High frequency array ultrasound system

A signal processing unit for an arrayed ultrasound imaging system, the signal processing unit comprising:

• a digital transmit beamformer subsystem configured to operate up to 55 MHz at a transmit center frequency of 15 Megahertz (MHz) or greater, wherein said digital transmit beamformer subsystem further comprises one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), each having an FPGA clock frequency (FPGA fc), said digital transmit beamformer subsystem having a delay resolution time of at least [1/(2×FPGA fc)] or greater (1/(2×FPGA fc)) or less;
• a digital receive beamformer subsystem;
• a front end electronics module;
• a beamformer control module;
• a signal processing module;
• a parallel to serial converter;
• and
• a computer unit,
• wherein said signal processing unit is configured to acquire a received ultrasound signal from an arrayed ultrasound transducer having a plurality of elements, and wherein said digital transmit beamformer subsystem is configured to transmit an ultrasound signal having said transmit center frequency by encoding a fine delay and half-cycle sections of said transmitted ultrasound signal into bit words that are converted to a serial bit stream by said parallel to serial converter, wherein said transmitted ultrasound signal comprises a positive transmit pulse having a positive pulse width and a negative transmit pulse having a negative pulse width, and said positive pulse width and said negative pulse width are independently adjustable.

A digital transmit beamformer for an arrayed ultrasound imaging system, the digital transmit beamformer comprising:

• one or more FPGAs, each having an FPGA clock frequency (FPGA fc);
• and
• a parallel to serial converter,
• wherein said digital transmit beamformer is configured to transmit an ultrasound signal having a transmit center frequency up to 55 of 15 MHz or greater with a delay resolution time of at least [1/(2×FPGA fc)] or greater (1/(2×FPGA fc)) or less by encoding a fine delay and half-cycle sections of said transmitted ultrasound signal into bit words that are converted to a serial bit stream by said parallel to serial converter, wherein said transmitted ultrasound signal comprises a positive transmit pulse width and a negative transmit pulse width, and said transmit pulse width and said negative transmit pulse width are independently adjustable.