Method and apparatus for focusing transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams

A method of focusing ultrasonic waves at a plurality of focal points and a plurality of lines in a body, each of said focal points corresponding to a zone within said body, wherein said waves are transmitted from a source into said body according to a set of time delays and transmit parameters and are reflected from discontinuities within said body, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a plurality of zones, wherein said plurality of zones have a plurality of focal points, wherein each of said plurality of focal points is within one of said plurality of zones;
• optimizing the transmit frequency of said ultrasonic waves for each of said plurality of zones by increasing the frequency of said waves at depths in the near field of said object, such that the ultrasonic waves are localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• optimizing the bandwidth of said ultrasonic waves for each of said plurality of zones by increasing the frequency of said waves at depths in the near field of said object, such that the ultrasonic waves are localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• determining the time delays between transmission necessary to ensure that ultrasonic waves subsequently transmitted to one of said focal points do not interfere with the reception of reflected ultrasonic waves from the remaining of said plurality of focal points, and
• scanning the body along a plurality of scan lines with the ultrasonic waves that are transmitted and focused in each of the plurality of zones using the time delays, the transmit frequency and the bandwidth for each of the plurality of zones, such that the ultrasonic waves for each of the plurality of zones has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the ultrasonic waves in each of the plurality of zones, wherein the reflected ultrasonic waves from zones outside any one of the plurality of zones are reduced in strength when transmitting ultrasonic waves to said one of the plurality of zones to avoid interference with the reflected ultrasonic waves from said one of said plurality of zones, such that all of the reflected ultrasonic waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of zones is not received before transmitting ultrasonic waves to another of said plurality of zones along said one of said plurality of scan lines, such that an image of said object is generated according to said reflected ultrasonic waves.

An apparatus for generating an image of an object having discontinuities comprising:

• transmitter means for transmitting energy waves for imaging at a plurality of depths within said object, wherein the transmitter means includes means for optimizing the frequency of said energy waves for each of said plurality of depths and means for optimizing the bandwidth for each of said plurality of depths, wherein the transmitter means includes means for scanning the object along a plurality of scan lines with the energy waves, such that each of the plurality of depths has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the energy waves at each of the plurality of depths, wherein the reflected energy waves from zones outside any one of the plurality of depths are reduced in strength when transmitting energy waves to said one of the plurality of depths to avoid interference with the reflected energy waves from said one of said plurality of depths, such that all of the reflected energy waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of depths is not received before transmitting energy waves to another of said plurality of depths along said one of said plurality of scan lines. such that said waves are localized at said plurality of depths when transmitted during scanning of the object;
• and
• receiving means for receiving reflected energy waves corresponding to reflections of energy waves from the discontinuities within a given depth, wherein an image of said object is generated according to said reflected energy waves received by said receiving means.

An apparatus for generating an ultrasonic image of an object having discontinuities comprising:

• transmitter means for transmitting ultrasonic waves for imaging at a plurality of depths within an object, wherein the transmitter means includes means for dynamically focusing said ultrasonic waves at said plurality of depths, said means for dynamically focusing said ultrasonic waves includes means for optimizing the frequency of said ultrasonic waves for each of the plurality of depths and means for optimizing the bandwidth for each of the plurality of depths, such that each of the plurality of depths has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the energy waves at each of the plurality of depths, wherein the reflected ultrasonic waves from depths outside any one of the plurality of depths are reduced in strength when transmitting the ultrasonic waves to said one of the plurality of depths to avoid interference with the reflected ultrasonic waves from said one of the plurality of depths, wherein the frequency is varied for each of plurality of depths, such that the frequency of said ultrasonic waves is increased for depths nearer into said object in order to optimize the transmit frequency for each of said plurality of depths to localize the ultrasonic waves when transmitted during scanning of the object, wherein the transmitter means scans the object along a plurality of scan lines using the ultrasonic waves, such that all of the reflected energy waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of depths is not received before transmitting energy waves to another of said plurality of depths along said one of said plurality of scan lines;
• and
• receiving means for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves corresponding to reflections of ultrasonic waves from the discontinuities within a given depth, wherein an image of said object is generated in real-time according to said reflected ultrasonic waves received by said receiving means.

