US5690114A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable ultrasound imaging system
Assignee: TeraTech Corp
•
Filing: 1996-02-12
•
Granted: 1997-11-25
•
Expires: 2016-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a hand-held scan head coupled by a cable to a portable battery-powered data processor and display unit, preferably in the form of a lap-top computer. The scan head enclosure houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode to time transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged. Because the pulse synchronizer and beam forming circuits are integrated on small chips, they can be included in the scan head, resulting in a portable low-power system. Also, since the beam forming and summation functions are performed in the scan head in proximity to the transducer elements, signal loss is substantially reduced, resulting in much higher image quality. In addition, the focused summed signal is transferred to the data processor and display unit by a cable which is far less sophisticated and expensive than the cables used in prior systems to transfer all of the transducer signals to a console signal processing unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Alice M. Chiang
- 👤 Steven R. Broadstone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/46; A61B8/461; A61B8/463; A61B8/42; A61B8/4209; A61B8/4236; A61B8/54; A61B8/546; A61B8/56; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; G01S15/8934; G01S15/8979; G01S7/00; G01S7/003; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01S7/52063; G01S7/52073; G01S7/52079; G01S7/5208; A61B2560/00; A61B2560/04; A61B2560/0443; A61B2560/045; A61B7/00; A61B7/02; A61B7/04; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4455; A61B8/4483; A61B8/4488; G01S15/899; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52025; G01S7/52026; G01S7/52046; G01S7/52096
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An ultrasound imaging system comprising: an array of ultrasonic transducers that receives reflected ultrasonic signals from a region of interest, the transducers converting the received ultrasonic signals into electrical signals; and beam forming circuitry that receives the electrical signals, said beam forming circuitry comprising: a programmable sample selection circuit for each transducer, said sample selection circuit controlling sampling of the electrical signals such that each electrical signal is sampled during one of plural preset timing windows, a delay circuit electrically connected to the programmable sample selection circuit that delays a sampled electrical signal from the sample selection circuit; and a control circuit connected to the programmable sample selection circuit and the delay circuit such that the sampled electrical signals can be used to generate an electrical representation of the region of interest.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An ultrasound imaging system comprising: an array of ultrasonic transducers that receives reflected ultrasonic signals from a region of interest, the transducers converting the received ultrasonic signals into electrical signals; and beam forming circuitry that receives the electrical signals, said beam forming circuitry comprising: a programmable sample selection circuit for each transducer, said sample selection circuit controlling sampling of the electrical signals such that each electrical signal is sampled during one of plural preset timing windows, a delay circuit electrically connected to the programmable sample selection circuit that delays a sampled electrical signal from the sample selection circuit; and a control circuit connected to the programmable sample selection circuit and the delay circuit such that the sampled electrical signals can be used to generate an electrical representation of the region of interest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further comprising: a housing in which the ultrasonic transducers and the beam forming circuitry are housed; and processing circuitry which receives the electrical representation of the region of interest and processes the electrical representation such that an image of the region of interest can be generated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein the delay circuit comprises a programmable tapped CCD delay line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein the sampled electrical signal is a discrete-time analog sample.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further comprising pulse synchronization circuitry that provides timing signals to the array of ultrasonic transducers to time ultrasonic signals transmitted into the region of interest by the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further comprising amplification circuitry that amplifies the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further comprising driver circuitry that generates signals to drive the ultrasonic transducers to transmit the ultrasonic signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further comprising memory circuitry for storing data used to control the beam forming circuitry.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further comprising gain control circuitry for controlling voltage levels of the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein the array of ultrasonic transducers is a linear array.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 10 wherein the region of interest is a trapezoidal region of interest.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein the array of ultrasonic transducers is a curved array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein the array of ultrasonic transducers is a phased array.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 wherein the programmable sample selection circuit comprises a storage circuit that stores a sequence of values used by the programmable sample selection circuit to control sampling of the electrical signals within the timing windows.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 14 wherein the storage circuit is a parallel shift register.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 14 wherein the programmable sample selection circuit further comprises: a counter that outputs a series of BCD words; and a comparison circuit that compares each BCD word with a value stored in the storage circuit to control sampling of the electrical signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further comprising a memory for downloading delay values to the beam forming circuitry, said delay values being used to delay the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 further comprising a finite impulse response filter that receives delayed electrical signals from the delay circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 18 wherein the filter is electrically connected to the control circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 18 wherein the filter comprises a plurality of weighted multipliers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 20 wherein the multipliers are programmable multipliers that generate a time-domain interpolated signal that is received by a summing circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
180 words
A scan head for an ultrasound imaging system comprising: an array of ultrasonic transducers that receives reflected ultrasonic signals from a region of interest, the transducers converting the received ultrasonic signals into electrical signals; an integrated beam forming circuit that receives the electrical signals, said beam forming circuit comprising: a programmable sample selection circuit for each transducer, said sample selection circuit controlling sampling of the electrical signals such that each electrical signal is sampled during one of plural preset timing windows, a delay circuit for each transducer that delays a sampled electrical signal from a sample selection circuit; and a control circuit connected to the programmable sample selection circuit and the delay circuit such that the electrical signals can be used to generate an electrical representation of the region of interest, the programmable sample selection circuit, the control circuit, and the delay circuit being integrated in a single circuit; a housing in which the ultrasonic transducers and the integrated beam forming circuit are housed; and an interface over which the electrical representation is forwarded from the housing to processing circuitry.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
180 words
A scan head for an ultrasound imaging system comprising: an array of ultrasonic transducers that receives reflected ultrasonic signals from a region of interest, the transducers converting the received ultrasonic signals into electrical signals; an integrated beam forming circuit that receives the electrical signals, said beam forming circuit comprising: a programmable sample selection circuit for each transducer, said sample selection circuit controlling sampling of the electrical signals such that each electrical signal is sampled during one of plural preset timing windows, a delay circuit for each transducer that delays a sampled electrical signal from a sample selection circuit; and a control circuit connected to the programmable sample selection circuit and the delay circuit such that the electrical signals can be used to generate an electrical representation of the region of interest, the programmable sample selection circuit, the control circuit, and the delay circuit being integrated in a single circuit; a housing in which the ultrasonic transducers and the integrated beam forming circuit are housed; and an interface over which the electrical representation is forwarded from the housing to processing circuitry.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scan head of claim 22 wherein the delay circuit comprises a programmable tapped CCD delay line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scan head of claim 22 wherein the sampled electrical signal is a discrete-time analog sample.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The scan head of claim 22 further comprising pulse synchronization circuitry that provides timing signals to the array of ultrasonic transducers to time ultrasonic signals transmitted into the region of interest by the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The scan head of claim 22 further comprising amplification circuitry that amplifies the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scan head of claim 22 further comprising driver circuitry which generates signals to drive the ultrasonic transducers to transmit the ultrasonic signals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The scan head of claim 22 further comprising memory circuitry for storing data used to control the beam forming circuitry.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scan head of claim 22 further comprising gain control circuitry for controlling voltage levels of the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scan head of claim 22 wherein the array of ultrasonic transducers is a linear array.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scan head of claim 30 wherein the region of interest is a trapezoidal region of interest.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scan head of claim 22 wherein the array of ultrasonic transducers is a curved array.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scan head of claim 22 wherein the array of ultrasonic transducers is a phased array.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The scan head of claim 22 further comprising a memory for downloading delay values to the beam forming circuitry, said delay values being used to delay the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of scanning a region of interest with ultrasound radiation comprising: providing an array of ultrasonic transducers; receiving reflected ultrasonic signals from the region of interest with the ultrasonic transducers, the ultrasonic transducers converting the received ultrasonic signals into electrical signals; providing beam forming circuitry that receives the electrical signals, the beaming forming circuitry including a programmable sample selection circuit, a delay circuit and a control circuit electrically connected to the sampling circuit and the delay circuit; sampling the electrical signals with the beam forming circuitry such that each electrical signal is sampled during one of plural preset timing windows and delaying the sampled electrical signals, the sampled and delayed electrical signals being used to generate an electrical representation of the region of interest.