Low power ultrasound system
First Claim
1. A method for insonating an object to be imaged via ultrasound, the method comprising:
- by a plurality of transducers in a transducer array, simultaneously transmitting a first plurality of ultrasonic transmit pulses;
by a first single transducer of the plurality of transducers, detecting a first ultrasonic echo receive pulse;
by the plurality of transducers in the transducer array, simultaneously transmitting a second plurality of ultrasonic transmit pulses;
by a second single transducer of the plurality of transducers, detecting a second ultrasonic echo receive pulse, the second ultrasonic echo receive pulse produced as a result of the transmission of the second plurality of ultrasonic transmit pulses, the first ultrasonic echo receive pulse changed by the first single transducer into a first electrical analog signal and the second ultrasonic echo receive pulse changed by the second single transducer into a second electrical analog signal;
multiplexing the first electrical analog signal and the second electrical analog signal into a multiplexed analog signal;
by a single amplifier located on a probe device, amplifying the multiplexed analog signal; and
by a single analog-to-digital converter located on the probe device, converting the amplified multiplexed analog signal into a digital signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low power ultrasound system for use in sonography applications, including vascular imaging, is disclosed. The low power ultrasound system includes a base unit having an image processor and a display. An ultrasound probe is operably connected to the base unit. The probe includes a head portion including an array of crystal transducers. A plurality of pulser/receiver modules that cause the transducers to emit ultrasonic transmit pulses are also included in the probe. The pulser/receiver modules are further configured to receive analog signals relating to ultrasonic echo receive pulses detected by the transducers. The probe includes a singular low noise amplifier that amplifies the analog signals, and an analog-to-digital converter that converts the analog signals to a digital signal. A wireless interface is included for enabling the digital signal to be wirelessly transmitted from the probe to the image processor of the base unit.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for insonating an object to be imaged via ultrasound, the method comprising:
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by a plurality of transducers in a transducer array, simultaneously transmitting a first plurality of ultrasonic transmit pulses; by a first single transducer of the plurality of transducers, detecting a first ultrasonic echo receive pulse; by the plurality of transducers in the transducer array, simultaneously transmitting a second plurality of ultrasonic transmit pulses; by a second single transducer of the plurality of transducers, detecting a second ultrasonic echo receive pulse, the second ultrasonic echo receive pulse produced as a result of the transmission of the second plurality of ultrasonic transmit pulses, the first ultrasonic echo receive pulse changed by the first single transducer into a first electrical analog signal and the second ultrasonic echo receive pulse changed by the second single transducer into a second electrical analog signal; multiplexing the first electrical analog signal and the second electrical analog signal into a multiplexed analog signal; by a single amplifier located on a probe device, amplifying the multiplexed analog signal; and by a single analog-to-digital converter located on the probe device, converting the amplified multiplexed analog signal into a digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for insonating an object to be imaged via ultrasound, the method comprising:
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by a plurality of transducers in a transducer array, simultaneously transmitting a first plurality of ultrasonic transmit pulses; by a first single transducer of the plurality of transducers, detecting a first ultrasonic echo receive pulse, the first ultrasonic echo receive pulse changed by the first single transducer into a first electrical analog signal; by the plurality of transducers in the transducer array, simultaneously transmitting a second plurality of ultrasonic transmit pulses; by a second single transducer of the plurality of transducers, detecting a second ultrasonic echo receive pulse, the second ultrasonic echo receive pulse produced as a result of the transmission of the second plurality of ultrasonic transmit pulses, the second ultrasonic echo receive pulse changed by the second single transducer into a second electrical analog signal; multiplexing the first electrical analog signal and the second electronic analog signal into a multiplexed analog signal; by a single amplifier, amplifying the multiplexed analog signal and providing the amplified multiplexed analog signal directly to a single analog-to-digital converter; and by the single analog-to-digital converter, converting the amplified multiplexed analog signal into a digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification