Apparatus, method, and computer program for controlling an ultrasound image on a display based on sensor input in an ultrasound imaging device

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and computer-implemented medium, the apparatus receiving information based on a tactile input to a surface of a housing of an ultrasound imaging device; and, based on the information, performing an ultrasound inspection function corresponding to the tactile input, the ultrasound inspection function controlling an ultrasound image on a display of a computing system.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments relate generally to the field of ultrasound imaging devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Ultrasound imaging is widely used in the fields of medicine and non-destructive testing and can have diagnostic or procedural purposes. While diagnostic ultrasound can involve imaging without performing a procedure on the patient undergoing the examination, procedural ultrasound involves complex examinations in which a user inserts a medical instrument, such as a needle or catheter, into tissue in addition to using an ultrasound probe for imaging. While procedural ultrasound requires fine movement of both the needle and the ultrasound probe, both procedural and diagnostic ultrasound require controlled movement of the ultrasound probe to capture the required images. A user typically captures images during an ultrasound examination and makes fine adjustments to the ultrasound image generated on a computing system display. A user typically uses one hand to hold and guide the ultrasound probe while using their other hand to operate a user interface associated with the ultrasound probe to control ultrasound examination functions, such as freezing or saving the ultrasound image on the display. When a user does not have personnel to assist during an ultrasound examination, the current state of the art provides either physical push buttons on a fixed area of ​​the ultrasound probe housing, or a foot pedal, or an audio or virtual reality headset, which allows ultrasound examination functions to be controlled by the user during the ultrasound examination process. Current state-of-the-art physical push buttons require the user to change their grip during an ultrasound examination to be able to control ultrasound examination functions, which can move the probe and adversely affect the ultrasound image generated therefrom by changing the set ultrasound image location expected by the computing system. Foot pedal solutions, on the other hand, provide bulky hardware that must be attached to the ultrasound console of the computing system associated with the ultrasound device and activated by stepping on it to relay feedback to the computing system. Therefore, foot pedal options are cumbersome and difficult to implement. Emerging virtual reality (VR) headsets aim to use eye movements. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The ultrasound imaging device of some embodiments may use an algorithm to operate according to one or more sets of instructions that, either collectively or individually, result in the performance of ultrasound examination functions on an ultrasound image on a display by inertial motion of the ultrasound imaging device housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0004] The novel features of the embodiments are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of certain embodiments will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings (also referred to herein as "Figures" and "Fig.").

[0005] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasound imaging device according to some embodiments.

[0006] [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram of an ultrasound imaging system according to some embodiments.

[0007] [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound imaging device according to some embodiments.

[0008] [Figure 4A] 1A-1C are perspective views of a state-of-the-art handheld ultrasound probe held in two different ways. [Figure 4B] 1A-1C are perspective views of a state-of-the-art handheld ultrasound probe held in two different ways.

[0009] [Figure 5A] 1A-1C are perspective views of a handheld ultrasound probe according to one embodiment being held in two different ways. [Figure 5B]1A-1C are perspective views of a handheld ultrasound probe according to one embodiment being held in two different ways.

[0010] [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a sensor circuit and a sensor signal processing circuit, according to an embodiment in which both components are in a single package.

[0011] [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart of a process according to one embodiment.

[0012] [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart of a process according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Some embodiments advantageously provide an ultrasound imaging device, such as an ultrasound probe, that includes a sensor circuit coupled to the housing for detecting inertial changes in the housing and for causing one or more ultrasound inspection functions to be performed in a computing system associated with the ultrasound imaging device based on the detected inertial changes, the ultrasound inspection functions including the function of controlling an ultrasound image on a display of the computing system.

[0014] The sensor circuitry may transmit information based on the detected inertial changes to the processing circuitry, which determines a correlation between the detected inertial changes and one or more ultrasound inspection functions to be performed in the computing system.

[0015] Ultrasound imaging devices, such as handheld ultrasound imaging devices, may require the use of three hands when scanning, using an associated operating interface, and using a medical device, such as a needle or catheter, to perform a procedure on a patient. Typically, one hand is used to guide the ultrasound imaging device during scanning, another hand is used to interact with an operating user interface, such as a computing system including an ultrasound display, and a third hand may be required to control a medical tool, such as a needle or catheter, on a patient during a procedural ultrasound examination.

[0016] Some embodiments advantageously allow a user to operate a user interface associated with an ultrasound imaging device without having to change their grip on the ultrasound imaging device or move their fingers along the height of the ultrasound imaging device during a diagnostic or procedural ultrasound examination.

[0017] Ultrasound imaging devices may be used to image internal tissues, bones, blood flow, or organs of a human or animal body in a non-invasive manner. The image can then be displayed. To perform ultrasound imaging, an ultrasound imaging device transmits ultrasound signals into the body and receives reflected signals from the body part being imaged. Such ultrasound imaging devices include a transducer and associated electronics, which may be referred to as a transceiver or imager, and may be based on photoacoustic or ultrasonic effects. Such transducers may be used for imaging and for other applications as well. For example, transducers may be used in medical imaging; flow measurement in arteries and pipes; can form speaker and microphone arrays; lithotripsy; localized tissue heating for therapeutic purposes; and can perform highly intensive focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedures.

[0018] Additional aspects and advantages of certain embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description, in which only exemplary embodiments are shown and described. As will be understood, certain embodiments are capable of achieving other and different goals, and their several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description should be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

[0019] Traditionally, imaging devices, such as ultrasound imagers used in medical imaging, use piezoelectric (PZT) material or other piezoelectric ceramic and polymer composite materials. Such imaging devices may include a housing that houses a transducer having PZT material and other electronics that form and display an image on a display unit. To fabricate bulk PZT elements or transducers, a slab of thick piezoelectric material may be cut into large rectangular-shaped PZT elements. These rectangular-shaped PZT elements can be expensive to construct because the manufacturing process typically involves precisely cutting rectangular-shaped thick PZT or ceramic material and mounting them on a substrate with precise spacing. Furthermore, the impedance of the transducer is much higher than the impedance of body tissue, which can affect performance.

[0020] Furthermore, such thick bulk PZT elements may require very high voltage pulses, for example, 100 volts (V) or more, to generate a transmit signal. This high drive voltage can sometimes result in high power dissipation because power dissipation in a transducer is proportional to the square of the drive voltage. This high power dissipation generates heat within the ultrasound imaging device, thereby necessitating cooling systems. These cooling systems increase the manufacturing cost and weight of the ultrasound imaging device, making it more expensive to operate.

[0021] Some embodiments may be utilized in the context of imaging devices utilizing either piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (pMUT) or capacitive micromachine ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) technology, as described in more detail herein.

[0022] Generally, MUTs, such as both cMUTs and pMUTs, include a diaphragm (a thin membrane attached at the edge or at some point inside the probe), whereas "traditional" bulk PZT elements typically consist of a solid piece of material.

[0023] Piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasound transducers (pMUTs) can be efficiently formed on substrates utilizing various semiconductor wafer fabrication operations. Currently, semiconductor wafers can be 6-inch (15.2 centimeters), 8-inch (20.3 centimeters), and 12-inch (30.5 centimeters) in size and can accommodate hundreds of transducer arrays. These semiconductor wafers start as silicon substrates on which various processing operations are performed. One example of such an operation is the formation of a SiO2 layer, also known as an insulating oxide. Various other operations are performed, such as the addition of metal layers that function as interconnects and bond pads to enable connection to other electronics. Yet another example of a mechanical operation is the etching of cavities. Compared to conventional transducers with bulky piezoelectric materials, pMUT elements built on semiconductor substrates are less bulky, less expensive to manufacture, and have simple, high-performance interconnects between the electronics and the transducer. Therefore, they offer greater flexibility in the operating frequencies of ultrasound imaging devices using them, potentially producing higher-quality images. The frequency response can be extended through the flexibility of shaping the diaphragm and its active area with, for example, piezoelectric material.

[0024] In some embodiments, the ultrasound imaging device includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that includes a transmit driver, a detection circuit for received echo signals, and a control circuit for controlling various operations. The ASIC may be formed on this or another semiconductor wafer. The ASIC may be placed in close proximity to the pMUT or cMUT elements to reduce parasitic losses. As a specific example, the ASIC may be separated from the transducer array by 50 micrometers (μm) or less. In a broader example, there may be a separation of less than 100 μm between two wafers or two dies, where each wafer includes many dies, the dies including the transducer array in the transducer wafer and the ASIC array in the ASIC wafer. The array may have up to 10,000 or more individual elements. In some embodiments, the ASIC has matching dimensions for the pMUT or cMUT array, allowing the devices to be stacked for wafer-to-wafer interconnection or for interconnection between a transducer die on an ASIC wafer or between a transducer die and an ASIC die. Alternatively, low-temperature piezo material sputtering and other low-temperature processes compatible with ASIC processing can be used to develop transducers on top of an ASIC wafer.

[0025] According to one embodiment, whenever the ASIC and the transducer interconnect, the two may have similar footprints. More specifically, according to this embodiment, the footprint of the ASIC may be an integer multiple or sub-multiple of the MUT footprint.

[0026] Whether the ultrasound imaging device is pMUT-based or cMUT-based, some embodiments of the imaging device may include multiple transmit channels and multiple receive channels. The transmit channels drive the transducer elements with voltage pulses at frequencies to which the elements respond. This causes ultrasound waveforms to be emitted from the elements, and the waveforms are directed toward the object to be imaged (the target object), such as an organ or other tissue in the body. In some examples, an ultrasound imaging device with an array of transducer elements may be in mechanical contact with the body using gel between the ultrasound imaging device and the body. The ultrasound waveform travels toward the object, i.e., the organ, and a portion of the waveform is reflected back to the transducer elements in the form of received / reflected ultrasound energy, where the received ultrasound energy may be converted to electrical energy within the ultrasound imaging device. The received ultrasound energy may be processed by multiple receive channels to convert the received ultrasound energy into signals, which may be processed by other circuitry to develop an image of the object for display based on the signals.

[0027] One embodiment of an ultrasound imaging device includes a transducer array and control circuitry, including, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and transmit and receive beamforming circuitry, and optionally additional control electronics.

[0028] In one embodiment, the imaging device may include a handheld enclosure or housing that houses the transducer and associated electronic circuitry, such as control circuitry and optionally a computing device. The ultrasound imaging device may house a battery that powers the electronic circuitry.

[0029] Therefore, some embodiments relate to portable imaging devices that utilize either pMUT elements or cMUT elements in a 2D array, and in some embodiments, such an array of transducer elements is coupled to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0030] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these details. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that examples of the present disclosure described below may be implemented in a variety of ways, such as as a process, one or more processors (processing circuits) of a control circuit, one or more processors (or processing circuits) of a computing device, a system, a device, or a method on a tangible computer-readable medium.

[0031] Those skilled in the art will recognize that (1) certain manufacturing operations may be performed optionally; (2) operations may not be limited to the particular order described herein; and (3) certain operations may be performed in different orders, including simultaneously, and (4) operations may involve the use of artificial intelligence.

[0032] The elements / components shown in the drawings are illustrative of example embodiments and are intended to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. References herein to "one example," "preferred example," "an example," "examples," "an embodiment," "some embodiments," or "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with an example is included in at least one example of the present disclosure and may be included in more than one example. The appearances of the phrases "in one example," "in an example," "in examples," "in an embodiment," "in some embodiments," or "in embodiments" in various places in this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same example or examples. The terms "include," "comprise," "comprises," and "comprising" are understood to be open terms, and any lists below are examples and are not intended to be limiting to the listed items. Any headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be used to limit the scope of the description or claims. Additionally, the use of particular terms in various places in this specification is for illustration purposes and should not be construed as limiting.

[0033] Reference is now made to Figures 1-3, which illustrate devices and circuits that may be used to implement some embodiments as described herein. Reference is further made to Figures 4A and 4B, which illustrate an ultrasound imaging device according to the state of the art. Reference is then made to Figures 5A and 5B, which illustrate an ultrasound imaging device according to one embodiment held in two different ways.

[0034] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an imaging device 100 having a controller or control circuitry 106 that controls selectively alterable channels (108, 110) and causes imaging calculations to be performed on a computing device 112 according to principles described herein. As described above, an ultrasound imaging device 100 may be used to generate images of internal tissues, bones, blood flow, or organs of a human or animal body. Thus, the ultrasound imaging device 100 may transmit signals into the body and receive reflected signals from the body part being imaged. Such imaging devices may include either pMUTs or cMUTs, which may be referred to as transducers or imagers, which may be based on photoacoustic or ultrasonic effects. The ultrasound imaging device 100 may be used to image other objects as well. For example, ultrasound imaging devices may be used in medical imaging; flow measurement in pipes, speakers, and microphone arrays; lithotripsy; localized tissue heating for therapeutic purposes; and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedures.

[0035] In addition to use on human patients, ultrasound imaging device 100 may also be used to obtain images of the internal organs of animals as well. Furthermore, in addition to imaging internal organs, ultrasound imaging device 100 may also be used to determine the direction and velocity of blood flow in arteries and veins, such as in Doppler mode imaging, and may be used to measure tissue stiffness.

[0036] Ultrasound imaging device 100 may be used to perform different types of imaging. For example, ultrasound imaging device 100 may be used to perform one-dimensional imaging, also known as an A-scan, two-dimensional imaging, also known as a B-scan, three-dimensional imaging, also known as a C-scan, and Doppler imaging (i.e., the use of Doppler ultrasound to determine motion, such as fluid flow, within a blood vessel). Ultrasound imaging device 100 may be switched between different imaging modes, including, but not limited to, a linear mode and a sector mode, and may be electronically configured under program control.

[0037] To facilitate such imaging, the ultrasound imaging device 100 includes one or more ultrasound transducers 102, each including an array of ultrasound transducer elements 104. Each ultrasound transducer element 104 may be embodied as any suitable transducer element, such as a pMUT or cMUT element. The transducer elements 104 operate to 1) generate ultrasound pressure waves that pass through a body or other mass and 2) receive reflected waves (received ultrasound energy) from objects within the body or other mass to be imaged. In some examples, the ultrasound imaging device 100 may be configured to simultaneously transmit and receive ultrasound waveforms or ultrasound pressure waves (abbreviated as pressure waves). For example, the control circuitry 106 may be configured to control certain transducer elements 104 to transmit pressure waves toward the target object being imaged, while other transducer elements 104 simultaneously receive pressure waves / ultrasonic energy reflected from the target object and generate electrical changes in response to and based on the received waves / received ultrasound energy / received energy.

[0038] In some examples, each transducer element 104 may be configured to transmit or receive signals at a particular frequency and bandwidth associated with a center frequency, and optionally at additional center frequencies and bandwidths. Such multi-frequency transducer elements 104 may be referred to as multi-modal elements 104 and may extend the bandwidth of the ultrasound imaging device 100. The transducer elements 104 may be capable of emitting or receiving signals at any suitable center frequency, such as from about 0.1 to about 100 megahertz. The transducer elements 104 may be configured to emit or receive signals at one or more center frequencies in the range of from about 0.1 to about 100 megahertz.

[0039] To generate pressure waves, the ultrasound imaging device 100 may include multiple transmit (Tx) channels 108 and multiple receive (Rx) channels 110. The transmit channels 108 may include multiple components that drive the transducer 102, i.e., the array of transducer elements 104, with voltage pulses at frequencies to which they are responsive, causing ultrasonic waveforms to be emitted from the transducer elements 104 toward the object to be imaged.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the ultrasound waveform may include one or more ultrasound pressure waves transmitted substantially simultaneously from one or more corresponding transducer elements of an ultrasound imaging device.

[0041] The ultrasound waveform travels towards the object to be imaged, and a portion of the waveform is reflected back to the transducer 102, which converts that portion into electrical energy via the piezoelectric effect. The receive channel 110 collects the resulting electrical energy, processes it, and transmits it to a computing device 112, which, for example, develops or generates an image that can be displayed.

[0042] In some examples, the number of transmit channels 108 and receive channels 110 in the ultrasound imaging device 100 may remain constant, while the number of transducer elements 104 to which they are coupled may vary. The coupling of the transmit and receive channels to the transducer elements may be controlled by a control circuit 106 in one embodiment. In some examples, the control circuit may include the transmit channels 108 and the receive channels 110, as shown in FIG. 1 . For example, the transducer elements 104 of the transducer 102 may be formed in a two-dimensional spatial array having N columns and M rows. In a specific example, the two-dimensional array of transducer elements 104 may have 128 columns and 32 rows. In this example, the ultrasound imaging device 100 may have up to 128 transmit channels 108 and up to 128 receive channels 110. In this example, each transmit channel 108 and receive channel 110 may be coupled to multiple or a single pixel 104. For example, depending on the imaging mode (e.g., a linear mode in which multiple transducers transmit ultrasound in the same spatial direction, or a sector mode in which multiple transducers transmit ultrasound in different spatial directions), each column of transducer elements 104 may be coupled to a single transmit channel 108 and a single receive channel 110. In this example, the transmit channel 108 and the receive channel 110 may receive a composite signal, which combines the signals received at each transducer element 104 in the respective column. In another example, i.e., during different imaging modes, each transducer element 104 may be coupled to its dedicated transmit channel 108 and its dedicated receive channel 110. In some embodiments, a transducer element 104 may be coupled to both a transmit channel 108 and a receive channel 110. For example, the transducer elements 104 may be adapted to create and transmit an ultrasound pulse and then detect echoes of that pulse by converting reflected ultrasound energy into electrical energy.

[0043] Control circuitry 106 may be embodied as any circuit or circuits configured to perform the functions described herein, such as, for example, control circuitry 106 may be embodied as or otherwise include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a system on a chip, a processor and memory, a voltage source, a current source, one or more amplifiers, one or more digital-to-analog converters, one or more analog-to-digital converters, etc.

[0044] The illustrated computing device 112 may be embodied as any suitable computing device including any suitable components, such as one or more processors (i.e., one or more processing circuits), one or more memory circuits, one or more communication circuits, one or more batteries, one or more displays, etc. In one embodiment, the computing device 112 may be integrated with the control circuitry 106, transducer 102, etc. in a single microelectronic package or chip, or in a single system-on-chip (SoC), or in a single ultrasound imaging device housing, as suggested in the embodiment of FIG. 1 . In other embodiments, some or all of the computing device may be in a separate microelectronic package from the control circuitry, or in a separate device from the ultrasound imaging device, such as an ultrasound imaging probe, as suggested in the embodiment of FIG. 2 , which will be described in more detail below.

[0045] Each transducer element may have any suitable shape, such as square, rectangular, oval, or circular. The transducer elements may be arranged in a two-dimensional array arranged in orthogonal directions, such as in N columns and M rows as described herein, or may be arranged in an asymmetric (or staggered) linear array.

[0046] The transducer elements 104 may have associated transmit driver circuits for associated transmit channels and low-noise amplifiers for associated receive channels. Thus, a transmit channel may include a transmit driver, and a receive channel may include one or more low-noise amplifiers. For example, although not explicitly shown, the transmit and receive channels may each include multiplexing and address control circuitry to allow particular transducer elements and sets of transducer elements to be enabled, disabled, or placed in a low-power mode. It is understood that the transducers may be arranged in patterns other than orthogonal rows and columns, such as a circle, or in other patterns based on the range of ultrasonic waveforms to be generated therefrom.

[0047] Figure 2 is a diagram of an imaging environment including an imaging system 200 having selectively configurable characteristics, according to one embodiment. The imaging system of Figure 2 may include an ultrasound imaging device 202 (which may be similar to ultrasound imaging device 300 described below in the context of Figure 3), and a computing system 222 including a computing device 216 and a display 220 coupled to the computing device, as will be described in further detail below.

[0048] 2, the computing device 216 may be physically separate from the ultrasound imaging device 220, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment. For example, the computing device 216 and the display device 220 may be located within a separate device (in this context, the illustrated computing system 222, which is physically separate from the imaging device 202 during operation) compared to the components of the ultrasound imaging device 202. The computing system 222 may include a mobile device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, or a stationary computing device capable of displaying images to a user. In another example, the display device, computing device, and associated display may be part of the ultrasound imaging device 202 (shown here), for example, as shown in FIG. 1. That is, the ultrasound imaging device 100, the computing device 216, and the display device 220 may be located within a single housing.

[0049] A "computing device" as referred to herein may, in some embodiments, be configured to generate signals to at least one of cause an image of an object to be displayed on a display or cause information about the image to be communicated to a user.

[0050] A "computing device" as referred to herein may, in some embodiments, be configured to receive sensor signals from sensor circuitry of an ultrasound imaging device, process those sensor signals to result in the generation of execution signals, and perform an ultrasound inspection function based on the sensor signals.

[0051] As shown, the imaging system includes an ultrasound imaging device 202 configured to generate and transmit pressure waves 210 toward an object, such as a heart 214, in a transmit mode / process via a transmit channel (FIG. 1, 108). An internal organ or other object to be imaged may reflect a portion of the pressure waves 210 toward the ultrasound imaging device 202, which may receive the reflected pressure waves via a transducer (such as transducer 102 in FIG. 1), a receive channel (FIG. 1, 110), and control circuitry (FIG. 1, 106). The transducer may generate an electrical signal based on the received ultrasound energy in a receive mode / process. The transmit mode or receive mode may be applicable in the context of an imaging device that may be configured to either transmit or receive, but at different times. However, as previously described, some imaging devices according to embodiments may be adapted to be in both a transmit mode and a receive mode simultaneously. The system also includes a computing device 216 that communicates with the ultrasound imaging device 100 via a communication channel, such as a wireless communication channel 218 as shown, although embodiments also encompass within their scope wired communication between the computing system and the imaging device. The ultrasound imaging device 100 may communicate signals to the computing device 216, which may have one or more processors to process the received signals to complete the formation of an image of the object. A display device 220 of the computing system 222 may then display the image of the object using the signals from the computing device.

[0052] An imaging device according to some embodiments may include a portable and / or handheld device adapted to communicate signals with a computing device via a communication channel, either wirelessly (using a wireless communication protocol such as IEEE 802.11 or Wi-Fi® protocol, a Bluetooth protocol including Bluetooth® Low Energy, an mmWave communication protocol, or any other wireless communication protocol within the knowledge of one skilled in the art) or via a wired connection such as a cable (such as USB2, USB3, USB3.1, and USB-C) or an interconnect on a microelectronic device. In the case of a tethered or wired connection, the ultrasound imaging device may include a port for receiving a cable connection for communicating with the computing device. In the case of a wireless connection, the ultrasound imaging device 100 may include a wireless transceiver for communicating with the computing device 216.

