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WO2024263626A1 - Transducteurs à réseaux multiples pour interventions guidées par ultrasons - Google Patents

Transducteurs à réseaux multiples pour interventions guidées par ultrasons Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024263626A1
WO2024263626A1 PCT/US2024/034591 US2024034591W WO2024263626A1 WO 2024263626 A1 WO2024263626 A1 WO 2024263626A1 US 2024034591 W US2024034591 W US 2024034591W WO 2024263626 A1 WO2024263626 A1 WO 2024263626A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
arrays
array
transducer
ultrasound
ultrasound image
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/US2024/034591
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English (en)
Inventor
Chengbin Peng
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cloudstream Medical Imaging Inc
Original Assignee
Cloudstream Medical Imaging Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cloudstream Medical Imaging Inc filed Critical Cloudstream Medical Imaging Inc
Publication of WO2024263626A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024263626A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/08—Clinical applications
    • A61B8/0833—Clinical applications involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
    • A61B8/0841—Clinical applications involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures for locating instruments
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
    • A61B8/4483—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
    • A61B8/4494—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/5207—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/88—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S15/89—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
    • G01S15/8906—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
    • G01S15/8909—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration
    • G01S15/8915—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration using a transducer array
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/88—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S15/89—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
    • G01S15/8906—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
    • G01S15/8909—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration
    • G01S15/8915—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration using a transducer array
    • G01S15/8918—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration using a transducer array the array being linear
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/88—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S15/89—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
    • G01S15/8906—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
    • G01S15/8909—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration
    • G01S15/8915—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration using a transducer array
    • G01S15/892—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques using a static transducer configuration using a transducer array the array being curvilinear

