Ultrasound Probe Positioning Guide for 3D Imaging Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound imaging systems generate 2D image slices, making it difficult to achieve precise and accurate 3D reconstruction due to imprecise angular and linear displacements, leading to spatial aliasing and distortions, and existing methods for 3D scanning are cumbersome and pose safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A system with a positioning system that allows controlled movement of an imaging probe within one degree of freedom, using a guide assembly and position sensing system for rectilinear or rotational motion, enabling accurate and computationally efficient 3D image reconstruction and therapeutic treatments along prescribed paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If free-hand 3-D scanning is used to acquire multiple image slices, then the scanning process is flexible and easy to operate, but the spatial sampling precision is poor leading to spatial aliasing and distortions
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical fixture with water bath serves as an intermediary medium between the operator and the imaging probe. The fixture guides the probe along predetermined paths while the water bath provides acoustic coupling, thereby ensuring precise spatial sampling without requiring the operator to manually control probe movements with high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual free-hand mechanical scanning with a mechanically guided system that enforces precise motion trajectories. The mechanical fixture substitutes human manual control with predetermined mechanical guidance, eliminating spatial aliasing while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical fixtures with water baths and motorized assemblies are used to move the imaging probe, then the spatial sampling precision is improved, but the device complexity increases and safety hazards arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: a mechanical fixture for positioning, a water bath for acoustic coupling, and a simplified motorized assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function with minimal complexity, avoiding the need for a single complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical fixture serves multiple functions simultaneously: it positions the probe, guides its movement along precise paths, and provides structural support. The water bath simultaneously provides acoustic coupling and a stable mounting medium, reducing the need for separate systems.
3Measurement precision
If six-degree-of-freedom sensors are utilized to track probe position and orientation, then the measurement precision is improved, but the cost increases and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential degree of freedom needed for the application - motion along a single predetermined axis - rather than tracking all six degrees of freedom. This extraction eliminates the need for complex six-DOF sensors while maintaining sufficient measurement precision for the imaging task.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly tracking all spatial dimensions with high precision, the system applies precision only where needed - along the single axis of probe movement. The mechanical fixture ensures precise positioning along this critical axis while other dimensions are less critical and require simpler tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for three dimensional scanning, imaging and/or therapy are provided. In accordance with one aspect, an exemplary method and system are configured to facilitate controlled scanning within one-degree of freedom. For example, an exemplary method and system can enable multiple two-dimensional image planes to be collected in a manner to provide an accurate and computationally efficient three-dimensional image reconstruction while providing the user with a user-friendly mechanism for acquiring three-dimensional images. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary scanning and imaging system comprises an imaging probe, a control system, a positioning system and a display system. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the positioning system comprises a guide assembly and a position sensing system. The guide assembly is configured to provide pure rectilinear or rotational motion of the probe during scanning operation while the position sensing system is configured to detect the direction and position of the probe during scanning.