[0053] It should be understood that in various embodiments, different aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented in different components. For example, in one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging device may include circuitry (e.g., channels) for transmitting and receiving ultrasound waveforms via its transducer, while a computing device may be adapted to control such circuitry to generate ultrasound waveforms at transducer elements of the ultrasound imaging device using voltage signals and to further process the received ultrasound energy.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of an imaging device according to some embodiments, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0055] As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the ultrasound imaging device 300 may include a handheld enclosure or housing 331 in which the transducer 302 and associated electronics are housed. The ultrasound imaging device may also contain a battery 338 to power the electronics. Thus, FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a portable imaging device capable of 2D and 3D imaging using a 2D array of pMUTs, optionally constructed on a silicon wafer. Such an array coupled to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 106 with an electronic configuration of specific parameters enables higher quality image processing at a lower cost than previously possible. Furthermore, by controlling certain parameters, such as the number of channels used, power consumption can be altered and temperature can be varied.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an imaging device 300 with selectively adjustable features, according to some embodiments. The ultrasound imaging device 300 may be similar to the imaging device 100 of FIG. 1 or the imaging device 202 of FIG. 2, merely by way of example. As described above, the ultrasound imaging device may include an ultrasound medical probe. FIG. 3 illustrates a transducer 302 of the ultrasound imaging device 300. As described above, the transducer 302 may include an array of transducer elements (FIG. 1, 104) adapted to transmit and receive pressure waves (FIG. 2, 210). In some examples, the ultrasound imaging device 300 may include a coating layer 322 that serves as an impedance-matching interface between the transducer 302 and a human body, or other mass or tissue, through which the pressure waves (FIG. 2, 210) are transmitted. In some cases, the coating layer 322 may function as a lens when designed with a curvature consistent with a desired focal length.

[0057] The housing 331 of the ultrasound imaging device 300 may be embodied in any suitable form factor. In some embodiments, the portion of the ultrasound imaging device 300 including the transducer 302 may extend outward from the remainder of the ultrasound imaging device 100. The ultrasound imaging device 300 may be embodied as any suitable ultrasound medical probe, such as a convex array probe, a micro-convex array probe, a linear array probe, a transvaginal probe, an endorectal probe, a surgical probe, an intraoperative probe, etc.

[0058] In some embodiments, a user may apply gel onto the skin of a living subject prior to direct contact with the coating layer 322, so that impedance matching at the interface between the coating layer 322 and the human body may be improved. Impedance matching reduces losses of pressure waves (FIG. 2, 210) at the interface and of reflected waves traveling toward the ultrasound imaging device 300 at the interface.

[0059] In some examples, the coating layer 322 may be a flat layer to maximize the transmission of acoustic signals from the transducer 102 to the body and vice versa. The thickness of the coating layer 322 may be a quarter wavelength of the pressure waves (FIG. 2, 210) to be generated in the transducer 102.

[0060] The ultrasound imaging device 300 also includes control circuitry 106, such as one or more processors, optionally in the form of application specific integrated circuits (ASIC chips or ASICs), for controlling the transducer 102. The control circuitry 106 may be coupled to the transducer 102 by bumps or the like.

[0061] Ultrasound imaging device 300 includes a sensor circuit 335 coupled to communication circuit 332 and to processor circuit 326. Sensor circuit 335 may include any sensor circuitry for detecting at least a tap on the ultrasound imaging device housing, tilt or orientation of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0062] The ultrasound imaging device may include one or more processors (or processing circuits) 326 for controlling the components of the ultrasound imaging device 300. The one or more processors 326, in addition to the control circuitry 106, may be configured to at least one of control activation of the transducer elements, process signals based on reflected ultrasound waveforms from the transducer elements, or generate signals that result in generation of an image of an object being imaged by one or more processors of a computing device, such as computing device 112 of Figure 1 or 216 of Figure 2. The one or more processors 326 may be further adapted to perform other processing functions associated with the ultrasound imaging device.

[0063] The one or more processors 326 may be embodied as any type of processor 326. For example, the one or more processors 326 may be embodied as a single or multi-core processor, a single or multi-socket processor, a digital signal processor, a graphics processor, a neural network computation engine, an image processor, a microcontroller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other processor or processing / control circuitry.

[0064] The ultrasound imaging device 300 may include circuitry 328, such as an Analog Front End (AFE), for processing / conditioning the signals.

[0065] The analog front end 328 may be embodied as any circuit or circuits configured to interface with other components of the ultrasound imaging device, such as the control circuit 106 and the processing circuit 326. For example, the analog front end 328 may include, for example, one or more digital-to-analog converters, one or more analog-to-digital converters, one or more amplifiers, etc.

[0066] The ultrasound imaging device may include a communication unit 332 for communicating data, including control signals, with an external device, such as a computing device ( FIG. 2 , 216), for example, via a port 334 or a wireless transceiver. The ultrasound imaging device 300 may include a memory 336 for storing data. The memory 336 may be embodied as any type of volatile or non-volatile memory or data storage capable of performing the functions described herein. During operation, the memory 336 may store various data and software used during operation of the ultrasound imaging device 300, such as an operating system, applications, programs, libraries, and drivers.

[0067] In some examples, the ultrasound imaging device 300 may include a battery 338 for providing power to the components of the ultrasound imaging device 300. The battery 338 may include a battery charging circuit, which may be a wireless or wired charging circuit (not shown). The ultrasound imaging device may include a gauge that indicates the consumed battery charge and is used to configure the ultrasound imaging device to optimize power management for improved battery life. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the ultrasound imaging device may be powered by an external power source, such as by plugging the ultrasound imaging device into a wall outlet.

[0068] The sensor circuitry 335 may be coupled to the housing 331 to detect inertial changes in the housing and cause one or more ultrasound inspection functions to be performed in a computing system associated with the ultrasound imaging device based on the detected inertial changes. Illustratively, the housing 331 may have a rigid body, and the sensor circuitry 335 may be coupled to a body of the housing such that inertial changes in the housing may be captured as a sensor signal corresponding to the inertial changes.

[0069] The inertial change may correspond to one or more taps by the user's leading hand on the housing of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0070] Either the sensor circuitry itself or a sensor signal processing circuit (sensor signal processing circuitry) 337 separate from the sensor circuitry may be configured to use signals based on the sensed inertial changes and correlate the signals to tap patterns associated with the ultrasound inspection function. For example, the sensor signal processing circuitry may be within the processing circuitry 326 of the ultrasound imaging device 300, or it may be separate from it (not shown).

[0071] A tap pattern may include one or more permutations of tap sequences. A tap sequence may include a single tap or any number of closely spaced (in time) taps. A tap pattern may include any number of such tap sequences. For example, a tap pattern may include permutations including one tap, two taps, three taps, a closely spaced sequence of n taps, any number of closely spaced taps followed by any other number of closely spaced taps (e.g., two taps followed by four taps, one tap followed by two taps, etc.).

[0072] The sensor signal processing circuit 337 may use multiple tap patterns and correlate each of the tap patterns to a corresponding one of multiple echography functions.

[0073] Thus, the plurality of tap patterns may comprise a set of tap patterns that are either preconfigured for the sensor signal processing circuit or configurable for the sensor signal processing circuit by a user. Different patterns of inertial changes, such as one tap, two taps, three taps, any number of taps, and any permutation of tap sequences (e.g., one tap followed by two taps, two taps followed by four taps, one tap followed by two taps followed by one tap, etc.), may correspond to inertial changes sensed by the sensor circuit.

[0074] The time delta between taps may be pre-configured by logic in the sensor signal processing circuitry so that it can identify the number of taps in a given tap sequence (i.e., one tap, two taps, etc.) and permutations of the sequence of tap numbers (e.g., a permutation including a sequence of one tap followed by a sequence of two taps, another pattern including a sequence of two taps followed by a sequence of one tap, etc.).

[0075] The sensor circuitry may be coupled to the housing to detect inertial changes over a majority of the surface of the housing, the bottom half of the housing, the top half of the housing, the bottom 70% of the housing, or any given surface area of ​​the housing. Preferably, the sensor is coupled to the housing to detect inertial changes in the bottom 70% of the housing, as this is where the user's hands are and are likely to cause inertial changes without interfering with the user's grip during an ultrasound examination.

[0076] The sensor circuitry 335 may include, for example, an accelerometer. The sensor circuitry may additionally include a gyroscope to sense the tilt or orientation of the ultrasound imaging device or its angular velocity, and / or a magnetometer to sense the Earth's ambient magnetic field to enable determination of location relative to the Earth's poles. Further details regarding the sensor circuitry 335 and associated processing circuitry will be provided below in the context of FIG. 6.

[0077] The sensor circuitry enables detection of inertial changes, such as a tap on the housing body, and for signals related to the detected inertial changes to be further processed, such as to determine correlations between signals related to the detected inertial changes. The correlations may be performed by sensor signal processing circuitry 337, which in the illustrated embodiment is shown as circuitry separate from the sensor circuitry. However, the embodiment is not so limited. The sensor signal processing circuitry may be within sensor circuitry 335, processing circuitry 326, or within a computing system 222 separate from the imaging device, such as computing device 216 in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0078] Some embodiments advantageously enable inertial changes as sensed on the housing of the imaging device to control ultrasound examination functions in a computing system, thus avoiding the need for the user to readjust the position of their leading hand on the ultrasound imaging device, thus eliminating the need for physical adjustment of the user's grip on the ultrasound imaging device.

[0079] Some embodiments advantageously allow the user the flexibility to hold the probe in whatever manner is comfortable for the user.

[0080] Reference is now made to Figures 4A and 4B, which show perspective views of a state-of-the-art handheld ultrasonic probe 400 being held in two different ways: in a standard longitudinal grip in Figure 4A and a standard lateral grip in Figure 4B. While Figures 4A and 4B only show two different types of grips for holding the ultrasonic probe shown, many ways of holding an ultrasonic probe are possible, including an adjustable lateral grip, in which the probe is held and guided by its upper side regions, and an adjustable longitudinal grip, in which the probe is held and guided by its upper front and back regions. The probe 400 may be coupled to a computing system and / or a power source by wires 454, which are partially shown in Figures 4A and 4B.

[0081] The probe 400 includes a housing or main housing 440 that corresponds to the physical body of the device to be held by a user during use, such as during an ultrasound scan or sonographic examination (exam). The probe 400 further includes an upper half 442 and a lower half 444. The lower half 444 includes a probe head region 446 having a surface 448 to be placed in contact with a body surface to be scanned, such as human skin. The upper half 442 includes an actuation button 450 that can be activated (physically moved, such as by being pressed or turned on / off) by one or more fingers of a user, such as the user whose hand 452 is shown in the image. While the actuation button 450 is located in the upper region in the illustrated example, some handheld ultrasound probes place the button in a central region between the upper and lower regions. The button is typically used by a user to cause a computing system to perform sonographic functions, such as functions that may include freezing / thawing an ultrasound image (hereinafter “image”), saving the image, and taking a snapshot of the image.

[0082] During a standard ultrasound examination, according to the current state of the art, using a handheld ultrasound device, a user typically holds and guides the ultrasound imaging device in one hand (the guiding hand) and uses the other hand to interact with a computing system or computing device or to guide a needle or catheter. For example, the computing system may be similar to computing system 222 or may include a mobile device. Thus, the user typically then holds the ultrasound imaging device 400 in hand 452 and uses a finger, such as thumb 456, to press a physical button 450 to cause a computing device coupled to the probe 400 to perform an ultrasound examination function. In some state-of-the-art probes, no button is present on the probe; in such cases, the user must use their guiding hand to hold and guide the probe and their other hand to interact with the user interface of the computing system or computing device to cause the performance of an ultrasound examination function.

[0083] However, the need to use the guiding hand 452 in certain cases to effect the performance of ultrasound examination functions creates the “third hand problem.” The “third hand problem” refers to the challenge of effecting the performance of ultrasound examination functions while one hand is either interacting with a computing system or computing device user interface (in a diagnostic ultrasound examination) or guiding a needle or catheter during a procedural ultrasound examination, and the other hand is holding and guiding a handheld ultrasound probe. In such cases, a “third hand” would theoretically be needed to press the button 450 when the ultrasound examination function is required to be performed without interfering with the control of the probe received by the guiding hand 452. Additionally, due to the hand interacting with the computing system, the user performing the examination typically wears gloves and, as a result, may not be able to effectively interact with the user interface of the computing system associated with the probe. For example, a user may not be able to effectively navigate the mobile device's functions, such as adjusting or capturing and saving images, while wearing gloves on their hand. Therefore, the current state of the art lacks a third hand to be able to both effectively hold and guide an ultrasound imaging device such as probe 400 with one hand and provide ultrasound examination functions on a computing system with the other hand.

[0084] Current solutions to the third hand problem, other than buttons as shown in the context of Figures 4A and 4B, include foot pedals.

[0085] Thus, some prior art solutions require the user to reposition their finger along the height direction h of the probe to activate a button, limiting the ability to effectively guide the probe and thus interfering with reliable positioning of the ultrasound probe (e.g., position on the skin, tilt, orientation, direction of movement, speed) due to the associated movement of the guiding hand. Some other prior art solutions require the non-guiding hand to interface with a user interface of a computing system associated with the ultrasound probe, thus limiting the ability of the non-guiding hand to perform procedures during an ultrasound examination, such as procedures involving the use of needles or catheters. Some further prior art solutions present cumbersome mechanisms such as foot pedals, require the use of parts of the user's body that are not as easily controllable as the hand, and require complex device connections.

[0086] Reference is now made to Figures 5A and 5B, which show perspective views similar to those of Figures 4A and 4B, but according to one embodiment. The difference between probe 400 of Figures 4A-4B and probe 300 of Figures 5A-5B is that probe 300 does not include button 450 but instead corresponds to probe 300 of Figure 3, which includes sensor circuitry 335 described above. Probe 300 of Figures 5A-5B may have a computing system associated therewith, i.e., a computing system that communicates with it to receive ultrasound image signals therefrom and display the ultrasound image signals on a display, illustratively similar to computing system 222 of Figure 2.

[0087] The probe 300 may be coupled to a computing system and / or a power source by wires 554, which are partially shown in Figures 4A and 4B. The probe 300 of Figures 4A and 4B may further include several internal components similar to those shown or discussed with respect to any of the previously described ultrasound imaging devices 100-300. Alternatively, the probe 300 may include communications circuitry 332 (see Figure 3) to be able to communicate wirelessly with the computing system 222 (see Figure 2).

[0088] Probe 300 includes a housing or main body 540 that corresponds to the physical body of the device that is to be held by a user during use, such as during an ultrasound scan or ultrasound examination (test). Probe 300 further includes an upper half 542 and a lower half 544. Lower half 544 includes a probe head region 546 having a surface 548 that is to be placed in contact with a body surface to be scanned, such as human skin.

[0089] Because the probe 300 includes a sensor circuit 335, it may enable a user simply using configured tap patterns on the associated sensor signal processing circuit 337 to be able to control ultrasound examination functions, such as those related to imaging functions, on the display of the computing system 222.

[0090] Some embodiments advantageously provide an ultrasound imaging device, such as an ultrasound probe, that includes a sensor circuit coupled to the housing for detecting inertial changes in its housing (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "tactile input") and, based on the detected inertial changes, for causing one or more ultrasound inspection functions to be performed in a computing system associated with the ultrasound imaging device, the ultrasound inspection functions including the function of controlling an ultrasound image on a display of the computing system.

[0091] The sensor circuitry may transmit information based on the detected inertial changes to the processing circuitry, which determines a correlation between the detected inertial changes and one or more ultrasound inspection functions to be performed in the computing system.

[0092] The inertial change may correspond to one or more taps by the user's guiding hand on the housing of the ultrasound imaging device. Different types of inertial changes, such as one tap, two taps, three taps, any number of taps, and any combination of tap sequences (e.g., one tap followed by two taps, two taps followed by four taps, one tap followed by two taps followed by one tap, etc.), may correspond to inertial changes sensed by one or more sensor circuits. The time delta between taps or the maximum duration / window of a tap sequence based on the number of taps in the sequence may be preconfigured by the user or configured by logic within the sensor or processing circuitry such that the associated processing circuitry can identify the number of taps and combinations of taps.

[0093] The inertial change may further correspond to a movement of the ultrasound imaging device in the air, for example, drawing in the air using the ultrasound imaging device. In such a case, the sensor circuit may be adapted to detect the motion pattern of the ultrasound imaging device in the air. Drawing in the air may be useful for portions of an examination where the ultrasound imaging device may not need to be on the patient's skin, such as at the end of the examination.

[0094] The inertial changes may further correspond to changes in the roll, pitch, yaw, position, gravity vector, and / or linear acceleration of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0095] The sensor circuitry may be coupled to the housing to detect inertial changes over a majority of the surface of the housing, the bottom half of the housing, the top half of the housing, the bottom 70% of the housing, the bottom 90% of the housing, or any given surface area of ​​the housing. Preferably, the sensor is coupled to the housing to detect inertial changes in the bottom 70% of the housing or the bottom 50% of the housing.

[0096] Embodiments further include instances where tactile input (i.e., input from a user associated with inertial changes detected by the sensor circuitry) may be combined with or replaced by other sensor inputs to effect performance of ultrasound inspection functions in an associated computing system.

[0097] By way of example, the sensor circuitry 335 may include audio sensors such as microphone circuits, eye-tracking sensors such as camera circuits, and / or other sensors that do not involve actuation (e.g., pressing) of a physical button, in addition to or instead of sensor circuits that receive tactile input and decode it into an inertial change signal as described above.

[0098] For example, if the sensor circuit includes eye-tracking circuitry, the eye-tracking input may correspond to one or more blinks by a user of the ultrasound imaging device. Different types of eye-tracking inputs may correspond to eye-tracking inputs sensed by the sensor circuit, such as one blink, two blinks, three blinks, any number of blinks, and any combination of blink sequences (e.g., one blink followed by two blinks, two blinks followed by four blinks, one blink followed by two blinks followed by one blink, etc.). The time delta between blinks may be pre-configured by the user or configured by logic within the sensor or processing circuitry such that the associated processing circuitry can identify the number of blinks and combinations of blinks.

[0099] The eye-tracking input may further include tracking the movement patterns of the user's iris.

[0100] Although not shown herein, embodiments include within their scope the provisioning of ultrasound imaging devices to include tactile, eye tracking and / or audio sensor circuitry along with actuatable buttons.

[0101] Thus, according to some embodiments, the sensor signal processing circuitry may include circuitry to process signals based on sensor inputs other than tactile (inertial change) sensor inputs and correlate such signals to patterns of sensor inputs associated with ultrasound inspection functionality. If the sensor signal processing circuitry processes signals based on various types of sensor inputs (e.g., tactile and eye tracking, etc.), the sensor signal processing circuitry may include additional processing circuit components to identify signals from the various types of sensor circuits (e.g., inertial change, eye tracking, and audio) as particular patterns of sensor inputs and generate signals for further processing, i.e., correlation to a subsequent sensor signal processing circuit with ultrasound inspection functionality, based on other patterns of sensor inputs.

[0102] For the voice / audio sensor input and the eye-tracking sensor input, sensor circuitry configured to determine those inputs may be located either on the ultrasound imaging device or on the computing system, or may be split between the ultrasound imaging device and the computing system (e.g., the eye-tracking sensor circuitry may be on the ultrasound imaging device or integrated into or attached to a display that outputs ultrasound images (which the user may already frequently view), and the audio detection circuitry may be on the computing system). Alternatively, such sensor circuitry may be located in the examination room.

[0103] The sensor signal processing circuitry may be configured to correlate any one pattern of sensor input to any one of the following ultrasound inspection functions:

[0104] Any one example pattern of sensor inputs may, by way of example, include only one or more of the following sensor inputs in any given order: 1. Haptic / Inertial Input: a.One tap b.Tap twice c. Three taps d. Four taps eN consecutive taps 2. Eye-tracking input: a. Long blink b. A single blink c. Two blinks d. Three blinks e. Four blinks fM consecutive blinks 3. Voice command input: a. Spoken words b. Any sound that can be easily identified

[0105] Thus, according to some embodiments, any one pattern of sensor inputs may include, by way of example, only any permutation (i.e., a given order) of sensor inputs selected from, for example, 1.a-1.d, 2.a-2.f, and 3.a-3.b, where example permutations include only one of the above sensor inputs (e.g., 1.b), or multiple sensor inputs in a given order (e.g., 1.b followed by 2.c; or 1.b followed by 2.c followed by 3.a; 3.a followed by another 3.a; 1.a followed by 1.b; 2.a followed by 2.f followed by 2.c followed by 1.d, etc.).

[0106] Any one pattern of sensor input as described above may, according to one embodiment, be associated with one of a set of ultrasound inspection functions, either by being pre-configured into the sensor signal processing circuitry or by being configured into the sensor signal processing circuitry by a user.

[0107] According to one embodiment, the sensor signal processing circuitry may be reconfigurable to associate different patterns of sensor input with different ultrasound examination functions at different times and / or for different users. Thus, for example, for one user, the correlations between available patterns of sensor input may be different from another user, and the computing system may be configured to select between the various correlations based on input from the user regarding their identity.

[0108] The set of ultrasound inspection functions may include, for example, any of the following inspection functions, where storing is performed by saving to a memory, such as memory 336 or memory 251, i.e., a memory that may be part of an ultrasound imaging device (such as ultrasound imaging device 300) or part of a computing system (such as imaging system 222): a. Freeze / Thaw (freeze or thaw the ultrasound image on the display) b. Storage (especially after freezing, save the ultrasound image on the display) c. Snapshot (save the ultrasound image on the display without pre-freezing) d. Start / Stop Recording (Recording is of the ultrasound video on the display where the recording is saved) e. Depth Up / Down (adjusts imaging depth within the body being examined) f. Gain up / down (adjusts the brightness of the image on the display) g. Activating voice commands (voice commands may be activated separately, especially after the user ensures that the environment is quiet to avoid unintended activation of functions) h. Enable voice annotations i. Mode on / off (color Doppler (CD), motion mode (MM), pulse wave (PW)) j. Increase / Decrease Field of View (FOV) (increase or decrease the angular image corresponding to the target area being inspected) k. Initiating a 3D sweep (a 3D sweep may involve a sweep by a transducer of an ultrasound imaging device of a volume surrounding and including the target being examined) l.Start of inspection m. Inspection sign-off n. End of inspection o. Measurement p. Tagging Views q. Menu navigation (allows menu navigation within the various menus and submenus of ultrasound examination functions such as starting an exam, followed by freezing, followed by saving, etc.) r. Preset Selection (e.g., allowing selection of preset exam features based on the user and / or the target being imaged, such as kidneys vs. heart) s. Annotation selection t. Worksheet selection u. Worksheet completion v. Switching to low-power standby mode Wake up

[0109] Therefore, according to some embodiments, any one pattern of sensor input may be associated with any given one of the above-described ultrasound inspection functions a-cc, and thus correlated thereto by the sensor signal processing circuitry. According to one embodiment, ultrasound inspection functions a-n may be considered "basic ultrasound inspection functions."

[0110] Table 1 provides an example of a correlation between a set of sensor circuit input types (tactile / eye-tracking based, and possible ultrasound functions). As suggested by Table 1, simpler patterns of sensor inputs may be associated with more general ultrasound functions, such as those outlined in items a-f of the set of imaging functions above. [Table 1] [Table 1]

[0111] 6, which corresponds to a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a sensor circuit 335 and a sensor signal processing circuit 337, in which both components are in a single package 600, such as a chip, a system-on-chip, or a microelectronic package, to name a few. In the embodiment shown, the sensor circuit includes a sensor device 602 and a sensor processing circuit 604.

[0112] The sensor device 602 may include, by way of example, an accelerometer for detecting tactile / inertial change inputs to the housing of the ultrasound imaging device, such as one or more taps and air-drawing gestures. The sensor device may further include a gyroscope for determining the positioning of the ultrasound imaging device, such as its tilt angle or angular velocity relative to the surface of the patient's skin being examined, and / or a magnetometer / compass for measuring the Earth's ambient magnetic field and enabling any necessary adjustments to the data from the gyroscope. In addition to the accelerometer, the sensor device may further include an audio sensor, such as a microphone for detecting audio input, or an eye-tracking sensor, such as a camera. The sensor device is for detecting one or more of the inertial change / orientation / tilt / angular velocity of the ultrasound imaging device, the audio input, and the eye-tracking input, and generating sensor data therefrom. Each type of sensor device (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, microphone, camera) may generate its own sensor data / sensor raw data and send it to the sensor processing circuit 604 for further processing. For example, an accelerometer may generate raw data corresponding to waveforms based on inertial changes, a magnetometer may generate raw data corresponding to values ​​for the Earth's ambient magnetic field, and a gyroscope may generate raw data corresponding to angular tilt of an ultrasound imaging device.

[0113] The sensor raw data from each sensor device may be processed by the sensor processing circuit 604, which, according to one embodiment, may include logic for fusing sensor data related to tactile input / inertial changes. For example, raw data from the magnetometer may be used in conjunction with raw data from the accelerometer and / or gyroscope to compensate for any errors related to the raw data from the accelerometer and / or gyroscope. Additionally, raw data from the gyroscope related to angular tilt may be used in conjunction with raw data from the accelerometer to determine whether the ultrasound imaging device is in a desired position relative to the target to be imaged before an ultrasound inspection function is performed on an ultrasound image of the target. By way of example, if the ultrasound imaging device is to be held still during an ultrasound inspection function, such as freezing / thawing, taking a snapshot, or performing a 3D sweep, the sensor processing circuit, through its logic for fusing sensor data, may provide feedback to the user regarding the ultrasound imaging device not being stationary. In this way, the user may hold the ultrasound imaging device in a stationary position as a result of the feedback to cause the execution of an ultrasound inspection function that depends on the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device being stationary. Therefore, according to one embodiment, the fusion algorithm may use the raw data from the gyroscope and from the accelerometer to determine whether the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device is consistent with the ultrasound examination function that is sought to be implemented (as described above), and if an inconsistency is found, have feedback provided to the user (either via the ultrasound imaging device itself or by a computing system associated with the ultrasound imaging device) to adjust the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device to one that is consistent with the ultrasound examination function that is sought to be implemented. By way of example, the fusion algorithm may use the raw data from the gyroscope and the accelerometer to determine whether the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device is consistent with the preset state of the ultrasound examination that is to be or is being performed.For example, if the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device is not consistent with the preset state of the ultrasound examination, feedback to the user from either the ultrasound imaging device or the computing system may include information that allows the user to adjust the inertial state to be within a range of inertial states consistent with the selected preset, or to change the preset to be consistent with the existing inertial state.

[0114] Ultrasound presets include many common ultrasound imaging parameters such as dynamic range, depth, focal zone, persistence, automatic gain control (e.g., automatic and tissue homogenization), both spatial and frequency compounding, sine function, line density, tint map, intermediate frequency, measurements, annotations, and settings for tissue demarcation, to name a few. Presets may also include access to M-mode, Doppler, color Doppler, continuous wave Doppler, 3D / 4D, and even elastography and contrast parameters. Each parameter can be independently altered within a preset to improve the image.

[0115] The inertial state may include information based on whether the ultrasound imaging device is stopped / stationary, the tilt of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the patient's skin surface on which the ultrasound imaging device is placed, and / or the movement state of the ultrasound imaging device (whether it is moving, how fast it is moving, and in what direction it is moving).

[0116] The feedback may be tactile, audio, and / or visual, such as on a display of a computing system, or may be via a light source (e.g., a flashing light, a red light, a green light, etc.) that is part of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0117] The sensor processing circuit 604 may use quaternion calculations to obtain information about the orientation, tilt, angular velocity, and position change of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0118] The sensor processing circuit 604 may further use the raw sensor data to generate a signal based on the raw sensor data that correlates with information about a detected pattern of sensor input, such as any of the patterns of sensor input described above. As discussed above, for example, any one pattern of sensor input may include any permutation of sensor inputs selected from 1.a-1.d, 2.a-2.f, and 3.a-3.b above, with example permutations including only one of the above sensor inputs (e.g., 1.b) or multiple sensor inputs in a given order (e.g., 1.b followed by 2.c; or 1.b followed by 2.c followed by 3.a; 3.a followed by another 3.a; 1.a followed by 1.b; 2.a followed by 2.f followed by 2.c followed by 1.d, etc.). The sensor processing circuit may generate a signal based on the detected pattern of sensor input. Alternatively, the ultrasound imaging device may simply acquire raw sensor data from its own sensor device and transmit the raw sensor data to its associated computing system, such as computing system 222 of FIG. 2, in which case the sensor processing circuitry 604 would be contained in whole or in part within the computing system rather than within the ultrasound imaging device.

[0119] For example, for tap detection, the sensor processing circuit may process the raw accelerometer data to determine whether there are any sharp pulses (e.g., about 150 ms to about 375 ms long with a jump in acceleration of more than about 0.125 g) and extract the number of such sharp pulses to detect taps, the duration between taps, etc. As discussed above, the time delta between taps or the maximum time delta for detection of a given number of taps may be preconfigured for the sensor processing circuit 604 or may be configurable for the sensor processing circuit 604 by a user. The sensor processing circuit may be configured with a maximum time window for N taps, a minimum time window for a tap, a time delta (duration) between sequences of every N taps, and an amplitude threshold above which a change in acceleration qualifies as a tap gesture, to name a few.

[0120] As further seen in FIG. 6 , a signal based on the detected pattern of sensor input may be transmitted by the sensor processing circuit 604 to the sensor signal processing circuit 337. In the example shown, the signal based on the detected pattern of sensor input may be processed using correlation logic within the sensor signal processing circuit to correlate the pattern of sensor input to one of a set of ultrasound inspection functions, such as those listed under a.-cc. above. To do so, the correlation logic may cause the sensor signal processing circuit to access data regarding the set of configured patterns of sensor input and their corresponding set of ultrasound inspection functions, such data corresponding to, for example, that presented in Table 1 above. Based on the correlation, the ultrasound inspection function signal generation logic 608 may cause the sensor signal processing circuit 337 to generate a signal that causes the computing system to perform the ultrasound inspection function to which the pattern of sensor input correlated. The signal that causes the performance may be transmitted by the sensor signal processing circuit 337 to a communications circuit of the ultrasound imaging device for communication to the computing system, e.g., the communications circuit 332. In the case of a mobile ultrasound imaging device, the signals that effect the performance may be communicated wirelessly over the air or by wire to a computing system.

[0121] According to one embodiment, an inertial motion sensor device, such as an accelerometer and / or one or more of a gyroscope and a magnetometer, may be coupled to the housing to detect inertial changes across a majority of the surface of the housing. As previously described, the inertial motion sensor may be positioned to detect inertial changes across the bottom half of the surface of the housing, across the top half of the surface of the housing, across the bottom 70% of the surface of the housing, or across any given surface area of ​​the housing. Preferably, the sensor is coupled to the housing to detect inertial changes in the bottom 70% of the housing because this is where a user's hands are likely to be and cause inertial changes without interfering with the user's grip during an ultrasound examination. According to one embodiment, the sensor circuitry may be configured to vary the sensitivity of the inertial motion sensor device based on the location on the surface area of ​​the housing where an inertial change, such as a tap, is detectable by the sensor device. Preferably, the sensitivity of the inertial motion sensor may be higher on the bottom surface of the ultrasound imaging device housing for a tap than on the surface area of ​​the ultrasound imaging device housing above the bottom surface area.

[0122] According to one embodiment, the sensor signal processing circuit 337 may further correlate the pattern of sensor input to, for example, detect an ultrasound imaging device user-related event, such as whether the probe has been picked up by the user, whether it is dormant (not being used for an examination), or whether it has been dropped. When a user-related event is detected by the signal processing circuit 337 through correlation, it may then generate a signal to the ultrasound imaging device or the computing system regarding a power setting for at least one of the ultrasound imaging device or the computing system. For example, upon detecting an ultrasound imaging device being picked up, power to the ultrasound imaging device and / or the computing system may be increased by a corresponding signal from the sensor signal processing circuit. Upon detecting a dropped or dormant ultrasound imaging device, power to the ultrasound imaging device and / or the computing system may be decreased by a corresponding signal from the sensor signal processing circuit. Upon detecting a drop, a signal from the sensor signal processing circuit may provide an indication of a warranted event.

[0123] By way of example, the sensor circuitry 335 may include audio sensors such as microphone circuits, eye-tracking sensors such as camera circuits, and / or other sensors that do not involve actuation (e.g., pressing) of a physical button, in addition to or instead of sensor circuits that receive tactile input and decode it into an inertial change signal as described above.

[0124] 7 illustrates a method 700 performed on an ultrasound imaging device, according to one embodiment. The method includes, in operation 702, detecting a tactile input on a surface area of ​​a housing of the ultrasound imaging device; and, in operation 704, transmitting information based on the tactile input to a computing system to cause an ultrasound inspection function to be performed on the computing system, the ultrasound inspection function controlling an ultrasound image on a display of the computing system.

[0125] 8 illustrates a method 800 according to another embodiment. The method 800 includes, at operation 802, receiving information based on a tactile input to a surface of a housing of an ultrasound imaging device; and, at operation 804, performing an ultrasound inspection function corresponding to the tactile input based on the information, the ultrasound inspection function controlling an ultrasound image on a display of a computing system.

[0126] Some embodiments advantageously enable inertial changes as sensed on the housing of the imaging device to control ultrasound examination functions in a computing system, thus avoiding the need for the user to readjust the position of their leading hand on the ultrasound imaging device, thus eliminating the need for physical adjustment of the user's grip on the ultrasound imaging device.

[0127] Some embodiments advantageously allow the user the flexibility to hold the probe in whatever manner is comfortable.

[0128] There are several benefits associated with using inertial changes to relay feedback to an external display. Inertial changes allow the user to hold their hand placement / grip steady on the probe without having to make any major adjustments that could interrupt the ultrasound image or procedural exam. This also allows the user flexibility in their hand placement on the probe. The user no longer needs to adjust to an uncomfortable grip on the probe in order to utilize physical buttons. Because inertial changes are sensed internally within the probe, probes can also be constructed without any external buttons, which can often pose infection control concerns due to excess gel or fluid getting trapped in crevices. Physical buttons can also lose sensitivity over time, and some are difficult to operate.

[0129] In one example, a computing system, such as computing system 222 of FIG. 2, may include a host processor device coupled to the computing device; a display communicatively coupled to the host processor; a network interface communicatively coupled to the host processor; or a battery that powers the system.

[0130] The flows described in Figures 7 and 8 are merely representative of operations that may be performed in particular embodiments. In other embodiments, additional operations may be performed by components of the systems shown in Figures 1-3, 5A-5B, and 6. Various embodiments of the present disclosure contemplate any suitable mechanism for achieving the functionality described herein. Some of the operations shown in Figures 7 and 8 may be repeated, combined, modified, or eliminated, where appropriate. Additionally, operations may be performed in any suitable order without departing from the scope of particular embodiments.

[0131] A design may go through various stages, from creation to simulation to fabrication. Data representing the design may represent the design in multiple ways. First, the hardware may be represented using a hardware description language (HDL) or another functional description language, as useful in simulation. In addition, a circuit-level model using logic and / or transistor gates may be generated at some stages of the design process. Furthermore, most designs, at some stage, reach a level of data representing the physical placement of various devices in the hardware model. In some implementations, such data may be stored in a database file format, such as Graphic Data System II (GDS II), Open Artwork System Interchange Standard (OASIS), or a similar format.

