Hierarchical Switching in Ultra-High Density Ultrasound Array

A method of delivering target acoustic energy to body tissue using a transducer having a multiplicity of transducer elements, the method comprising:

• identifying one or more of the transducer elements to be activated in order to transmit a targeted acoustic energy burst from the transducer;
• providing as inputs to each of a plurality of first tier switching modules a plurality of drive signals having phase differences;
• selectively outputting a respective one of the drive signals from each of the plurality of first tier switching modules,
• providing as inputs to each of a plurality of second tier switching modules a respective one of the drive signals output from the first tier modules;
• for each of the plurality of second tier switching modules, selectively coupling the respective input drive signal to one or more transducer elements of a respective grouping of transducer elements connected to the respective second tier switching module.

A system for delivery targeted acoustic energy to tissue, comprising:

• a transducer having a multiplicity of transducer elements;
• a controller;
• a plurality of first tier switching modules, each first tier module receiving as inputs a plurality drive signals having respective phase differences;
• and configured to selectively output one of the drive signals based on a respective drive signal selection signal received from the controller, and
• a plurality of second tier switching modules, each second tier module receiving as an input a selected drive signal output from a respective first tier module, and configured to selectively couple the drive signal to one or more transducer elements of a respective grouping of transducer elements connected to the respective second tier switching module based on a respective transducer element selection signal received form the controller.
• wherein the controller is configured to supply the respective drive signal and transducer element selection signals to the first and second tier switching modules in order to activate a selected subset of the transducer elements to thereby transmit a targeted acoustic energy burst.