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of scanning a region of interest with ultrasound radiation comprising: providing an array of ultrasonic transducers; receiving reflected ultrasonic signals from the region of interest with the ultrasonic transducers, the ultrasonic transducers converting the received ultrasonic signals into electrical signals; providing beam forming circuitry that receives the electrical signals, the beaming forming circuitry including a programmable sample selection circuit, a delay circuit and a control circuit electrically connected to the sampling circuit and the delay circuit; sampling the electrical signals with the beam forming circuitry such that each electrical signal is sampled during one of plural preset timing windows and delaying the sampled electrical signals, the sampled and delayed electrical signals being used to generate an electrical representation of the region of interest.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the step of providing beam forming circuitry further comprises providing a programmable tapped CCD delay line for each transducer to delay a sampled electrical signal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the sampled electrical signal is a discrete-time analog sample.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of providing pulse synchronization circuitry to provide timing signals to the array of ultrasonic transducers to time ultrasonic signals transmitted into the region of interest by the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising: amplifying the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers; and coupling the amplified signals to the beam forming circuitry.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising storing data used to control the beam forming circuitry in memory, said memory downloading the data to local memory associated with each beam forming circuit.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising controlling voltage levels of the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers with gain control circuitry.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising generating an image of the region of interest.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the region of interest is a trapezoidal region.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ultrasound imaging system comprising: an array of ultrasonic transducers that receives reflected ultrasonic signals from a region of interest, the transducers converting the received ultrasonic signals into electrical signals; and beam forming circuitry that receives the electrical signals, said beam forming circuitry comprising: a programmable sample selection circuit for each transducer, said sample selection circuit controlling sampling the electrical signals such that each electrical signal is sampled during one of plural preset timing windows; a delay circuit having a plurality of stages that delays a sampled electrical signal from the sample selection circuit; and a filter having a plurality of weighted multiplier circuits, each connected to a stage of the delay circuit, the filter generating filtered electrical signals such that the filtered electrical signals can be used to generate an electrical representation of the region of interest.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ultrasound imaging system comprising: an array of ultrasonic transducers that receives reflected ultrasonic signals from a region of interest, the transducers converting the received ultrasonic signals into electrical signals; and beam forming circuitry that receives the electrical signals, said beam forming circuitry comprising: a programmable sample selection circuit for each transducer, said sample selection circuit controlling sampling the electrical signals such that each electrical signal is sampled during one of plural preset timing windows; a delay circuit having a plurality of stages that delays a sampled electrical signal from the sample selection circuit; and a filter having a plurality of weighted multiplier circuits, each connected to a stage of the delay circuit, the filter generating filtered electrical signals such that the filtered electrical signals can be used to generate an electrical representation of the region of interest.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
53 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 further comprising: a housing in which the ultrasonic transducers and the beam forming circuitry are housed; and processing circuitry which receives the electrical representation of the region of interest and processes the electrical representation such that an image of the region of interest can be generated.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 wherein the delay circuit comprises an analog programmable tapped CCD delay line.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 wherein the sampled electrical signal is a discrete-time analog sample.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 further comprising pulse synchronization circuitry that provides timing signals to the array of ultrasonic transducers to time ultrasonic signals transmitted into the region of interest by the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 further comprising amplification circuitry that amplifies the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 further comprising driver circuitry that generates signals to drive the ultrasonic transducers to transmit the ultrasonic signals.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 further comprising memory circuitry for storing data used to control the beam forming circuitry.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 further comprising gain control circuitry for controlling voltage levels of the electrical signals from the ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 wherein the array of ultrasonic transducers is a linear array.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 53 wherein the region of interest is a trapezoidal region of interest.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasound imaging system of claim 44 wherein the array of ultrasonic transducers is a curved array.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |