Flexible ultrasound transducer array
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ultrasound transducer for imaging, the transducer comprising:
- a transducer housing;
at least first and second sub-arrays each having a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, the first and second sub-arrays within or on the transducer housing and adjacent to each other; and
at least first and second position sensors adjacent to the at least first and second sub-arrays, respectively, wherein the transducer housing is operable to allow the first sub-array to change position relative to the second sub-array.
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Abstract
A transducer array includes two or more sub-arrays that move relative to each other. Position sensors on each of the sub-arrays provide spatial coordination for beamforming and/or image forming to yield extended field of view and high image resolution. The adaptable transducer array, such as mounted on a flexible transducer housing, allows the array to better conform to the patient during internal or external use.
108 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An ultrasound transducer for imaging, the transducer comprising:
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a transducer housing;
at least first and second sub-arrays each having a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, the first and second sub-arrays within or on the transducer housing and adjacent to each other; and
at least first and second position sensors adjacent to the at least first and second sub-arrays, respectively, wherein the transducer housing is operable to allow the first sub-array to change position relative to the second sub-array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ultrasound transducer system for imaging, the ultrasound transducer system comprising:
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a transducer housing having first and second transducer arrays of ultrasound transducer elements, the first transducer array operable to move relative to the second transducer array;
first and second position sensors adjacent to the first and second transducer arrays; and
a receive beamformer connected with the first and second transducer arrays, the receive beamformer operable to generate first samples from the first transducer array and generate second samples from the second transducer array. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for imaging with ultrasound, the method comprising:
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positioning a transducer probe having first and second transducer arrays, wherein the positioning allows movement of a first transducer array relative to a second transducer array;
receiving first acoustic echoes with the first transducer array;
receiving second acoustic echoes with the second transducer array;
sensing a first position of the first transducer array;
sensing a second position of the second transducer array; and
generating an image as a function of the first and second acoustic echoes and the first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification