Apparatus and method for controlling an ultrasound probe

• US 7,431,698 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bruestle, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rozanski; Michael T.
• Application Number:
  US10/756,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 600/445, 600/459
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8915 using a transducer 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 7/52079 Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/352 by moving the transducer

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling an ultrasound probe are provided. The ultrasound probe having the apparatus includes a scan head configured for moveable operation within a housing and a signal control circuit within the scan head for controlling a transducer array. The signal control circuit is configured to provide multiplexing operation for controlling a plurality of transducer elements forming the transducer array.

Claims

1. An ultrasound probe comprising:

a housing comprising a front end portion and a rear end portion extending opposite the front end portion;

a scan head held within the housing adjacent the front end portion, the scan head being configured for moveable operation within the housing;

a transducer array held within the housing, the transducer array extending between a front portion that faces the front end portion of the housing and an opposite rear portion; and

a signal control circuit within the scan head for controlling the transducer array, the signal control circuit comprising at least one multiplexing member configured to provide multiplexing operation for controlling a plurality of transducer elements forming the transducer array, wherein at least a portion of the multiplexing member extends axially along and radially outward from a side portion of the transducer array that extends between the front and rear portions.

2. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transducer array is within the scan head.

3. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the signal control circuit is engaged with the transducer array.

4. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the signal control circuit is mounted to the transducer array.

5. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the signal control circuit is encased within a sealing material.

6. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 further comprising communication means and wherein the signal control circuit is configured for connection to the communication means to provide communication between the transducer array and a host system.

7. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transducer driving means and wherein the signal control circuit is configured for connection to the transducer driving means.

8. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the signal control circuit is configured to connect to side portion of the transducer array.

9. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, the scan head and signal control circuit contained within the second chamber and a drive means and communication means contained with the first chamber for controlling the scan head and signal control circuit, wherein the first and second chambers are formed in a unitary construction.

10. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transducer array is configured for volumetric imaging.

11. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transducer array is configured for operation in at least one of a 1 D, 1.25 D, 1.5 D, 1.75 D and 2 D mode of operation.

12. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the multiplexing member comprises at least one multiplexing circuit having at least one of a plurality of switches and a plurality of beamformer members.

13. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 1 wherein the

at least one multiplexing member comprises at least one multiplexing circuit physically mounted in direct physical contact with the transducer array for controlling the operation of the plurality of transducer elements.

14. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 13 wherein the at least one multiplexing circuit is mounted to a side of the transducer array.

15. An ultrasound probe in accordance with claim 13 wherein the transducer array comprises an acoustic absorbing material and the multiplexing circuit is mounted directly to the acoustic absorbing material.

16. An ultrasound probe comprising:

a scan head configured for moveable operation within a housing;

a signal control circuit within the scan head for controlling a transducer array, the signal control circuit configured to provide multiplexing operation for controlling a plurality of transducer elements forming the transducer array, wherein at least a portion of the signal control circuit extends axially along and radially outward from a side of the transducer array; and

a first chamber and a second chamber, the scan head and signal control circuit contained within the second chamber and a drive means and communication means contained with the first chamber for controlling the scan head and signal control circuit, wherein the first chamber is a dry chamber and the second chamber is a wet chamber.

17. A method for controlling an ultrasound probe, the method comprising:

receiving at a scan head of an ultrasound probe control signals for controlling a transducer array having a plurality of transducer elements, the ultrasound probe having a housing with a front end portion and a rear end portion extending opposite the front end portion and the transducer array extending between a front portion that faces the front end portion of the housing and an opposite rear portion;

multiplexing the control signals at the transducer array using a multiplexing member that extends axially along and radially outward from a side portion of the transducer array that extends between the front and rear portions; and

selectively activating one or more of the transducer elements based upon the multiplexed signals.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the control signals are received from a host system.