Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Saskia Maria Camps

Wilhelmus Josephus Box

Antonius Maria Rijken

Jacek Lukasz Kustra

Aaldert Jan Elevelt

Davide Fontanarosa

Jacobus Sigbertus Marie Geraats

Antonius Leonardus Johannes Van Noort

An ultrasound probe positioning system () comprises a positioning unit () for holding an ultrasound probe unit () and for moving the ultrasound probe unit and positioning it at a target position and a positioning control unit () configured to provide target positioning data indicative of a target position that establishes a mechanical contact of the ultrasound probe unit with an external object () and to control the mechanical positioning unit in moving and positioning the ultrasound probe at the target position. The positioning unit comprises a force actuation unit () configured to adapt a pressing force amount of a mechanical pressing force exerted on the object in response to a variation of a counterforce amount so as to maintain a predetermined net pressing force amount exerted by the mechanical pressing force against the counterforce.

Ultrasound probe positioning system and method of hands-free controlling the pressure applied by an ultrasound probe to an external object

The invention relates to a system () for image based guidance of treatment delivery to a patient. The system is adapted to determine spatial parameters defining a position and orientation of an ultrasound probe () on the basis of a reference image which has been used for preparing a treatment plan. This can provide a certain degree of automation in arranging the ultrasound probe, in order to decrease user dependence and improve the usability for relatively untrained operators. Moreover, since the reference image is also used for generating the treatment plan, i.e. since the same image is used for generating the treatment plan and for determining the position and orientation of the ultrasound probe, it is not necessarily required to acquire an additional image. This can allow for a reduced radiation dose applied to the parts of the patient not being the target to be treated.

Image guided treatment delivery

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Saskia Maria Camps