Steered continuous wave doppler methods and systems for two-dimensional ultrasound transducer arrays

• US 20080027323A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Freiburger, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/453
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4411 Device being modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8925 the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8927 using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8984 Measuring the velocity vector
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead

Abstract

Methods and systems for acquiring spectral and velocity information with a multi-dimensional array are provided. For example, a dedicated receive aperture is formed at a multi-dimensional array for steered continuous wave imaging. Other elements not within the dedicated receive aperture are used for transmitting continuous waves or transmitting and receiving pulsed waveforms in other modes of imaging. As another example, switches or other structures are provided for selecting between a plurality of possible apertures for a steered continuous wave aperture. The selection is performed in response to a configuration of an ultrasound system, such as selection of a focal location or steer direction. The aperture is then used for either transmit or receive operations of steered continuous wave imaging. As yet another example, at least part of the steered continuous wave beamformer is provided within a transducer assembly. The transducer assembly includes a probe housing and a connector housing electrically connected by a cable. In yet another example, at least one angle of a three-dimensional indication of flow direction is input from a user. Velocity values in either steered continuous wave imaging or pulsed wave imaging are corrected as a function of a three-dimensional indication of flow direction.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring spectral information with a multi-dimensional array, the method comprising:

(a) transmitting continuous waves from the multi-dimensional array;

(b) receiving signals responsive to (a) at a dedicated steered continuous wave receive aperture of the multi-dimensional array;

(c) transmitting pulsed waves with elements of the multi-dimensional array separate from the elements of the dedicated steered continuous wave receive aperture; and

(d) receiving signals responsive to (c) with elements of the multi-dimensional array separate from the elements of the dedicated steered continuous wave receive aperture.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the dedicated steered continuous wave receive aperture is symmetric about a center of the multi-dimensional transducer array.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-dimensional transducer array comprises an array on one of a rectangular, triangular, hexagonal and square grid, the dedicated steered continuous wave receive aperture comprises elements in the outer corners of the multi-dimensional transducer array.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) shielding at least one of;

pre-amplifiers, cables, receive beamformer circuits and combinations thereof within a transducer probe assembly of the dedicated steered continuous wave receive aperture from other devices.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) transmitting the signals received during (b) to a dedicated continuous wave beamformer over a path separate from signals received during (d).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein elements of the dedicated steered continuous wave receive aperture have a larger pitch than the elements of the multi-dimensional array separate from the elements of the dedicated steered continuous wave receive aperture.

7-24. -24. (canceled)