Multi-patch array, ultrasound system, and method for obtaining an extended field of view
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsMan Nguyen, Shyam Bharat, Nico Maris Adriaan De Wild
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Abstract
A multi-patch ultrasound array according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of patches of transducer elements, the plurality of patches arranged along a first direction of the array, and a frame connecting the plurality of patches such that adjacent ones of the plurality of patches are slidable relative to one another in a second direction of the array which is perpendicular to the first direction.
Claims20
A multi-patch ultrasonic array defining a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the array comprising:
- a transmission direction;
- a plurality of patches of transducer elements, the plurality of patches arranged substantially along the first axis of the array;
- a frame connecting the plurality of patches wherein adjacent patches of the plurality of patches are slidable relative to one another in the direction of the second axis;
- and
- wherein the first and second axes of the array are substantially perpendicular to the transmission direction of the array.
An ultrasound imaging system for providing a large field of view along a blood vessel, the system comprising:
- a multi-patch ultrasonic array comprising a transmission direction and a plurality of ultrasound patches of transducer elements arranged substantially along a first axis of the array arranged along the blood vessel, wherein each patch of the plurality of ultrasound patches is individually operable to transmit signals toward and receive signals from the blood vessel, and wherein each patch of the plurality of ultrasound patches is slidable relative to an adjacent patch along a second axis of the array perpendicular to the first axis to customize a field of view of the array to follow along the blood vessel;
- wherein the first and second axes are substantially perpendicular to the transmission direction of the array;
- a frame connecting the plurality of ultrasound patches;
- an ultrasound scanner configured to generate an ultrasound image of at least a portion of the field of view from the received signals;
- and
- a communication link configured to selectively couple each of the plurality of patches to the ultrasound scanner.
A multi-patch ultrasonic array configured to transmit ultrasound toward a region of interest in a transmission direction and defining a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the array comprising:
- a plurality of patches of transducer elements, the plurality of patches arranged substantially along the first axis of the array;
- a frame connecting the plurality of patches wherein adjacent patches are slidable relative to one another in the direction of the second axis, each of said first axis and said second axis being substantially perpendicular to the transmission direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.