Signal Combiner for Simultaneous Multi-Sensor Ultrasound Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical device tracking systems using ultrasound technology are limited to tracking a single device due to their single-channel design, which restricts the simultaneous localization and visualization of multiple interventional medical devices during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a signal combiner that combines sensor data from multiple passive ultrasound sensors, allowing a single-channel tracking system to process and display the positions of multiple devices, enabling simultaneous sensor tracking and enhanced visualization in medical interventions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-channel tracking system is used, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the ability to track multiple devices simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines sensor data from multiple passive ultrasound sensors into a single composite signal that can be processed by a single-channel tracking system. The signal combiner merges the data streams from multiple devices, allowing simultaneous tracking without requiring multiple separate processing channels, thus maintaining system simplicity while enabling multi-device capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system is designed to handle multiple types of interventional devices through a universal single-channel interface. The signal combiner and processing algorithm are configured to accommodate different sensor types and device configurations, making the system versatile for tracking various medical instruments simultaneously without requiring device-specific processing paths.
2Loss of information
If multiple sensors are tracked simultaneously, then measurement information is improved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor signals are merged into a single composite data stream that preserves the unique identifiers and position information of each tracked device. The signal combiner integrates data from all sensors in a way that maintains individual device identity while utilizing the single processing channel efficiently, avoiding the need for complex parallel processing architectures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic signal sampling and time-division multiplexing techniques where sensor data from multiple devices is collected in sequential time slots and processed in a repeating cycle. This periodic approach allows the single-channel system to capture complete tracking information from all devices over time while maintaining manageable processing complexity through structured, rhythmic data acquisition.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the simultaneous tracking and visualization of multiple interventional medical devices, improving navigation and device placement accuracy during medical procedures without requiring significant modifications to existing single-channel systems.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric sensor can be applied on or in the interventional medical device... The passive ultrasound sensor passively listens to and measures the incident ultrasound waves
Implementation Method 2
an ultrasound probe that transmits ultrasound beams to the interventional medical device... as the ultrasound beams sweep the field of view
Data Source
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AI summary
A controller (120) for simultaneously tracking multiple sensors in a medical intervention includes a circuit (121 - 181) that causes the controller (120) to execute a process. The process executed by the circuit (121 - 181) includes receiving first and second signals respectively from a first and a second passive ultrasound sensor (S2) used in the medical intervention. The first and second signals respectively include first and second sensor information indicative of respective locations of the first and the second passive ultrasound sensor (S2). The process executed by the circuit (121 - 181) also includes combining (120) the first signal and the second signal for transmission over only one channel, and providing the first signal and the second signal over the only one channel to a system (190) that determines the location of the first passive ultrasound sensor (S1) and the location of the second passive ultrasound sensor (S2) and that has only the one channel to receive the first signal and the second signal.