ASYMMETRIC ULTRASOUND PHASED-ARRAY TRANSDUCER

• US 20110066032A1
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InSightec Ltd.
• Original Assignee: InSightec Ltd.
• Inventors: Vitek, Shuki, Vortman, Kobi
• Granted Patent: US 9,177,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0095 by modifying an excitation signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0629 Square array
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0633 Cylindrical array
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8925 the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8952 using discrete, multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/345 using energy switching from one active element to another
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/346 using phase variation

Abstract

An asymmetric ultrasound transducer array may include multiple regions or groups of transducer elements. The regions may be configured to generate respective ultrasound beams with different capabilities, such as, e.g., focusing at varying focal depths and lateral steering, and/or focusing into different volumes.

Claims

1. An asymmetric ultrasound transducer, comprising:

(a) a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional phased array comprising at least a first region and a second region;

(b) a first plurality of signal channels connected to and collectively driving the transducer elements of the first region so as to generate a first ultrasound beam; and

(c) a second plurality of signal channels connected to and collectively driving the transducer elements of the second region so as to generate a second ultrasound beam,

wherein the first region facilitates focusing the first ultrasound beam at varying focal depths along a focal path in the direction of beam propagation and the second region facilitates lateral steering of the second ultrasound beam in a direction perpendicular to beam propagation.

2. The asymmetric ultrasound transducer of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional phased array is planar.

3. The asymmetric ultrasound transducer of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional phased array is non-planar.

4. The asymmetric ultrasound transducer of claim 1, wherein the first region is configured to facilitate steering of the first ultrasound beam into a first selected volume and the second region is configured to facilitate steering of the second ultrasound beam into a second selected volume.

5. The asymmetric ultrasound transducer of claim 4, wherein the first and second regions, when operated simultaneously, generate a third ultrasound beam and facilitate steering the third beam into a third volume not entirely within the first and second volumes.

6. The asymmetric ultrasound transducer of claim 1, wherein the first region facilitates focusing the first ultrasound beam at a tissue depth beneath a patient'"'"'s skin line of less than 4 cm.

7. The asymmetric ultrasound transducer of claim 1, wherein the second ultrasound beam has a lateral steerability greater than 0.1 radians.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the signal channels of the first plurality are connected to multiple transducer elements of the first region, and at least some of the signal channels of the second plurality are connected to multiple transducer elements of the second region.

9. An asymmetric ultrasound transducer, comprising:

(a) a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional phased array, each transducer element having at least one switch associated therewith;

(b) a plurality of signal channels connected to the transducer elements via the switches, at least some of the signal channels being connected to multiple transducer elements; and

(c) a controller configuring the switches so as to group the transducer elements, thereby forming first and second regions of grouped transducer elements, the first region capable of focusing at varying focal depths along a focal path in the direction of beam propagation and the second region capable of lateral beam steering in a direction perpendicular to beam propagation.

10. The asymmetric ultrasound transducer of claim 9, wherein the two-dimensional phased array is planar.

11. The asymmetric ultrasound transducer of claim 9, wherein the two-dimensional phased array is non-planar.

12. The asymmetric ultrasound transducer of claim 9, wherein the first region is configured to facilitate beam steering into a first selected volume and the second region is configured to facilitate beam steering into a second selected volume.

13. An ultrasound transducer system, comprising:

(a) a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional phased array, each transducer element having at least one switch associated therewith;

(b) a plurality of signal channels connected to the transducer elements via the switches;

(c) a controller configuring the switches so as to group the transducer elements;

(d) means for storing data sets each corresponding to a configuration of the switches; and

(e) means facilitating user selection of one of the stored data sets, the controller being responsive to the selection and configuring the switches in accordance therewith.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the data sets specifies at least one region of grouped transducer elements capable of shallow focusing and at least one region of grouped transducer elements capable of lateral beam steering.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the data sets specifies at least one region of grouped transducer elements capable of steering an ultrasound beam into a selected volume.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the data sets specifies at least one region of grouped transducer elements capable of focusing at varying focal depths along a focal path in the direction of beam propagation and at least one region of grouped transducer elements capable of lateral beam steering.

17. A method of configuring an asymmetric ultrasound transducer, the method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional phased array;

(b) dynamically configuring, in response to geometric constraints associated with a patient'"'"'s anatomy and an equipment configuration, a plurality of signal channels connected to the transducer elements, so as to produce a plurality of groups of transducer elements; and

(c) separately driving the groups of transducer elements.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a) comprises providing the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements arranged in a planar two-dimensional phased array.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a) comprises providing the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements arranged in a non-planar two-dimensional phased array.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of signals channels is configured so as to form first and second regions of grouped transducer elements, the first region capable of focusing at varying focal depths along a focal path in the direction of beam propagation and the second region capable of lateral beam steering in a direction perpendicular to beam propagation.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of signals channels is configured so as to form first and second regions of grouped transducer elements, the first region capable of beam steering into a first selected volume and the second region capable of beam steering into a second selected volume.