Method and apparatus for generating a multi-level ultrasound pulse

• US 20040254459A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kristoffersen, Kjell, Torp, Hans Garmann
• Granted Patent: US 7,022,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0215 for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5202 for pulse systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating ultrasound pulses comprises producing a multi-level pulse sequence including a series of pulses. The series of pulses includes at least three pulses having three different amplitudes, respectively. The amplitudes are at least one of a positive non-zero voltage, a negative non-zero voltage, and an intermediate level voltage. The multi-level pulse sequence may be produced by a switch network having at least three different input voltage levels. The switch network outputs the multi-level pulse sequence at an output node to a transducer within a probe. Echo signals based on the series of pulses are received, and an ultrasound image is produced based on the received echo signals.

Claims

1. A method for generating ultrasound pulses, the method comprising:

producing a multi-level pulse sequence including a series of pulses; and

controlling an amplitude of each pulse to be one of at least a positive non-zero voltage, a negative non-zero voltage, and an intermediate level voltage, said intermediate level voltage being measured with respect to said positive and negative non-zero voltages.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling said series of pulses to include at least three pulses, each of which has a different amplitude.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising modulating said series of pulses to include at least two different pulse widths.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising modulating said series of pulses to include a narrow first pulse having a first amplitude, a wider second pulse having a second amplitude and a narrow third pulse having a third amplitude.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising modulating said series of pulses to approximate one of a Gaussian waveform and a chirp waveform.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising modulating said series of pulses within increments of 6.2 ns.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling step switches the amplitude between an odd number of different discrete amplitude levels.

8. A method for generating a diagnostic ultrasound image, the method comprising:

producing a multi-level pulse sequence including a series of pulses, said series of pulses including at least a positive pulse, a negative pulse, and an intermediate level, said intermediate level being different from said positive and negative pulses, said intermediate level having a voltage level between said positive and negative pulses;

receiving echo signals based on said series of pulses; and

producing an ultrasound image based on said received echo signals.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising modulating said series of pulses to include at least two different pulse widths.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising modulating said series of pulses to include multiple pulse widths, said multiple pulse widths being produced with progressive pulse width modulation to approximate a desired waveform.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising modulating said series of pulses to approximate one of a Gaussian waveform and a chirp waveform.

12. The method of claim 8, said series of pulses beginning with said negative pulse.

13. The method of claim 8, said producing step further comprising producing said positive and negative pulses and said intermediate levels in an order to approximate a desired waveform.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising switching said amplitude between an odd number of different discrete amplitude levels.

15. An ultrasound pulser, comprising:

input nodes configured to receive first, second and third voltage levels;

an output node configured to be connected to an ultrasound transducer; and

a switch network interconnecting said input and output nodes, said switch network producing at said output node a multi-level pulse sequence including a series of pulses, said series of pulses including at least three pulses having three different amplitudes, respectively, said amplitudes being positive, negative, and intermediate levels, said intermediate level being different from and between said positive and negative levels.

16. The ultrasound pulser of claim 15, further comprising a controller controlling said switch network.

17. The ultrasound pulser of claim 15, further comprising at least three switches connected to said output node and to respective input nodes associated with said first, second and third voltage levels.

18. The ultrasound pulser of claim 15, further comprising at least three switches connected to said output node and to respective input nodes, each of said at least three switches closing at different times to drive said output node to a corresponding one of said three different amplitudes.

19. The ultrasound pulser of claim 15, further comprising a tri-state switch network interconnecting said input and output nodes.

20. The ultrasound pulser of claim 15, wherein said switch network modulates said series of pulses to include at least two different pulse widths.

21. The ultrasound pulser of claim 15, wherein said switch network modulates said series of pulses to include a narrow first pulse having a first amplitude, a wider second pulse having a second amplitude and an intermediate level having a third amplitude.

22. The ultrasound pulser of claim 15, wherein said switch network modulates said series of pulses to approximate one of a Gaussian waveform and a chirp waveform.

23. The ultrasound pulser of claim 15, wherein said intermediate level being a non-zero voltage.

24. The ultrasound pulser of claim 15, wherein said intermediate level being a zero voltage.

25. An ultrasound system, comprising:

a transducer comprising an array of elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals to and from an area of interest;

a transmitter for driving said transducer with a multi-level pulse sequence including a series of pulses, said series of pulses comprising at least three different amplitudes, said three different amplitudes comprising at least a positive pulse, a negative pulse, and an intermediate level, said intermediate level being different from and between said positive and negative pulses;

a processor for processing echo signals received by said transducer; and

an output for outputting ultrasound information based on processed echo signals.

26. The ultrasound system of claim 25, wherein said transmitter further comprising at least three switches connected to first, second and third voltages that separately drive said transducer to said three different amplitudes.

27. The ultrasound system of claim 25, wherein said transmitter modulates said series of pulses to include at least two different pulse widths.

28. The ultrasound pulser of claim 25, wherein said transmitter modulates said series of pulses to include a narrow first pulse having a first amplitude, a wider second pulse having a second amplitude and a narrow third pulse having a third amplitude, said transmitter controlling first, second and third pulse width in increments of one of 6.2 ns and greater than 6.2 ns.

29. The ultrasound system of claim 25, wherein said transmitter drives each element within said array of elements with a different said series of pulses.