Calibration of phased array ultrasound probe
First Claim
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1. A transducer probe assembly comprising:
- a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in an array;
means for storing correction values corresponding to time delay . errors inherent in said transducers;
assembly means for carrying said transducers and said correction means; and
conductor means coupled to said transducers and said correction value storing means and carried by said assembly means for permitting said transducers and said correction value storing means to be electrically connected to an ultrasound system.
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Abstract
The dynamic range of ultrasound images is extended by providing compensation of errors inherent in the manufacturing process of medical ultrasound phased array probes. Time delay errors are predetermined and stored in a memory associated with each probe. A system then reads the values needed to perform error compensation directly from the particular probe being used.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A transducer probe assembly comprising:
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a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in an array; means for storing correction values corresponding to time delay . errors inherent in said transducers; assembly means for carrying said transducers and said correction means; and conductor means coupled to said transducers and said correction value storing means and carried by said assembly means for permitting said transducers and said correction value storing means to be electrically connected to an ultrasound system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An ultrasound system comprising:
- a plurality of transducers arranged in an array;
means for storing values for correcting time delay errors inherent in said transducers; computer means for controlling transmission and reception by said transducers; and connector means for connecting said transducers and said correction value storing means to said computer means and for passing electrical signals therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (6)
- a plurality of transducers arranged in an array;
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7. A method of operating an ultrasound phased array system, said system including an array of transducer elements and respective delay elements, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining a theoretical delay for a respective transducer element according to a desired scanning vector angle of an ultrasound beam relative to said array;
,obtaining a predetermined delay error correction value corresponding to said respective transducer element prior to system operation; storing said correction value in a memory; and changing said theoretical delay by a value equal to said correction value to obtain a corrected delay. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification