Patent ID: 6554771
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
An ultrasound imaging system (1) comprising:a transducer probe (2) having an ultrasonic transducer for supplying ultrasound waves to a subject area (A), for receiving ultrasound waves reflecting from the subject area (A), and for converting the reflecting waves into a first electrical signal, at least one optical position sensor (3) provided in the transducer probe (2) for detecting positional information on the transducer probe (2) relative to a surface of the subject area (A) during operation, and for generating a second electrical signal corresponding to the detected positional information, a processing unit (41) for controlling the transducer probe (2) and for processing the first and second electrical signals into an image, wherein the position sensor (3) comprises a unit (23) for optically acquiring images of a surface of the subject area (A) during operation, for acquiring information from said subject surface images, and for processing said information into positional information on the transducer probe (2) relative to the subject area (A).