Phased array ultrasound imaging system with dynamic elevation focusing

A phased array ultrasound scanner comprising:

• a phased array ultrasound transducer including a plurality of transducer elements disposed along a lateral axis, said transducer having an aperture with an elevation dimension parallel to an elevation axis that increases between a midpoint of the aperture along said lateral axis and each end of the aperture along said lateral axis;
• a transmitter for transmitting ultrasound energy with said transducer along a transmit line;
• and
• a receiver for receiving reflected ultrasound energy with an active receive aperture of said transducer and for forming a receive beam.

A phased array ultrasound scanner comprising:

• a phased array ultrasound transducer including a plurality of transducer elements disposed along a lateral axis, said transducer having an aperture with an elevation dimension parallel to an elevation axis that increases between a midpoint of the aperture along said lateral axis and each end of the aperture along said lateral axis;
• a transmitter for transmitting ultrasound energy with said transducer;
• and
• a receiver for receiving reflected ultrasound energy with an active receive aperture of said transducer and for forming a receive beam, said receiver including means for dynamically increasing said active receive aperture during reception of reflected ultrasound energy from progressively increasing depths such that said active receive aperture effectively increases in elevation dimension.