Multi-dimensional CMUT array with integrated beamformation
AssigneeSiemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
InventorsChristopher M. W. Daft, D-L Donald Liu, Paul A. Wagner, Igal Ladabaum
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Abstract
To generate information representing a volume, co-arrays or synthetic transmit aperture process is performed in one dimension and beamforming is performed in another dimension. For example, a transmit aperture focuses in azimuth, but is unfocused or divergent in elevation. A multi-dimensional array receives reflected echoes. The echoes are beamformed for sub-arrays for focus in azimuth. The resulting partial beamformed information is provided to an imaging system from the probe housing for completion of beamforming at least in elevation.
Claims23
A method for generating ultrasound information for three-dimensional imaging, the method comprising:
- transmitting acoustic energy substantially unfocused along a first dimension and focused along a second dimension different than the first dimension, the focused acoustic energy including a focus within an image region such that the transmission covers no more than four scan lines along the second dimension and the unfocused acoustic energy of the transmission covers ten or more scan lines along the first dimension;
- receiving, in response to the transmitting, with a multi-dimensional transducer array;
- initially beamforming in azimuth and not elevation for a two-dimensional receive aperture;
- and
- synthesizing a transmit aperture in elevation from an output of the beamforming.
An ultrasound transducer array for medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging, the transducer array comprising:
- a probe housing;
- a two-dimensional grid of capacitive membrane ultrasound transducer elements on or within the probe housing;
- a plurality of receive channel circuits connected with the elements and operable to at least partially beamform along a first dimension, the receive channel circuits within the probe housing;
- and
- at least one transmit element separate from the elements of the two-dimensional grid, the transmit element configured to generate a beam substantially unfocused along a second dimension different from the first dimension and focused, with a focus within an image region, along the first dimension such that the beam covers less than five scan lines along the first dimension and covers ten or more scan lines along the second dimension.
A method for generating ultrasound information for three-dimensional imaging, the method comprising:
- transmitting acoustic energy substantially focused, with a focus within an image region, along a first dimension and substantially unfocussed along a second dimension different than the first dimension such that the acoustic energy covers only four or fewer scan lines out of at least one hundred along the first dimension;
- partial receive beamforming, in sub-arrays of elements, first data generated in response to the transmitting, the partial receive beamforming forming second data representing a two-dimensional plane extending along the second dimension at an angle in the first dimension;
- and then
- beamforming the second data along the second dimension.
An ultrasound transducer array for medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging, the transducer array comprising:
- a probe housing;
- a multi-dimensional grid of capacitive membrane ultrasound transducer elements on or within the probe housing, the elements on or in a substrate;
- a plurality of sigma-delta analog-to-digital converters on or in the substrate;
- a plurality of mixers on or in the substrate and electrically connected between the elements and the converters;
- and
- a plurality of receive channel circuits connected with the converters and operable to at least partially beamform along at least a first dimension, the receive channel circuits in the probe housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.