Volumetric ultrasound imaging with a thinned array

• US 6,524,253 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PhysioSonics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VueSonix Sensors, Inc. (PhysioSonics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abend, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jain, Ruby
• Application Number:
  US09/926,665
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/439, 600/443, 600/463, 600/455, 128/916, 736/02, 736/06, 736/25
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0629 Square array
• 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 7/52003 Techniques for enhancing spatial resolution of targets G01S7/52046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/916 Ultrasound 3-D imaging

Abstract

A thinned array of ultrasound transducers includes plural transmitters configured so that each transmitter insonates one segment of a volume at a time and an array of receivers electronically aimed at and dynamically focused upon subsegments of the insonated segment. The spacing between receivers is greater than one-half the transmitted wavelength. Echoes are received in a pattern that is aligned with the insonates segment so that receiver grating lobes nearest the echoes coincide with first transmitter nulls, minimizing the deleterious effects of grating lobes.

Claims

1. A thinned array for use with an ultrasound device for evaluating a volume of a subject'"'"'s body, the thinned array being electrically connected to said ultrasound device, said thinned array comprising:

(a) a plurality of transmitters configured so that one transmitter insonates one individual segment of said volume at a time; and

(b) an array of receivers that simultaneously receive echoes from said volume being evaluated, where said array of receivers is electronically aimed and dynamically focused upon sub-segments of said insonated segment of said volume, wherein said receivers in said array have a spacing that is greater than ½

the wavelength of ultrasonic energy produced by said transmitters, and said receivers are configured to receive echoes from said sub-segments of said individual insonated segments of said volume of the subject'"'"'s body in a pattern that is aligned with said insonated segment of the volume insonated by the transmitters, so that receiver grating lobes nearest the echoes coincide with first transmitter nulls, and the deleterious effects of grating lobes are minimized.

2. The thinned array of claim 1, wherein said transmitters and receivers are in a two dimensional configuration.

3. The thinned array of claim 2, wherein said transmitters and receivers are rectangular in shape, and are positioned flush against each other in said thinned array.

4. The thinned array of claim 2, wherein said transmitters are diamond in shape to reduce transmitter sidelobe patterns, which improves depression of receiver grating lobes.

5. The thinned array of claim 4, wherein said receivers are interleaved with said transmitters.

6. A thinned array for use with an ultrasound device for evaluating a volume of a subject'"'"'s body, the thinned array being electrically connected to said ultrasound device, the thinned array comprising:

(a) an array of transmitters having spacing that is greater than ½

wavelength of ultrasonic energy produced by said transmitters, wherein the array of transmitters are configured to insonate sub-segments of segments of the volume of the subject'"'"'s body being evaluated, so that transnitter grating lobes coincide with first receiver nulls so that deleterious effects of grating lobes are minimized, and the array electronically scans the segments of the volume of the subject'"'"'s body being evaluated, one sub-segment at a time; and

(b) a plurality of receivers that simultaneously receive echoes from the sub-segments of the segments of the volume of the subject being evaluated, wherein each receiver points to a particular grating lobe of a transmitter pattern, or to a particular segment of volume.

7. A method for insonating a volume of a subject with a thinned array for use with an ultrasound device, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a thinned array for evaluating a volume of a subject'"'"'s body, the thinned array comprising;

(i) a plurality of transmitters configured so that one transmitter insonates one individual segment of the volume at a time; and

(ii) an array of receivers that simultaneously receive echoes from the volume being evaluated, wherein the array of receivers is electronically aimed and dynamically focused upon sub-segments of the insonated segment of the volume, where the receivers in the array have a spacing is greater than ½

wavelength of ultrasonic energy produced by the transmitters, and the receivers are configured to receive echoes from the sub-segments of the individual insonated segments of the volume of the subject'"'"'s body in a pattern that is aligned with the insonated segment of the volume insonated by the transmitters, so that receiver grating lobes nearest the echoes coincide with first transmitter nulls, and deleterious effects of grating lobes are minimized; and

(b) electrically connecting the thinned array to the ultrasound device, so that the volume of the subject can be ultrasonically evaluated.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the transmitters and receivers are in a two dimensional configuration.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitters and receivers are rectangular in shape, and are positioned flush against each other in the thinned array.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitters are diamond in shape to reduce transmitter sidelobe patterns, which improves depression of receiver grating lobes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the receivers are interleaved with the transmitters.

12. A method for insonating a volume of a subject with a thinned array for use with an ultrasound device, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a thinned array for evaluating a volume of a subject'"'"'s body, the thinned array comprising;

(i) an array of transmitters is greater than ½

wavelength of ultrasonic energy produced by the transmitters, and the array of transmitters are configured to insonate sub-segments of segments of the volume of the subject'"'"'s body being evaluated, so that transmitter grating lobes coincide with first receiver nulls so that deleterious effects of grating lobes are minimized, and the array electronically scans the segments of the volume of the subject'"'"'s body being evaluated, one sub-segment at a time; and

(ii) a plurality of receivers that simultaneously receive echoes from the sub-segments of the segments of the volume being evaluated, wherein each receiver points to a particular grating lobe of the transmitter pattern, or to a particular segment of the volume; and

(b) electrically connecting the thinned array to the ultrasound device, so that the volume of the subject can be ultrasonically evaluated.