Multidimensional transducer systems and methods for intra patient probes
First Claim
1. A transducer for use in an intra-patient probe, the transducer comprising:
- an intra-patient probe housing;
a multi-dimensional array of elements connected with the housing;
first electrodes, each first electrode extending over at least two elements along a first axis; and
second electrodes, each second electrode extending over at least two elements along a second axis, the first axis different than the second axis.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Endocavity and invasive catheter transducers for four-dimensional or other imaging are provided. A two-dimensional or other multi-dimensional array of elements is connected with a minimum number of conductors to an imaging system. One or more conductors are used to select an aperture, such as selecting one or more rows of elements for activation. Along a different axis, such as an orthogonal axis, elements are used to image a planar region. By electronically switching the selected aperture, different planes are rapidly imaged. A matrix configuration of electrodes, such as using column electrodes for phased array imaging and row electrodes for selecting an elevation aperture allows for rapid acquisition of ultrasound data.
46 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A transducer for use in an intra-patient probe, the transducer comprising:
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an intra-patient probe housing;
a multi-dimensional array of elements connected with the housing;
first electrodes, each first electrode extending over at least two elements along a first axis; and
second electrodes, each second electrode extending over at least two elements along a second axis, the first axis different than the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A transducer for use in an intra-patient probe, the transducer comprising:
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an intra-patient probe housing;
a multi-dimensional N×
M array of elements connected with the housing where N and M are one of equal and different and greater than one;
a first voltage source;
first switches operable to connect the first voltage source to one or more selected first electrodes; and
one of a transmitter, a receiver and combinations thereof connectable with the second electrodes, the second electrodes forming a phased array with an elevation extent corresponding to the selected first electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for imaging with a multidimensional array of an intra-patient probe, the method comprising:
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(a) activating a first group of elements of the multidimensional array of the intra-patient probe;
(b) acquiring first ultrasound data with the first group of elements during (a);
(c) activating a second group of elements different than the first group, at least one element being active during (c) and inactive and/or minimized during (a);
(d) acquiring second ultrasound data with the second group of elements during (c); and
(e) generating an image as a function of the first and second ultrasound data. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A transducer for use in an ultrasound system for medical imaging or therapy, the transducer comprising:
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a catheter;
a two-dimensional ultrasonic acoustic array mounted on the catheter; and
switches operable to apply a voltage to selectively activate array elements, wherein at least one array element is free of activation while at least one other element is activated. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification