Dual beamformer ultrasound system for 2D and 3D imaging
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsDavid N. Roundhill, Roy B. Peterson
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Abstract
An ultrasound system which performs two dimensional imaging is upgradeable to a system which also performs three dimensional ultrasonic imaging. The ultrasound system contains space in which an optional 3D beamformer may be installed to provide the ultrasound system with three dimensional imaging capability. When the 3D beamformer is installed a scanhead select module connects one of a plurality of scanhead connectors to the proper beamformer for the imaging procedure commanded by the user.
Claims21
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system comprising:
- an originally installed 2D beamformer;
- and
- a later installed 3D beamformer,
- wherein a 2D ultrasonic imaging system is upgraded to perform either 2D or 3D imaging.
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system comprising:
- a 3D beamformer;
- a 2D beamformer operable independently from the 3D beamformer;
- a beamformer controller;
- a signal conditioning processor coupled to the 3D beamformer and the 2D beamformer;
- an image processor coupled to the signal conditioning processor;
- and
- a display coupled to the image processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.