Ultrasonic Probe Data Processing Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic systems face challenges in achieving efficient and reliable data processing, particularly in medical technology applications where high-quality ultrasonic images with high resolution and large acquisition regions are required.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic system employs a movable handheld probe with transmitting and receiving elements, coupled to a data processing unit via a wired or wireless connection. This system utilizes ring memories as part of a real-time bus system for data transfer and minimizes data processing within the probe, operating in a stateless manner to maintain high data rates and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If data processing is performed within the ultrasonic probe, then image quality and processing efficiency are improved, but heat development increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data processing functions from the ultrasonic probe and relocates them to an external evaluation unit. The probe is reduced to only transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals, while all complex data processing, beam forming, and image generation are performed externally. This extraction eliminates heat generation in the probe while maintaining high image quality through sophisticated external processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into two distinct segments: a simple ultrasonic probe for signal transmission and reception, and a separate evaluation unit for all data processing tasks. This segmentation allows the probe to remain compact and cool while the evaluation unit handles the computational burden, resolving the contradiction between processing capability and heat management.
2Productivity
If data processing is performed within the ultrasonic probe, then processing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Complex data processing functions are extracted from the probe and implemented in an external evaluation unit with sufficient computational resources. This allows the probe to remain simple and manageable in size, while processing efficiency is maintained through powerful external processing capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If the ultrasonic probe is designed as handheld device, then ease of operation is improved, but data processing capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The handheld probe is designed to be operationally simple and portable, while all data processing capabilities are extracted and provided by an external evaluation unit. This allows the probe to be easy to handle and maneuver, while sophisticated processing is performed externally, resolving the contradiction between portability and processing power.
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
The system achieves real-time image generation with high data rates, reducing heat development and enabling a compact, handheld design for the ultrasonic probe, while maintaining image quality and processing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
comprises a plurality of transmitting and receiving elements, and with a data processing unit which is coupled by wire or wireless connection to the ultrasonic probe
Implementation Method 2
The electroacoustic transducers are arranged in a transducer head. Acquired analog signals are digitized
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic system includes an ultrasonic probe and a data processing unit which is physically separate from the ultrasonic probe, runs on an operating system and has a receiving memory and a transmission memory. A real-time bus system is for data coupling of the ultrasonic probe to the memories. A probe system manages data within the ultrasonic probe, the clock inaccuracy of the probe system is at least three orders of magnitude less than the clock inaccuracy of the real-time bus system. The response time of the operating system is at least two orders of magnitude longer than the clock inaccuracy of the real-time bus system. The real-time bus system is configured to transfer transmission data and received data simultaneously by uninterrupted streaming clocked with an on average constant rate during stateless operation of the ultrasonic probe, the operation not differentiating between transmission and receiving operation.