Abstract:
An imaging system comprises an ultrasounds probe ( 102 ) including a housing ( 108 ) with a probe orientation marker ( 116 ) disposed on the housing. The imaging system further comprises a display ( 132 ). The imaging system further comprises a console ( 104 ), electrically interfaced with the probe and the display, that includes a controller ( 128 ). The controller is configured to visually present an ultrasound image, in electronic format and via the display, with an image orientation marker visually displayed superimposed over the image and selectively located with respect to the displayed image based on the location of the probe orientation marker on the housing.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The following generally relates to ultrasound imaging and more particularly to an ultrasound imaging transducer orientation marker. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    An ultrasound imaging system has included an ultrasound probe and a console. The console includes a processor and memory, application software, a communication interface connector, etc. and interfaces with a display monitor and a user interface. The ultrasound probe includes a housing, a transducer array housed by the housing, and cable with connector. The probe and console communicate through the connectors. 
         [0003]    The transducer array includes transducing elements that transmit an ultrasound signal in response to being excited and that sense echoes produced in response to the signal interacting with structure. In B-mode, the echoes are processed, producing a sequence of focused, coherent echo samples along focused scanlines of a scanplane. The scanlines are scan converted into a format of a display monitor and visually presented as image via the display monitor. 
         [0004]    The probe housing has included a small fin near one side of the transducer array that protrudes out from the housing. The fin indicates a left/right orientation of the transducer array. By convention, the fin should point toward the patient&#39;s right side in transverse views and head in longitudinal views. The displayed image has been overlaid with an on-screen marking that corresponds to the fin. The side of the image corresponding with the fin end of the transducer is shown onscreen with a colored orientation marker. In this manner, the sonographer will be visually apprised of the image plane and orientation of the displayed image. 
         [0005]    To add an orientation fin to a probe that does not already have an orientation fin, the mold tooling would need to be changed to include the orientation fin, which would add cost. For probes with two part handles, the orientation fin should be at the dividing line, which requires extra care. For probes that already have an orientation fin, the fin may make it more difficult to clean the probe as it may require extra time and/or additional cleaning attention around and at the fin. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Aspects of the application address the above matters, and others. 
         [0007]    In one aspect, an imaging system comprises an ultrasounds probe including a housing with a probe orientation marker disposed on the housing. The imaging system further comprises a display. The imaging system further comprises a console, electrically interfaced with the probe and the display, which includes a controller. The controller is configured to visually present an ultrasound image, in electronic format and via the display, with an image orientation marker visually displayed superimposed over the image and selectively located with respect to the displayed image based on the location of the probe orientation marker on the housing. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a method includes receiving a signal indicating an orientation of an ultrasound probe. The method further includes identifying, with a processor, the orientation of the ultrasound probe from the signal. The method further includes visually displaying, via a display, an ultrasound image generated with data detected by an array of transducer elements of the ultrasound probe. The method further includes overlaying, with the processor, a graphic over the displayed image, wherein the graphic mimics a graphic on the probe and indicates an image plane and orientation of the displayed image with respect to an image plane and orientation of the ultrasound probe. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, an ultrasound probe including a transducer array with a plurality of transducer elements, a housing that supports the transducer array, wherein the housing includes an outer surface and a probe orientation marker embedded in the outer surface. The probe orientation marker identifies an imaging plane and a spatial orientation of the transducer array within the ultrasounds probe. 
         [0010]    Those skilled in the art will recognize still other aspects of the present application upon reading and understanding the attached description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The application is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an example ultrasound imaging system; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first side of an example probe; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second side of the example probe of  FIG. 2  with a probe orientation marker; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates the second side of the example probe of  FIG. 3  in connection with sub-windows displaying an image and an image orientation marker for different combinations of displayed image plane and orientation; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a variation of  FIG. 4  in which the probe orientation marker and the mage orientation marker include a graphic of a company logo; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a first side of another example probe; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a second side of the other example probe of  FIG. 6  with the probe orientation marker disposed thereon; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates a first side of another example probe; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates a second side of the other example probe of  FIG. 8  with the probe orientation marker disposed thereon; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates a first side of another example probe; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  illustrates a second side of the other example probe of  FIG. 10  with the probe orientation marker disposed thereon; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  illustrates an example of the ultrasound imaging system; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  illustrates an example method in accordance with the description herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example imaging system  100 , such as an ultrasound imaging system. 