A method of focusing energy waves in a body at a plurality of focal points and a plurality of lines, each of said focal points corresponding to a zone within said body, wherein said waves are transmitted from a source into said body according to a set of time delays and transmit parameters and are reflected from discontinuities within said body, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a plurality of zones, wherein said plurality of zones have a plurality of focal points, wherein each of said plurality of focal points is associated with one of said plurality of zones, such that the energy is focused at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• optimizing the transmit frequency of the energy waves for each of said plurality of zones, such that the energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• optimizing the bandwidth of the energy waves for each of said plurality of zones, such that the energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• maintaining the aperture size of said waves, such that the size of said plurality of zones remains small during transmission;
• and
• determining the transmit time delays necessary to ensure that energy waves subsequently transmitted to one of said focal points do not interfere with the reception of reflected energy waves from the remaining of said plurality of focal points, and
• scanning the body along a plurality of scan lines with the energy waves that are transmitted and focused in each of the plurality of zones using the time delays, the transmit frequency and the bandwidth for each of the plurality of zones, such that the energy waves for each of the plurality of zones has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the energy waves in each of the plurality of zones, wherein the reflected energy waves from zones outside any one of the plurality of zones are reduced in strength when transmitting energy waves to said one of the plurality of zones to avoid interference with the reflected energy waves from said one of said plurality of zones, such that all of the reflected energy waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of zones is not received before transmitting energy waves to another of said plurality of zones along said one of said plurality of scan lines, wherein an image of said object is generated according to said reflected energy waves received from each of the plurality of zones.

A method of focusing energy waves into a body at a plurality of focal points, each of said focal points corresponding to a zone within said body, wherein said waves are transmitted from a source into said body according to a set of time delays and transmit parameters and are reflected from discontinuities within said body, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a plurality of zones, wherein said plurality of zones have a plurality of focal points, wherein each of said plurality of focal points is associated with one of said plurality of zones, such that the energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• optimizing the transmit frequency of the energy waves for each of said plurality of zones, such that the energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• optimizing the bandwidth of the energy waves for each of said plurality of zones, such that the energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• maintaining the aperture size of said waves, such that the size of said plurality of zones remains small during transmission;
• determining the time delays between transmission necessary to ensure that energy waves subsequently transmitted to one of said focal points do not interfere with the reception of reflected energy waves from the remaining of said plurality of focal points;
• and
• scanning the body along a plurality of scan lines with the energy waves that are transmitted and focused in each of the plurality of zones using the time delays, the transmit frequency and the bandwidth for each of the plurality of zones, such that the energy waves for each of the plurality of zones has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the energy waves in each of the plurality of zones, wherein the reflected energy waves from zones outside any one of the plurality of zones are reduced in strength when transmitting energy waves to said one of the plurality of zones to avoid interference with the reflected energy waves from said one of the plurality of zones, such that all of the reflected energy waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of zones is not received before transmitting energy waves to another of said plurality of zones along said one of said plurality of scan lines, wherein the step of scanning includes the step of selectively filtering the reflected energy waves during reception, such that an image of said object is generated according to said reflected energy waves.

A method of focusing energy waves in a body at a plurality of focal points, each of said focal points corresponding to a zone within said body, wherein said waves are transmitted from a source into said body according to a set of time delays and transmit parameters and are reflected from discontinuities within said body, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a plurality of zones, wherein said plurality of zones have a plurality of focal points, wherein each of said plurality of focal points is associated with one of said plurality of zones;
• optimizing the transmit frequency of the energy waves for each of said plurality of zones, such that the energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• varying the bandwidth of said waves for each of said plurality of zones during transmission, such that the energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body, wherein said step of varying said bandwidth comprises the step of varying the burst length of said waves during transmission;
• maintaining the aperture size of said waves, such that the size of said plurality of zones remains small during transmission;
• and
• determining the time delays necessary to ensure that energy waves subsequently transmitted to one of said focal points do not interfere with the reception of reflected energy waves from the remaining of said plurality of focal points, and
• scanning the body along a plurality of scan lines with the energy waves that are transmitted and focused in each of the plurality of zones using the time delays, the transmit frequency and the bandwidth for each of the plurality of zones, such that the energy waves for each of the plurality of zones has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the energy waves in each of the plurality of zones, wherein the reflected energy waves from zones outside any one of the plurality of zones are reduced in strength when transmitting energy waves to said one of the plurality of zones to avoid interference with the reflected energy waves from said one of the plurality of zones, such that all of the reflected energy waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of zones is not received before transmitting energy waves to another of said plurality of zones along said one of said plurality of scan lines, wherein the step of scanning includes the step of receiving the reflected energy waves, such that an image of said object is generated according to said reflected energy waves.

