Apparatus and method for selectively optimizing an acoustic transducer

• US 6,612,987 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Robinson, Andrew, Morsy, Ahmed
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US10/011,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 310/314-317, 310/334-336, 600/437, 600/443, 600/447, 600/453-456, 600/459, 736/18--44
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8979 Combined Doppler and pulse-echo imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5205 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead

Abstract

The invention is directed towards an apparatus and method for selectively optimizing piezoelectric elements in an ultrasound transducer assembly for a given imaging mode. In one embodiment, a variable impedance network is interposed between an ultrasound processor and a transducer assembly and may be coupled to the transducer assembly to form either a series or a parallel connection with the transducer assembly. The network may be controlled by the processor to selectively alter the characteristics of the network. In another embodiment, the variable impedance network includes a pair of serially coupled inductors and a switch that permits one of the inductors to be controllably bypassed. In still another embodiment, the network includes a tapped inductor and a switch to permit the inductor tap to be controllably selected. In still another aspect, the inductor includes a tapped inductor having multiple taps, each tap selectable by a switch to optimize the network.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic system, comprising:

a transducer assembly having at least one transducer element;

a processor operatively coupled to the transducer assembly to receive signals generated by the at least one transducer element, and to transmit signals generated within the processor to the at least one element; and

a variable impedance network electrically interposed between the processor and the at least one transducer element that includes inductive circuit elements that may be selectively and serially coupled to the at least one transducer element to electrically optimize the at least one transducer element for different imaging modes.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller to controllably select the circuit elements in the variable impedance network.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting cable having a first end and an opposing second end that couples the transducer assembly to the processor.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the variable impedance network is positioned adjacent to the transducer assembly and coupled to the first end of the connecting cable, and the second end of the connecting cable is coupled to the processor.

5. The system according to claim 3 wherein the variable impedance network is positioned adjacent to the processor and coupled to the second end of the connecting cable, and the first end of the connecting cable is coupled to the transducer assembly.

6. The system according to claim 3 wherein the variable impedance network is interposed between the first end and the second end of the connecting cable.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the variable impedance network is further comprised of a first inductor having a first terminal coupled to the processor and an opposing second terminal, a second inductor having a first terminal and an opposing second terminal coupled to the at least one transducer element, the second terminal of the first inductor being coupled to the first terminal of the second inductor, and a switch coupled to the first terminal of the first inductor and the second terminal of the first inductor, the switch being positionable to selectively bypass the first inductor.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the variable impedance network is further comprised of a tapped inductor having a first terminal coupled to the processor and an opposing second terminal coupled to the at least one transducer element, the tapped inductor further having a tap positioned intermediately between the first and second terminals, and further wherein a switch is coupled to the first terminal and the tap, the switch being positionable to couple the processor to either the first terminal or the tap.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the variable impedance network is further comprised of a tapped inductor having a first terminal coupled to the processor and a second terminal coupled to the at least one transducer element, the tapped inductor further having a plurality of taps positioned at intermediate locations between the first terminal and the second terminal, and further wherein a plurality of switches each having a first end and a second end are coupled to the first terminal at the respective first ends and each second end being coupled to a single tap, each switch being positionable to couple the processor to a selected one of the plurality of taps.

10. A method for selectively optimizing a transducer element in an ultrasound system capable of operation in more than a single imaging mode, comprising:

selecting an imaging mode;

identifying a preferred operating characteristic for the selected mode; and

serially coupling a selected inductance element to the transducer element to attain the preferred operating characteristic.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein selecting an imaging mode is further comprised of selecting an imaging mode by manually entering an imaging mode on an input device coupled to the ultrasound system.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein coupling a selected impedance element is further comprised of selectively coupling an inductor to the transducer element.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein selectively coupling an inductor to the transducer element is further comprised of selecting a tap on a tapped inductor.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein selectively coupling an inductor to the transducer element is further comprised of coupling a first inductor to the transducer element while bypassing a second inductor.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein coupling a selected impedance element to the transducer element is further comprised of positioning a switch to select the impedance element.

16. A method for operating an ultrasound system having a variable network coupled to a transducer assembly, comprising:

selecting a first imaging mode;

configuring the variable network to serially couple a first inductance element to the network to attain a first imaging characteristic;

scanning a region in the first imaging mode;

selecting a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode;

configuring the variable network to serially couple a second inductance element to the network to attain a second imaging characteristic; and

scanning a region in the second imaging mode.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein selecting a first imaging mode is further comprised of selecting a gray scale imaging mode, and wherein selecting a second imaging mode is further comprised of selecting a Doppler imaging mode.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein configuring the variable network to attain a first imaging characteristic further comprises selecting a first operating bandwidth, and wherein configuring the variable network to attain a second imaging characteristic further comprises selecting a secondoperating bandwidth.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein configuring the variable network to attain a first imaging characteristic further comprises obtaining a first sensitivity, and wherein configuring the variable network to attain a second imaging characteristic further comprises obtaining a second sensitivity.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein configuring the variable network to attain a first imaging characteristic further comprises obtaining a first pulse length response, and wherein configuring the variable network to attain a second imaging characteristic further comprises obtaining a second pulse length response.