System and method employing two dimensional ultrasound array for wide field of view imaging

• US 6,238,346 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Mason, Martin K
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/344,100
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/447, 600/459, 73/625, 73/626, 367/103, 367/105, 367/118, 367/138
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4494 characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements devices for short-range imaging using particular transducer elements arrangements under G01S15/8909; arrangements of transducers in generation of mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency B06B1/0607
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8925 the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8927 using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/341 Circuits therefor

Abstract

An ultrasound transducer system is provided which produces a wide area scan of a body being imaged. The ultrasound transducer includes an array of N×M transducer elements, with the transducer elements preferably arranged in columns and rows. The transducer array comprises M columns of N elements each, with M and N being integers. The ultrasound transducer system further includes a transmitter for generating transmission signals and a receiver for receiving and processing ultrasound backscatter signals. A first switching arrangement sequentially connects the transmitter to subarrays of N×X transducers each so as to sequentially energize the subarrays to generate ultrasound interrogating beams across the face of the array. A second switching arrangement is provided which sequentially couples the receiver to each energized subarray to enable the reception and processing of acoustic signals from each subarray, in sequence. Because each individual subarray is steered only in the elevational direction, only the N transducers need to be spaced ≦0.5λ. Transducers spaced along the long axis of the array may be spaced up to 2λ apart.

Claims

1. An ultrasound transducer system for producing a wide area scan of a body, said system comprising:

a transducer body comprising an array of N×

M transducer elements, there being M columns of N transducer elements, wherein M and N are integers;

transmitter means for generating transmission signals;

receiver means for receiving and processing ultrasound backscatter signals;

switch means for connecting said transmitter means to a plurality of subarrays of N×

X transducer elements along said array, where X is an integer <

M, so as to energize each of the transducer elements in each subarray to cause ultrasound beams to be generated therefrom; and

control means for operating said switch means to sequentially connect said transmitter means and receiver means to each said subarray so as to enable reception by said receiver means of acoustic signals from an elongated sector volume.

2. The ultrasound transducer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means operates said switch means to sequentially couple said receiver means to each subarray N×

X of transducer elements to enable reception and processing of acoustic signals from each energized subarray, subsequent to energization thereof by said transmitter means.

3. The ultrasound transducer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said transducers in a subarray are arranged in plural elevational columns and longitudinal rows.

4. The ultrasound transducer system as recited in claim 3, wherein N ultrasound transducer elements of an elevational column are separated by a distance of ≦

0.75 λ

, wherein λ

is the wavelength of a principal frequency signal that emanates from said ultrasound transducer elements, and wherein N ultrasound transducer elements of an elevational column are separated from N ultrasound transducer elements of an adjacent elevational column by a distance of about ≦

2λ

.

5. The ultrasound transducer system as recited in claim 3, wherein said control means causes said transmitter means to alter phasing of energizing signals applied to ultrasound transducer elements positioned in columns so as to enable a steering of an ultrasound beam emanating therefrom.

6. The ultrasound transducer system as recited in claim 3, wherein said control means causes said transmitter means to selectively apply energizing signals to ultrasound elements of a subarray to alter a point of origin of an ultrasound beam that emanates from said subarray.

7. The ultrasound transducer system as recited in claim 3, wherein said control means causes said transmitter means to selectively apply energizing signals to a group of lateral columns of ultrasound elements simultaneously so as to activate a non-rectangular aperture.