A positionable ultrasound probe

Abstract

The present invention discloses a positionable ultrasonic probe, wherein: the detection surface of the ultrasonic probe has an opening; above the opening, an imaging component is fixed inside the ultrasonic probe, which is used to obtain an image of the contact surface of the body of the person being measured when the ultrasonic probe is in use; an anti-bending light-transmitting gasket is fixed at the opening to completely cover the opening, which is used to prevent the coupling agent from flowing back when the ultrasonic probe is in use, and to ensure the smoothness of the probe detection surface; it includes an image processing module, which calculates the horizontal and vertical displacement of the ultrasonic probe by analyzing and comparing the image sequence obtained by the imaging component within a certain period of time. The imaging component includes: ① an imaging element and a light-emitting element based on optical principles; ② a thermal imaging component based on thermal principles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a positionable ultrasonic probe. Background Art

[0002] Ultrasound diagnostic equipment is one of the three major conventional diagnostic equipment in the field of medical diagnosis. It is easy to operate, easy to move, quick to diagnose, widely used, and cheap, and is deeply loved by doctors and patients. In particular, the birth of portable ultrasound equipment has made it possible to use ultrasound equipment for medical diagnosis in more non-hospital scenarios.

[0003] However, in a large number of usage scenarios, it is necessary to obtain the accurate position of the ultrasound probe, such as in some surgeries or when realizing the intelligence of ultrasound equipment. Therefore, the realization of a locatable ultrasound probe will facilitate the birth of more advanced medical solutions and advanced medical ultrasound equipment. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention discloses a positionable ultrasonic probe, wherein

[0005] a) The detection surface of the ultrasonic probe has an opening;

[0006] b) Above the opening, an imaging component is fixed inside the ultrasound probe, which is used to obtain an image of the contact surface of the body of the person being measured when the ultrasound probe is in use.

[0007] c) A light-transmitting gasket is fixed at the opening to completely cover the opening. It is used to prevent the coupling agent from flowing back when the ultrasonic probe is used, and to ensure the smoothness of the probe detection surface.

[0008] d) An image processing module is included, which calculates the horizontal and vertical displacements of the ultrasound probe by analyzing and comparing the image sequences acquired by the imaging component within a certain period of time.

[0009] The imaging component includes: ① an imaging element and a light-emitting element based on optical principles; ② a thermal imaging component based on thermal principles;

[0010] Furthermore, the light-transmitting gasket may have a certain light loss rate for a specific light. The extended surface of the detection surface where the notch is located may not have the ability to transmit and receive ultrasound.

[0011] The image processing module can be built into the ultrasound and acquire the image sequence acquired by the imaging component through electrical signals; it can also be external to the ultrasound device and acquire the image sequence acquired by the imaging component through lines. A data sending device can also be configured in the ultrasound probe to wirelessly transmit the image sequence acquired by the imaging component to the image processing module external to the ultrasound device through the Internet, Bluetooth, etc.

[0012] When a data transmission device is configured in the ultrasound probe, it can also be used to wirelessly transmit the displacement calculated by the image processing module to other devices through the Internet, Bluetooth, etc.

[0013] The displacement calculated by the image processing module should be transmitted to other devices as a set of independent data for use, wherein a series of data processing can be performed on the calculated displacement.

[0014] Furthermore, the transparent gasket can be integrally formed with the detection surface, and only has partial light transmittance at the opening position. In this case, there is no opening of practical significance on the detection surface, and above this position is a cavity that can be used to fix the imaging component and obtain the contact surface image.

[0015] The present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1) Use optical (imaging) positioning, which is low cost and high precision.

[0017] Ultrasound probes used in medicine require high positioning and small errors. Using other methods to position ultrasound probes often requires high costs to use high-precision sensors, and even requires certain changes to the functional structure of the ultrasound probe. By taking images of the contact surface of the body and comparing the moving distance, the error range can be reduced to within 1 cm.

[0018] 2) All-round positioning, no blind spots

[0019] Since ultrasound probes are not necessarily used on the front of the body during medical use, there will be blind spots in monitoring under certain circumstances. For example, when scanning the body surface, if an ultrasound solution with an external sensor is used, if it is necessary to achieve full coverage without blind spots, multiple monitoring points need to be arranged, which brings huge costs and technical difficulties. The present invention calculates the displacement through the contact surface of the body to determine the probe position, which is suitable for various probe usage methods.

[0020] 3) Avoid monitoring errors caused by changes in probe posture.

