Ultrasound Probe Control via Reflected Signal Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of powerful ultrasound pulses in elastography and other tissue manipulation procedures leads to issues such as increased temperature at the ultrasound probe surface and potential impacts on tissues due to contrast agents, necessitating safe and controlled transmission of ultrasound waves.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus that controls the transmission of push pulses based on the strength of reflected-wave signals, determining probe position and contrast agent presence to prevent overheating and tissue impact, using a system with a transmitting and receiving unit, B-mode processing, Doppler processing, and image generating units to manage ultrasound wave transmission and image processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If powerful ultrasound pulses are used for elastography to generate shear waves, then the firmness imaging capability is improved, but the temperature at the ultrasound probe surface increases causing heat loss and potential tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of contrast agents using B-mode imaging before transmitting push pulses for elastography. This preliminary action allows the system to identify the presence of contrast agents and adjust subsequent pulse transmission accordingly, preventing overheating and tissue damage while maintaining firmness imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses reflected-wave signal strength as feedback to control push pulse transmission. By monitoring the strength of reflected waves from contrast agents, the system dynamically adjusts whether to transmit push pulses, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents harmful effects while maintaining imaging performance
2Power
If powerful ultrasound pulses are transmitted to change tissue shape for DDS or hemostasis, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the risk of impact on tissues via contrast agents increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning using B-mode imaging to detect the presence and distribution of contrast agents before transmitting high-power ultrasound waves for therapeutic purposes. This preliminary detection enables safe therapeutic ultrasound transmission by avoiding regions where contrast agents are present
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors reflected-wave signal strength during therapeutic ultrasound procedures. When contrast agents are detected through strong reflected signals, the system adjusts or stops push pulse transmission to prevent microbubble rupture and associated tissue damage, creating a safe closed-loop control system
3Ease of operation
If the ultrasound probe is not in contact with the patient's body during push pulse transmission, then the ease of operation is improved, but the energy is absorbed at the probe surface causing temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses reflected-wave signal strength as feedback to determine probe contact status. By monitoring the strength of reflected waves, the system can detect whether the probe is properly contact with the patient's body and control push pulse transmission accordingly, preventing energy absorption and overheating while maintaining operational flexibility
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 apparatus safely uses ultrasound waves for tissue manipulation by preventing overheating and minimizing tissue impact, ensuring accurate and safe imaging and treatment procedures.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting and receiving unit configured to transmit a first ultrasound wave and transmit/receive a second ultrasound wave with timing different from that of the first ultrasound wave
Implementation Method 2
the firmness of a tissue in a patient's body is evaluated by causing an ultrasound probe to transmit push pulses, which are focused ultrasound pulses each having a high sound pressure, and further measuring the propagation speed of a shear wave generated thereby
Implementation Method 3
Doppler processing unit configured to measure a propagation speed of the shear wave and generate firmness image data on the basis of the measured propagation speed
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving circuitry, an input circuitry, and a processing circuitry. The transmitting and receiving circuitry transmits a first ultrasound wave used for changing the shape of a tissue in the body of a patient and transmits/receives a second ultrasound wave that is transmitted/received with timing different from that of the first ultrasound wave. The input circuitry receives an input of a request indicating that the first ultrasound wave should be transmitted. When the input circuitry has received the input of the request indicating that the first ultrasound wave should be transmitted, the processing circuitry controls the transmission of the first ultrasound wave in accordance with the strength of a reflected-wave signal of the second ultrasound wave or one or more pixel values of an image resulting from an imaging process performed by using the reflected-wave signal of the second ultrasound wave.