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US 5,678,554 AGranted
Ultrasound transducer for multiple focusing and method for manufacture thereof
AssigneeAcuson Corporation
InventorsJohn Hossack, Christopher R. Cole, Jian-Hua Mo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasound transducer having an elevation profile or surface geometry for focusing various frequency ultrasound beams at various focal points. The elevation profile or surface geometry is defined by at least two different geometries.
Claims33
A transducer array for producing an ultrasound beam upon excitation, the transducer array comprising:
- a plurality of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements having a non-planar surface facing a region of examination wherein each of the transducer elements has a shape that focuses different frequency components at different focal points.
An ultrasound transducer array comprising:
- a plurality of transducer elements, each transducer element having a front surface facing a region of examination, a back surface, two side portions and a thickness between the front portion and the back portion wherein the thickness is greater at each of the side portions than between the side portions, the front surface being generally non-planar wherein each of the transducer elements produce an ultrasound beam that is focused at a first focal point when a first frequency is used to excite the transducer elements and wherein each of the transducer elements produce an ultrasound beam that is focused at a second focal point when a second frequency is used to excite the transducer elements, wherein the second focal point is different from the first focal point.
An ultrasound system for generating an image, the system comprising:
- transmit circuitry for transmitting electrical signals to a transducer probe;
- a transducer probe for transmitting an ultrasound beam produced by a given frequency excitation and for receiving pressure waves reflected from a body being examined;
- and
- receive circuitry for processing the signals received by the transducer probe, the transducer probe comprising a plurality of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements having a non-planar surface facing a region of examination wherein each of the transducer elements has a shape that can focus different frequency components at more than one focal point.
1 more element
An ultrasound system for generating an image comprising:
- transmit circuitry for transmitting electrical signals to a transducer probe;
- a transducer probe for transmitting an ultrasound beam produced by a given frequency excitation and for receiving pressure waves reflected from a body being examined;
- and
- receive circuitry for processing the signals received by the transducer probe, the transducer probe comprising a plurality of transducer elements, each transducer element having a front surface facing a region of examination, a back surface, two side portions and a thickness between the front portion and the back portion wherein the thickness is greater at each of the side portions than between the side portions, the front surface being generally non-planar wherein each of the transducer elements produces an ultrasound beam that is focused at a first focal point when a first frequency is used to excite the transducer elements and wherein each of the transducer elements produce an ultrasound beam that is focused at a second focal point when a second frequency is used to excite the transducer elements wherein the second focal point is different from the first focal point.
1 more element
A method of making a transducer for producing an ultrasound beam upon excitation, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements comprising a front surface facing a region of examination, a back surface, two side portions and a thickness between the front portion and the back portion wherein the thickness is greater at each of the side portions than between the side portions, the front surface being generally non-planar wherein each of the transducer elements produces an ultrasound beam that is focused at a first focal point when a first frequency is used to excite the transducer elements and wherein each of the transducer elements produce an ultrasound beam that is focused at a second focal point when a second frequency is used to excite the transducer elements wherein the second focal point is different from the first focal point;
- and
- establishing an electric field through at least one portion of each transducer element.
A method of making a transducer for producing an ultrasound beam upon excitation, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements comprising a non-planar surface facing a region of examination wherein each of the transducer elements has a shape that focuses different frequency components at at least one of a plurality of focal points;
- and
- establishing an electric field through at least one portion of each transducer element.
A method for producing an image in response to excitation of a transducer for generating an ultrasound beam, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing electrical signals to a transducer probe for transmitting a beam of ultrasound pressure waves to an object being examined such that the transducer probe includes a plurality of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements comprising a non-planar surface facing a region of examination wherein each of the transducer elements has a shape that focuses different frequency components at more than one focal point;
- receiving pressure waves reflected from the object being examined and converting the received pressure waves into electrical signals;
- processing the received electrical signals;
- and
- displaying the object being examined.
2 more elements
A transducer array for producing an ultrasound beam upon stimulation with excitation pulses, the transducer array comprising:
- a plurality of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements having a thickness that varies in the elevation direction from a first end of the transducer element to the second end of the transducer element wherein the transducer element is thinnest at the first end and thickest at the second end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.