Ultrasound system and method
AssigneeSignostics Limited
InventorsStewart BARTLETT, Matthew McCARTHY, Essa EL-AKLOUK, Andrew NIEMIEC
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasound transducer probe unit (106) is disclosed. In an embodiment, the probe unit (106) includes a body (108) portion, at least one transducer element (201) for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals and a lens element (1200) encapsulating a fluid medium to couple the ultrasonic signal from the at least one transducer element (201). The lens element (1200) includes at least one textured surface (1202) adapted to reduce reflections of the transmitted and/or received ultrasound signals.
Claims17
1-13. (canceled)
An ultrasound transducer probe unit including:
- a. a body portion;
- b. a transducer element on the body portion, the transducer element being configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals;
- and
- c. a lens element adjacent the transducer element, the lens element:
- (1) encapsulating a fluid medium, whereby the fluid medium couples ultrasonic signals from the transducer element with a body to be imaged adjacent the lens element;
- (2) including at least one textured surface configured to reduce reflections of ultrasound signals transmitted into and/or received from the body to be imaged.
A drive mechanism for an ultrasound transducer, the drive mechanism including:
- a. a motor having a drive shaft;
- b. a transducer arrangement:
- (1) having the transducer thereon,
- (2) being pivotally mounted about a pivot axis, and
- (3) having at least substantially elliptical slot disposed thereon,
- c. a coupling between the drive shaft and the transducer arrangement, the coupling including a pin member which is
- (1) rotated by the drive shaft through a circular path of motion, and
- (2) received within the slot,
- whereby rotation of the pin member over the circular path of motion cooperates with the slot to reciprocate the transducer arrangement about the pivot axis over an angular range.
An ultrasound transducer probe unit including:
- a. a body portion;
- and
- b. at least two transducer elements on the body portion, the transducer elements being configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals, wherein the received ultrasound signals are processed to dynamically focus the ultrasound signals to improve image quality.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.