Wireless Probe Tracking for Ultrasound Imaging Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasound imaging operators face challenges in identifying and locating the most suitable transducer probes for specific procedures, as they are often unaware of nearby probes with better characteristics, leading to inefficiencies in clinical settings.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound imaging system equipped with wireless tags that communicate with a base unit to detect and display nearby probes, allowing operators to sort and filter based on attributes such as frequency, focal depth, and usage history, facilitating the selection of the most appropriate probe for the procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple probes are made available in the same room, then probe availability increases, but operator awareness of suitable probes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring probe locations through wireless tags and providing real-time information to operators via displays. The base unit receives signals from tags on multiple probes and communicates which probes are nearby and suitable for current procedures, closing the information loop between probe availability and operator awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless tags and a base unit as intermediary components between the probes and operators. These tags transmit probe location and characteristics data, while the base unit processes this information and presents it to operators, mediating the information flow without requiring direct operator knowledge of all probe details.
2Adaptability or versatility
If operators manually search for suitable probes, then probe selection flexibility is maintained, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-mapping all probe locations and characteristics before procedures begin. Wireless tags continuously report probe positions, and the base unit pre-processes this data to identify suitable probes for upcoming procedures, so when operators need probes, the information is already prepared and immediately available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical search process with an electronic information system. Instead of operators physically searching for and identifying suitable probes, the system uses wireless communication and display interfaces to electronically present probe options, substituting manual exploration with automated information delivery.
3Loss of information
If probe information is displayed on a screen, then operator awareness improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the information delivery function across multiple simple components rather than one complex centralized system. Wireless tags on individual probes handle local identification, the base unit manages communication and data aggregation, and display units present information to operators. This segmentation reduces complexity by distributing functions across independent, manageable modules.
Data Source
AI summary
Ultrasound imaging systems including transducer probes having wireless tags, and associated systems and methods, are described herein. For example, the wireless tags can store supplemental data about the transducer probes, and the ultrasound system can include a base unit configured to wirelessly communicate with nearby ones of the wireless tags to receive the supplemental data. The base unit can be further configured to display the transducer probes that are nearby. In some embodiments, the operator can filter or sort the displayed nearby transducer probes based on the supplemental data to identify a particular one of the nearby transducer devices that has one or more desired attributes.