[0132] In some implementations, software-based hardware models and HDL and other functional description language objects can include register transfer language (RTL) files, among other examples. Such objects can be machine-parseable, such that design tools can accept HDL objects (or models), parse the HDL objects for attributes of the described hardware, and determine a physical circuit and / or on-chip layout from the objects. The output of the design tools can be used to manufacture physical devices. For example, design tools can determine the configuration of various hardware and / or firmware elements from the HDL objects, such as bus widths, registers (including sizes and types), memory blocks, physical link paths, and fabric topology, among other attributes that will be implemented to realize the system modeled in the HDL objects. Design tools can include tools for determining the topology and fabric configuration of systems-on-chips (SoCs) and other hardware devices. In some instances, HDL objects can be used as the basis for developing models and design files that can be used by manufacturing equipment to produce the described hardware. Indeed, the HDL objects themselves can be provided as input to manufacturing system software to result in the described hardware.

[0133] In any representation of the design, data may be stored in any form of machine-readable medium. Memory, or magnetic or optical storage such as a disk, may be a machine-readable medium that stores such information transmitted via light or radio waves modulated or otherwise generated to transmit the information. When an electrical carrier wave indicating or carrying the code or design is transmitted, a new copy is made to the extent that copying, buffering, or retransmission of the electrical signal is performed. Thus, a communications provider or network provider may store, at least temporarily, items such as information encoded in a carrier wave on a tangible machine-readable medium, embodying the techniques of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0134] In various embodiments, a medium storing a representation of a design may be provided to a manufacturing system (e.g., a semiconductor manufacturing system capable of manufacturing integrated circuits and / or related components). The design representation may instruct the system to manufacture a device capable of performing any combination of the functions described above. For example, the design representation may instruct the system regarding which components to manufacture, how the components should be coupled together, where the components are to be placed on the device, and / or other suitable specifications for the device to be manufactured.

[0135] As used herein, a "circuit" may refer to any combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware. As an example, a circuit includes hardware such as a microcontroller associated with a non-transitory medium for storing code adapted to be executed by the microcontroller. Thus, reference to a circuit, in one embodiment, refers to hardware specifically configured to recognize and / or execute code to be held on the non-transitory medium. Furthermore, in another embodiment, use of a circuit refers to a non-transitory medium containing code specifically adapted to be executed by a microcontroller to perform a predetermined operation. And as can be inferred, in yet another embodiment, the term circuit (in this example) may refer to a combination of a microcontroller and a non-transitory medium. Circuit boundaries, often shown as separate, typically vary and potentially overlap. For example, a first and second circuit may share hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, while potentially maintaining some independent hardware, software, or firmware. In one embodiment, use of the term logic includes hardware, e.g., transistors, registers, or other hardware, e.g., programmable logic devices.

[0136] Logic may be used to implement any of the described flows or functions of the various components described herein. "Logic" may refer to hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations of each for performing one or more functions. In various embodiments, logic may include a microprocessor or other processing element operable to execute software instructions, discrete logic such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmed logic device such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a storage device that stores instructions, a combination of logic devices (e.g., as found on a printed circuit board), or other suitable hardware and / or software. Logic may include one or more gates or other circuit components. In some embodiments, logic may be embodied entirely in software. Software may be embodied as a software package, code, instructions, instruction sets, and / or data recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Firmware may be embodied as hard-coded (e.g., non-volatile) code, instructions, instruction sets, and / or data in a storage device.

[0137] The use of the phrases "to" or "configured to" refers, in one embodiment, to arranging, combining, manufacturing, selling, importing, and / or designing a device, hardware, logic, or element to perform a specified or determined task. In this example, a non-operational device or its elements is still "configured to" perform a specified task if it is designed, coupled, and / or interconnected to perform the specified task. As a purely illustrative example, a logic gate may provide a 0 or a 1 during operation. However, a logic gate "configured to" provide an enable signal to a clock does not include all potential logic gates that can provide a 1 or a 0. Instead, the logic gate is coupled in some manner such that a 1 or 0 output enables the clock during operation. It should again be noted that the use of the term "configured to" does not require an operation, but instead focuses on a potential state of a device, hardware, and / or element that is designed to perform a particular task when the device, hardware, and / or element is operating.

[0138] Additionally, the use of the phrase "capable of / to" or "operable to" refers, in one embodiment, to some device, logic, hardware, and / or element that is designed to enable that device, logic, hardware, and / or element to be used in a specified manner. Note, as above, that the use of "to," "capable of," or "operable to" refers, in one embodiment, to the underlying state of a device, logic, hardware, and / or element, where the device, logic, hardware, and / or element is not operating but is designed to enable a device to be used in a specified manner.

[0139] The method, hardware, software, firmware, or code embodiments described above may be implemented via instructions or code stored on a machine-accessible, machine-readable, computer-accessible, or computer-readable medium that is executable by a processing element. A tangible, non-transitory machine-accessible / readable medium includes any mechanism that provides (i.e., stores and / or transmits) information in a form readable by a machine, such as a computer or electronic system. For example, non-transitory machine-accessible media include random-access memory (RAM), such as static RAM (SRAM) or dynamic RAM (DRAM); ROM; magnetic or optical storage media; flash storage devices; electrical storage devices; optical storage devices; acoustic storage devices; other forms of storage devices for holding information received from a transitory (propagated) signal (e.g., carrier wave, infrared signal, digital signal); etc., which are distinct from non-transitory media that may receive information therefrom.

[0140] The instructions used to program logic to implement embodiments of the present disclosure may be stored in memory in the system, such as DRAM, cache, flash memory, or other storage. Additionally, the instructions may be distributed over a network or by other computer-readable media. Therefore, a machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer), including, but not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, compact disks, read-only memories (CD-ROMs), magneto-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or tangible machine-readable storage used to transmit information over the Internet via electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.). Accordingly, computer-readable media includes any type of tangible, machine-readable medium suitable for storing or transmitting electronic instructions or information in a form readable by a machine (eg, a computer).

[0141] Some exemplary embodiments are now described below.

[0142] [example]

[0143] Illustrative examples of the techniques disclosed herein are provided below. An embodiment of these techniques may include any one or more, and any combination, of the examples described below.

[0144] Example 1 includes an ultrasound imaging device comprising a sensor circuit and a housing, the sensor circuit disposed within and coupled to the housing for detecting tactile input on a surface area of ​​the housing; and transmitting information based on the tactile input to a computing system to cause an ultrasound inspection function to be performed on the computing system, the ultrasound inspection function controlling an ultrasound image on a display of the computing system.

[0145] Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the sensor circuitry further transmits information based on the tactile input to a sensor signal processing circuitry, and the sensor signal processing circuitry determines a correlation between the detected tactile input and one or more ultrasound inspection functions to be performed on the computing system.

[0146] Example 3 includes the subject matter of example 1, wherein the sensor circuitry includes an accelerometer.

[0147] Example 4 includes the subject matter of example 3, wherein the sensor circuitry further includes a gyroscope.

[0148] Example 5 includes the subject matter of Example 4, wherein the sensor circuitry includes a sensor device and a sensor processing circuit coupled to the sensor device, the sensor device including the accelerometer and the gyroscope, and the sensor processing circuitry fuses a signal corresponding to raw accelerometer data from the accelerometer with a signal corresponding to raw gyroscope data from the gyroscope by processing the raw accelerometer data and the raw gyroscope data to generate therefrom a signal corresponding to an inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0149] Example 6 includes the subject matter of Example 5, wherein the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device includes information based on at least one of whether the ultrasound imaging device is stationary, an angular tilt of the ultrasound imaging device relative to a skin surface of a body being examined, an angular velocity of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the skin, a position of the ultrasound imaging device on the skin, or a linear velocity of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0150] Example 7 includes the subject matter of Example 5, wherein the ultrasound imaging device receives a signal based on the inertial state and communicates feedback derived from the signal based on the inertial state to a user of the ultrasound imaging device, the feedback corresponding to an adjustment of the ultrasound examination by the user.

[0151] Example 8 includes the subject matter of example 1, wherein the tactile input includes one or more taps on a surface of the housing.

[0152] Example 9 includes the subject matter of example 1, wherein the tactile input includes airborne motion of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0153] Example 10 includes the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the sensor circuitry detects sensor inputs corresponding to a plurality of patterns of sensor inputs, each pattern of sensor input including one or more of the tactile input, eye tracking input, or voice command input in a predetermined order, and each pattern of sensor input is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of ultrasound examination functions.

[0154] Example 11 includes the subject matter of Example 10, wherein the ultrasound inspection functions include at least one of freezing and thawing the ultrasound image, saving the ultrasound image, taking a snapshot of the ultrasound image, starting and stopping ultrasound video recording, adjusting the depth of the ultrasound image, or adjusting the gain of the ultrasound image.

[0155] Example 12 includes the subject matter of Example 10, wherein the sensor circuitry further determines a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, and the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

[0156] Example 13 includes the subject matter of Example 10, wherein the tactile input includes any one of a plurality of permutations of one or more tap sequences, the tap sequence including a single tap or any number of taps within a predetermined tap sequence time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to detect a tap sequence.

[0157] Example 14 includes the subject matter of Example 10, wherein the eye tracking input includes an eye blink sequence including a single eye blink or any number of eye blinks within a predetermined eye blink time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to detect an eye blink sequence.

[0158] Example 15 includes the subject matter of Example 10, further comprising a sensor signal processing circuit coupled to the sensor circuit, the sensor signal processing circuit determining a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, and the information based on the tactile input corresponding to information based on the pattern.

[0159] Example 16 includes the subject matter of Example 15, wherein the sensor signal processing circuitry further performs a correlation of the pattern to a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasonic inspection functions; derives the information based on the pattern from the correlation; and transmits the information based on the pattern to the computing system.

[0160] Example 17 includes the subject matter of Example 16, further comprising a memory coupled to the sensor signal processing circuit, the memory storing information about a correlation between each pattern of sensor inputs among the plurality of patterns of sensor inputs and a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound inspection functions.

[0161] Example 18 includes the subject matter of Example 17, wherein the information about the correlation is configurable by a user of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0162] Example 19 includes the subject matter of Example 1, further comprising a button on the housing, the button being physically moved by a user to generate a signal that causes one or more ultrasound examination functions to be performed in the computing system.

[0163] Example 20 includes the subject matter of Example 1, wherein the surface area of ​​the housing includes the bottom 70% of the housing.

[0164] Example 21 includes the subject matter of example 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver that wirelessly communicates the information to the computing system.

[0165] Example 22 includes a method performed in an ultrasound imaging device, the method comprising: detecting a tactile input on a surface area of ​​a housing of the ultrasound imaging device; and transmitting information based on the tactile input to a computing system to cause an ultrasound inspection function to be performed on the computing system, the ultrasound inspection function controlling an ultrasound image on a display of the computing system.

[0166] Example 23 includes the subject matter of Example 22, further comprising transmitting information based on the tactile input to a sensor signal processing circuit, the sensor signal processing circuit determining a correlation between the detected tactile input and one or more ultrasound inspection functions to be performed on the computing system.

[0167] Example 24 includes the subject matter of example 22, wherein sensing the tactile input includes using an accelerometer.

[0168] Example 25 includes the subject matter of example 24, wherein detecting the tactile input includes using a gyroscope.

