Ultrasonic tracking of ultrasound transducer(s) aboard an interventional tool

摘要

In one aspect, an ultrasound receive beamformer is configured for one-way only beamforming of transmissive ultrasound using one-way delays. The receive beamforming in some embodiments is used to track, in real time, a catheter, needle or other surgical tool within an image of a region of interest. The tool can have embedded at its tip a small ultrasound transmitter or receiver for transmitting or receiving the transmissive ultrasound. Optionally, additional transducers are fixed along the tool to provide the orientation of the tool.

主权项

1. A medical system for locating an object comprising:
an ultrasound imaging device configured to provide imaging beams insonifying a region of interest, the imaging beams having a focus depth; a receive device configured to receive the imaging beams and being located on the object; and a processor configured to process digital signals output by the receive device for locating the object within the region of interest by calculating an imaging depth of the receive device and focusing the imaging beams such that the focus depth is equal to the imaging depth of the receive device, wherein the ultrasound imaging device has an imaging beamformer configured to perform two-way beamforming of the imaging beams for forming an image of the region of interest, and wherein the receive device has a receive beamformer configured to perform one-way only beamforming of output signals from the receive device for tracking the object during real-time imaging.