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a multiple array transducer for ultrasound guided interventions and a method to visualize a needle insertion in biopsy and other interventional procedures in real time.
  • Ultrasound imaging has advantages, such as reasonable cost, continuous real-time visualization of a biopsy needle, portability, and its harmless effect, over other imaging modalities, such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for medical interventional procedures.
  • CT computerized tomography
  • MRI magnetic resonance imaging
  • a nature extension is to produce a 3D ultrasound image using either a matrix array transducer, multiple transducers side by side, or a transducer with multiple arrays inside.
  • Conventional ultrasound data acquisition systems have a limited number of I/O channels, and thus cannot be directly interfaced with multiple ultrasound transducers or multiple arrays inside a transducer.
  • a high voltage multiplexer is designed to allow a 128-signal DAQ to interface with up to eighteen 128-signal arrays in a time-multiplexed manner [1]
  • a conformable patch with multiple ultrasound array transducers is also proposed in literature [2]
  • a get-around solution for large imaging aperture is to use many commercial array transducers to create a large imaging aperture along the array dimension, effectively making a long composite transducer [3],
  • ultrasound guided interventions include biopsy of mass lesions, biopsy organs for parenchymal disease or transplant rejection, drain fluid collections/ abscesses, assist in placement of drainage tubes/catheters, assist in placement of catheters in arteries and veins, to name a few [4, 5].
  • a linear array transducer is used for higher central frequency and sharper image resolution.
  • Curved array transducers are also used for abdominal applications.
  • An ultrasound transducer consists of three parts: a head, a wire cable, and a housing unit. A lot of technologies are inside the transducer head. Typically, 128 to 256 piezoelectric elements are tightly packed along the lateral dimension in the head to form a ID array.
  • the acoustic lens (or face of the transducer) is flat in lateral direction and is convex shaped in elevation direction providing mechanical focus in the off-plane dimension.
  • the acoustic lens is curved in the lateral direction with acoustic elements mounted on a convex circle.
  • a 2D image is shown on a display screen to help a doctor to visualize the needle insertion in real time [6, 7],
  • Unmet needs in such applications include: (i) lost needle tips, i.e., one just cannot see the needle tip because it is off the center line, (ii) do not know which direction the needle goes inside the tissues, and (iii) very hard to find the needle at great depth, especially at a high insertion angle. Doctors need many weeks of special training in order to master the skills involved in this procedure. Risks still exist that a patient suffers lasting tissue pain and/or organ damages after such a procedure. Therefore, high resolution linear or curved transducers and high-quality sonographic images are paramount for ultrasound guided interventions.
  • the present application discloses a multiple array transducer for ultrasound guided interventions that includes: a transducer head, a housing unit, and a wire cable.
  • the transducer head includes a plurality of arrays.
  • the transducer head includes three arrays.
  • the three arrays are arranged in parallel.
  • each of the plurality of arrays is independently selected from the group consisting of a linear array, a curved array, and a phased array. [0009] In another embodiment, each of the plurality of arrays is adapted for emitting and receiving, without multiplexing, focus beams, divergent beams, plane wave beams, other types of beams, or a combination thereof.
  • each of the plurality of arrays produces an independent ultrasound image at an elevation location thereof.
  • the present application discloses a method to visualize a needle insertion in biopsy and other interventional procedure in real time that includes: providing a multiple array transducer that comprises a plurality of arrays; and producing a plurality of ultrasound images by using the plurality of arrays to visualize the needle insertion in real time.
  • the multiple array transducer comprises three arrays.
  • the three arrays are arranged in parallel.
  • three ultrasound images are produced in real time, and the three ultrasound images are programmed on a display screen to visualize the needle insertion in biopsy and other interventional procedure in real time.
  • the three ultrasound images are stacked vertically, horizontally, or in any other fashion.
  • the three arrays comprise a first array, a middle array, and a third array;
  • the three ultrasound images comprise a first ultrasound image, a middle ultrasound image, and a third ultrasound image; and the first ultrasound image, the middle ultrasound image, and the third ultrasound image are produced by using the first array, the middle array, and the third array, respectively.
  • the middle ultrasound image shows a needle of the needle insertion in biopsy and other interventional procedure.
  • the first ultrasound image is produced by the first array at a positive elevation; and the second ultrasound image is produced by the second array at a negative elevation.
  • the needle deviates from a center line, a tip of the needle can still be seen in the first ultrasound image or the second ultrasound image, ensuring a continuous visualization of the needle insertion in biopsy and other interventional procedure.
  • Figure 1 shows an elevation view of a multiple array transducer according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a top-down view of an existing ultrasound guided interventional procedure.
  • Figure 3 is a top-down view of an ultrasound guided interventional procedure according to the present application.
  • the present invention relates to a new design of ultrasound transducer and a new method for visualizing images in ultrasound guided interventions.
  • the invention addresses two urgent needs in ultrasound guided interventions: (1) continuous real time visualization of the needle tip for safety, and (2) correction of the needle path when it is deviated from the intended trajectory.
  • the invention provides, for example, three separate images for visualization at all times: one at the center line and the other two at a positive offset and a negative offset respectively. These three images are displayed side by side on a screen in real time, enabling a doctor to continuously see the needle tip and the needle path.
  • FIG. 1 shows a multiple array transducer for ultrasound guided interventions in accordance with the present application.
  • the multiple array transducer includes: a transducer head 1, a housing unit 2, and a wire cable 4.
  • the transducer head 1 includes a plurality of arrays.
  • the transducer head 1 includes three arrays 2A, 2B, and 2C.
  • the transducer head 1 can also include two, four, five, six, or more arrays.
  • the three arrays 2A, 2B, and 2C can be arranged in parallel.
  • Each of the of arrays 2A, 2B, and 2C is independently selected to be either a linear array or a curved array or a phased array.
  • Each of the plurality of arrays 2A, 2B, and 2C is adapted for emitting and receiving, without multiplexing, focus beams, divergent beams, plane wave beams, other types of beams, or a combination thereof.
  • Each of the plurality of arrays 2 A, 2B, and 2C produces an independent ultrasound image at an elevation location thereof.
  • Three separate images are produced using the three arrays 2A, 2B, and 2C.
  • the middle row of acoustic elements is used to produce an ultrasound image along a center line of the middle row.
  • the row of acoustic elements at the positive side of elevation is used to image tissues off the center line on the positive side.
  • the row of acoustic elements at the negative side of elevation is used to image tissues off the center line on the negative side.
  • Three images, one for each row are displayed on a screen in real time, stacked either vertically or horizontally or in any other fashion.
  • a needle, especially the needle tip will show up in one of the three images, enabling a doctor to see the tip location and the deviation of the needle from its intended trajectory.
  • a linear or curved array transducer is placed on patient skin surface and a needle is inserted from one side of the transducer along a center line of the array transducer, as shown in Figure 2 (left).
  • the ultrasound image is shown as a vertical cross section in an image window on a display screen ( Figure 2, right).
  • the image is updated in real time, continuously showing the location of the needle tip and the trajectory of needle insertion.
  • the procedure sounds easy but, in practice, very difficult to do smoothly and safely.
  • the thick line shows a needle trajectory that is originally intended to go straight along the center line of the transducer.
  • the thick line in Figure 2 (right) is the corresponding needle path shown on an ultrasound image.
  • Position 3 is very close to the center of the transducer; it is well imaged by reflected echoes.
  • Position 2 is near the fringe; it is barely visible in the ultrasound image.
  • Position 1 is off to the side of the transducer; no reflected echo is recorded, and it is invisible in the ultrasound image. This situation is very common in ultrasound guided interventional procedures.
  • FIG 2 In Figure 2 (left), a linear or curved array transducer is placed on skin surface and a needle is inserted into tissues from one side of the transducer (thick black line). The elevation coverage of the transducer is only a few milli-meters. Any deviation of the needle trajectory from the center line will cause the needle tip to become invisible very quickly.
  • Figure 2 (right) an image window on a display screen showing the needle insertion in real time. When the needle deviates from the center line the tip becomes invisible as shown by the dark gray box (either in the fringe zones or off the transducer coverage in the elevation dimension).
  • the transducer of the present invention has three rows of acoustic elements of varying lengths (can be made to have the same length, if desired), each row can be arranged as a linear array or a curved array or a phased array, and each row produces its own ultrasound image at its corresponding elevation location.
  • a display method shows three ultrasound images in three separate windows on a screen. These windows can be stacked vertically, horizontally, or in any other fashion. These images are continuously updated in real time, enabling visualization of a needle insertion process at multiple elevation locations.
  • FIG. 3 (left), a new transducer according to the design disclosed in this invention is placed on skin surface and a needle is inserted into human tissues from one side of the transducer.
  • the new transducer has three rows of acoustic elements, each row produces an ultrasound image at its corresponding elevation location. A deviation of the needle trajectory will cause the needle tip off center line and becoming invisible in the center image window; however, the same needle tip will be imaged by one of the side arrays of the new transducer.
  • Figure 3 (right) three image windows are visible on a display screen showing, in vertical cross sections, the needle insertion in real time. The image in the center window is produced by the center row of elements.
  • the image in the top window is produced by the row of elements on the + side, and the image in the bottom window is produced by the row of elements on the - side, or vice versa.
  • the needle tip can still be visualized in one of image windows on either side.
  • a deviation of the needle trajectory will cause the needle tip off the center line and becoming invisible in the center image window. However, the same needle tip will show up in one of the side image windows because the corresponding side array in the transducer picks up the echo signals of the needle tip.
  • Position 3 is near the center; it is well imaged in the center image window.
  • Position 2 is near fringes of both the center array and the array at negative elevation; it is visible in either the center image window or the bottom image window (- side of elevation).
  • Position 1 is near the center of the array at negative elevation; it is well imaged in the bottom image window (- side of elevation).
  • Other realizations may include: (1) have more than three rows of acoustic elements or changing the spacing between rows, (2) varying the number of elements in each row as well as the pitch, width, kerf, height, and total length of the array, (3) emitting different beams, such as focused beams, divergent beams, plane-wave beams, or any other type of beams, from each row or using different focal points or plane wave angles, (4) arranging the three image windows in horizontal stack, vertical stack, or any other fashion, (5) employing different type of array in each row, for example, the center row uses a linear array for super resolution, and the two side rows use either curved arrays or phased arrays for wide coverage, (6) using a different frequency band in each row, or (7) setting focal points / planewave angles differently in each row.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Gynecology & Obstetrics (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

