Wearable device and system for ultrasonic imaging
By setting up multiple ultrasonic conversion array modules and electronic devices on the flexible substrate, the problems of complex operation and poor comfort of traditional cranial ultrasonic equipment are solved, and efficient and accurate ultrasonic imaging and long-term monitoring are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510411686.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-12
AI Technical Summary
Traditional skull penetration ultrasound equipment is complex in operation, and it is prone to inaccurate data due to deviation of probe position, and is inconvenient to carry and poor comfort of wearing objects.
Using a wearable device including at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules and electronic devices, the ultrasonic conversion array module is arranged on a flexible substrate, and an ultrasonic signal is received and generated by a piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit, and data accuracy and comfort are improved through the signal acquisition, processing and transmission unit.
Multi-point ultrasonic data acquisition is realized, improving the accuracy and wear comfort of imaging data, simplifying operation, adapting to different head shapes, and reducing equipment volume and power consumption.
Smart Images
Figure CN120458626A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular to a wearable device and system for ultrasonic imaging. Background Art
[0002] Ultrasound imaging is a medical imaging technique that uses the propagation and reflection characteristics of ultrasound waves in human tissue to obtain information about the internal structure of the human body. Ultrasound imaging can be applied to imaging organs such as the brain, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
[0003] Transcranial ultrasound devices used for intracranial imaging typically use handheld probes or fixed-position rigid structures to collect data from a single location. Furthermore, manual adjustment of the probe position by a professional is required during operation, which is not only complex but also prone to data inaccuracies due to probe misalignment. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present disclosure provides a wearable device and system for ultrasound imaging.
[0005] A first embodiment of the present disclosure provides a wearable device for ultrasonic imaging, comprising: at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules and an electronic device, wherein the at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules are disposed on a flexible substrate;
[0006] The at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules are used to receive reflected ultrasonic signals;
[0007] The electronic device is used to process the reflected ultrasonic signal and send the processed reflected ultrasonic signal to an external device.
[0008] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, for any ultrasonic conversion array module, the ultrasonic conversion array module includes at least one piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit;
[0009] The piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit is used to receive the reflected ultrasonic signal through the piezoelectric effect.
[0010] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit is also used to generate ultrasonic signals through the inverse piezoelectric effect.
[0011] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device includes a signal acquisition unit, a signal processing unit, and a signal transmission unit;
[0012] The signal acquisition unit is used to convert the reflected ultrasonic signal received by the piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit into a digital signal;
[0013] The signal processing unit is used to filter and reduce noise on the digital signal;
[0014] The signal transmission unit is used to transmit the filtered and noise-reduced digital signal to an external device so that the external device can perform real-time monitoring and data analysis.
[0015] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the signal transmission unit uses a communication protocol such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to transmit data.
[0016] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable device further includes:
[0017] The driving circuit unit is configured to generate an excitation signal so that the ultrasonic conversion array module adjusts the vibration frequency and vibration intensity of the piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit based on the excitation signal.
[0018] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device further includes a power supply management unit for selecting a charge and discharge mode based on the power level of the wearable device; and performing low power consumption control on the wearable device.
[0019] An embodiment of the second aspect of the present disclosure proposes a system for ultrasonic imaging, characterized in that the device includes a wearable device as described in the first aspect or any optional embodiment of the first aspect and a processor, and the processor is used to perform ultrasonic imaging based on the reflected ultrasonic signal obtained by the wearable device as described in the first aspect or any optional embodiment of the first aspect.
[0020] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure have at least the following technical effects or advantages:
[0021] The wearable device in the embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules and an electronic device, wherein the at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules realize multi-point signal acquisition, which improves the accuracy of subsequent imaging data to a certain extent; on this basis, the at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules are arranged on a flexible substrate, which can make the ultrasonic conversion array modules fit the object to be measured more closely, and at the same time improve the comfort of the wearing object to a certain extent; finally, the electronic device is used to process the reflected ultrasonic signals obtained by the at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules, and send the processed reflected ultrasonic signals to an external device.
[0022] Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be given in part in the following description and in part will become apparent from the following description or learned through practice of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment below. The accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiment and are not to be considered as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, the same reference numerals are used throughout the accompanying drawings to represent the same components.
[0024] In the attached figure:
[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a wearable device for ultrasound imaging provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;
[0026] Figure 2A and Figure 2B A schematic diagram showing how to wear a wearable device for ultrasound imaging provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;
[0027] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a wearable device for ultrasound imaging provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;
[0028] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of a wearable device for ultrasound imaging provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;
[0029] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an ultrasound imaging system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to enable a more thorough understanding of the present disclosure and to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.
[0031] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the technical or scientific terms used in the present disclosure should have the common meanings understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.
[0032] With the development of modern medical imaging technology, ultrasound imaging has become a key tool in clinical diagnosis due to its non-invasive, real-time, and high safety. Ultrasound imaging utilizes the propagation and reflection characteristics of ultrasound waves in human tissue to obtain information about the body's internal structures. Ultrasound imaging can be applied to image organs such as the brain, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
[0033] Traditional transcranial ultrasound devices typically use handheld probes or fixed-position rigid structures to collect data from a single location. These devices require manual adjustment of the probe position by a professional, which is not only complex but also prone to data inaccuracies due to probe misalignment. Furthermore, traditional ultrasound devices are bulky, making them difficult to carry and, in long-term monitoring applications, can be uncomfortable for the wearer.
[0034] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a wearable device for ultrasonic imaging, such as Figure 1 FIG2 shows a wearable device for ultrasonic imaging provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wearable device includes at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules and an electronic device. The at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules are disposed on a flexible substrate.
[0035] The ultrasonic conversion array module 101 is used to receive the reflected ultrasonic signal. The ultrasonic conversion array module 101 includes at least two, such as Figure 1 Shown may be ultrasound transducer array module 101 and ultrasound transducer array module 1012 .
[0036] The electronic device 102 is configured to process the reflected ultrasonic signal and send the processed reflected ultrasonic signal to an external device.
[0037] For any ultrasonic conversion array module, the ultrasonic conversion array module includes at least one piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer unit; the piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer unit is configured to receive the reflected ultrasonic signal through the piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer unit is also configured to generate an ultrasonic signal through the inverse piezoelectric effect.
[0038] In the disclosed embodiments, the ultrasonic transducer array module can utilize a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) array. The emergence of PMUT arrays on flexible substrates improves adaptability and portability. The PMUT array, arranged on a flexible substrate, can conform to various head shapes, enabling multi-point ultrasound data acquisition.
[0039] like Figure 2A As shown, it is a schematic diagram of a traditional ultrasonic imaging device during detection. Figure 2B FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2A and Figure 2BIt can be seen that the wearable device in the embodiment of the present disclosure allows real-time ultrasonic data collection in multiple areas based on multi-point monitoring capabilities, thereby improving the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the data. At the same time, the ultrasonic conversion array is arranged on a flexible substrate, so that the ultrasonic conversion array can better fit the object being measured, thereby improving the comfort of the object being measured.
[0040] like Figure 3 Shown is a schematic diagram of a PMUT cell. Figure 3 It includes 4 PMUT arrays, wherein the peripheral electronic system is the electronic device in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 shows a PMUT array consisting of 25 PMUT units, and the corresponding wearable device includes 4 PMUT arrays, all of which are located on a flexible substrate.
[0041] Table 1 shows a comparison of the PMUT arrays in the embodiments of the present disclosure and bulk ultrasonic transducers in related art. As can be seen from Table 1, PMUT arrays offer advantages over bulk ultrasonic transducers, such as small size, light weight, flexible design, high transmission efficiency, and low manufacturing cost.
[0042]
[0043]
[0044] When performing ultrasonic imaging using the wearable device of the disclosed embodiments, power is first applied to the ultrasonic transducer array module. Once powered, the module emits high-frequency ultrasonic waves based on the inverse piezoelectric effect. These ultrasonic waves are then transmitted through the body of the subject. Different internal structures of the human body result in different transmission and reflection conditions for these ultrasonic waves. Therefore, ultrasonic imaging can be performed based on the reflected ultrasonic signals received by the ultrasonic transducer array module.
[0045] Among them, the PMUT is a micromachined ultrasonic transducer that utilizes the piezoelectric effect. It can convert electrical energy into ultrasonic energy and can also convert it into electrical signals by receiving ultrasonic signals. The PMUT is characterized by small size, high performance, and low power consumption, and is considered to be the next-generation technology to replace current mainstream audio and ultrasonic devices. The structure of the PMUT typically includes a working diaphragm, which is composed of a piezoelectric layer and an elastic layer, known as a single-diaphragm structure. When an external electric field is applied to the diaphragm, the piezoelectric layer produces plane strain through the inverse piezoelectric effect, and the elastic layer causes the neutral plane of the entire layer stack to move away from the midplane of the piezoelectric layer, generating a bending moment, thereby producing a displacement perpendicular to the diaphragm plane. When an AC voltage is applied, the diaphragm vibrates periodically in the lateral direction. This vibration drives the particles in the surrounding medium to vibrate, ultimately emitting sound waves into the environment.
[0046] After the PMUT array module collects the reflected ultrasonic signal, it needs to process the reflected ultrasonic signal and then perform imaging. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device includes a signal collection unit, a signal processing unit, and a signal transmission unit.
