Ultrasound Transducer Integrity Detection via Time of Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-invasive ultrasonic sensors face challenges in maintaining stable and reliable acoustic coupling with vessel walls, especially in mobile or diagnostic applications, which affects the accuracy of measuring vessel content properties.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing unit that emits a test ultrasound signal and detects its time of flight to determine the integrity of the acoustic coupling between the ultrasound transducer and the vessel wall, using multiple receivers for redundancy and additional tests like decay time analysis to ensure accurate contact validation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If non-invasive ultrasonic sensors are mounted outside the vessel, then the measurement of vessel content properties is enabled, but the acoustic coupling stability and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary integrity detection by emitting test signals through the vessel wall before actual measurements. This preliminary action validates the acoustic coupling status, ensuring reliable conditions are established before content property measurements are taken, thus resolving the contradiction between non-invasive operation and coupling stability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where received test signals are analyzed to determine coupling integrity. This feedback loop continuously monitors the acoustic coupling status and provides information about coupling quality, enabling the system to maintain reliable measurements while operating non-invasively
2Reliability
If multiple ultrasound receivers are used for integrity detection, then the reliability of coupling validation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the integrity detection function by using multiple receivers positioned at different locations on the vessel wall. Each receiver independently validates coupling at its position, providing distributed validation that improves overall reliability without requiring a single complex receiver system
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple ultrasound receivers serve dual functions: they perform integrity detection by receiving test signals through the vessel wall, and they can also be used for actual content property measurements. This multi-functionality improves validation reliability while avoiding the need for separate dedicated testing hardware
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
This solution enables online diagnosis of acoustic coupling integrity, improving sensor reliability and condition monitoring by ensuring consistent and accurate measurement of vessel content properties through continuous validation of transducer contact.
Implementation Method 1
generate acoustic waves, which penetrate through the wall
Implementation Method 2
efficient, stable and reliable coupling of the acoustic waves in and out of the vessel
Implementation Method 3
detect a time of flight of the received first ultrasound test signal
Data Source
AI summary
A signal processing unit configured to: cause a first ultrasound emitter, when attached to a wall of a vessel, to emit a first ultrasound test signal; receive, from at least one ultrasound receiver, when attached to the wall of the vessel, the first ultrasound test signal; detect a time of flight of the received first ultrasound test signal; and determine that an acoustic coupling of the first ultrasound emitter and a first ultrasound receiver of the at least one ultrasound receiver to the wall of the vessel is intact if the detected time of flight corresponds to a length of a path in the wall of the vessel from the first ultrasound emitter to the at least one ultrasound receiver.