Separable beamforming for ultrasound array

A method for ultrasonic imaging using an ultrasonic transducer array comprising transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional array defining a transducer plane, the ultrasonic transducer array configured to insonify a tissue region with ultrasonic energy, the method comprising:

• obtaining, from the ultrasonic transducer array, information indicative of the reflected ultrasonic energy, including obtaining complex samples of the reflected ultrasonic energy;
• and
• constructing a representation of an imaging plane, within the tissue region, including using the obtained information indicative of the reflected ultrasonic energy including:
• separately determining, for respective focusing locations in an imaging plane including a specified focusing location, respective first sums of complex samples of reflected ultrasonic energy obtained via respective first lines of transducers in the ultrasonic transducer array, the complex samples obtained via respective first lines of transducers corresponding to respective orthogonal projections of the respective focusing locations in the imaging plane onto the respective first lines in the transducer plane;
• and
• separately determining, for the specified focusing location in the imaging plane, a second sum of at least some the respective first sums of complex samples of reflected ultrasonic energy, the second sum corresponding to a second line of transducers in the ultrasonic transducer array, the second line of transducers aligned along an axis different from an axis of the respective first lines in the transducer plane and corresponding to the orthogonal projection of the specified focusing location in the imaging plane onto the transducer plane;
• wherein the separately determining the first or second sums of complex samples includes phase-rotating at least some of the complex samples.

A processor-readable medium including instructions that, when performed by at least one processor included as a portion of a hand-held assembly, cause the hand-held assembly to:

• control an ultrasonic transducer array included as a portion of the hand-held assembly to generate the ultrasonic energy or to receive reflected ultrasonic energy, the ultrasonic transducer array comprising transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional array comprising a transducer plane, the ultrasonic transducer array configured to insonify a tissue region with ultrasonic energy;
• obtain, from the ultrasonic transducer array, information indicative of the reflected ultrasonic energy, including obtaining complex samples of the reflected ultrasonic energy using Direct-Sampled In-phase and Quadrature (DSIQ) sampling;
• and
• construct a representation of an imaging plane, within the tissue region, including using the obtained information indicative of the reflected ultrasonic energy including:
• separately determining, for respective focusing locations in an imaging plane including a specified focusing location, respective first sums of complex samples of reflected ultrasonic energy obtained via respective first lines of transducers in the ultrasonic transducer array, the complex samples obtained via respective first lines of transducers corresponding to respective orthogonal projections of the respective focusing locations in the imaging plane onto the respective first lines in the transducer plane;
• and
• separately determining, for the specified focusing location in the imaging plane, a second sum of at least some the respective first sums of complex samples of reflected ultrasonic energy, the second sum corresponding to a second line of transducers in the ultrasonic transducer array, the second line of transducers aligned along an axis different from an axis of the respective first lines in the transducer plane and corresponding to the orthogonal projection of the specified focusing location in the imaging plane onto the transducer plane;
• wherein the separately determining the first or second sums of complex samples includes phase-rotating at least some of the complex samples.