A low-cost B-mode USB ultrasound probe

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Ultrasound Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standard interface for peripheral connectivity.
• USB 2.0 offers high data transfer rates and power delivery capabilities.
• Traditional B-mode ultrasound probes require dedicated hardware and can be bulky.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel family of USB-based B-mode ultrasound probes.
• To leverage computer processing power for ultrasound image enhancement.
• To create a cost-effective and portable ultrasound imaging solution.

Main Methods:

• Designed USB-based B-mode probes integrating pulser/receiver, high voltage supply, ADC, servo, and USB interface.
• Utilized host computer processors for post-processing tasks like gain compensation, interpolation, and filtering.
• Implemented a hardware/software division for efficient data processing.
• Demonstrated the system with a 12.5 MHz ophthalmic probe.

Main Results:

• Developed USB probes with low power consumption (as little as 250 mA at 5 MHz imaging).
• Achieved flexibility and upgradeability through host processor-based software enhancements.
• Enabled raw data storage for postprocessing and analysis.
• Showcased optimal signal-to-noise performance and portability.

Conclusions:

• The USB-based B-mode probe architecture offers significant advantages in cost, portability, and performance.
• This approach facilitates flexible development and future system enhancements via software updates.
• The developed probes are suitable for various B-mode imaging applications, including ophthalmic imaging.