Ultrasound system and method of administering ultrasound including a plurality of multi-layer transducer elements

A ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

• a. a source for providing first and second signals;
• and
• b. a transducer array connected to said source, said array including:
• i. a plurality of first multilayer transducer elements for providing ultrasonic energy at a first resonant frequency in response to said first signal;
• and
• ii. a plurality of second multilayer transducer elements for providing ultrasonic energy at a second resonant frequency in response to said second signal;
• and
• c. wherein said plurality of first transducer elements is acoustically isolated from said plurality of second transducer elements.

An ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

• a. a source for providing a first signal;
• and
• b. a transducer array connected to said source, said array having:
• i. a plurality of elements, each for providing ultrasonic energy in response to said first signal;
• ii. a plurality of element regions, each of which may contain a corresponding respective one of said plurality of elements;
• and
• iii. wherein at least one of said plurality of element regions does not contain one of said plurality of elements.

An ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

• a. a beamformer for providing a first signal;
• b. a processor connected to said beamformer;
• c. a probe connected to said beamformer, said probe having an ultrasonic transducer array having a plurality of transducer elements, at least one of which elements has multiple layers of piezoelectric material and an electrical impedance of less than 100 Ohms, wherein said at least one element provides ultrasonic energy having a frequency of more than 5 MHz in response to said first signal;
• d. user controls connected to said processor;
• and
• e. a display connected to said processor.

A method of administering ultrasound comprising the steps of:

• a. providing an ultrasound transducer array including:
• i. a plurality of first transducer elements for providing a first ultrasound signal, said plurality of first transducer elements each having a first resonant frequency;
• ii. a plurality of second transducer elements for providing a second ultrasound signal, said plurality of second resonant frequency that is different than said first resonant frequency;
• iii. wherein at least one of said plurality of first transducer elements and/or said plurality of second transducer elements has more than one layer of piezoelectric material:
• b. providing said first ultrasound signal from said transducer array;
• c. providing said second ultrasound signal from said transducer array;
• and
• d. wherein one of said first and second resonant frequencies is greater than 10 MHz.

A method of administering ultrasound comprising the steps of:

• a. providing an ultrasound transducer array proximate a target, said array including:
• i. a plurality of first transducer elements for providing a first ultrasound signal, said plurality of first transducer elements each having a first resonant frequency;
• ii. a plurality of second transducer elements for receiving a second ultrasound signal, said plurality of second transducer each having a second resonant frequency that is different than said first resonant frequency;
• b. providing said first ultrasound signal from said transducer array so as to intercept and reflect off said target thereby forming said second ultrasound signal;
• c. receiving said second ultrasound signal with said transducer array;
• and
• d. wherein one of said first and second resonant frequencies is greater than 10 MHz.

A method of ultrasonic imaging comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a drive signal having an electrical impedance of less than 100 Ohms and a frequency of more than 5 MHz;
• b. providing said drive signal to an ultrasonic transducer array having one or more multilayer transducer elements with an electrical impedance of less than 100 Ohms and a resonant frequency of more than 5 MHz;
• and
• c. providing ultrasonic energy with said ultrasonic transducer in response to said drive signal.

An ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

• a. a source for providing first and second signals;
• and
• b. a transducer array connected to said source, said array including:
• i. a plurality of first transducer elements for providing ultrasonic energy at a first resonant frequency in response to said first signal;
• and
• ii. a plurality of second transducer elements for providing ultrasonic energy at a second resonant frequency in response to said second signal;
• and
• c. wherein said plurality of first transducer elements is acoustically isolated from said plurality of second transducer elements and wherein said first and second resonant frequencies are spaced by more than 15 MHz.

An ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

• a. a source for providing first and second signals;
• and
• b. a transducer array connected to said source, said array including:
• i. a plurality of first transducer elements for providing ultrasonic energy at a first resonant frequency in response to said first signal;
• and
• ii. a plurality of second transducer elements for providing ultrasonic energy at a second resonant frequency in response to said second signal;
• and
• c. wherein said plurality of first transducer elements is acoustically isolated from said plurality of second transducer elements and wherein said first resonant frequency is less than 0.3 times the average of said first and second frequencies and said second resonant frequency is more than 1.7 times the average of said first and second frequencies.