Ultrasound Probe Cable Integrity Prediction Using Embedded Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasound (US) cables in medical imaging systems are prone to wear and damage due to manipulation forces, leading to reduced performance and frequent replacements, resulting in significant downtime and maintenance costs for hospitals.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an ultrasound probe connected by a US cable with embedded sensors that gather data on forces and shape, which is input into a trained computational model to predict cable integrity and remaining useful life, enabling real-time monitoring and preventive maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasound probe cable is used for transmission of electrical and US signals, then imaging function is enabled, but cable wear and damage occurs due to manipulation forces
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor embedded in the cable performs preliminary detection of wear and damage conditions before they lead to complete cable failure. The system continuously monitors cable health parameters and predicts remaining useful life, enabling preventive maintenance before the cable becomes non-functional.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using sensors to detect cable conditions and feeding this information back to the processing system. The processed information about cable integrity and predicted failures is used to adjust maintenance schedules and alert users, creating a closed-loop system that improves cable management and replacement timing.
2Reliability
If cable replacement is performed frequently due to wear and damage, then system reliability is maintained, but downtime and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of cable health status and predicts future failures before they occur. By identifying cables that are approaching end-of-life based on sensor data and computational modeling, the system enables planned replacements during scheduled maintenance windows rather than unexpected failures during operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable monitoring system enables the cable itself to report its health status through embedded sensors. The cable autonomously provides data about its condition, eliminating the need for manual inspection and enabling the system to self-diagnose cable health issues and predict failures.
3Measurement precision
If sensor is embedded in US cable to monitor wear, then cable integrity prediction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is merged with the cable structure by embedding it within the cable insulation or sheath. This integration combines the monitoring function with the existing cable components, avoiding the need for separate external monitoring devices and reducing overall system complexity despite adding sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The embedded sensor serves multiple functions: detecting cable wear, monitoring cable position and orientation, and providing data for predicting remaining useful life. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive cable health information from a single integrated sensing element.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for medical imaging is disclosed. The system includes an ultrasound (US) probe connected by a US cable having a sensor along its length. The sensor is adapted to gather measurement data from the US cable. The system also has a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: input the measurement data to a trained computational model; and apply the trained computational model to the measurement data to predict cable integrity of the US cable based on ground truth data, or to forecast a remaining useful life (RUL) of the US cable using ground truth data, or both. A sensor including a flexible textile-like substrate is also described. The sensor is embedded in the substrate and along a length of the US cable.