A method of focusing ultrasonic waves in a body at a plurality of focal points and a plurality of lines, each of said focal points corresponding to a zone within said body, wherein said waves are transmitted from a source into said body according to a set of time delays and transmit parameters and are reflected from discontinuities within said body, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a plurality of zones, wherein said plurality of zones have a plurality of focal points, wherein each of said plurality of focal points is associated with one of said plurality of zones;
• optimizing the transmit frequency of the ultrasonic waves for each of said plurality of zones, such that the ultrasonic waves are localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• optimizing the bandwidth of said ultrasonic waves for each of said plurality of zones by reducing the burst length of said waves at depths in the near field of said object, such that the ultrasonic waves is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• maintaining the aperture size of said waves, such that the size of said plurality of zones remains small during transmission;
• determining the time delays necessary to ensure that ultrasonic waves subsequently transmitted to one of said focal points do not interfere with the reception of reflected ultrasonic waves from the remaining of said plurality of focal points, and
• scanning the body along a plurality of scan lines with the ultrasonic waves that are transmitted and focused in each of the plurality of zones using the time delays, the transmit frequency and the bandwidth for each of the plurality of zones, such that the ultrasonic waves for each of the plurality of zones has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the ultrasonic waves in each of the plurality of zones, wherein the reflected ultrasonic waves from zones outside any one of the plurality of zones are reduced in strength when transmitting ultrasonic waves to said one of the plurality of zones to avoid interference with the reflected ultrasonic waves of said one of the plurality of zones, such that all of the reflected ultrasonic waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of zones is not received before transmitting ultrasonic waves to another of said plurality of zones along said one of said plurality of scan lines, wherein the step of scanning includes the step of receiving the reflected energy waves, such that an image of said object is generated according to said reflected ultrasonic waves.

An apparatus for generating an image on an object having discontinuities comprising:

• transmitter means for transmitting energy waves for imaging at a plurality of depths within an object, wherein the transmitter means includes means for optimizing the bandwidth of said energy waves for each of said plurality of depths, means for optimizing the frequency for each of said plurality of depths, and means for maintaining the aperture, wherein the transmitter means transmits the energy waves into the object along a plurality of scan lines, such that each of the plurality of depths has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the energy waves at each of the plurality of depths while maintaining the aperture, wherein the reflected energy waves from depths outside any one of the plurality of depths are reduced in strength when transmitting energy waves to said one of the plurality of depths to avoid interference with the reflected energy waves from said one of said plurality of depths, such that all of the reflected energy waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of depths is not received before transmitting energy waves to another of said plurality of depths along said one of said plurality of scan lines, such that said waves are localized to said plurality of depths;
• and
• receiving means for receiving reflected energy waves corresponding to reflections of energy waves from the discontinuities within a given depth, wherein an image of said object is generated according to said reflected energy waves received by said receiving means.

An apparatus for generating an ultrasonic image on an object having discontinuities comprising:

