# US 11,026,662 B2 · Ultrasound transmit/receive for pulse inversion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,662 B2 - Document ID: US11026662B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/868,733 - Filed: 2018-01-11 - Published: 2019-07-11 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-11 - Assignees: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Applicants: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Inventors: David A. Petersen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026662B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device} - A61B 8/0883: {for diagnosis of the heart} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/4488: {the transducer being a phased array} - A61B 8/52: {Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves} - A61B 8/5207: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image} - G01S 7/52017: {particularly adapted to short-range imaging (G01S7/53 takes precedence)} - G01S 7/52039: {exploiting the non-linear response of a contrast enhancer, e.g. a contrast agent (diagnostic techniques involving the use of contrast agents A61B8/481)} - G01S 7/5208: {with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead} - G01S 15/89: for mapping or imaging - G01S 15/8925: {the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays} - G01S 15/8963: {using pulse inversion} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract For phase inversion-based ultrasound imaging with a transmit and receive circuit at an array, a unipolar transmitter is used to reduce the number of high voltage wires. Rather than adding a T/R switch or increasing connections by connecting the receive amplifier to a different electrode than the transmitter, two different receive paths from the element to the receive amplifier are provided. One path is used where the unipolar transmitter ends in one state (e.g., 0V), and the other path is used where the unipolar transmitter ends in another state (e.g., Vtx). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transmit and receive system for ultrasound pulse inversion, the transmit and receive circuit comprising: an ultrasound transducer element; a unipolar transmitter connected with the ultrasound transducer element, the unipolar transmitter configured to generate transmit waveforms ending in a relatively high or low state; a receiver connected with the ultrasound transducer element by first and second separate signal paths from the ultrasound transducer element; and a controller configured to select between the first and second separate signal paths based on the unipolar transmitter ending in the relatively high or low state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transmit and receive system of claim 1 wherein the unipolar transmitter, receiver, and controller are in an application specific integrated circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The transmit and receive system of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound transducer element comprises a grounding electrode and a signal electrode, and wherein the unipolar transmitter and the receiver both connect to the signal electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The transmit and receive system of claim 3 wherein the unipolar transmitter and the receiver both connect to the signal electrode without an intervening transmit/receive switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transmit and receive system of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound transducer element is part of a multi-dimensional transducer array in an intracardiac echocardiography catheter, the unipolar transmitter and the receiver being in the intracardiac echocardiography catheter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The transmit and receive system of claim 1 wherein the unipolar transmitter has a single high-voltage power supply. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The transmit and receive system of claim 1 wherein the unipolar transmitter comprises first and second high voltage switches, the first high voltage switch connected through a first low voltage switch to a power supply, the first signal path connected between the first high voltage switch and the first low voltage switch, the second high voltage switch connected through a second low voltage switch to ground, the second signal path connected between the second high voltage switch and the second low voltage switch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The transmit and receive system of claim 7 wherein the controller is configured to, during receive operations where the unipolar transmitter ended in the relatively high state, close the first high voltage switch, open the second high voltage switch, and open the first and second low voltage switches, and wherein the controller is configured to, during receive operations where the unipolar transmitter ended in the relatively low state, close the second high voltage switch, open the first high voltage switch, and open the first and second low voltage switches. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transmit and receive system of claim 1 wherein the first and second signal paths have alternating current coupled capacitors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The transmit and receive system of claim 9 wherein the first and second signal paths have first and second low voltage switches between the alternating current coupled capacitors and the receiver, and wherein the controller is configured to open the first low voltage switch and close the second low voltage switch where the unipolar transmitter ends on the relative low state and is configured to open the second low voltage switch and close the first low voltage switch where the unipolar transmitter ends on the relatively high state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The transmit and receive system of claim 9 further comprising: an image processor configured to compensate for mismatch between the alternating current coupled capacitors in signals output from the receiver. ### Claim 12 A transmit and receive circuit for ultrasound, the transmit and receive circuit comprising: a unipolar transmitter configured to provide a waveform to a transducer element; a receive amplifier; and first and second receive paths configured to receive signals from the transducer element and connected with an input to the receive amplifier, the first and second receive paths comprise first and second capacitors, respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The transmit and receive circuit of claim 12 wherein the unipolar transmitter is configured to connect to a single power supply. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The transmit and receive circuit of claim 12 wherein the first and second receive paths are configured to connect with an electrode of an element, and wherein the unipolar transmitter is configured to connect with the electrode. ### Claim 15 A transmit and receive circuit for ultrasound, the transmit and receive circuit comprising: a unipolar transmitter; a receive amplifier; first and second receive paths connected with an input to the receive amplifier a power source input, a ground connector, and a transducer element connector; wherein the unipolar transmitter includes first and second high voltage transistors and first and second low voltage transistors, the first high voltage transistor and the first low voltage transistor connected in series between the transducer element connector and the power source input, the second high voltage transistor and the second low voltage transistor connected in series between the transducer element connectors and the ground connector, the first receive path connected between the first high voltage transistor and the first low voltage transistor, the second receive path connected between the second high voltage transistor and the second low voltage transistor. ### Claim 16 A method for receiving pulse inversion signals in ultrasound, the method comprising: generating, with a unipolar pulser, first and second transmit waveforms in sequence, the first transmit waveform ending with a first voltage state and the second transmit waveform ending with a second voltage state different than the first voltage state; routing a first receive signal responsive to the first transmit waveform along a first path from an element to a receive amplifier; routing a second receive signal responsive to the second transmit waveform along a second path from the element to the receive amplifier; and selecting the routing along the first and second paths based on the first and second voltage states. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein routing along the first path comprises shifting a direct current level while preserving alternating current. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein routing along the first and second paths comprises routing with transistors of the unipolar pulser during receive operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The transmit and receive circuit of claim 15 wherein the first and second low voltage transistors are configured to be opened during receive operation, wherein the first high voltage transistor is configured, during the receive operation, to be closed when the unipolar transmitter ends a transmission in a first state and open when the unipolar transmitter ends the transmission in a second state; and wherein the second high voltage transistor is configured, during the receive operation, to be open when the unipolar transmitter ends the transmission in the first state and closed when the unipolar transmitter ends the transmission in the second state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The transmit and receive circuit of claim 15 wherein the first and second receive paths comprise first and second capacitors, respectively.