Ultrasound Sensor Array for Interventional Device Rotation Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical devices such as needles and catheters are difficult to visualize in ultrasound images due to their specular reflectivity, especially at unfavorable incidence angles, limiting their accurate tracking and positioning within ultrasound imaging systems.

Innovation Solution

An interventional device is equipped with a first linear sensor array of ultrasound receivers wrapped around its longitudinal axis, configured to detect one-way transmitted ultrasound signals, allowing for rotation tracking by correlating signal magnitudes to determine the device's position relative to the ultrasound beam origin, with additional arrays and arrangements enhancing sensitivity and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If ultrasound receivers are attached to the interventional device to enable tracking, then the device can be tracked in the ultrasound field, but the device structure becomes more complex and the receivers may cause shadowing effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ultrasound receivers are wrapped around the interventional device in a flexible array configuration, allowing the receivers to conform to the device surface without adding significant bulk or structural complexity. This flexible wrapping approach enables tracking while maintaining device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The receivers are arranged in a circumferential pattern around the device axis, transitioning from linear to circular spatial arrangement. This dimensional change allows multiple receivers to be positioned along the device length, providing comprehensive angular coverage for rotation determination without increasing radial complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If a single ultrasound receiver is used to detect the beam, then the device structure is simple, but the rotational angle determination accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational angle determination accuracyVSAvoidsensor array configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system is divided into multiple discrete ultrasound receivers positioned at different angular positions around the device. Each receiver independently detects ultrasound signals from the beam, and by comparing the signals from multiple segmented receivers, the rotational angle can be determined with high accuracy through signal correlation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Use of energy by moving object

If the ultrasound receivers are positioned to maximize signal detection, then the signal strength is improved, but the receivers may be shadowed by the device body at certain angles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal detection strengthVSAvoidshadowing effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different receivers in the array are positioned at specific angular locations around the device, with each receiver optimized for detecting signals from particular directions. This local quality differentiation ensures that at least some receivers remain unshadowed regardless of the device's rotational position, maintaining consistent signal detection strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 method effectively determines the rotation of interventional devices within ultrasound beams, improving visualization and tracking accuracy by correlating signal strengths and using multiple arrays to enhance sensitivity and reduce shadowing effects.

Implementation Method 1

ultrasound receivers that are wrapped around the interventional device and which are configured to detect transmitted ultrasound signals from the ultrasound imaging system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasound detection: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

beamforming ultrasound imaging system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBeamforming: Acoustic Lens

Data Source

PatentUS12016723B2Rotation determination in an ultrasound beam

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

The present invention relates to determining the rotation of an interventional device in an ultrasound field. An interventional device is provided that is suitable for being tracked in an ultrasound beam of a beamforming ultrasound imaging system by correlating transmitted ultrasound signals from the beamforming ultrasound imaging system as detected by ultrasound receivers attached to the interventional device with the beamforming beam sequence of the ultrasound signals. The interventional device includes a longitudinal axis (A-A′), a first linear sensor array (12) comprising a plurality of ultrasound receivers (R1 . . . n) wherein each ultrasound receiver has a length (L) and a width (W), and wherein the array extends along the width (W) direction. Moreover the first linear sensor array (12) is wrapped circumferentially around the interventional device with respect to the axis (A-A′) such that the length (L) of each ultrasound receiver is arranged lengthwise with respect to the axis (A-A′).