Integrated circuit for an ultrasound system

• US 20060058667A1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Collin A. Rich, David F. Lemmerhirt, Jeffrey M. Schox, Steven M. Martin
• Original Assignee: Collin A. Rich, David F. Lemmerhirt, Jeffrey M. Schox, Steven M. Martin
• Inventors: Lemmerhirt, David F., Rich, Collin A., Martin, Steven M., Schox, Jeffrey M.
• Application Number:
  US11/229,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058667A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/446
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data

Abstract

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a single integrated circuit for a handheld probe of an ultrasound system. The integrated circuit includes a two-dimensional array of at least 512 transducer cells, each transducer cell is adapted to receive a beam signal, generate an ultrasonic beam, detect an ultrasonic echo at multiple locations, and combine the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal. Each transducer cell includes at least one ultrasonic beam generator and at least four ultrasonic echo detectors. The integrated circuit also includes a series of beam signal leads adapted to carry the beam signals to the transducer cells and a series of echo signal leads adapted to carry the multiplexed echo signals from the transducer cells.

Claims

1. A single integrated circuit for a handheld probe of an ultrasound system, comprising:

a two-dimensional array of at least 512 transducer cells, each transducer cell adapted to receive a beam signal, generate an ultrasonic beam, detect an ultrasonic echo at multiple locations, and combine the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal, wherein each transducer cell includes at least one ultrasonic beam generator and at least four ultrasonic echo detectors;

a series of beam signal leads adapted to carry the beam signals to the transducer cells; and

a series of echo signal leads adapted to carry the multiplexed echo signals from the transducer cells.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional array includes at least 1024 transducer cells, and wherein each transducer cell includes at least fifteen ultrasonic echo detectors.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic beam generator is a separate element from the at least four ultrasonic echo detectors.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic beam generator and the at least four ultrasonic echo detectors are each an ultrasonic transducer capable of both generating an ultrasonic beam and detecting an ultrasonic echo.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic beam generator is capable of generating an ultrasonic beam with a higher output than one of the ultrasonic echo detectors.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 5, wherein one of the ultrasonic echo detectors is capable of detecting an ultrasonic echo with greater sensitivity than the ultrasonic beam generator.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic beam generator and the at least four ultrasonic echo detectors differ by at least one characteristic from a group consisting of diaphragm diameter, thickness, tensile stress, gap spacing, control electronics, and electrode configuration.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound beam generators are arranged in a substantially regular hexagonal tessellation.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 7, wherein each ultrasound beam generator is arranged in the center of the transducer cell.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein each transducer cell includes a multiplexer adapted to combine at least a portion of the ultrasonic echoes into a single multiplexed echo signal.

11. A handheld probe for an ultrasound system, comprising:

a probe receiver adapted to wirelessly receive beam signals;

the first integrated circuit of claim 1;

a second integrated circuit including a multiplexer connected to the series of echo signal leads and adapted to combine the multiplexed echo signals; and

a probe transmitter connected to the multiplexer and adapted to wirelessly transmit a multiplexed echo signal.

12. The handheld probe of claim 11 further comprising a display.

13. The handheld probe of claim 11, wherein the two-dimensional array includes at least 1024 transducer cells, and wherein each transducer cell includes at least fifteen ultrasonic echo detectors.

14. An ultrasound system, comprising:

a central console including a controller adapted to create beam signals;

a console transmitter connected to the controller and adapted to wirelessly transmit the beam signals; and

the handheld probe of claim 11;

wherein the central console further includes a console receiver adapted to wirelessly receive a multiplexed echo signal; and

an image processor adapted to construct an image from the echo signals.

15. The ultrasound system of claim 14 further comprising a display.

16. The ultrasound system of claim 14, wherein the two-dimensional array includes at least 1024 transducer cells, and wherein each transducer cell includes at least fifteen ultrasonic echo detectors.