Moving electrode transducer for real time ultrasound imaging for use in medical applications

An ultrasound scanning system comprising:

• an array of transducer elements including:
• a two-dimensional array of electrodes, each transducer element including a single electrode from the two-dimensional array of electrodes, each electrode from the two-dimensional array of electrodes being electrically isolated from other electrodes in the two-dimensional array of electrodes,
• a common ground electrode, and
• piezoelectric ceramic material between the two-dimensional array of electrodes and the common ground electrode;
• and,
• an electrode array, movable with respect to the array of transducer elements, electrodes from the electrode array being in electrical contact with transducer elements from the array of transducer elements which are immediately adjacent to the electrodes.

An ultrasound scanning system comprising:

• an array of transducer elements;
• and,
• an electrode array, movable with respect to the array of transducer elements, electrodes from the electrode array being in electrical contact with transducer elements from the array of transducer elements which are immediately adjacent to the electrodes;
• wherein the electrode array comprises a plurality of annuli.

An ultrasound scanning system comprising:

• an array of transducer elements;
• and,
• an electrode array, movable with respect to the array of transducer elements, electrodes from the electrode array being in electrical contact with transducer elements from the array of transducer elements which are immediately adjacent to the electrodes;
• wherein the electrode array is arranged in a Fresnel pattern.

An ultrasound scanning system comprising:

• an array of transducer elements;
• and,
• an electrode array, movable with respect to the array of transducer elements, electrodes from the electrode array being in electrical contact with transducer elements from the array of transducer elements which are immediately adjacent to the electrodes;
• wherein the electrode array rotates with respect to the array of transducer elements.

A method for performing ultrasound scanning of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing a two dimensional array of transducer elements up against the object;
• (b) placing next to the two dimensional array of transducer elements a plurality of electrodes arranged in a pattern so that electrodes in the pattern are in electrical contact with a first set of transducer elements from the array of transducer elements which are immediately adjacent to the electrodes;
• (c) placing electrical signals through the plurality of electrodes resulting in generation of an ultrasound wave by the first set of transducer elements, the ultrasound wave substantially conforming to the pattern;
• and,
• (d) moving with respect to the two dimensional array of transducer elements, the plurality of electrodes, resulting in generation of the ultrasound wave by a second set of transducer elements, the second set of transducer elements being different than the first set of transducer elements.