US5720708A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High frame rate imaging with limited diffraction beams
Assignee: Mayo Clinic in Florida
•
Filing: 1997-01-02
•
Granted: 1998-02-24
•
Expires: 2017-01-02
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic imaging system includes a 2D transducer array which transmits ultrasonic energy at an object to be imaged. The echo signals received at the separate transducer elements are weighted to produce limited diffraction beams and the weighted signals are Fourier transformed to produce a 3D k-space data array. A 3D image is produced by performing an inverse fast Fourier transform on the k-space data array.
Inventors
- 👤 Jian-yu Lu
- 👤 James F. Greenleaf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; G01S15/8925; G01S15/8977; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52046; G01S15/8993
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for producing an image using an imaging system, the steps comprising: a) transmitting a pulse of energy toward an object to be imaged; b) receiving echo signals from the object at separate elements of a transducer array; c) weighting the echo signals received at the separate elements to form limited diffraction receive beams; d) Fourier transforming the weighted echo signals to for a multi-dimensional k-space data set; e) interpolating the multi-dimensional k-space data set to produce a rectilinear multi-dimensional k-space data set; f) performing an inverse Fourier transformation of the interpolated k-space data set along each of its dimensions to produce an image data set; and g) producing an image from the image data set.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for producing an image using an imaging system, the steps comprising: a) transmitting a pulse of energy toward an object to be imaged; b) receiving echo signals from the object at separate elements of a transducer array; c) weighting the echo signals received at the separate elements to form limited diffraction receive beams; d) Fourier transforming the weighted echo signals to for a multi-dimensional k-space data set; e) interpolating the multi-dimensional k-space data set to produce a rectilinear multi-dimensional k-space data set; f) performing an inverse Fourier transformation of the interpolated k-space data set along each of its dimensions to produce an image data set; and g) producing an image from the image data set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as recited in claim 1 in which the separate elements in the transducer array are arranged in a two-dimensional array, the k-space data set has three dimensions, and the inverse Fourier transformation is performed along each of the three dimensions to produce a three-dimensional image data set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 1 in which the pulse of energy is transmitted using the separate elements of the transducer array, and the transmissions of each separate element are weighted to produce a limited diffraction beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 which further includes the step of time gating the received echo signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 which includes digitizing the weighted echo signals prior to Fourier transforming them.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the pulse of energy is an ultrasonic plane wave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 in which the transducer array is used to produce the plane wave by energizing its separate elements in a similar manner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 1 in which both the transmitted pulse of energy and the limited diffraction receive beam are steered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 1 in which steps a) through f) are repeated and both the transmitted pulse of energy and the limited diffraction receive beams are steered in a different direction toward the object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as recited in claim 9 in which the steering is performed electronically.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 1 in which steps a)-c) are performed a plurality of times and the steps include combining the corresponding plurality of limited diffraction receive beams to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 11 in which the combining step is performed before step d).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 11 in which the combining step is performed after step f).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as recited in claim 11 in which the combining step is performed coherently.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as recited in claim 11 in which the combining step is performed incoherently.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 1 in which the transformations performed in steps d) and f) are fast Fourier transformations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-23 | 2001-08-25 | 2002-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-23 | 2005-08-25 | 2006-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-23 | 2009-08-25 | 2010-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |