Multi-dimensional transducer array and beamforming for ultrasound imaging
AssigneeSiemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
InventorPaul Wagner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The electrodes for a CMUT are split to provide separate transmit and receive bias and alternating current electrodes. The transmit electrodes of different elements are interconnected, such as rows sharing bias and columns sharing transmit alternating signals. The bias is used to select an aperture in elevation, and only a sufficient number of transmit beamformer channels to use the selected aperture are needed. On receive, the full multi-dimensional array may be used with integrated beamformer electronics.
Claims20
An ultrasound transducer for medical imaging, the ultrasound transducer comprising:
- a multi-dimensional array of elements, each of the elements comprising at least one capacitive membrane ultrasound transducer cell having a membrane over a cavity and having at least first and second electrically isolated electrodes on a same side of the cavity;
- a first electrical interconnection connecting the first electrodes along a first direction of the multi-dimensional array such that different elements spaced along the first direction are electrically connected together;
- and
- a second electrical interconnection connecting the second electrodes along a second direction, different than the first direction, of the multi-dimensional array such that different elements spaced along the second direction are electrically connected together.
A system for transducing between electrical and acoustic energies for ultrasound imaging, the system comprising:
- a multi-dimensional array of capacitive membrane ultrasound transducer elements, cells of the elements each having at least first, second and third electrically isolated electrodes;
- a transmit bias source connected to the first electrodes, the first electrodes of at least two elements being interconnected;
- and
- a receive bias source connected to the second electrodes, the second electrodes of at least two elements being interconnected.
A method for volume scanning in ultrasound imaging, the method comprising:
- generating transmit beams from a multi-dimensional array of transducer elements with N transmit beamformer channels and M transmit bias channels;
- and
- generating receive beams from the multi-dimensional array of transducer elements with N times M receive beamformer channels.
A method for volume scanning in ultrasound imaging, the method comprising:
- generating transmit beams from a multi-dimensional array of transducer elements with bias selection of a sub-aperture responsive to transmit waveforms;
- and
- generating receive beams with independent operation of the transducer elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.