[0047] The signal acquisition unit is used to convert the reflected ultrasonic signal received by the piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit into a digital signal. Specifically, the PMUT array module is based on the positive piezoelectric effect of piezoelectric materials. When the reflected ultrasonic wave is received, the piezoelectric film generates an electric charge under the action of the acoustic pressure. These charge signals reflect the reflection of the ultrasonic wave passing through various points inside the object, thereby obtaining the internal structure information of the object. Since the signal output by the PMUT array module is usually relatively weak, it needs to be amplified. This can be achieved through the amplifier in the analog front end (AFE) circuit to amplify the weak analog signal to a sufficient level for subsequent processing. At the same time, the amplified signal may also need to be pre-processed, such as DC isolation and noise removal, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and stability of the signal.
[0048] The analog signal after amplification and preprocessing needs to be converted into a digital signal for digital processing and imaging. This step is usually completed by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Therefore, a signal processing unit can be used to convert the amplified and preprocessed analog signal into a digital signal. The ADC integrated in the signal processing unit can convert the analog signal into a digital signal. The specific process can include three steps: sampling, quantization, and encoding. Sampling is to convert the continuous analog signal into discrete sampling points; quantization is to convert the amplitude value of each sampling point into the closest digital value; encoding is to convert the quantized digital value into binary code.
[0049] The digital signal processed by the signal processing unit is more conducive to imaging and transmission. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, to reduce the power consumption of the wearable system and increase the portability of the device, the implementation of imaging based on the digital signal can be set up in an external device. Therefore, the signal transmission unit can be used to transmit the converted digital signal to the external device for imaging.
[0050] In practical applications, to achieve more efficient and accurate signal conversion and processing, the following optimization measures can be taken: Select high-performance ADCs and amplifiers to improve signal conversion accuracy and amplification. Optimize the design of analog front-end circuits to reduce noise and interference and improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Use advanced digital signal processing algorithms and techniques, such as adaptive filtering and wavelet transforms, to enhance image resolution and clarity.
[0051] For example, in order to reduce the power consumption of the wearable device and increase the sustainability of long-term detection of the wearable device in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the signal transmission unit can use a communication protocol such as low-power Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for data transmission. After the data is transmitted to the external electronic device, the external electronic device performs ultrasonic imaging based on the data. Specifically, the external electronic device can be a computer or a cloud service, etc., and the external electronic device performs ultrasonic imaging. The wearable device in the embodiment of the present disclosure is only used to obtain reflected ultrasonic signals and transmit ultrasonic signals.
[0052] During the digital signal processing and imaging process, external electronic devices can perform beamforming, matched filtering, low-pass filtering, and other processes to improve image resolution and clarity. Ultimately, the processed digital signal can be used to generate an ultrasound image, reflecting the internal structure of the object being measured.
[0053] In the disclosed embodiments, since each PMUT array module includes multiple PMUT cells, the vibration and vibration intensity of the PMUT cells during ultrasonic signal generation and reflected ultrasonic signal reception can affect the accuracy of the ultrasonic signals. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure consistency in vibration intensity and frequency across the multiple PMUT cells included in each PMUT array module.
[0054] Therefore, in some embodiments, the wearable device further includes a driving circuit unit for generating an excitation signal so that the ultrasonic conversion array module adjusts the vibration frequency and vibration intensity of the piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit based on the excitation signal.
[0055] For example, the driving circuit generates a high-frequency excitation signal. This can be achieved through a specific oscillator or signal generator that can generate a sine wave or other waveform signal of the required frequency. The generated excitation signal can also be amplified to ensure sufficient power to drive the PMUT. This can be achieved through a power amplifier that can amplify a small signal to a level sufficient to drive the transducer. For an ultrasonic conversion array module containing multiple PMUTs, the phase difference between different transducers can be controlled to achieve a specific beamforming or focusing effect. This is achieved through a phase adjustment circuit that adjusts the phase of the excitation signal to meet the requirements.
[0056] The excitation signal waveform can be modulated as needed, depending on the application. For example, by varying the signal's frequency, amplitude, or phase, the PMUT's vibration characteristics and the characteristics of the emitted ultrasonic wave can be adjusted. To achieve more precise control of vibration frequency and intensity, a feedback mechanism can be introduced. By monitoring the PMUT's vibration state or the characteristics of the emitted ultrasonic wave and adjusting the excitation signal based on the monitoring results, closed-loop control can be achieved, improving system stability and accuracy.
[0057] In some embodiments, in order to reduce the power consumption of the wearable device and increase the sustainability of long-term detection of the wearable device, the wearable device may also include a power management unit for selecting a charging and discharging mode based on the power of the wearable device; and performing low power consumption control on the wearable device.
[0058] For example, the wearable device has a built-in battery management system (BMS) or power monitoring module to monitor the battery charge status in real time. By detecting parameters such as voltage and current, the remaining battery power and charging requirements are determined. The charging or discharging mode is selected according to the battery charge status. When the power level is lower than the set threshold, it automatically switches to charging mode and charges through an external power supply or wireless charging. When the power is sufficient, the device maintains normal discharge mode and supplies power to each functional module.
[0059] Intelligent charging algorithms can also be used to adjust charging current and voltage based on battery characteristics and charging status, preventing overcharging, over-discharging, and other conditions that damage battery life. Fast and slow charging modes can be switched to select the appropriate charging speed based on user needs and environmental conditions. Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) is implemented to adjust the processor's operating voltage and frequency based on system load. Low-power wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and ZigBee are used to optimize wireless communication parameters and reduce wireless communication power consumption.
[0060] Table 2 shows a comparison of the wearable device according to the present disclosure and wearable devices in related art. Compared to traditional probe-based ultrasonic detection systems, the wearable device according to the present disclosure has advantages such as multi-point coverage, simple operation, and long-term monitoring.
[0061]
[0062] like Figure 4 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, including a PMUT array and an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a signal acquisition unit, a signal processing unit, a signal transmission unit, a driving circuit unit, and a power management unit.
[0063] The wearable device according to the embodiment of the present application includes at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules and an electronic device, wherein the at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules realize multi-point signal acquisition, which improves the accuracy of subsequent imaging data to a certain extent; on this basis, the at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules are arranged on a flexible substrate, which can make the ultrasonic conversion array modules fit the object to be measured more closely, and at the same time improve the comfort of the wearing object to a certain extent; finally, the electronic device is used to process the reflected ultrasonic signals obtained by the at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules, and send the processed reflected ultrasonic signals to an external device.
[0064] The present disclosure also provides a system for ultrasound imaging. Figure 5 As shown, the device includes the wearable device 501 described in the above embodiment and a processor 502. The processor is used to perform ultrasonic imaging based on the reflected ultrasonic signal obtained by the wearable device in the above embodiment. The processor can be a cloud server, a computer, or other computer device with computing capabilities.
[0065] The system for ultrasonic imaging provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure and the wearable device for ultrasonic imaging provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure are based on the same inventive concept and have the same beneficial effects as the methods adopted, operated or implemented by them.
[0066] It should be noted that:
[0067] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are described. However, it is understood that embodiments of the present disclosure can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and technologies are not shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.
[0068] Similarly, it should be understood that in order to streamline the present disclosure and aid in understanding one or more of the various inventive aspects, in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, various features of the present disclosure are sometimes grouped together into a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, this disclosed approach should not be interpreted as reflecting a schematic diagram that the claimed disclosure requires more features than those explicitly recited in each embodiment. Inventive aspects lie in less than all the features of the individual embodiments disclosed above. Therefore, the implementation methods that follow the specific embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into the specific embodiments, with each embodiment itself serving as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0069] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that although some embodiments described herein include certain features and not other features included in other embodiments, the combination of features from different embodiments is meant to be within the scope of this disclosure and to form different embodiments.
[0070] The above description is only a preferred specific implementation of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any changes or replacements that can be easily thought of by any technician familiar with this technical field within the technical scope disclosed in this disclosure should be covered by the protection scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A wearable device for ultrasonic imaging, characterized in that: The wearable device includes: at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules and an electronic device, wherein the at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules are arranged on a flexible substrate; The at least two ultrasonic conversion array modules are used to receive reflected ultrasonic signals; The electronic device is used to process the reflected ultrasonic signal and send the processed reflected ultrasonic signal to an external device.
2. The wearable device according to claim 1, wherein: For any ultrasonic conversion array module, the ultrasonic conversion array module includes at least one piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit; The piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit is used to receive the reflected ultrasonic signal through the piezoelectric effect.
3. The wearable device according to claim 2, wherein: The piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit is also used to generate ultrasonic signals through the inverse piezoelectric effect.
4. The wearable device according to claim 3, wherein: The electronic device includes a signal acquisition unit, a signal processing unit, and a signal transmission unit; The signal acquisition unit is used to convert the reflected ultrasonic signal received by the piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit into a digital signal; The signal processing unit is used to filter and reduce noise on the digital signal; The signal transmission unit is used to transmit the filtered and noise-reduced digital signal to an external device so that the external device can perform real-time monitoring and data analysis.
5. The wearable device according to claim 4, wherein: The signal transmission unit uses communication protocols such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to transmit data.
6. The wearable device according to claim 5, wherein: The wearable device further includes: The driving circuit unit is configured to generate an excitation signal so that the ultrasonic conversion array module adjusts the vibration frequency and vibration intensity of the piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer unit based on the excitation signal.
7. The wearable device according to claim 4, wherein: The electronic device further includes a power supply management unit configured to select a charge and discharge mode based on the power level of the wearable device, and perform low power consumption control on the wearable device.
8. A system for ultrasonic imaging, characterized in that The device includes a wearable device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform ultrasonic imaging based on a reflected ultrasonic signal obtained by the wearable device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.