[0021] Placing the imaging component inside the ultrasound probe is not only used to obtain the contact surface image, but also to ensure the synchronization of the probe and the imaging. The contact surface is the human body and the probe detection surface with a high degree of overlap. Under the action of force and coupling agent, the synchronization is good. Therefore, compared with other ultrasound probe positioning methods, it is not easy to produce position change errors caused by changes in the probe posture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of the positioning ultrasound probe in the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2It is a schematic diagram of the detection surface of the positioning ultrasound probe in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present invention discloses a locatable ultrasonic probe, and the specific embodiments of its use are as follows:

[0025] The detection surface of the ultrasound probe has an opening for allowing the imaging component to image the contact surface of the body through the opening. Generally, in order to avoid affecting the detection capability of the ultrasound probe, reference Figure 2 , the transverse extension surface 200 of the opening does not have the ability to transmit and receive ultrasound. Usually, the transverse extension surface 200 of the opening is a cavity and is not within the coverage of the transducer transmitting ultrasound. In some other embodiments, the longitudinal extension surface 201 of the opening may also not have the ability to transmit and receive ultrasound. Usually, multiple parallel transducers are used to achieve this effect. Generally, the opening will be in the middle of the detection surface and close to the back or front.

[0026] There will be an imaging component above the inside of the opening. Generally, the imaging component will be a high-speed camera or other imaging devices based on optical principles. To ensure that the imaging component has enough light source for imaging, the probe contact surface can be wedge-shaped or a light-emitting element, such as an LED lamp, can be fixed in the imaging component. In a more optimal case, the imaging component can use a thermal imaging device. The distance between the imaging component and the opening is generally the minimum imaging distance of the imaging component.

[0027] After the imaging component obtains the image of the contact surface of the body, it is transmitted to the image processing module. The module will compare the feature points of the two images within a certain period of time, and calculate the translation distance of the two images through the image algorithm, which is the translation distance of the probe. Through the fixing method of the imaging component and the ultrasound shell, this translation distance is the horizontal and vertical displacement relative to the probe.

[0028] In actual use, there is often a calibration step before use to determine the starting point. The probe translation distance calculated by the image processing module and the starting point can be used to determine the position coordinates of the current ultrasound probe relative to the initial point.

[0029] Since there is an opening on the detection surface, in order to prevent the coupling agent from flowing back into the opening when using the ultrasonic probe, a gasket 100 is fixed at the opening. Generally, the gasket is a transparent gasket. In a more optimal case, the gasket can have a certain light loss rate, so that the image obtained by the imaging component can better reflect the characteristic points of the body contact surface, which is convenient for the image processing module to perform calculations.

[0030] Due to the elasticity of the skin, the force applied when the probe is used, and the coupling agent, the body surface will fit tightly against the contact surface including the contact surface opening. The transparent gasket is resistant to bending, so that when the probe posture changes, the body surface still maintains good contact with the probe contact surface. This effectively prevents changes in the probe posture and does not cause deviations in position monitoring.

[0031] In a more optimal case, the transparent gasket can be integrally formed with the detection surface, and only has partial light transmittance at the opening position. In this case, there is no practical opening on the detection surface, and above this position is a cavity that can be used to fix the imaging component and obtain the contact surface image.

[0032] The above descriptions are only some specific embodiments of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can make equivalent replacements or changes according to the technical solutions and inventive concepts of the present invention within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, which should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A locatable ultrasonic probe, characterized in that: a) The detection surface of the ultrasonic probe has an opening; b) above the opening, an imaging component is fixed inside the ultrasound probe, and when the ultrasound probe is in use, it is used to obtain an image of the contact surface of the body of the person being measured; c) A bending-resistant light-transmitting gasket is fixed at the opening to completely cover the opening. When the ultrasonic probe is in use, it is used to prevent the coupling agent from flowing back and to ensure the smoothness of the probe detection surface; d) comprising an image processing module, which calculates the horizontal and vertical displacements of the ultrasound probe by analyzing and comparing the image sequences acquired by the imaging component within a certain period of time; e) The opening is positioned so as to fit closely to the body surface with the cooperation of the light-transmitting gasket.

2. A locatable ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The imaging component includes: 1) an imaging element and a light-emitting element based on optical principles; and 2) a thermal imaging component based on thermal principles.

3. The locatable ultrasound probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light-transmitting gasket selectively has a light loss rate for specific light, so that the image acquired by the imaging component can better reflect the characteristic points of the body contact surface.

4. The locatable ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The extended surface of the detection surface where the opening is located allows it to not have the ability to transmit and receive ultrasound.

5. The locatable ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The image processing module has the following three independent situations: ① built inside the ultrasound, and acquires the image sequence acquired by the imaging component through electrical signals; ② externally placed in the ultrasound device to acquire the image sequence acquired by the imaging component through lines transmitting electrical signals; ③ a data sending device is configured in the ultrasound probe, which is used to wirelessly transmit the image sequence acquired by the imaging component to the image processing module externally placed in the ultrasound device through the network or Bluetooth.

6. The locatable ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: When a data transmitting device is configured in the ultrasonic probe, the transmitting device has the ability to wirelessly transmit the displacement calculated by the image processing module through the Internet or Bluetooth.

7. The locatable ultrasound probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The displacement calculated by the image processing module, when a series of data processing is performed on the calculated displacement, is used directly as a set of independent data or transmitted to other devices for use.

8. The locatable ultrasound probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the light-transmitting gasket and the detection surface are integrally formed, the light transmittance is only partially possessed at the opening position. At this time, there is no opening of practical significance on the detection surface. Above this position is a cavity that can be used to fix the imaging component and obtain the contact surface image.

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