Method and apparatus for measuring ultrasonic velocity by crossed beam

Claim 1

An apparatus for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by utilizing plural ultrasonic beams, comprising: transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array form, which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitter sections and first and second receiver sections, said first and second receiver sections being located, at predetermined intervals, between said first and second transmitter sections along a longitudinal direction of the array of said transducer elements; driving means for driving said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams to said ROI; receiving means coupled to said first and second receiver sections, for receiving echo signals, which are produced from said first and second receiver sections and correspond to ultrasonic echoes of the first and second ultrasonic beams which are reflected from said ROI; and, processor means for processing said echo signals to calculate times of propagation of said ultrasonic beams in said ROI, said processor means calculating an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said calculated propagation times.

Claim 2

An apparatus for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by utilizing plural ultrasonic beams, comprising: transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array form, which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitter sections and first and second receiver sections, said first and second receiver sections being located, at predetermined intervals, between said first and second transmitter sections along a longitudinal direction of the array of said transducer elements; driving means for driving said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams to said ROI; receiving means coupled to said first and second receiver sections, for receiving echo signals, which are produced from said first and second receiver sections and correspond to ultrasonic echoes of the first and second ultrasonic beams which are reflected from said ROI; and, processor means for processing said echo signals to calculate times of propagation of said ultrasonic beams in said ROI, said processor means calculating an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said calculated propagation times.

Claim 7

An apparatus for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by utilizing plural ultrasonic beams, comprising: transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitter sections and first and second receiver sections, said first and second receiver sections being located, at predetermined intervals, between said first and second transmitter sections along a longitudinal direction of the array of said transducer elements; driver means for driving said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams toward said ROI, so that said first ultrasonic beam is intersected by said second ultrasonic beam within said ROI; said first and second receiver sections receiving four-point echoes of the first and second ultrasonic beams which are reflected from four points defined within the ROI and corresponding to four corners of a rectangular form, and producing four echo signals corresponding to the four-point echoes; adder means for adding said four echo signals to produce a single synthesized echo signal; and calculator means for calculating from said synthesized echo signal, propagation times of said ultrasonic beams, said calculator means calculating an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said calculated propagation times and said distance between said first and second receiver sections.

Claim 8

An apparatus for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by utilizing plural ultrasonic beams, comprising: transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitter sections and first and second receiver sections, said first and second receiver sections being located, at predetermined intervals, between said first and second transmitter sections along a longitudinal direction of the array of said transducer elements; driver means for driving said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams toward said ROI, so that said first ultrasonic beam is intersected by said second ultrasonic beam within said ROI; said first and second receiver sections receiving four-point echoes of the first and second ultrasonic beams which are reflected from four points defined within the ROI and corresponding to four corners of a rectangular form, and producing four echo signals corresponding to the four-point echoes; adder means for adding said four echo signals to produce a single synthesized echo signal; and calculator means for calculating from said synthesized echo signal, propagation times of said ultrasonic beams, said calculator means calculating an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said calculated propagation times and said distance between said first and second receiver sections.

Claim 9

An apparatus for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by utilizing plural ultrasonic beams, comprising: transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array form, which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitting sections and first and second receiving sections, said sections being arranged in the order of transmitter-receiver-receiver-transmitter sections, and being located at predetermined distances, and each of said first and second transmitter and receiver sections being constructed of a plurality of transducer elements; driver means for driving said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams respectively toward said ROI, said first beam being intersected by said second ultrasonic beam within said ROI; first switching means for selectively coupling said driving means to said first and second transmitter sections so as to selectively excite said transmitter sections; detector means for detecting ultrasonic echoes reflected from four points, which correspond to four corners of a rectangular region defined in said ROI, to produce four detected echo signals; second switching means for selectively coupling said detector means to said first and second receiver sections to receive said ultrasonic echoes; adder means for adding said detected echo signals to produce a single synthesized echo signal; and calculator means for calculating from said synthesized echo signal, propagation times of said ultrasonic beams and an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said calculated propagation times and said distance between said first and second receiver sections.

Claim 10

An apparatus for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by utilizing plural ultrasonic beams, comprising: transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array form, which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitting sections and first and second receiving sections, said sections being arranged in the order of transmitter-receiver-receiver-transmitter sections, and being located at predetermined distances, and each of said first and second transmitter and receiver sections being constructed of a plurality of transducer elements; driver means for driving said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams respectively toward said ROI, said first beam being intersected by said second ultrasonic beam within said ROI; first switching means for selectively coupling said driving means to said first and second transmitter sections so as to selectively excite said transmitter sections; detector means for detecting ultrasonic echoes reflected from four points, which correspond to four corners of a rectangular region defined in said ROI, to produce four detected echo signals; second switching means for selectively coupling said detector means to said first and second receiver sections to receive said ultrasonic echoes; adder means for adding said detected echo signals to produce a single synthesized echo signal; and calculator means for calculating from said synthesized echo signal, propagation times of said ultrasonic beams and an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said calculated propagation times and said distance between said first and second receiver sections.

Claim 15

An apparatus for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by utilizing plural ultrasonic beams, comprising: transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array, which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitter sections and first and second receiver sections, said sections being arranged in the order of transmitter-receiver-receiver-transmitter sections, and being located at predetermined distances, and each of said first and second transmitter and receiver sections being constructed of a plurality of transducer elements; driver means for driving said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams respectively toward said ROI, said first ultrasonic beam being intersected by said second ultrasonic beam within said ROI; detector means coupled to said first and second receiver sections for detecting ultrasonic echoes reflected from four points, which correspond to four corners of a rectangular region in said ROI to produce four detected echo signals; means for temporarily storing said detected echo signals sequentially derived from said first and second receiver sections, and for adding said stored echo signals to produce a single synthesized echo signal; calculator means for calculating from said synthesized echo signal, propagation times of said ultrasonic beams and an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said calculated propagation times and said distance between said first and second receiver sections.

Claim 16

An apparatus for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by utilizing plural ultrasonic beams, comprising: transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array, which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitter sections and first and second receiver sections, said sections being arranged in the order of transmitter-receiver-receiver-transmitter sections, and being located at predetermined distances, and each of said first and second transmitter and receiver sections being constructed of a plurality of transducer elements; driver means for driving said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams respectively toward said ROI, said first ultrasonic beam being intersected by said second ultrasonic beam within said ROI; detector means coupled to said first and second receiver sections for detecting ultrasonic echoes reflected from four points, which correspond to four corners of a rectangular region in said ROI to produce four detected echo signals; means for temporarily storing said detected echo signals sequentially derived from said first and second receiver sections, and for adding said stored echo signals to produce a single synthesized echo signal; calculator means for calculating from said synthesized echo signal, propagation times of said ultrasonic beams and an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said calculated propagation times and said distance between said first and second receiver sections.

Claim 22

A method for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by exciting transducer means, said transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array form which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitter sections and first and second receiver sections, comprising the steps of: exciting said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams toward said ROI, said first ultrasonic beam being intersected by said second ultrasonic beam within said ROI; receiving ultrasonic echoes reflected from said ROI by operating said first and second receiving sections to produce echo signals; and processing said echo signals to obtain propagation times of said ultrasonic beams and an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said propagation times and a distance over which said first and second receiver sections are separated.

Claim 23

A method for measuring an ultrasonic velocity in a region of interest (ROI) within a medium by exciting transducer means, said transducer means including a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array form which are subdivided into at least first and second transmitter sections and first and second receiver sections, comprising the steps of: exciting said first and second transmitter sections to transmit first and second ultrasonic beams toward said ROI, said first ultrasonic beam being intersected by said second ultrasonic beam within said ROI; receiving ultrasonic echoes reflected from said ROI by operating said first and second receiving sections to produce echo signals; and processing said echo signals to obtain propagation times of said ultrasonic beams and an ultrasonic velocity within said ROI based upon said propagation times and a distance over which said first and second receiver sections are separated.