Multidimensional transducer systems and methods for intra patient probes
First Claim
1. A transducer for use in an intra-patient probe, the transducer comprising:
- an intra-patient probe housing;
a multi-dimensional array of elements connected with the housing;
first electrodes, each first electrode extending over at least two elements along a first axis; and
second electrodes, each second electrode extending over at least two elements along a second axis, the first axis different than the second axis.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Endocavity and invasive catheter transducers for four-dimensional or other imaging are provided. A two-dimensional or other multi-dimensional array of elements is connected with a minimum number of conductors to an imaging system. One or more conductors are used to select an aperture, such as selecting one or more rows of elements for activation. Along a different axis, such as an orthogonal axis, elements are used to image a planar region. By electronically switching the selected aperture, different planes are rapidly imaged. A matrix configuration of electrodes, such as using column electrodes for phased array imaging and row electrodes for selecting an elevation aperture allows for rapid acquisition of ultrasound data.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A transducer for use in an intra-patient probe, the transducer comprising:
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an intra-patient probe housing;
a multi-dimensional array of elements connected with the housing;
first electrodes, each first electrode extending over at least two elements along a first axis; and
second electrodes, each second electrode extending over at least two elements along a second axis, the first axis different than the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A transducer for use in an intra-patient probe, the transducer comprising:
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an intra-patient probe housing;
a multi-dimensional N×
M array of elements connected with the housing where N and M are one of equal and different and greater than one;
a first voltage source;
first switches operable to connect the first voltage source to one or more selected first electrodes; and
one of a transmitter, a receiver and combinations thereof connectable with the second electrodes, the second electrodes forming a phased array with an elevation extent corresponding to the selected first electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for imaging with a multidimensional array of an intra-patient probe, the method comprising:
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(a) activating a first group of elements of the multidimensional array of the intra-patient probe;
(b) acquiring first ultrasound data with the first group of elements during (a);
(c) activating a second group of elements different than the first group, at least one element being active during (c) and inactive and/or minimized during (a);
(d) acquiring second ultrasound data with the second group of elements during (c); and
(e) generating an image as a function of the first and second ultrasound data. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A transducer for use in an ultrasound system for medical imaging or therapy, the transducer comprising:
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a catheter;
a two-dimensional ultrasonic acoustic array mounted on the catheter; and
switches operable to apply a voltage to selectively activate array elements, wherein at least one array element is free of activation while at least one other element is activated. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification