Frequency controlled hybrid ultrasonic imaging arrays
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, which comprises:
- an array of transducer elements for transmitting ultrasonic signals having a first predetermined center frequency into an object to be examined through use of the transmitted signals reflected from within the object, means connected to transmit the ultrasonic signals from said array in a stepped array mode, means connected to transmit the ultrasonic signals from said array in an angle scanning mode, means for transmitting the signals to a desired depth within the object, the detected echoes from a particular depth sensed by the apparatus having a corresponding second center frequency less than the first center frequency as a result of signal attenuation by the object, and means connected to select automatically between said stepped array transmitting means and said angle scanning transmitting means so that at least some of the transducer elements are selectively used to transmit in both the stepped array mode and the angle scanning mode for operating said array elements based on the detected second center frequency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This ultrasonic imaging apparatus has an array (44, 52 or 100) of transducer elements (44, 50 or 104) for transmitting ultrasonic signals having a first predetermined center frequency (fc1) into an object (12) to be analyzed through use of the transmitted signals reflected from within the object. A means (150, 116-1 through 116-X and 120-1 through 120-X) is connected to transmit the ultrasonic signals from the array (44, 52 or 104) in a stepped array mode. A means (150, 116-1 through 116-X and 120-1 through 120-X) is connected to transmit the ultrasonic signals from the array (44, 52 or 104) in an angle scanning mode. There is a means (150, 128-1 through 128-X) for focusing the transmitted signals at a desired depth within the object (12). The reflected signals sensed by the apparatus have a second center frequency (fc2) less than the first center frequency (fc1) as a result of signal attenuation by the object (12). There is a means connected to select between the stepped array transmission mode and the angle scanning transmission mode for operating the array elements based on the second center frequency (fc2). Varying the operating mode of the apparatus on this basis gives improved image resolution over a wider operating range than with prior art systems.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, which comprises:
- an array of transducer elements for transmitting ultrasonic signals having a first predetermined center frequency into an object to be examined through use of the transmitted signals reflected from within the object, means connected to transmit the ultrasonic signals from said array in a stepped array mode, means connected to transmit the ultrasonic signals from said array in an angle scanning mode, means for transmitting the signals to a desired depth within the object, the detected echoes from a particular depth sensed by the apparatus having a corresponding second center frequency less than the first center frequency as a result of signal attenuation by the object, and means connected to select automatically between said stepped array transmitting means and said angle scanning transmitting means so that at least some of the transducer elements are selectively used to transmit in both the stepped array mode and the angle scanning mode for operating said array elements based on the detected second center frequency.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- 9. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, which comprises an array of transducer elements for transmitting ultrasonic signals having a first predetermined frequency spectrum into an object to be examined through use of the transmitted signals reflected from within the object, means for selecting a group consisting of at least one transducer element in said array for transmission of the ultrasonic signals, means for applying signals to the selected transducers to define an examining beam with the ultrasonic signals, means connected to automatically select between a stepped array transmission mode and an angle scanning mode of transmitting the examining beam so that at least some of the transducer elements are selectively used to transmit in both the stepped array mode and the angle scanning mode, means for moving both a central axis of the beam and a direction of the beam, and means to step the beam rectilinearly in the array and to scan the beam angularly, selection between the stepped array transmission mode and the angle scanning mode being made automatically on the basis of a second frequency spectrum of the transmitted ultrasonic signals, which second frequency spectrum is different than the first frequency spectrum, and which second frequency spectrum is detected by the apparatus.
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17. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, which comprises:
- an array of transducer elements for receiving ultrasonic signals reflected from an object to be examined through use of the reflected ultrasonic signals, means connected to receive the reflected ultrasonic signals from the object in a stepped array mode, means connected to receive the reflected ultrasonic signals from the object in an angle scanning mode, means for transmitting ultrasonic signals having a first predetermined center frequency to a desired depth within the object, the detected reflected signals sensed by the apparatus having a second center frequency less than the first center frequency as a result of signal attenuation by the object, and means connected to select automatically between said stepped array signal receiving means and said angle scanning signal receiving means so that at least some of the transducer elements are selectively used to receive in both the stepped array mode and the angle scanning mode for operating said array elements based on the detected second center frequency.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- 25. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, which comprises an array of transducer elements for receiving reflected ultrasonic signals transmitted with a first predetermined frequency spectrum into an object to be examined through us of the transmitted signals reflected from within the object, means for selecting a group consisting of at least one transducer element in said array for receiving the reflected ultrasonic signals, means connected to select automatically between a stepped array receiving mode and an angle scanning receiving mode so that at least some of the transducer elements are selectively used to receive in both the stepped array mode and the angle scanning mode, means for moving both a central axis for the received signals and a direction for the received signals, and means to step the received signals angularly, selection between the stepped array receiving mode and the angle scanning receiving mode being made automatically on the basis of a second frequency spectrum of the received ultrasonic signals, which second frequency spectrum is different than the first frequency spectrum, and which second frequency spectrum is detected by the apparatus.
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33. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, which comprises:
- an array of transducer elements for transmitting ultrasonic signals having a first predetermined center frequency into an object to be examined through use of the transmitted signals reflected from within the object and for receiving the reflected signals, means connected to transmit and receive the ultrasonic signals from said array in a stepped array mode, means connected to transmit and receive the ultrasonic signals from said array in an angle scanning mode, means for transmitting the signals to a desired depth within the object, the detected echoes from a particular depth sensed by said transducer array having a corresponding second center frequency less than the first center frequency as a result of signal attenuation by the object, and means connected to select automatically between said stepped array transmitting and receiving means and said angle scanning transmitting and receiving means so that at least some of the transducer elements are selectively used to transmit and receive in both the stepped array mode and the angle scanning mode for operating said array elements based on the detected second center frequency.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
- 40. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, which comprises an array of transducer elements for transmitting ultrasonic signals having a first predetermined frequency spectrum into an object to be examined through use of the transmitted signals reflected from within the object, and for receiving the reflected signals, means for selecting a group consisting of at least one transducer element in said array for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic signals, means for applying signals to the selected transducers to define an examining beam with the ultrasonic signals, means connected to select automatically between a stepped array transmitting and receiving mode and an angle scanning transmitting and receiving mode for examining the examining beam so that at least some of the transducer elements are selectively used to transmit and receive in both the stepped array mode and the angle scanning mode, means for moving both a central axis of the beam and a direction of the beam, and means to step the beam rectilinearly in the array and to scan the beam angularly, selection between the stepped array transmitting and receiving mode and the angle scanning transmitting and receiving mode being made automatically on the basis of a second frequency spectrum of the received ultrasonic signals, which second frequency spectrum is different than the first frequency spectrum, and which second frequency spectrum is detected by the apparatus.
Specification