Transducteur à réseaux multiples pour interventions guidées par ultrasons comprenant : une tête de transducteur, une unité de logement et un câble métallique. La tête de transducteur comprend une pluralité de réseaux. Un procédé pour visualiser en temps réel l'insertion d'une aiguille dans une biopsie comprend les étapes suivantes : mise à disposition d'un transducteur à réseaux multiples comportant plusieurs réseaux ; et génération de plusieurs images ultrasonores par l'utilisation de plusieurs réseaux pour visualiser l'insertion de l'aiguille en temps réel.
PCT/US2024/034591 2023-06-23 2024-06-19 Transducteurs à réseaux multiples pour interventions guidées par ultrasons Pending WO2024263626A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US202363522985P 2023-06-23 2023-06-23
US63/522,985 2023-06-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024263626A1 true WO2024263626A1 (fr) 2024-12-26

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PCT/US2024/034591 Pending WO2024263626A1 (fr) 2023-06-23 2024-06-19 Transducteurs à réseaux multiples pour interventions guidées par ultrasons

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020045823A1 (en) * 2000-08-24 2002-04-18 Fraser John D. Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with dynamic microbeamforming
US6423002B1 (en) * 1999-06-24 2002-07-23 Acuson Corporation Intra-operative diagnostic ultrasound multiple-array transducer probe and optional surgical tool
US20090016163A1 (en) * 2006-03-01 2009-01-15 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Linear array ultrasound transducer with microbeamformer
US20160143619A1 (en) * 2013-06-28 2016-05-26 Alpinion Medical Systems Co., Ltd. Ultrasonic probe having a plurality of arrays connected in parallel structure and ultrasonic image diagnosing apparatus including same

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6423002B1 (en) * 1999-06-24 2002-07-23 Acuson Corporation Intra-operative diagnostic ultrasound multiple-array transducer probe and optional surgical tool
US20020045823A1 (en) * 2000-08-24 2002-04-18 Fraser John D. Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with dynamic microbeamforming
US20090016163A1 (en) * 2006-03-01 2009-01-15 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Linear array ultrasound transducer with microbeamformer
US20160143619A1 (en) * 2013-06-28 2016-05-26 Alpinion Medical Systems Co., Ltd. Ultrasonic probe having a plurality of arrays connected in parallel structure and ultrasonic image diagnosing apparatus including same

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