         [0026]    The imaging system  100  includes a probe  102  and a console  104 , which are configured to interface over a communications path  106 . In one instance, the communications path  106  is through an electrical-mechanical connection of complementary connectors of the probe  102  and the console  104 . In another instance, the communications path  106  is through respective wireless interfaces. 
         [0027]    The probe  102  includes a housing  108 , a transducer array  110  of transducer elements  112 , and an acoustic window  114 . The transducer array  110  can include one or more rows of the transducer elements  112 , which are configured to transmit ultrasound signals and receive echo signals. Suitable arrays  110  include linear, curved, and/or otherwise shaped. The transducer array  110  can be fully populated or sparse. 
         [0028]    The housing  108  houses or encloses the transducer array  110 , which is mechanically supported by and/or within the housing  108 . The acoustic window  114  is disposed in and/or about a material free region on a side of the housing  108  next to a transducing side of the transducer elements  112  and serves as an interface between the transducer array  110  and the surrounding environment. 
         [0029]    The illustrated housing  108  has a probe orientation marker  116 . As described in greater detail below, the probe orientation marker  116  is disposed at a predetermined location on the housing  108  and visually indicates information such as the image plane and/or an orientation of the probe  102 . For example, in one instance, the probe orientation marker  116 , with respect to the probe  102 , indicates whether the probe  102  is facing up or down, left or right, etc. 
         [0030]    The console  104  includes transmit circuitry  118  configured to generate a set of radio frequency (RF) pulses that are conveyed to the transducer array  110  and selectively excite a set of the transducer elements  112 , causing the elements to transmit ultrasound signals. The console  104  further includes receive circuitry  120  that senses or receives echoes (RF signals) generated in response to the transmitted ultrasound signals interacting with structure (e.g., organ cells, blood cells, etc.). 
         [0031]    The console  104  further includes a switch  122 . The switch  122  switches between the transmit circuitry  118  and the receive circuitry  120 , depending on whether the transducer array  110  is being operated in transmit mode or receive mode. In transmit mode, the switch  122  electrically connects the transmit circuitry  118  to the transducer elements  112 . In receive mode, the switch  122  electrically connects the receive circuitry  120  to the transducer elements  112 . 
         [0032]    The console  104  further includes an echo processor  124  that processes received echoes. Such processing may include applying time delays, weighting on the channels, summing, and/or otherwise beamforming received echoes. In B-mode, the echo processor  124  produces a sequence of focused, coherent echo samples along focused scanlines of a scanplane. Other processing may lower speckle, improve specular reflector delineation, and/or includes FIR filtering, IIR filtering, etc. 
         [0033]    The console  104  further includes a scan converter  126 . The scan converter  126  scan converts the output of the echo processor  124  creating images for display. The console  104  further includes a controller  128 . The controller  128  controls one or more of the transmit circuitry  118 , the receive circuitry  118 , the switch  122 , the echo processor  124  and/or the scan converter  126 . Such control can be based on available modes of operation. Examples of such modes of operation include one or more of B-mode, Doppler mode, etc. 
         [0034]    In the illustrated embodiment, the console  104  also interfaces a user interface (UI)  130  and a display  132 . In another embodiment, at least one of the user interface  130  or the display  132  are integrated in and part of the console  104 . The UI  130  may include one or more input devices (e.g., buttons, knobs, trackball, etc.) and/or one or more output devices (e.g., visual, audio, etc. indicators). The UI  130  can be used to select an imaging mode, etc. 
         [0035]    The display  132  includes an image window  134  configured to display an image, such as an ultrasound image  136 , and an image orientation marker  138 , which indicates an orientation of the displayed image. As described in greater detail below, in one non-limiting instance, the image orientation marker  138  includes a graphic, which mirrors the probe orientation marker  116  in that the graphic visually resembles or looks the same as the probe orientation marker  116 . The image orientation marker  138  is overlaid over the image based on a predetermined location so at to indicate an orientation of the displayed image with respect to the current actual physical orientation of the probe  102  with respect to the subject or object being scanned. 
         [0036]    It is to be appreciated that the console  104  includes one or more processor (e.g., a central processing unit, a microprocessor, etc., and memory or computer readable medium which excludes transitory and includes physical memory) encoded with computer executable instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform one or more of the functions described herein. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 2 and 3  depict an example of the probe  102 .  FIG. 2  shows a top side  202  of the probe  102 , and  FIG. 3  shows a bottom side  302  of the probe  102 . The top side  202  of the probe  102  and the bottom side  302  of the probe  102  are opposing sides of the probe  102 . 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the probe  102  has a long axis  204  and a short axis  206 , which is transverse to the long axis  204 . The transducer elements  112 , which are not visible in  FIGS. 2 and 3  since they are located within the housing  108  and behind the acoustic window  114 , extend sequentially along the short axis  206  in the azimuth direction. 
         [0039]    The illustrated top side  202  ( FIG. 2 ) includes at least one user control  208 , which is integrated in the top side  202 . For example, the user control  208  can be a physical button extending from inside of the housing  108 , through an opening in the housing  108 , and protruding out from the housing  108 . In another instance, the user control  208  can be part of a touch sensitive surface of the housing  108 . The illustrated housing  108  further includes a puncture guide  210 . 
         [0040]    The illustrated housing  108  further includes a graphic  212  ( FIG. 2  only). In the illustrated example, the graphic  212  includes a logo. The probe  102  also includes a cable  214  which routes electrical channels between the individual transducer elements  112  and the connector of the cable. The cable  214  extends from a back  216  of the probe  102 , which is opposite a probe head  218 , which includes the acoustic window  114  and the transducer elements  112 . 
         [0041]    The bottom side  302  ( FIG. 3 ) includes the probe orientation marker  116 . The probe orientation marker  116  is disposed in an orientation in which it is non-inverted when the probe is in scanning mode, e.g., meaning the array  110  pointing down at the object and the cable  214  pointing up away from the object. The probe orientation marker  116  is disposed proximate to the probe head  218  and outer peripheral transducer elements of the transducer array  110 , symmetrically disposed with respect to puncture guide  210  about the long axis  204 , and aligned with respect to puncture guide  210  about the long axis  204 . 
         [0042]    The illustrated probe orientation marker  116  occupies a square footprint. A size of the illustrated probe orientation marker  116  is a size on an order of 2.5 to 7.5±0.05 millimeters (mm), such as 4.8±0.05 mm, 4 9±0.05 mm, 5 0±0.05 mm, 5.1±0.05 mm, or 5.2±0.05 mm, or other size in the range of 2.5 to 7.5±0.05 mm. In another embodiment, the probe orientation marker  116  can be smaller or larger and/or occupy a rectangular, circular, oval, irregular, etc. footprint. 
         [0043]    In one instance, the probe orientation marker  116  is an engravement in the housing  108 . For example, the probe orientation marker  116  can be laser and/or otherwise engraved in the housing  108 . Generally, an engravement is easier to clean relative to a protrusion type (e.g., a fin) physical marker. In another instance, the probe orientation marker  116  can be tattooed, painted on, and/or otherwise placed on the housing  108 . The probe orientation marker  116  may or may not include color. 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  depicts the probe  102  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  in connection with the image window  134  of the display  132 . In this example, a plurality of sub-windows  402 ,  404 ,  406  and  408  are displayed in the image window  134 , each with a different image plane and orientation. 
         [0045]    The sub-window  402  shows an image plane and orientation corresponding to the orientation of the illustrated probe  102 . That is, the probe head  218  faces down and the probe orientation marker is on the left side of the probe. As such, the image plane is shown facing down and the image orientation marker  138  is on the upper left side of the displayed image. 
         [0046]    In the sub-window  404 , the orientation has been rotated 180 degrees (e.g., from left to right), and the image orientation marker  138  is on the upper right side of the displayed image (e.g., moved from left to right). The image plane remains facing down. Alternatively, this represents the orientation of the probe  102  after rotating the probe  102  180 degrees while keeping the probe head  218  facing down. 
         [0047]    In the sub-window  406 , the image plane has been rotated 180 degrees (e.g., from down to up), and the image orientation marker  138  is on the lower right side of the displayed image. The image plane faces up. Alternatively, this represents the orientation of the probe  102  after rotating the probe  102  180 degrees to face up while keeping the orientation the same. 
         [0048]    In the sub-window  408 , both the image plane and the orientation have been rotated 180 degrees. In this example, the image orientation marker  138  is on the lower right side of the displayed image and the image plane faces up. Alternatively, this represents the orientation of the probe  102  after rotating the probe  102  180 degrees to face up and rotating the probe head  218 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 5  depicts the example described in connection with  FIG. 4  in which both the probe orientation marker  116  and the image orientation marker  138  are the same graphic. In this example, the graphic is a log such as a company logo. In another embodiment, at least one of the probe orientation marker  116  or the image orientation marker  138  is a different graphic. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11  depict example of other probes  102  with the probe orientation markers  116 .  FIGS. 6 and 7  depict top and bottom views of the same probe.  FIGS. 8 and 9  depict top and bottom views of the same probe.  FIGS. 10 and 11  depict top and bottom views of the same probe. In a variation, the probe orientation marker  116  can additionally or alternatively be disposed on the top side  202 . In another variation, different colors can be used to indicate the image plane and orientation instead of mirroring and/or inverting the probe orientation marker  116 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 12  illustrates a non-limiting example of the ultrasound imaging system  100 . In this example, the console  104  is affixed to a mobile cart  1204 , which include movers  1206  such as wheels, casters, etc., the user interface  130  is part of console  104 , and the display  132  is affixed to the mobile cart  1204 . In another configuration, the ultrasound imaging system  100  does not include movers, but instead is configured to rest on a table, desk, etc. 
         [0052]      FIG. 12  illustrates a method. 
         [0053]    It is to be appreciated that the order of the following acts is provided for explanatory purposes and is not limiting. As such, one or more of the following acts may occur in a different order. Furthermore, one or more of the following acts may be omitted and/or one or more additional acts may be added. 
         [0054]    At  1202 , the probe  102  is connected to the console  104 . 
         [0055]    At  1204 , the probe head  218  of the probe is placed in acoustic communication with a subject or object to be scanned. 
         [0056]    At  1206 , the subject or object is scanned. 
         [0057]    At  1208 , an image generated in response to the scan is displayed with the image orientation marker  138  superimposed thereover to mirror the image plane and orientation of the actual probe  102 . 
         [0058]    At  1210 , the location of the displayed image orientation marker  138  is changed in response to switching the display direction and/or orientation. In a variation, the act is omitted. 
         [0059]    At  1212 , the location of the image orientation marker  138  is changed in response to changing the physical direction and/or orientation of the probe. In a variation, the act is omitted. 
         [0060]    At least a portion of the method discussed herein may be implemented by way of computer readable instructions, encoded or embedded on computer readable storage medium (which excludes transitory medium), which, when executed by a computer processor(s), causes the processor(s) to carry out the described acts. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the computer readable instructions is carried by a signal, carrier wave or other transitory medium. 
         [0061]    The application has been described with reference to various embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations, including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.