Ultrasound probe and ultrasound system

• US 10,459,072 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qisda Corporation, Qisda Suzhou Company Limited (Qisda Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Qisda Suzhou Company Limited (Qisda Corporation)
• Inventors: Liu, Jian-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Sinha, Tarun
• Application Number:
  US15/379,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20170343657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 73628
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/104 two or more emitters, one receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/043 in the interior, e.g. by shear waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/221 Arrangements for directing or focusing the acoustical waves electronic orientation or focusing G01N29/262; sound directing or focusing G10K11/26; mechanical steering of sound transducers or their beams G10K11/35
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/348 with frequency characteristics, e.g. single frequency signals, chirp signals measuring frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04; measuring frequency or analysing frequency spectra G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8913 using separate transducers for transmission and reception
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8915 using a transducer array
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8952 using discrete, multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5202 for pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52022 using a sequence of pulses, at least one pulse manipulating the transmissivity or reflexivity of the medium
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52042 determining elastic properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target diagnostic techniques involving the measurement of strain A61B8/485
• 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

Abstract

An ultrasound probe includes a casing, a first transmitting unit, a second transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The first transmitting unit is used for transmitting a first push beam and the first push beam has a first transmitting frequency. The second transmitting unit is used for transmitting a second push beam and the second push beam has a second transmitting frequency. The receiving unit has a receiving frequency and is used for selectively receiving a reflective wave of the first push beam and the second push beam, wherein the receiving frequency is covered with the first transmitting frequency and the second transmitting frequency. The receiving unit, the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit are disposed in the casing side by side.

Claims

1. An ultrasound probe comprising:

a casing;

a first transmitting unit for transmitting a first push beam, the first push beam having a first transmitting frequency;

a second transmitting unit for transmitting a second push beam, the second push beam having a second transmitting frequency, the first transmitting frequency being different from the second transmitting frequency;

a receiving unit having a receiving frequency, the receiving unit being used for selectively receiving a reflective wave of the first push beam and the second push beam, the receiving frequency being covered with the first transmitting frequency and the second transmitting frequency, the receiving unit, the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit being disposed in the casing side by side; and

a matching layer disposed on the receiving unit, the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit;

wherein the receiving frequency is two times the first transmitting frequency and the second transmitting frequency is four times the first transmitting frequency, such that a thickness of the receiving unit is ½

times a thickness of the first transmitting unit, a thickness of the second transmitting unit is ¼

times the thickness of the first transmitting unit, and a thickness of the matching layer is uniform.

2. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit are located at opposite sides of the receiving unit.

3. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the receiving unit is between a thickness of the first transmitting unit and a thickness of the second transmitting unit.

4. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit, the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit are made of a piezoelectric material.

5. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit essentially consists of a plurality of channels.

6. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, further comprising a backing layer, the backing layer and the matching layer being disposed at opposite sides of the receiving unit, the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit.

7. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, further comprising a lens disposed on the matching layer.

8. An ultrasound system comprising:

an ultrasound probe comprising;

a casing;

a first transmitting unit for transmitting a first push beam, the first push beam having a first transmitting frequency;

a second transmitting unit for transmitting a second push beam, the second push beam having a second transmitting frequency, the first transmitting frequency being different from the second transmitting frequency;

a receiving unit having a receiving frequency, the receiving frequency being covered with the first transmitting frequency and the second transmitting frequency, the receiving unit, the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit being disposed in the casing side by side; and

a matching layer disposed on the receiving unit, the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit;

wherein the receiving frequency is two times the first transmitting frequency and the second transmitting frequency is four times the first transmitting frequency, such that a thickness of the receiving unit is ½

times a thickness of the first transmitting unit, a thickness of the second transmitting unit is ¼

times the thickness of the first transmitting unit, and a thickness of the matching layer is uniform;

a receiver electrically connected to the receiving unit; and

a pulser electrically connected to the first transmitting unit, the second transmitting unit and the receiver, the pulser being used for triggering the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit to selectively transmit the first push beam and the second push beam.

9. The ultrasound system of claim 8, wherein the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit are located at opposite sides of the receiving unit.

10. The ultrasound system of claim 8, wherein a thickness of the receiving unit is between a thickness of the first transmitting unit and a thickness of the second transmitting unit.

11. The ultrasound system of claim 8, wherein the receiving unit, the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit are made of a piezoelectric material.

12. The ultrasound system of claim 8, wherein the receiving unit essentially consists of a plurality of channels.

13. The ultrasound system of claim 8, wherein the ultrasound probe further comprises a backing layer, and the backing layer and the matching layer are disposed at opposite sides of the receiving unit, the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit.

14. The ultrasound system of claim 8, wherein the ultrasound probe further comprises a lens disposed on the matching layer.