Adjustable Ultrasound Patch Holder for Stable Hands-Free Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound patches struggle with maintaining stable imaging during procedures due to misalignments, subject movement, and varying vessel depths, requiring cumbersome methods like gel-filled gloves for focus adjustment.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with two fixing units and an adjustable holding unit for ultrasound patches, allowing manual or mechanical adjustments to compensate for placement errors and subject movement, and incorporating a stand-off portion for focus depth adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ultrasound patches are fixed to the subject surface, then hands-free imaging is enabled, but misalignments and subject movement reduce imaging accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The holding unit incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows dynamic repositioning of the ultrasound patch relative to the fixing units. This enables the system to maintain imaging accuracy despite misalignments or subject movement by allowing the patch position to be adjusted within the fixed framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional components: fixing units that provide stable attachment to the subject, and a holding unit that accommodates the ultrasound patch with adjustable positioning. This segmentation allows independent optimization of stability and adjustability.
2Device complexity
If a single standard probe is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but focus depth cannot be adjusted for vessels at different depths
Solution Approach 1:
The holding unit includes an adjustable mechanism that allows dynamic change in focus depth by repositioning the ultrasound patch relative to the subject surface. This enables a single standard probe to adapt to different imaging depths without requiring multiple specialized probes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If gel-filled gloves are used for focus adjustment, then focus depth can be changed, but the method becomes cumbersome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the focus adjustment function from the complex gel-filled glove system and integrates it directly into the holding unit mechanism. This provides a simpler, more direct method for focus depth adjustment without the cumbersome nature of gel-filled gloves.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention provides for a method and an apparatus (300) for positioning an ultrasound patch on a surface of a subject. The apparatus includes a first fixing unit (210) and a second fixing unit (310) adapted to be fixed to a surface of the subject at a first location and second location, respectively, with a space of exposed surface of the subject between them. The apparatus further comprises a holding unit (260) for positioning on the exposed surface of the subject within the space between the fixing units, the holding unit being adapted to receive the ultrasound patch.The holding unit is adapted to be coupled with the first and second fixing units at the surface of the subject and, when the holding unit is coupled to the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit, the position of the holding unit is adjustable relative to the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit.