Abstract:
An ultrasound probe ( 202 ) having an operational indicator assembly ( 204 ) for indicating operational data relating to the ultrasound probe ( 202 ), and especially data relating to the sterility of the ultrasound probe ( 202 ), is provided. The ultrasound probe ( 202 ) has a housing ( 203 ) fabricated from materials suitable for internal and non-internal medical use. At least one ultrasound transducer ( 209 ) is housed by the housing ( 203 ) and positioned to direct ultrasound energy along a propagation path to the patient. The operational indicator assembly ( 204 ) indicates operational data relating to the ultrasound probe ( 202 ) to an operator thereof, and especially data relating to the disinfection status of the ultrasound probe ( 202 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to ultrasound probes used in medical diagnostic and treatment procedures. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an ultrasound probe having an operational indicator assembly. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Medical ultrasound imaging has become a popular means for visualizing and medically diagnosing the condition and health of interior regions of the human body. With this technique, a disinfected ultrasound probe having an array of acoustic transducers or a single transducer, in operative communication with an ultrasound system console via an interconnection cable, is provided against the patient&#39;s tissue or inserted within the patient&#39;s gastrointestinal tract where it is actuated to emit and receive focused ultrasound waves in a scanning fashion. The scanned ultrasound waves, or ultrasound beams, allow the systematic creation of image slices of the patient&#39;s internal tissues for display on a monitor of the ultrasound system console. 
         [0005]    During ultrasonic imaging, the disinfected ultrasound probe is susceptible to becoming contaminated. Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to present a system for providing operational data relating to the ultrasound probe, and especially data relating to the disinfection state of the ultrasound probe. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    The present disclosure provides an ultrasound probe having an operational indicator assembly for indicating operational data relating to the ultrasound probe, and especially data relating to the disinfection state of the ultrasound probe. In particular, the present disclosure provides an ultrasound probe having a housing fabricated from materials suitable for internal and non-internal medical use. At least one ultrasound transducer is housed by the housing and positioned to direct ultrasound energy along a propagation path to the patient. The operational indicator assembly indicates operational data relating to the ultrasound probe to an operator thereof, and especially data relating to the disinfection state of the ultrasound probe. 
         [0007]    In particular, the present disclosure provides an ultrasound probe having a housing; at least one ultrasound transducer within the housing and positioned to direct ultrasound energy along a propagation path; and an operational indicator assembly provided to the housing and having means for controlling at least one indicator system for indicating at least one operational characteristic relating to the ultrasound probe. The at least one indicator system can include a plurality of LEDs or a liquid crystal display (LCD) for indicating the at least one operational characteristic relating to the ultrasound probe. One of the at least one operational characteristic indicated by the at least one indicator system relates to the disinfection status of the ultrasound probe. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the means for controlling includes a programming button positioned on the housing for transmitting at least one signal to at least one processor and/or EEPROM for controlling the at least one indicator system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a prior art ultrasound medical imaging system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an ultrasound probe having an operational indicator assembly and configured for internal use in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of the ultrasound probe shown by  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1  a prior art medical ultrasound imaging system  100  is shown. The system  100  includes an ultrasound imaging probe  102  connected to an imaging workstation  104 . The imaging workstation  104  contains one or more processors  106  and at least one storage device  108 , such as a hard drive, RAM disk, etc. The storage device(s)  108  may be used for storing the controlling and imaging software for the ultrasound system  100  as well as providing temporary and long term storage of image data acquired by the ultrasound probe  102 . The ultrasound imaging system  100  also provides a video display  110  and user input devices, including a keyboard  112  and a mouse  114 . 
         [0014]    The processor  106  is configured to execute controlling and imaging software. The imaging software allows the operator of the system  100  to visualize and manipulate the data received from the ultrasound probe  102 . 
         [0015]    An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in  FIG. 2 , provides an ultrasound medical imaging probe  202  having a housing  203  and an operational indicator assembly  204  for indicating operational data relating to the ultrasound probe  202  to an operator thereof, and especially data relating to the disinfection status of the ultrasound probe  202 . The probe  202  further includes a cable  206  for connecting to an imaging workstation, such as imaging workstation  104  shown by  FIG. 1 . An articulating stalk  208  is provided for enabling the probe  202  to be inserted into a patient&#39;s gastrointestinal tract for performing imaging operations as known in the art. A distal end  210  of the articulating stalk  208  houses an ultrasound transducer array or an ultrasound transducer  209  and related imaging circuitry as known in the art for performing the imaging operations. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the operational indicator assembly  204  includes a programming button  212  and an indicator system  213  having a series of LEDs  214   a - d  positioned in proximity to the programming button  212  for indicating operational information to an operator of the probe  202 , including information relating to the disinfection status of the probe  202 . In accordance to which LEDs  214   a - d  are lit, the operator associates the lit LEDs as forming a code which is then used to determine information regarding the probe  202 . The information is determined by corresponding the code to at least one rule of a set of predetermined rules. For example, if none of the LEDs  214   a - d  are lit, then the probe  202  is high level disinfected (e.g., code: none lit; rule: probe is high level disinfected). If LED  214   a  is lit, then the probe  202  has been sterilized. 
         [0017]    Other operational data can also be indicated by lighting one or more of the LEDs  214   a - d , such as visual inspection has passed, electrical test status, and the probe  202  needs to be serviced. Correspondingly, the LEDs could indicate this status. For example, if LED  214   b  is lit, the probe has passed visual inspection. If LED  214  c is lit, the probe has passed an electrical safety test, etc. The LEDs  214   a - d  are progressively lit by the operator pressing on programming button  212  to indicate the disinfection status of the probe and other data. For example, if none of the LEDs  214   a - d  are lit and the operator presses the programming button  212  one time, LED  214   a  is lit; two times, LED  214   b  is lit; three times, LED  214   c  is lit; four times, LED  214   d  is lit; five times, LEDs  214   a  and  214   b  are lit; six times, LEDs  214   a  and  214   c  are lit; seven times, LEDs  214   a  and  214   d  are lit; eight times, LEDs  214   b  and  214   c  are lit; and so on. 
         [0018]    Other configurations are envisioned within the scope of the present disclosure for indicating operational data relating to the probe  202 , including data relating to the disinfection status of the probe  202 , using the LEDs  214   a - d  of the operational indicator assembly  204 . For example, LED  214   a  can be a green LED which is lit automatically or manually when the probe  202  is actuated for performing an imaging operation, and LED  214   b  can be a red LED which is lit automatically or manually when the probe  202  is de-actuated following the imaging operation to indicate the probe  202  is no longer disinfected or sterile. 
         [0019]    By pressing the programming button  212 , at least one processor and/or EEPROM  217  within the probe  202  is programmed to light the one or more LEDs  214   a - d  as described above for indicating operational data relating to the probe  202 . It is also envisioned for the indicator assembly  213  to include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other indicator means for indicating and/or displaying operational data, including data relating to the disinfection status of the probe  202 . 
         [0020]    The LEDs  214   a - d  provide a quick and efficient safety check regarding the operational and disinfection status of the probe  202 , prior to the use of the probe  202  by the operator. The LEDs  214   a - d  are powered by the imaging system  100  when the probe  202  is plugged thereto and by a battery  218  housed by the probe  202  when the probe  202  is unplugged from the imaging system  100 . The battery  218  is preferably a rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery as known in the art. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the disinfection status of the probe  202  can be programmed electronically by operatively interfacing the probe  202  to an automated disinfection machine (automated reprocessor), which programs the at least one processor and/or EEPROM  217  and changes the status indicator LEDs  214   a - d , based on the probe  202  passing or failing the disinfection cycle, as specified in the reprocessor software. Similarly, the probe  202  could be operatively interfaced with a leakage current tester, which programs the at least one processor and/or EEPROM  217  to allow display of the status on the probe  202  and on a display of the leakage current tester. Additionally, in either of these embodiments, the at least one processor and/or EEPROM  217  could lock out usage of the probe  202  under unsafe conditions. 
         [0022]    The imaging workstation  104  can be used to interrogate at least one processor and/or EEPROM  217  for receiving signals relating to operational data of the probe  202 . The imaging workstation  104  can then interpret the signals and display the operational data on the video display  110  for viewing by the operator and printing by a printer. 
         [0023]    The described embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and are not intended to represent every embodiment of the present disclosure. Various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims both literally and in equivalents recognized in law.