[0169] Example 26 includes the subject matter of Example 25, further comprising fusing a signal corresponding to raw accelerometer data from the accelerometer with a signal corresponding to raw gyroscope data from the gyroscope by processing the raw accelerometer data and the raw gyroscope data to generate therefrom a signal corresponding to an inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0170] Example 27 includes the subject matter of Example 26, wherein the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device includes information based on at least one of whether the ultrasound imaging device is stationary, an angular tilt of the ultrasound imaging device relative to a skin surface of a body being examined, an angular velocity of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the skin, a position of the ultrasound imaging device on the skin, or a linear velocity of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0171] Example 28 includes the subject matter of Example 26, further comprising receiving a signal based on the inertial state and communicating feedback derived from the signal based on the inertial state to a user of the ultrasound imaging device, the feedback corresponding to an adjustment of the ultrasound examination by the user.

[0172] Example 29 includes the subject matter of example 22, wherein the tactile input includes one or more taps on a surface of the housing.

[0173] Example 30 includes the subject matter of example 22, wherein the tactile input includes airborne motion of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0174] Example 31 includes the subject matter of Example 22, further comprising detecting sensor inputs corresponding to a plurality of patterns of sensor inputs, each pattern of sensor input including one or more of the tactile input, eye tracking input, or voice command input in a predetermined order, and each pattern of sensor input associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of ultrasound examination functions.

[0175] Example 32 includes the subject matter of Example 31, wherein the ultrasound inspection functions include at least one of freezing and thawing the ultrasound image, saving the ultrasound image, taking a snapshot of the ultrasound image, starting and stopping ultrasound video recording, adjusting the depth of the ultrasound image, or adjusting the gain of the ultrasound image.

[0176] Example 33 includes the subject matter of Example 31, further comprising determining a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, and wherein the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

[0177] Example 34 includes the subject matter of Example 31, wherein the tactile input includes any one of a plurality of permutations of one or more tap sequences, the tap sequence including a single tap or any number of taps within a predetermined tap sequence time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to detect a tap sequence.

[0178] Example 35 includes the subject matter of Example 31, wherein the gaze tracking input includes an eye blink sequence including a single eye blink or any number of eye blinks within a predetermined eye blink time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry for detecting an eye blink sequence.

[0179] Example 36 includes the subject matter of Example 31, further comprising determining a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, and wherein the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

[0180] Example 37 includes the subject matter of Example 36, further comprising: performing a correlation of the pattern to a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound inspection features; deriving the information based on the pattern from the correlation; and transmitting the information based on the pattern to the computing system.

[0181] Example 38 includes the subject matter of Example 37, further comprising storing information about a correlation between each pattern of sensor input among the plurality of patterns of sensor input and a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound inspection functions.

[0182] Example 39 includes the subject matter of Example 22, further comprising wirelessly communicating the information to the computing system.

[0183] Example 40 includes an apparatus comprising a memory storing instructions and a sensor signal processing circuit coupled to the memory, wherein the sensor signal processing circuit executes instructions to: receive information based on a tactile input to a surface of a housing of an ultrasound imaging device; and, based on the information, perform an ultrasound inspection function corresponding to the tactile input, wherein the ultrasound inspection function controls an ultrasound image on a display of a computing system.

[0184] Example 41 includes the subject matter of example 40, wherein the sensor signal processing circuitry determines a correlation between the detected tactile input and the ultrasound inspection function, and performs the ultrasound inspection function based on the correlation.

[0185] Example 42 includes the subject matter of example 40, wherein the information includes raw accelerometer data.

[0186] Example 43 includes the subject matter of example 42, wherein the information further includes raw gyroscope data.

[0187] Example 44 includes the subject matter of example 43, wherein the information further includes raw magnetometer data.

[0188] Example 45 includes the subject matter of Example 44, wherein the sensor signal processing circuitry fuses the accelerometer data, the gyroscope data, and the magnetometer data to generate a signal therefrom corresponding to an inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device, and transmits information based on the inertial state to the ultrasound imaging device.

[0189] Example 46 includes the subject matter of Example 45, wherein the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device includes information based on at least one of whether the ultrasound imaging device is stationary, an angular tilt of the ultrasound imaging device relative to a skin surface of a body being examined, an angular velocity of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the skin, a position of the ultrasound imaging device on the skin, or a linear velocity of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0190] Example 47 includes the subject matter of Example 46, wherein the sensor signal processing circuitry provides communication of feedback to a user of the ultrasound imaging device, the feedback being derived from the inertial state, and the feedback corresponding to an adjustment of the ultrasound examination by the user.

[0191] Example 48 includes the subject matter of example 40, wherein the tactile input includes one or more taps on a surface of the housing.

[0192] Example 49 includes the subject matter of example 40, wherein the tactile input includes airborne motion of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0193] Example 50 includes the subject matter of Example 40, wherein the sensor signal processing circuit determines a plurality of patterns of sensor input, each pattern of sensor input including one or more of the tactile input, eye tracking input, or voice command input in a predetermined order, and each pattern of sensor input is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of ultrasound examination functions.

[0194] Example 51 includes the subject matter of Example 50, wherein the ultrasound inspection function includes at least one of freezing and thawing the ultrasound image, saving the ultrasound image, taking a snapshot of the ultrasound image, starting and stopping ultrasound video recording, adjusting the depth of the ultrasound image, or adjusting the gain of the ultrasound image.

[0195] Example 52 includes the subject matter of Example 50, wherein the tactile input includes any one of a plurality of permutations of one or more tap sequences, the tap sequence including a single tap or any number of taps within a predetermined tap sequence time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to detect a tap sequence.

[0196] Example 53 includes the subject matter of Example 50, wherein the eye tracking input includes an eye blink sequence including a single eye blink or any number of eye blinks within a predetermined eye blink time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry for detecting an eye blink sequence.

[0197] Example 54 includes the subject matter of Example 50, wherein the sensor signal processing circuit determines a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, and the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

[0198] Example 55 includes the subject matter of Example 54, wherein the sensor signal processing circuitry further performs a correlation of the pattern to a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasonic inspection functions; derives the information based on the pattern from the correlation; and transmits the information based on the pattern to the computing system.

[0199] Example 56 includes the subject matter of Example 55, wherein the memory stores information about a correlation between each pattern of sensor inputs of the plurality of patterns of sensor inputs and a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound inspection functions.

[0200] Example 57 includes the subject matter of example 56, wherein the information about the correlation is configurable by a user of the device.

[0201] Example 58 includes the subject matter of Example 40, further comprising a wireless transceiver.

[0202] Example 59 includes a method comprising: receiving information based on a tactile input to a surface of a housing of an ultrasound imaging device; and, based on the information, performing an ultrasound inspection function corresponding to the tactile input, wherein the ultrasound inspection function controls an ultrasound image on a display of a computing system.

[0203] Example 60 includes the subject matter of Example 59, further comprising determining a correlation between the detected tactile input and the ultrasound inspection function, and performing the ultrasound inspection function based on the correlation.

[0204] Example 61 includes the subject matter of example 59, wherein the information includes raw accelerometer data.

[0205] Example 62 includes the subject matter of example 61, wherein the information further includes raw gyroscope data.

[0206] Example 63 includes the subject matter of example 62, wherein the information further includes raw magnetometer data.

[0207] Example 64 includes the subject matter of Example 63, further comprising fusing the accelerometer data, the gyroscope data, and the magnetometer data to generate a signal therefrom corresponding to an inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device, and transmitting information based on the inertial state to the ultrasound imaging device.

[0208] Example 65 includes the subject matter of Example 64, wherein the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device includes information based on at least one of whether the ultrasound imaging device is stationary, an angular tilt of the ultrasound imaging device relative to a skin surface of a body being examined, an angular velocity of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the skin, a position of the ultrasound imaging device on the skin, or a linear velocity of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0209] Example 66 includes the subject matter of Example 65, further comprising providing communication of feedback to a user of the ultrasound imaging device, the feedback being derived from the inertial state and the feedback corresponding to an adjustment of the ultrasound examination by the user.

[0210] Example 67 includes the subject matter of example 59, wherein the tactile input includes one or more taps on a surface of the housing.

[0211] Example 68 includes the subject matter of example 59, wherein the tactile input includes airborne motion of the ultrasound imaging device.

[0212] Example 69 includes the subject matter of Example 59, further comprising determining a plurality of patterns of sensor input, each pattern of sensor input including one or more of the tactile input, eye tracking input, or voice command input in a predetermined order, and each pattern of sensor input associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of ultrasound examination functions.

[0213] Example 70 includes the subject matter of Example 69, wherein the ultrasound inspection functions include at least one of freezing and thawing the ultrasound image, saving the ultrasound image, taking a snapshot of the ultrasound image, starting and stopping ultrasound video recording, adjusting the depth of the ultrasound image, or adjusting the gain of the ultrasound image.

[0214] Example 71 includes the subject matter of Example 69, wherein the tactile input includes any one of a plurality of permutations of one or more tap sequences, the tap sequence including a single tap or any number of taps within a predetermined tap sequence time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to detect a tap sequence.

[0215] Example 72 includes the subject matter of Example 69, wherein the gaze tracking input includes an eye blink sequence including a single eye blink or any number of eye blinks within a predetermined eye blink time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry over which an eye blink sequence is detected.

[0216] Example 73 includes the subject matter of Example 69, further comprising determining a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, and wherein the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

[0217] Example 74 includes the subject matter of Example 73, further comprising: performing a correlation of the pattern to a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound inspection features; deriving the information based on the pattern from the correlation; and transmitting the information based on the pattern to the computing system.

[0218] Example 75 includes the subject matter of Example 74, further comprising storing information about a correlation between each pattern of sensor inputs of the plurality of patterns of sensor inputs and a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound inspection functions.

[0219] Example 76 includes the subject matter of Example 59, further comprising transmitting a signal for wireless transmission by a wireless transceiver.

[0220] Example 77 includes an apparatus comprising means for carrying out the method of any one of Examples 22-39 and 59-76.

[0221] Example 78 includes one or more computer-readable media having a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the method of any one of Examples 22-39 and 59-76.

[0222] Example 79 includes an imaging device comprising the apparatus of any one of Examples 1-21 and 40-58, further comprising the user interface device.

[0223] Example 80 includes an article of manufacture comprising one or more tangible, computer-readable, non-transitory storage media having computer-executable instructions operable, when executed by at least one computer processor, to enable the at least one processor to perform the method of any one of Examples 22-39 and 59-76.

Claims

1. 1. An ultrasound imaging device comprising a sensor circuit and a housing, the sensor circuit comprising: Detecting tactile input on a surface area of ​​the housing; transmitting information based on the tactile input to a computing system to cause an ultrasound examination function to be performed on the computing system; An ultrasound imaging device disposed within and coupled to the housing, the ultrasound inspection function controlling an ultrasound image on a display of the computing system.

2. 2. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry further transmits information based on the tactile input to a sensor signal processing circuitry, which determines a correlation between the detected tactile input and one or more ultrasound examination functions to be performed in the computing system.

3. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor circuit includes an accelerometer.

4. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 3 , wherein the sensor circuit further includes a gyroscope.

5. 5. The ultrasonic imaging device of claim 4, wherein the sensor circuit has a sensor device and a sensor processing circuit coupled to the sensor device, the sensor device including the accelerometer and the gyroscope, and the sensor processing circuit fuses a signal corresponding to raw accelerometer data from the accelerometer with a signal corresponding to raw gyroscope data from the gyroscope by processing the raw accelerometer data and the raw gyroscope data to generate a signal therefrom corresponding to an inertial state of the ultrasonic imaging device.

6. 6. The ultrasonic imaging device of claim 5, wherein the inertial state of the ultrasonic imaging device includes information based on at least one of whether the ultrasonic imaging device is stationary, the angular tilt of the ultrasonic imaging device relative to the skin surface of the body being examined, the angular velocity of the ultrasonic imaging device relative to the skin, the position of the ultrasonic imaging device on the skin, or the linear velocity of the ultrasonic imaging device.

