosis apparatus, in particular an ultrasound therapy apparatus coupled to a therapy apparatus, in particular to an ultrasound therapy apparatus. A target mark control as a control unit separate from the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus is installed to acquire the relative position of the transmitter/receiver head to the sound source of the ultrasound therapy apparatus as well as different zoom regions of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and/or a change of position of the represented ultrasound picture, and to track a target mark represented on a monitor so that this target mark always designates the position of the focus of the sound source. By way of the separation, with respect to the apparatus, of the target mark control from the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, parameters adapted to differing ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may be inputted into the target mark control for tracking the target mark, this being without changing the hardware or software of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus or of the ultrasound therapy apparatus. The change in the zoom region or in the position of the monitor picture is preferably acqu…