Steering angle varied pattern for ultrasound imaging with a two-dimensional array
First Claim
1. A method for varying a pattern as a function of steering angle for medical imaging with a multi-dimensional array, the method comprising:
- (a) setting an azimuth axis of a transmit aperture of the multidimensional array of N×
M transducer elements, where N and M are both greater than 1, as substantially parallel with a first steering vector on a face of the array of transducer elements;
(b) applying, to the transmit aperture, an alternating pattern substantially perpendicular to the steering vector, the alternating pattern being a repeating pattern of variation of one of;
waveform, delay, phase, apodization and combinations thereof along an elevation axis.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for varying a pattern as a function of steering angle for medical imaging with a multidimensional array are provided. Transmit waveform, delay, phase or apodization patterns in addition to delays, phases or apodization for focusing are used with a multidimensional array. By applying a periodic variation perpendicular to the steering direction, the effects of grating lobes due to the variation may be reduced. Along the steering direction, additional offsets are not provided, but may be provided. This different or non-existent offsets provide less grating lobe clutter. The transmit aperture is adjusted to be parallel to a direction of steering of non-normal transmit scan line or scan lines. The variation pattern is selected to result in enhancement or isolation of one or more frequency bands from one or more other frequency bands, such as isolation of second harmonic information from fundamental transmit frequency information.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for varying a pattern as a function of steering angle for medical imaging with a multi-dimensional array, the method comprising:
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(a) setting an azimuth axis of a transmit aperture of the multidimensional array of N×
M transducer elements, where N and M are both greater than 1, as substantially parallel with a first steering vector on a face of the array of transducer elements;(b) applying, to the transmit aperture, an alternating pattern substantially perpendicular to the steering vector, the alternating pattern being a repeating pattern of variation of one of;
waveform, delay, phase, apodization and combinations thereof along an elevation axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20)
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11. A system for varying a pattern as a function of steering angle for medical imaging with a multi-dimensional array, the system comprising:
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the multi-dimensional array having N×
M transducer elements wherein N and M are both greater than 1;a transmit beamformer comprising a controller configured to set an azimuth axis of a transmit aperture on the multi-dimensional array as substantially parallel with a first steering vector on a face of the multi-dimensional array, and the controller further configured to apply, to the transmit aperture, an alternating pattern substantially perpendicular to the steering vector, the alternating pattern being a periodic variation of one of;
waveform, delay, phase, apodization and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for varying a pattern as a function of steering angle for medical imaging with a multi-dimensional array, the method comprising:
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(a) applying, in an aperture, a periodic pattern of offsets along a first profile for focusing along a first axis substantially perpendicular to an intersection of a scan line vector with a multi-dimensional transducer; and (b) applying, in the aperture, a second profile for focusing substantially free of offsets along a second axis substantially parallel with the intersection; wherein (b) comprises setting an azimuth axis of a transmit aperture of the multidimensional transducer as substantially parallel with the intersection and wherein (a) comprises applying the periodic pattern being a variation of one of;
delay, phase, apodization and combinations thereof along an elevation axis substantially perpendicular with the intersection. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification