Multiple Aperture Probe Internal Apparatus and Cable Assemblies

• US 20120095347A1
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
• Inventors: Adam, Sharon L., Smith, David M., Specht, Donald F., Brewer, Kenneth D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,788,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4477 using several separate ultrasound transducers or probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8915 using a transducer array
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8927 using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52047 for elimination of side lobes or of grating lobes; for increasing resolving power
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52079 Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00

Abstract

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate physical apertures of ultrasound arrays. The probe can include separate backing plates configured to secure the ultrasound arrays in predetermined positions and orientations relative to one another. Some embodiments of the probe include flex circuit connected to the ultrasound arrays. In additional embodiments, a flex/PC board comprising flex connectors and an array of terminals is connected to the ultrasound arrays. Algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the probe apparatus to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.

Claims

1. A multiple aperture ultrasound probe, comprising:

a probe housing containing a first ultrasound array and a second ultrasound array;

a first flex circuit connected to the first ultrasound array;

a second flex circuit connected to the second ultrasound array;

a backing plate configured to secure the first and second ultrasound arrays in predetermined positions and orientations relative to one another;

a first coaxial cable group electrically connected to the first flex circuit;

a second coaxial cable group electrically connected to the second flex circuit; and

a flex/PC board comprising flex connectors and an array of terminals, wherein said flex connectors are connected to said first and second flex circuits, and wherein said terminals are connected to said first and second coaxial cable groups.

2. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein the first and second ultrasound arrays comprise a plurality of transducer elements, wherein each element is connected to the flex/PC board with a differential pair of conductors having a signal ground separated from a chassis ground.

3. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein the backing plate is electrically connected to chassis grounding circuitry via the transducer cable shield originating at an electronic control system.

4. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 3 wherein the backing plate internally supports the probe structure.

5. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 1 further comprising a calibration chip mounted on the flex/PC board.

6. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 5 wherein the calibration chip is configured to store position and orientation information about the first and second ultrasound arrays.

7. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 1 further comprising a probe position sensor mounted on the flex/PC board.

8. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 1 further comprising a synchronization module mounted on the flex/pc board, the synchronization module being configured to synchronize an add-on ultrasound device with the first and second ultrasound arrays.

9. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 1 further comprising a third ultrasound array secured to the backing plate, a third flex circuit connected to the third ultrasound array, a third coaxial cable group electrically connected to the third flex circuit, wherein flex connectors of the flex/PC board are connected to the third flex circuit and terminals of the flex/PC board are connected to the third cable group.

10. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein the flex/PC board comprises a probe chassis ground circuit that is electrically connected to a shielding element surrounding a section of the first and second cable group bundles between the probe housing and a distal connector.

11. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first array and the second array comprises an internal flex cabling configured to accommodate movement of the first ultrasound array away from the second ultrasound array.

12. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 11 further comprising a sliding portion configured to allow the first ultrasound array and the second ultrasound array to move laterally relative to the probe housing.

13. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first ultrasound array and the second ultrasound array is configured to rotate about an axis of the probe housing.

14. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 11, the probe housing further comprising a lever configured to move the first ultrasound array or the second ultrasound array relative to the probe housing.

15. The multiple aperture ultrasound probe of claim 11, the probe housing further comprising a dial and an electric motor configured to move the first ultrasound array or the second ultrasound array relative to the probe housing.