Method and apparatus for three dimensional ultrasound imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for ultrasound imaging comprising:
- (a) a swing shaft having a longitudinal axis;
(b) at least one ultrasound transducer element;
(c) means for connecting said at least one transducer element to the swing shaft such that said transducer element is positioned at a predetermined distance from the swing shaft;
(d) drive means for rotating said swing shaft about its longitudinal axis;
(e) means for operating said transducer element comprising a flexible printed circuit board, at least one connector element connected to said printed circuit board, and a cable assembly connected to said connector element; and
(f) means for displaying echos received by operating the transducer element.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging that utilizes a one, one and one-half or two dimensional scanhead for performing three dimensional imaging. The method and apparatus limits acoustic reverberations by swinging or rotating an array of ultrasound transducer elements about the longitudinal axis of the probe of an ultrasound transducer apparatus to enable the transducers to maintain a constant and concentric position with the acoustic membrane of the probe.
238 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for ultrasound imaging comprising:
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(a) a swing shaft having a longitudinal axis; (b) at least one ultrasound transducer element; (c) means for connecting said at least one transducer element to the swing shaft such that said transducer element is positioned at a predetermined distance from the swing shaft; (d) drive means for rotating said swing shaft about its longitudinal axis; (e) means for operating said transducer element comprising a flexible printed circuit board, at least one connector element connected to said printed circuit board, and a cable assembly connected to said connector element; and (f) means for displaying echos received by operating the transducer element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for performing ultrasound imaging comprising:
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positioning an ultrasound transducer at a predetermined distance from the longitudinal axis of a probe of an ultrasound imaging apparatus; operating and swinging the ultrasound transducer about the longitudinal axis of the probe such that the ultrasound transducer is maintained in a concentric position with an acoustic membrane of the probe wherein the operating and swinging of the ultrasound transducer is controlled by a flexible circuit board connected to the ultrasound transducer; and compiling sequential scanning data obtained from the ultrasound transducer to create a three-dimensional image. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for performing ultrasound imaging comprising:
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positioning an ultrasound transducer on a rotatable probe of an ultrasound imaging apparatus; operating and rotating the rotatable probe perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the probe such that the ultrasound transducer is maintained in a concentric position with an acoustic membrane of the probe wherein the operating and rotating of the ultrasound transducer is controlled by a flexible circuit board connected to the ultrasound transducer; and compiling sequential scanning data obtained from the ultrasound transducer to create a three-dimensional image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for ultrasound imaging comprising:
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(a) at least one of a swinging multiple element transducer array and a rotating multiple element transducer array; (b) means for electrically connecting said multiple element transducer array to a coaxial cable assembly by way of a flexible printed circuit board; (c) drive means for at least one of swinging said multiple element transducer array up to 90 degrees in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction and rotating said multiple element transducer array up to 180 degrees in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction; (d) means for transmitting and receiving a plurality of electrical signals from said multiple element transducer array through said means for electrically connecting said multiple element transducer array; and (e) means for processing and displaying said electrical signals into an ultrasound image. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification