Ultrasound with simultaneous transducer arrays
Systems and methods for ultrasound devices with simultaneous arrays are disclosed. These systems and methods include an ultrasound having simultaneous arrays that can be used during an examination of an anatomy. The simultaneous arrays include at least a first array and a second array, where the first array transmits first ultrasound signals focused at a first depth and the second array transmits second ultrasound signals focused at a second depth that differs from the first depth. A first image is generated based on reflected signals of the first ultrasound signals from the anatomy and a second image is generated based on reflected signals of the second ultrasound signals from the anatomy. The first image can be first displayed, and the system can automatically replace the first image with the second image when an interventional instrument, shown in the first image, reaches a threshold depth of a region of interest.
1 . An ultrasound device comprising:
a multi-array ultrasound scanner configured to generate ultrasound data based on reflections of ultrasound signals transmitted by the multi-array ultrasound scanner at an anatomy, the multi-array ultrasound scanner including:
one or more sensors configured to generate a trigger signal based on pressure, touch, or orientation of the multi-array ultrasound scanner, the trigger signal enabling a threshold depth to be used by the ultrasound device; and
at least a first transducer array and a second transducer array, the multi-array ultrasound scanner configured to:
generate first ultrasound data based on reflections of first ultrasound signals transmitted by the first transducer array at the anatomy, the first ultrasound signals focused at a first depth; and
generate second ultrasound data based on reflections of second ultrasound signals transmitted by the second transducer array at the anatomy, the second ultrasound signals focused at a second depth, the second depth differing from the first depth;
a display device configured to display one or more images; and
one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to generate a first image based on the first ultrasound data and generate a second image based on the second ultrasound data, each of the first image and the second image displayable via the display device, the one or more processors configured to cause the ultrasound device to:
transition from the first transducer array to the second transducer array when an interventional instrument detected within the first ultrasound data reaches the threshold depth; or
replace the first image on the display device with the second image when the interventional instrument detected within the first ultrasound data reaches the threshold depth.
2 . The ultrasound device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first image comprises a superficial image based on the first depth being approximately ten (10) centimeters or less; and
the second image comprises a deep image based on the second depth being approximately thirty (30) centimeters or less.
3 . The ultrasound device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
cause the first transducer array to transmit the first ultrasound signals, the first image including the interventional instrument detected within the first ultrasound data as the interventional instrument is inserted into a subject toward the threshold depth;
wherein:
as the interventional instrument is inserted toward the threshold depth the first ultrasound data is generated and the first image is displayed on the display device; and
upon the interventional instrument reaching the threshold depth the second ultrasound data is generated, the second image is displayed on the display device, and the first image ceases to be displayed on the display device.
4 . The ultrasound device of claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to cease generation of the first ultrasound data upon the interventional instrument reaching the threshold depth.
5 . The ultrasound device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
cause a region of interest to be indicated in the first image displayed on the display device, the region of interest determined based on a user input.
6 . The ultrasound device of claim 5 , wherein the user input is a depth and the region of interest is determined by a machine-learned model based on the depth.
7 . The ultrasound device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first transducer array comprises a linear transducer array; and
the second transducer array comprises a phased transducer array.
8 . The ultrasound device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first transducer array comprises a linear transducer array or a phased transducer array; and
the second transducer array comprises a doppler transducer array or a color-transducer array.
9 . The ultrasound device of claim 1 , wherein:
the display device is configured to display a fused image, the fused image comprising at least a first portion of the second image being overlaid on at least a second portion of the first image.
10 . The ultrasound device of claim 9 , further comprising:
an image fuser; and
an image generator, the image generator, in combination with the one or more processors, generating the first image and the second image;
wherein the image fuser generates the fused image based on fuse instructions and instructions from the image generator.
11 . A method for a multi-array ultrasound scanner having a first transducer array and a second transducer array, the method comprising:
generating, by one or more sensors, a trigger signal based on pressure, touch, or orientation of the multi-array ultrasound scanner, the trigger signal enabling a threshold depth to be used by the multi-array ultrasound scanner;
generating first ultrasound data based on reflections of first ultrasound signals transmitted by the first transducer array at an anatomy, the first ultrasound signals being focused at a first depth;
generating second ultrasound data based on reflections of second ultrasound signals transmitted by the second transducer array at the anatomy, the second ultrasound signals being focused at a second depth, the second depth differing from the first depth;
generating, by one or more processors, a first image based on the first ultrasound data;
generating, by the one or more processors, a second image based on the second ultrasound data;
displaying, on a display device, the first image; and
displaying the second image on the display device by, the displaying of the second image including:
causing the multi-array ultrasound scanner to transition from the first transducer array to the second transducer array when an interventional instrument, detected within the first ultrasound data and displayed within the first image, reaches the threshold depth; or
automatically replacing the first image with the second image when the interventional instrument, detected within the first ultrasound data and displayed within the first image, reaches the threshold depth.
12 . An ultrasound system comprising:
a multi-array ultrasound scanner configured to generate ultrasound data based on reflections of ultrasound signals transmitted by the multi-array ultrasound scanner at an anatomy, the multi-array ultrasound scanner having:
at least a first transducer array and a second transducer array, the multi-array ultrasound scanner configured to:
generate first ultrasound data based on reflections of first ultrasound signals transmitted by the first transducer array at the anatomy, the first ultrasound signals focused at a first depth; and
generate second ultrasound data based on reflections of second ultrasound signals transmitted by the second transducer array at the anatomy, the second ultrasound signals focused at a second depth, the second depth differing from the first depth; and
one or more sensors configured to generate a trigger signal based on pressure, touch, or orientation of the multi-array ultrasound scanner, the trigger signal configured to trigger initiation of:
an examination preset, the examination preset configured to determine a respective operational mode for the first transducer array and the second transducer array;
first steps of a protocol for the first transducer array and second steps of the protocol for the second transducer array; or
a machine-learned model that identifies a target for an interventional instrument detected within the first ultrasound data; and
one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to:
generate a first image based on the first ultrasound data; and
generate a second image based on the second ultrasound data; and
a display device configured to display the first image and the second image.
13 . The ultrasound system of claim 12 , wherein the display device is configured to display controls to modify an operation for at least the first transducer array or the second transducer array responsive to a touch input via the display device.
14 . The ultrasound system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first image includes a superficial image based on the first depth being approximately ten (10) centimeters or less; and
the second image includes a deep image based on the second depth being approximately thirty (30) centimeters or less.
15 . The ultrasound system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to, responsive to the interventional instrument reaching a threshold depth or a region of interest, generate the second image and cease generation of the first ultrasound data.
16 . The ultrasound system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause a region of interest to be indicated on the first image, the region of interest determined based on a user input.
17 . The ultrasound system of claim 16 , wherein the user input is a depth and the region of interest is determined by a machine-learned model based on the depth.
18 . The ultrasound system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first transducer array comprises a linear transducer array; and
the second transducer array comprises a phased transducer array.
19 . The ultrasound system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first transducer array comprises a linear transducer array or a phased transducer array; and
the second transducer array comprises a doppler transducer array or a color-transducer array.
20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining, by a machine-learned model and based on a depth defined by a user input, a region of interest in the first image; and
displaying an indication of the region of interest in the first image via the display device.