Systems and methods for steering multiple ultrasound beams

#Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to ultrasound imaging systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for steering multiple ultrasound signals generated by an ultrasound imaging system.

#Ultrasound elasticity imaging is an elastography imaging modality that employs ultrasound waves to probe the mechanical properties of biological tissues and produce corresponding images. Shear wave elastography imaging (SWEI) is a type of ultrasound elasticity imaging. SWEI is based on applying acoustically generated shear waves to determine mechanical properties of the tissue, usually measured as a velocity, by tracking the displacement of the tissue at a plurality of points caused by the shear wave over time. The velocity relates to one or more mechanical properties of the tissue and may provide stiffness information measured in, for example, kilo Pascals (kPa). For example, a normal glandular measured from a patient is approximately 57 kPa, alternatively, a ductal tumor or breast cancer is approximately 301 kPa.

#Many SWEI systems utilize a curved transducer that is configured to transmit multiple ultrasound push pulses into tissue of a patient. Typically, each ultrasound push pulse is transmitted in a direction that is normal to the face of the transducer. As such, the ultrasound push pulses diverge from one another, as the push pulses radiate outward from a curved face of the transducer. Each ultrasound push pulse may generate a shear wave in the tissue of the patient. Because the ultrasound push pulses diverge from one another, the distance between the origins of the generated shear waves may be relatively long. Therefore, the shear wave energy directed into the tissue, and therefore the tissue motion detected, may attenuate with increased depth.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an ultrasound imaging system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an ultrasound imaging system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a diagnostic circuit of an ultrasound imaging system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

#The following detailed description of certain embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. To the extent that the figures illustrate diagrams of the functional blocks of various embodiments, the functional blocks are not necessarily indicative of the division between hardware circuitry or software. For example, one or more of the functional blocks (for example, processors or memories) may be implemented in a single piece of hardware (for example, a general purpose signal processor or a block of random access memory, hard disk, or the like) or multiple pieces of hardware. Similarly, the programs may be stand alone programs, may be incorporated as subroutines in an operating system, may be functions in an installed software package, and the like. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.

#As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Further, references to “one embodiment” of are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional elements not having that property.

#Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for steering ultrasound signals, such as beams, push pulses, and the like. The ultrasound push pulses may be used to generate shear waves in tissue of a patient. The systems and methods may steer multiple ultrasound signals toward one another to minimize or otherwise reduce any divergence between the ultrasound signals in relation to each other and/or a central longitudinal axis of a transmitting component, such as an array of ultrasound elements, of the probe or transducer. For example, a control unit, which may include one or more processors, of an ultrasound system may simultaneously steer two or more ultrasound signals that are transmitted from a transducer so that beam axes of the ultrasound signals are parallel with each other and/or a central longitudinal axis of the transmitting component. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be used with curved transducers or probes, for example. In at least one other embodiment, linear transducers or probes may be used.