Method and apparatus for performing CW doppler ultrasound utilizing a 2D matrix array
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsKjell Kristoffersen, Glenn Reidar Lie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasound system is provided comprising an ultrasound probe having a 2D matrix of transducer elements transmitting a continuous wave (CW) Doppler transmit signal into an object of interest. The CW transmit signal includes a dither signal component and the probe receives ultrasound echo signals from the object in response to the CW transmit signal. The probe generates an analog CW receive signal based on the ultrasound echo signals. An analog to digital (A/D) converter converts the analog CW receive signal to a digital CW receive signal at a predetermined sampling frequency and a processor processes the digital CW receive signal in connection with CW Doppler imaging.
Claims22
An ultrasound system, comprising:
- a low power ultrasound probe transmitting a continuous wave (CW) transmit signal into an object of interest;
- a transmitter controlling said probe to transmit said CW transmit signal, said CW transmit signal including a dither signal component, said dither signal component being periodic, said probe receiving ultrasound echo signals from the object in response to said CW transmit signal, said probe outputting CW receive signals over at least one receive channel based on said ultrasound echo signals;
- a beamformer performing beamforming upon said CW receive signals from said at least one receive channel;
- and
- a processor processing an output from said beamformer.
A method for performing an ultrasound examination of an object, comprising:
- providing a continuous wave (CW) transmit signal having a carrier wave and a periodic dither signal component, wherein said CW transmit signal is at least one of phase and amplitude modulated to introduce said periodic dither signal component into said CW transmit signal;
- transmitting said CW transmit signal into an object of interest utilizing an ultrasound probe;
- receiving ultrasound echo signals from the object in response to said CW transmit signal;
- generating CW receive signals based on said ultrasound echo signals received;
- and
- processing said CW receive signal.
An ultrasound system, comprising:
- an ultrasound probe having a 2D matrix array of transducer elements for transmitting a continuous wave (CW) transmit signal into an object of interest, wherein said CW transmit signal includes a dither signal component and said CW transmit signal is at least one of phase and amplitude modulated to introduce said dither signal component into said CW transmit signal;
- a transmitter controlling said probe to transmit said CW transmit signal, said probe receiving ultrasound echo signals from the object in response to said CW transmit signal, said probe outputting CW receive signals over at least one receive channel based on said ultrasound echo signals;
- a beamformer performing beamforming upon said CW receive signals from said at least one receive channel;
- and
- a processor processing an output from said beamformer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.