Ultrasound Touchpad Segmented Rows for TGC Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ultrasound devices are vulnerable to liquid, dust, and gel ingress, and their TGC implementations are costly and complex, limiting the number of regions that can be controlled, making it difficult to implement and remember multiple TGC settings for different applications.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound device featuring a touchpad segmented into rows, where each row corresponds to a specific depth of the image formed from echoed signals, allowing users to adjust the Time Gain Compensation (TGC) settings using a processor, enabling more accurate and flexible adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional potentiometers are used for TGC control, then the device structure is simple, but the device is vulnerable to liquid, dust, and gel ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical potentiometers with a touchpad interface that uses electrical signals for TGC control. This substitution eliminates mechanical moving parts that are vulnerable to liquid, dust, and gel ingress, while maintaining the TGC functionality through software-based control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a touchpad that replicates the functional capability of mechanical potentiometers through a different interface paradigm. The touchpad creates a virtual representation of depth control that can be manipulated without physical contact with sensitive internal components, thereby protecting against environmental contaminants.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple TGC settings are implemented for different applications, then the adaptability improves, but the difficulty to implement and memorize increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touchpad is segmented into multiple rows, with each row corresponding to a specific depth region in the ultrasound image. This segmentation allows users to independently adjust gain for different depth zones, enabling multiple TGC settings for different applications while maintaining intuitive control through the segmented interface structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to TGC control by mapping depth regions to vertical positions on the touchpad. This dimensional mapping allows users to control multiple depth zones simultaneously through spatial gestures, making complex multi-setting TGC operations more intuitive and easier to remember.
3Measurement precision
If the number of controlled regions is increased, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touchpad serves multiple functions: it acts as both a depth selection interface and a gain adjustment control for multiple regions simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows the device to control numerous depth regions with high precision without proportionally increasing overall system complexity, as a single touchpad interface handles what would otherwise require multiple separate controls.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a Time Gain Compenstaion (TGC) feature in an ultrasound device using a touchpad or similar device, which eliminates the need for mechanical potentiometers. The touchpad is segmented into one or more rows, wherein each row is mapped to a corresponding depth of an image. In order to set a required TGC gain setting of a particular depth of the image, a user moves his/her finger across the face of the touchpad such that the desired gain curve can be set. Finer adjustments can be done by moving the finger in the desired horizontal area of the touchpad. The mapping of the effective depths is indicated by horizontal lines on the touchpad as well as on the screen.