Linear Scanning Mechanical Volume Probe for High Resolution Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical volume probes in medical ultrasound imaging systems face challenges in achieving high image resolution due to divergently distributed acquisition planes, resulting in increased distances between points on adjacent planes, which worsens at greater distances from the transducer.
Innovation Solution
A linear scanning mechanical volume probe design featuring a drive wheel, reverse wheels, and a guide rod system, where ropes are wound on the reverse wheels and connected to a slider, allowing the transducer to move along a linear trajectory, ensuring parallel acquisition planes and consistent distances between them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the transducer is scanned along an arc trajectory, then the device structure is simple, but the acquisition planes are distributed divergently causing reduced image resolution at distance
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning mechanism is segmented into multiple functional components: drive wheel, reverse wheels, guide rod, and slider. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function (rotation control, direction reversal, linear guidance, and transducer mounting) that collectively achieves parallel plane scanning while maintaining manageable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rod acts as an intermediary element between the rotational motion of the drive wheel and the transducer. It converts the rotational scanning motion into linear reciprocating motion, enabling the transducer to scan along a straight line and create parallel acquisition planes, thereby improving image resolution without requiring complex direct positioning mechanisms
2Manufacturing precision
If the transducer scans along an arc trajectory, then the scanning range is large, but the distance between points on adjacent acquisition planes increases at distance reducing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing the transducer to follow a natural arc trajectory during rotation, the invention inverts the approach by using the guide rod to constrain the transducer to linear motion. The drive wheel's rotation is converted into reciprocating linear motion through the intermediary mechanism, effectively inverting the scanning path from curved to straight, which maintains consistent acquisition plane distances
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning trajectory parameter is changed from an arc path to a linear path. By modifying the motion parameter through the guide rod and slider mechanism, the transducer moves along a straight line perpendicular to the acquisition planes, ensuring that the distance between points on adjacent planes remains constant throughout the scanning range, thereby improving image quality at all distances
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a linear scanning mechanical volume probe comprising a bracket on which a drive wheel, a first reverse wheel and a second reverse wheel are provided, an axis of the drive wheel, an axis of the first reverse wheel and an axis of the second reverse wheel are parallel; a guide rod is further provided on the bracket, and the axis of the guide rod is perpendicular to the axis of the drive wheel, a slider which can slide axially along the guide rod is provided on the guide rod, a transducer is fixedly connected to the slider; the first reverse wheel and the second reverse wheel are respectively provided near opposite ends of the guide rod, and further comprise a first rope and a second rope. The linear scanning mechanical volume probe can ensure that a high resolution image can be obtained at a distance from the transducer.