Ultrasound transmit pulser with receive interconnection and method of use

A method for using an ultrasound transmit pulser system with receive interconnection, the method comprising:

• (a) switchably connecting the transducer element to a first input of an amplifier with a first switch;
• and
• (b) switchably connecting a power source to a transducer element with a second switch;
• (c) alternately performing (a) and (b) during a transmit operation;
• and
• (d) disconnecting the power source with the second switch and connecting the transducer element to the first input with the first switch during receive operation.

An ultrasound transmit pulser system with receive interconnection, the system comprising:

• a transducer element having first and second electrodes on opposite sides of transducer material;
• an H-bridge of transistors, first and second transistors of the H-bridge connected with the first electrode and third and fourth transistors of the H-bridge connected with the second electrode;
• a differential receive amplifier connected with the first and third transistors;
• and
• first and second diode clamps connected with the first and third transistors, respectively.

An ultrasound system for medical diagnostic imaging, the system comprising:

• a transducer having at least one element;
• a receive beamformer comprising an amplifier, the receive beamformer connected with the transducer;
• a transmit beamformer comprising a power source, a first switch connected with the at least one transducer element and a first input of the amplifier and a second switch connected with the at least one transducer element and the power source;
• and
• an image processor connected with the receive beamformer.