Ultrasound imaging transducer array for synthetic aperture
AssigneeSiemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
InventorsTimothy Proulx, Christopher Daft, J. Mohr, Walter Wilser, Charles Bradley, Paul Wagner, Igal Ladabaum
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Abstract
Synthetic transmit aperture is provided for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging. A transducer may have separate transmit and receive elements. Broad beams are transmitted, allowing fewer transmit elements and/or more rapid scanning. A multidimensional receive array generates data in response to sequential transmissions, such as transmissions from different angles. The data is combined to increase resolution. A transducer array with offset transmit elements for forming a transmit line source may be used.
Claims36
A method for ultrasound imaging with a synthetic aperture, the method comprising:
- transmitting broadly from first and second transmit elements sequentially;
- receiving with a receive array echoes responsive to the sequential transmissions, elements of the receive array being separate from the transmit elements;
- and
- combining signals responsive to the echoes of the sequential transmissions.
A method for ultrasound imaging with a synthetic aperture, the method comprising:
- transmitting broadly from first and second transmit elements at different angles relative to a volume of interest;
- receiving with a multidimensional receive array echoes responsive to the sequential transmissions, elements of the receive array being separate from the transmit elements;
- and
- combining signals responsive to the echoes of the sequential transmissions.
A method for ultrasound imaging with a synthetic aperture, the method comprising:
- acquiring first and second confocal data sets in response to sequential transmissions, the first and second confocal data sets each representing a full volume, the acquisition being with a fully sampled two-dimensional receive array;
- and
- synthesizing the first and second confocal data sets.
A transducer system for synthetic aperture in ultrasound imaging, the transducer system comprising:
- at least two transmit elements;
- a transmit circuit operable to cause the at least two transmit elements to transmit acoustic energy in at least two plane or diverging wavefronts, respectively, in sequential transmissions;
- a multidimensional receive array of N receive elements, the receive elements separate from the at least two transmit elements;
- and
- a receive circuit electrically connected with the receive elements, the receive circuit operable to combine data representing a same volume and responsive to the sequential transmissions.
An ultrasound transducer for synthetic aperture, the ultrasound transducer comprising:
- a first array of elements;
- a second array of elements offset from the first array, the second array of elements operable to form a diverging wavefront with a focal region closer to the first array than the second array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.