CPC G01S 7/52085 (2013.01) [A61B 34/20 (2016.02); G01S 7/52036 (2013.01); A61B 8/4263 (2013.01); A61B 2034/2063 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3784 (2016.02)] | 17 Claims |
1. A device for determining a location of an acoustic sensor within a subject, the device comprising:
an ultrasound transducer array arranged to transmit a plurality of transmit beams in the subject and to receive corresponding reflected echo signals, including reflected echo signals from the acoustic sensor; and
at least one controller for controlling the ultrasound transducer array to transmit the plurality of transmit beams according to an adaptive beam pattern, and for analyzing the reflected echo signals,
wherein the at least one controller is adapted to implement a location process which comprises:
performing frequency analyses of the received reflected echo signals responsive to the plurality of transmit beams to identify the reflected echo signals from the acoustic sensor;
identifying a location area of the acoustic sensor using the identified reflected echo signal from the acoustic sensor responsive to a first non-focused transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams; and
deriving a progressively more accurate final location of the acoustic sensor within the location area; using at least one additional identified reflected echo signal from the acoustic sensor, responsive to at least one subsequent focused transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams adjusted according to the adaptive beam pattern.
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