Patent attributes
A medical ultrasound system that includes an ultrasound probe and one of number of optional accessories attached to the ultrasound probe. The accessory exchanges data with the probe and receives power from the probe. The accessory includes processors and logic that governs it operation thereby adding functionality to the probe. The accessory receives input and provides output via any of a number of communication mechanisms, i.e., wireless, electrical, optical, RFID, IR, and the like. The accessory adds functionality to the probe, such as fiber optic shape sensing, obtaining electrical signals, obtaining bio-impedance measurements, tracking a needle, and determining the orientation of the probe. The accessory may include a needle guide, a triphalangeal support structure, or an acoustically transparent cap.