7. 6. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 5, wherein the ultrasound imaging device receives a signal based on the inertial state and communicates feedback derived from the signal based on the inertial state to a user of the ultrasound imaging device, the feedback corresponding to an adjustment of the ultrasound examination by the user.

8. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the tactile input comprises one or more taps on a surface of the housing.

9. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the tactile input comprises an airborne motion of the ultrasound imaging device.

10. 2. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuit detects sensor inputs corresponding to a plurality of patterns of sensor inputs, each pattern of sensor input including one or more of the tactile input, eye tracking input, or voice command input in a predetermined order, and each pattern of sensor input is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of ultrasound examination functions.

11. 11. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 10, wherein the ultrasound examination functions include at least one of freezing and thawing the ultrasound image, saving the ultrasound image, taking a snapshot of the ultrasound image, starting and stopping ultrasound video recording, adjusting the depth of the ultrasound image, or adjusting the gain of the ultrasound image.

12. 11. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 10, wherein the sensor circuitry further determines a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, and the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

13. 11. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 10, wherein the tactile input comprises any one of a plurality of permutations of one or more tap sequences, the tap sequences comprising a single tap or any number of taps within a predetermined tap sequence time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuit to detect a tap sequence.

14. 11. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 10, wherein the eye tracking input comprises a sequence of eye blinks comprising a single eye blink or any number of eye blinks within a predetermined eye blink time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to detect a sequence of eye blinks.

15. 11. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 10, further comprising a sensor signal processing circuit coupled to the sensor circuit, the sensor signal processing circuit determining one pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, and the information based on the tactile input corresponding to information based on the pattern.

16. The sensor signal processing circuit further performing a correlation of the pattern to its corresponding one of the plurality of echographic features; deriving the information based on the pattern from the correlation; The ultrasound imaging device of claim 15 , wherein the information based on the pattern is transmitted to the computing system.

17. 17. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 16, further comprising a memory coupled to the sensor signal processing circuit, the memory storing information about a correlation between each pattern of sensor input among the plurality of patterns of sensor input and a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound inspection functions.

18. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 17 , wherein the information about the correlation is configurable by a user of the ultrasound imaging device.

19. 10. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1, further comprising a button on the housing, the button being physically moved by a user to generate a signal that causes one or more ultrasound examination functions to be performed in the computing system.

20. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the surface area of ​​the housing includes a bottom 70% of the housing.

21. The ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating the information to the computing system.

22. 1. A method performed in an ultrasound imaging device, comprising: sensing tactile input on a surface area of ​​a housing of the ultrasound imaging device; and transmitting information based on the tactile input to a computing system to cause an ultrasound examination function to be performed on the computing system. wherein the ultrasound examination function controls an ultrasound image on a display of the computing system.

23. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting information based on the tactile input to a sensor signal processing circuit, the sensor signal processing circuit determining a correlation between the detected tactile input and one or more ultrasound examination functions to be performed in the computing system.

24. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein sensing tactile input comprises using an accelerometer.

25. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein sensing tactile input comprises using a gyroscope.

26. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising fusing a signal corresponding to raw accelerometer data from the accelerometer with a signal corresponding to raw gyroscope data from the gyroscope by processing the raw accelerometer data and the raw gyroscope data to generate therefrom a signal corresponding to an inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device.

27. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device includes information based on at least one of whether the ultrasound imaging device is stationary, an angular tilt of the ultrasound imaging device relative to a skin surface of a body being examined, an angular velocity of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the skin, a position of the ultrasound imaging device on the skin, or a linear velocity of the ultrasound imaging device.

28. 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a signal based on the inertial state and communicating feedback derived from the signal based on the inertial state to a user of the ultrasound imaging device, the feedback corresponding to an adjustment of an ultrasound examination by the user.

29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the tactile input comprises one or more taps on a surface of the housing.

30. The method of claim 22 , wherein the tactile input comprises an airborne motion of the ultrasound imaging device.

31. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising detecting sensor inputs corresponding to a plurality of patterns of sensor inputs, each pattern of sensor input including one or more of the tactile input, eye tracking input, or voice command input in a predetermined order, and each pattern of sensor input associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of ultrasound examination functions.

32. 32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the ultrasound examination functions include at least one of freezing and thawing the ultrasound image, saving the ultrasound image, taking a snapshot of the ultrasound image, starting and stopping ultrasound video recording, adjusting the depth of the ultrasound image, or adjusting the gain of the ultrasound image.

33. 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, wherein the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

34. 32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the tactile input comprises any one of a plurality of permutations of one or more tap sequences, the tap sequences comprising a single tap or any number of taps within a predetermined tap sequence time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to sense a tap sequence.

35. 32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the eye tracking input comprises an eye blink sequence comprising a single eye blink or any number of eye blinks within a predetermined eye blink time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to detect an eye blink sequence.

36. 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, wherein the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

37. performing a correlation of the pattern to its corresponding one of the plurality of echographic functions; deriving the information based on the pattern from the correlation; and transmitting the information based on the pattern to the computing system.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

38. 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising storing information about a correlation between each pattern of sensor input in the plurality of patterns of sensor input and a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound examination functions.

39. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising wirelessly communicating the information to the computing system.

40. 1. An apparatus comprising: a memory storing instructions; and a sensor signal processing circuit coupled to the memory, the sensor signal processing circuit comprising: receiving information based on tactile input to a surface of a housing of the ultrasound imaging device; and performing an ultrasound examination function corresponding to the tactile input based on the information; wherein the ultrasound examination functionality controls an ultrasound image on a display of a computing system.

41. 41. The device of claim 40, wherein the sensor signal processing circuitry determines a correlation between the sensed tactile input and the ultrasound inspection function and performs the ultrasound inspection function based on the correlation.

42. 41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the information comprises raw accelerometer data.

43. 43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the information further comprises raw gyroscope data.

44. 44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the information further comprises raw magnetometer data.

45. 45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the sensor signal processing circuitry fuses the accelerometer data, the gyroscope data, and the magnetometer data to generate a signal therefrom corresponding to an inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device, and transmits information based on the inertial state to the ultrasound imaging device.

46. 46. ​​The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device includes information based on at least one of whether the ultrasound imaging device is stationary, the angular tilt of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the skin surface of the body being examined, the angular velocity of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the skin, the position of the ultrasound imaging device on the skin, or the linear velocity of the ultrasound imaging device.

47. 47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the sensor signal processing circuitry provides for communication of feedback to a user of the ultrasound imaging device, the feedback being derived from the inertial state and the feedback corresponding to adjustments of the ultrasound examination by the user.

48. 41. The device of claim 40, wherein the tactile input comprises one or more taps on a surface of the housing.

49. 41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the tactile input comprises airborne motion of the ultrasound imaging device.

50. 41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the sensor signal processing circuit determines a plurality of patterns of sensor input, each pattern of sensor input including one or more of the tactile input, eye tracking input, or voice command input in a predetermined order, and each pattern of sensor input is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of ultrasound examination functions.

51. 51. The device of claim 50, wherein the ultrasound examination functions include at least one of freezing and thawing the ultrasound image, saving the ultrasound image, taking a snapshot of the ultrasound image, starting and stopping ultrasound video recording, adjusting the depth of the ultrasound image, or adjusting the gain of the ultrasound image.

52. 51. The device of claim 50, wherein the tactile input comprises any one of a plurality of permutations of one or more tap sequences, the tap sequences comprising a single tap or any number of taps within a predetermined tap sequence time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to sense a tap sequence.

53. 51. The device of claim 50, wherein the eye tracking input comprises a sequence of eye blinks comprising a single eye blink or any number of eye blinks within a predetermined eye blink time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry over which a sequence of eye blinks is detected.

54. 51. The device of claim 50, wherein the sensor signal processing circuitry determines a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, and the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

55. The sensor signal processing circuit further performing a correlation of the pattern to its corresponding one of the plurality of echographic features; deriving the information based on the pattern from the correlation; 55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising: transmitting the information based on the pattern to the computing system.

56. 56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the memory stores information about a correlation between each pattern of sensor input of the plurality of patterns of sensor input and a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound inspection functions.

57. 57. The device of claim 56, wherein the information about the correlation is configurable by a user of the device.

58. 41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a wireless transceiver.

59. receiving information based on tactile input to a surface of a housing of the ultrasound imaging device; and performing an ultrasound examination function corresponding to the tactile input based on the information. wherein the ultrasound inspection function controls an ultrasound image on a display of a computing system.

60. 60. The method of claim 59, further comprising determining a correlation between the detected tactile input and the ultrasound examination function, and performing the ultrasound examination function based on the correlation.

61. 60. The method of claim 59, wherein the information comprises raw accelerometer data.

62. 62. The method of claim 61 , wherein the information further comprises raw gyroscope data.

63. 63. The method of claim 62, wherein the information further comprises raw magnetometer data.

64. 64. The method of claim 63, further comprising fusing the accelerometer data, the gyroscope data, and the magnetometer data to generate a signal therefrom corresponding to an inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device, and transmitting information based on the inertial state to the ultrasound imaging device.

65. 65. The method of claim 64, wherein the inertial state of the ultrasound imaging device includes information based on at least one of whether the ultrasound imaging device is stationary, the angular tilt of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the skin surface of the body being examined, the angular velocity of the ultrasound imaging device relative to the skin, the position of the ultrasound imaging device on the skin, or the linear velocity of the ultrasound imaging device.

66. 66. The method of claim 65, further comprising providing communication of feedback to a user of the ultrasound imaging device, the feedback being derived from the inertial state, the feedback corresponding to an adjustment of the ultrasound examination by the user.

67. 60. The method of claim 59, wherein the tactile input comprises one or more taps on a surface of the housing.

68. 60. The method of claim 59, wherein the tactile input comprises airborne motion of the ultrasound imaging device.

69. 60. The method of claim 59, further comprising determining a plurality of patterns of sensor input, each pattern of sensor input including one or more of the tactile input, eye tracking input, or voice command input in a predetermined order, and each pattern of sensor input associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of ultrasound examination functions.

70. 70. The method of claim 69, wherein the ultrasound examination functions include at least one of freezing and thawing the ultrasound image, saving the ultrasound image, taking a snapshot of the ultrasound image, starting and stopping ultrasound video recording, adjusting the depth of the ultrasound image, or adjusting the gain of the ultrasound image.

71. 70. The method of claim 69, wherein the tactile input comprises any one of a plurality of permutations of one or more tap sequences, the tap sequences comprising a single tap or any number of taps within a predetermined tap sequence time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to detect a tap sequence.

72. 70. The method of claim 69, wherein the eye tracking input comprises an eye blink sequence comprising a single eye blink or any number of eye blinks within a predetermined eye blink time window representing a maximum duration configured for the sensor circuitry to detect an eye blink sequence.

73. 70. The method of claim 69, further comprising determining a pattern of the plurality of patterns of sensor input, wherein the information based on the tactile input corresponds to information based on the pattern.

74. performing a correlation of the pattern to its corresponding one of the plurality of echographic functions; deriving the information based on the pattern from the correlation; and transmitting the information based on the pattern to the computing system.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

75. 75. The method of claim 74, further comprising storing information about a correlation between each pattern of sensor input in the plurality of patterns of sensor input and a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasound inspection functions.

76. 60. The method of claim 59, further comprising transmitting the signal for wireless transmission by a wireless transceiver.

77. Apparatus comprising means for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 22 to 39 and 59 to 76.

78. One or more computer readable media comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the method of any one of claims 22-39 and 59-76.

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