• transmitter means for transmitting ultrasonic waves for imaging at a plurality of depths within an object, wherein the transmitter means includes means for dynamically focusing said ultrasonic waves at said plurality of depths, such that the ultrasonic waves are localized for each of said plurality of depths, wherein the means for dynamically focusing includes means for optimizing the bandwidth of said ultrasonic waves, wherein the burst length is varied, such that the burst length of said ultrasonic waves is reduced for depths nearer into said object in order to optimize the transmit frequency for each of said plurality of depths, and wherein the means for dynamically focusing includes means for optimizing the frequency for each of said plurality of depths and means for maintaining the aperture, wherein the transmitter means transmits the ultrasonic waves into the object along a plurality of scan lines, such that each of the plurality of depths has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the ultrasonic waves at each of the plurality of depths while maintaining the aperture, wherein the reflected ultrasonic waves from zones outside any one of the plurality of depths are reduced in strength when transmitting ultrasonic waves to said one of the plurality of depths to avoid interference with reflected ultrasonic waves from said one of the plurality of depths, such that all of the reflected ultrasonic waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of depths is not received before transmitting ultrasonic waves to another of said plurality of depths along said one of said plurality of scan lines;
• and
• receiving means for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves corresponding to reflections of ultrasonic waves from the discontinuities within a given depth, wherein said receiving means performs focusing of said reflected ultrasonic waves, such that said receiving means is focused to receive ultrasonic waves from the depth at which said transmitting means is focusing the transmission of ultrasonic waves, wherein an image of said object is generated in real-time according to said reflected ultrasonic waves received by said receiving means.

A system for producing images of a portion of a body utilizing wave energy which is reflected from reflectors within said body, said portion being comprised of a plurality of zones, said system comprising:

• source means for transmitting a plurality of concentrated beam profiles of wave energy into said body, such that each of said plurality of beam profiles is focused at one of said zones within said body, and wherein said plurality of beam profiles are transmitted in a specific temporal order, such that at least one of said beam profiles is transmitted to one of said plurality of zones, said one zone being non-adjacent to the zone of the previously transmitted beam profile, wherein the source means includes
• means for optimizing the transmit frequency of the wave energy for each of said plurality of zones, such that the wave energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body,
• means for optimizing the bandwidth of said wave energy for each of said plurality of zones, such that the wave energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body, and
• means for maintaining the aperture size of said wave energy, such that the size of said plurality of zones remains small during transmission, wherein the source means concentrates wave energy into the object along a plurality of scan lines, such that each of the plurality of depths has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the wave energy at each of the plurality of depths while maintaining the aperture, wherein the reflected wave energy from zones outside any one of the plurality of depths are reduced in strength when concentrating wave energy in said one of the plurality of depths to avoid interference with the reflected wave energy from said one of the plurality of depths, such that all of the reflected wave energy along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of depths is not received before transmitting wave energy to another of said plurality of depths along said one of said plurality of scan lines, and,
• receiving means for receiving the reflected wave energy from said reflectors in said body, wherein said source means transmits the next of said plurality of beam profiles after said receiving means receives the reflected wave energy from the maximum depth of the beam profile preceding said next of said beam profiles.

A method for imaging an object in a body using energy waves, wherein said waves are transmitted from a source into said body according to a set of time delays and transmit parameters and are reflected from discontinuities within said body, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a plurality of zones, wherein said plurality of zones have a plurality of focal points, wherein each of said plurality of focal points is associated with one of said plurality of zones, such that the energy can be localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• determining the time delays between transmits necessary to ensure that energy waves subsequently transmitted to one of said focal points do not interfere with the reception of reflected energy waves from the remaining of said plurality of focal points;
• and
• focusing continuously said energy waves in a plane during transmission and reception into a body at said plurality of focal points, including focusing said energy which is out of said plane, such that the size of each of said plurality of zones may be reduced producing an improved focus,
• wherein the step of continuously focusing energy waves includes the steps of optimizing the transmit frequency of the energy waves for each of said plurality of zones, such that the energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• optimizing the bandwidth of the energy waves for each of said plurality of zones, such that the energy is localized at said plurality of focal points within said body;
• maintaining the aperture size of said waves, such that the size of said plurality of zones remains small during transmission, such that the energy waves for each of the plurality of zones has a single frequency and bandwidth to localize the energy waves in each of the plurality of zones, wherein the reflected energy waves from zones outside any one of the plurality of zones are reduced in strength when transmitting ultrasonic waves to said one of the plurality of zones, wherein the energy waves are transmitted into the body along a plurality of scan lines and reflected energy waves are produced, such that all of the reflected energy waves along one of said plurality of scan lines from one of said plurality of zones is not received before transmitting energy waves to another of said plurality of zones along said one of said plurality of scan lines, such that an image of said object is generated according to said reflected ultrasonic waves.