EP0335578A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasound imaging system utilizing two or more simultaneously-active apertures
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A phased array linear scanner (40) for an ultrasound imaging system includes two or more simultaneously-active acoustic apertures (42,44). A linear transducer array includes several hundred closely-spaced transducer elements (40₁-40₃). First and second acoustic apertures (42,44) are defined by selecting first and second groups of transducer elements (40₁-43) in the transducer array. Phased acoustic pulses are simultaneously transmitted along first and second scan lines (50,56) by energising the first and second acoustic apertures (42,44). Linear scanning is performed by displacing the first and second acoustic apertures (42,44) across the array in phase. The apertures (42,44) are displaced on the array by energising different sets of transducer elements (40₁-40₃). Preferably, the apertures (42,44) are spaced apart to limit interference. By concurrent scanning with two or more acoustic apertures (42,44) , the speed of image formation is significantly increased. Scanning with two or more acoustic apertures (42,44) is particularly useful in colour rate imaging where multiple samples must be taken along each scan line (50,56).
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Snyder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52085; G01S7/5209; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; G01S15/8918; G01S15/8927; G01S15/8979; G01S7/52046; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/34; G10K11/341; G10K11/345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A scanner (40) for use in acoustic imaging apparatus characterised in that it comprises: an array of acoustic transducer elements (40₁-40₃) for transmitting accoustic pulses and for receiving acoustic pulse echoes; a plurality of transmitter means (97,98), each transmitter means (97,98) energising a different set of adjacent transducer elements (40₁40₃) which define an acoustic aperture (42,44) for transmitting phased acoustic pulses that form a beam that emanates from the aperture (42,44) along a scan line (50,56); and receiver means (100) for processing acoustic pulses echoes, received by the acoustic apertures (42,44), and producing a plurality of signals that are representative of the images along the scan lines (50,56), the acoustic apertures (42,43) transmitting phased acoustic pulses and receiving acoustic pulse echoes concurrently.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A scanner (40) for use in acoustic imaging apparatus characterised in that it comprises: an array of acoustic transducer elements (40₁-40₃) for transmitting accoustic pulses and for receiving acoustic pulse echoes; a plurality of transmitter means (97,98), each transmitter means (97,98) energising a different set of adjacent transducer elements (40₁40₃) which define an acoustic aperture (42,44) for transmitting phased acoustic pulses that form a beam that emanates from the aperture (42,44) along a scan line (50,56); and receiver means (100) for processing acoustic pulses echoes, received by the acoustic apertures (42,44), and producing a plurality of signals that are representative of the images along the scan lines (50,56), the acoustic apertures (42,43) transmitting phased acoustic pulses and receiving acoustic pulse echoes concurrently.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A scanner (40) as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for sequentially displacing the acoustic apertures along the transducer elements (40₁-40₃) of the array to produce a plurality of signals from each individual aperture (42, 44) representative of images along a plurality of different scan lines (50,56).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A scanner (40) as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein all of the acoustic apertures (42,44) are energised substantially simultaneously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A scanner (40) as defined in any preceding claim wherein the scan lines (50,56) are substantially parallel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A scanner (40) as defined in any preceding claim wherein the array of transducer elements (40₁-40₃) is a linear array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A scanner (40) as defined in claim 5 wherein the scan lines (50,56) are perpendicular to the linear array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A scanner (40) as defined in claim 5 or 6 wherein the scan lines (50, 56) are oriented at a predetermined angle to a normal to the array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A scanner (40) as defined in any of claims 2 to 7 wherein the acoustic apertures (42,43) are spaced apart by a predetermined number of transducer elements (40₁-40₃) as they are displaced along the array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A scanner (40) as defined in claim 7 or 8 wherein pairs of scan lines (50,56) intersect at preselected points and the acoustic pulses are transmitted along the scan lines (50,56) so that pulses travelling along intersecting scan lines (50,56) arrive at the intersection substantially simultaneously, whereby the acoustic echoes received by the acoustic apertures (42,43) provide two components of velocity at the points of intersection.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for operating a scanner (40) for use in acoustic apparatus, including an array of acoustic transducer elements (40₁-40₃) for transmitting acoustic pulses and for receiving acoustic pulse echoes; the method being characterised in that two different sets of adjacent elements (40₁-40₃) are energised simultaneously ; wherein each set defines an acoustic aperture (42,44) for transmitting a beam of phased acoustic pulses from the aperture (42,44), along a scan line (50,56), and for receiving acoustic pulse echoes; wherein each aperture (42,44) transmits phased acoustic pulses and receives acoustic pulse echoes concurrently.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for operating a scanner (40) for use in acoustic apparatus, including an array of acoustic transducer elements (40₁-40₃) for transmitting acoustic pulses and for receiving acoustic pulse echoes; the method being characterised in that two different sets of adjacent elements (40₁-40₃) are energised simultaneously ; wherein each set defines an acoustic aperture (42,44) for transmitting a beam of phased acoustic pulses from the aperture (42,44), along a scan line (50,56), and for receiving acoustic pulse echoes; wherein each aperture (42,44) transmits phased acoustic pulses and receives acoustic pulse echoes concurrently.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein one or both of the acoustic apertures (42,44) are sequentially displaced along the array of transducer elements (40₁-40₃) during the operation of the scanner (40).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein each moving acoustic aperture (42,44) transmits a predetermined number of phased acoustic pulses before it is displaced.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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