Method and apparatus for surface ultrasound imaging

• US 5,820,564 A
• Filed: 12/16/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Medison Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Albatross Technologies, Inc., Medison Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cho, Young-Hwan, Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US08/766,083
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 128/916, 128/663.01, 128/662.06, 128/662.03, 128/661.01, 128/660.09, 600/472, 600/463, 600/459, 600/447, 600/445
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0622 on one surface
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/30 using refraction, e.g. acoustic lenses

Abstract

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus is suitably configured such that certain ultrasound beams from a probe are diffused perpendicular to the scanning direction to thereby enable an ultrasonic image to be produced which approximates a surface image while certain other ultrasound beams are focused to thereby enable a two-dimensional ultrasonic image to be produced. A conventional ultrasonic imaging apparatus and process can be used.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe comprising:

a first set of piezoelectric elements for electro-acoustic conversion to produce a first ultrasonic beam;

a second set of piezoelectric elements for electro-acoustic conversion to produce a second ultrasonic beam;

wherein said first ultrasonic beam and said second ultrasonic beam are directed upon a region under examination; and

a lens configured for acoustic communication with said first and said second ultrasonic beams, wherein said lens is configured to focus said first beam at a predetermined focal depth in an elevation direction and wherein said lens is configured to diffuse said second beam in said elevation direction, said elevation direction being in a plane substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction.

2. The probe of claim 1 wherein said lens comprises a focusing portion and at least one diffusing portion, said diffusing portion configured to diffuse ultrasonic waves transmitted from said piezoelectric elements in a plane substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction.

3. An ultrasonic imaging or diagnostic apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic probe comprising a one and one-half-dimensional or two-dimensional array of piezoelectric elements;

a compound lens configured for acoustic communication with said piezoelectric elements;

excitation means for exciting said piezoelectric elements to transmit ultrasonic waves;

receiving means for receiving reflected waves from reflectors within a subject under examination through said piezoelectric elements;

processing means for processing said reflected waves to produce a two-dimensional image and to produce a three-dimensional image; and

displaying means for displaying said images.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said probe comprises a one and one-half dimensional array of pizeoelectric elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said probe comprises a two-dimensional array of pizeoelectric elements.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said compound lens comprises a focusing portion and at least one diffusing portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said lens focusing portion exhibits a first focal length and said at least one lens diffusing portion exhibits a second focal length, said first focal length being different from said second focal length.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said lens focusing portion includes a substantially convex portion and said lens diffusing portion includes at least one portion which is substantially flat.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said lens focusing portion includes a substantially convex portion and said lens diffusing portion includes at least one substantially concave portion.