Multi-dimensional transducer array apparatus
AssigneeVingmed Sound A/S
InventorSverre Holm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasound imaging device comprising a set of bins, wherein each bin includes a set of transducer elements. Additionally, a set of mode switches or multiplexers are associated with the set of bins, wherein the set of mode switches or multiplexers configure the set of transducer elements in each bin to form either a one-dimensional array providing a two-dimensional scan mode or a two-dimensional array providing a three-dimensional scan mode.
Claims21
A device associated with a radiant pulse-echo energy imaging system, the device comprising:
- a set of bins, wherein each bin includes a set of transducer elements;
- a set of mode switches associated with the set of bins;
- wherein the set of mode switches configure the set of transducer elements in each bin to form either a one-dimensional array providing a two-dimensional scan mode or a two-dimensional array providing a three-dimensional scan mode;
- and
- wherein the set of transducer elements in each bin are arranged into a sparse array pattern for three-dimensional scanning.
A radiant pulse-echo energy imaging device comprising:
- pulse-echo imaging means comprising a plurality of pulse-echo elements;
- switching means associated with a defined set of pulse-echo elements;
- wherein the plurality of pulse-echo elements in each defined set of pulse-echo elements are capable of either being selectively coupled with each other to form either a one-dimensional pulse-echo imaging means configured to operate in a two-dimensional scan mode or of being operated as a two-dimensional pulse-echo imaging means configured to operate in a three dimensional scan mode;
- and
- wherein the defined set of pulse-echo elements are arranged into a sparse array pattern for three-dimensional scanning.
A radiant pulse-echo energy imaging device comprising:
- a transducer array comprised of a plurality of transducer elements arranged into a two-dimensional transducer array;
- a first plurality of transducer elements within the two-dimensional array, wherein the first plurality of transducer elements are configured to be selectively coupled to each other to form a fully connected array pattern;
- a second plurality of transducer elements within the two-dimensional array, wherein the second plurality of transducer elements are configured to form a sparse array pattern;
- and
- a mode switch configured to switch operation of the two-dimensional array between the fully connected array pattern and the sparse array pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.