Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-25
2001-01-16
Jaworski, Francis J. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174286
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to an ultrasound system and method for obtaining ultrasound data using transducer element switching. In particular, switching is used to space apart or short elements together for at least one transmission or reception of acoustic energy, and the resulting reflected echo signals are processed to obtain ultrasound data.
Ultrasound systems generally include transmitters (transmit channels), receivers, processors to control image formation and display monitors. Power supplies drive the transmitters, and control circuitry controls the ultrasound system. The transmitter provides electrical excitation waveforms to a transducer. The electric excitation waveforms are converted to acoustic energy by the transducer for imaging a target. The transducer generally includes a plurality of transducer elements which may be individually excited by respective plurality of transmitters, so each transmitter is connected to one element at any given time.
In a system providing a variable aperture, each one of a plurality of transmit channels may be connected to any one of several transducer elements using a multiplexer. One example of such a variable aperture multiplexer structure is disclosed by Cole et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,862.
The variable aperture multiplexer structure may be modified to allow a transmit channel to connect to more than one element at a time. As disclosed by Cole et al., switching means and programmability to support adjacent element shorting is provided. In order to connect one transmitter to two or more transducer elements, a multiplexer module in addition to a standard configuration is provided. In one example, the adjacent element shorting structure is used for a transducer with &lgr;/4-spacing of transducer elements. Cole et al. further describes connecting inner and outer elements for simultaneous transmit and receive (a type of multiplexer shorting). With reference to inner and outer active elements, filters for use in second harmonic imaging are disclosed at column 14, lines 5 through 25.
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described below include a method and system for obtaining ultrasound data. In one embodiment, two or more transducer elements are shorted or connected to the same transmit channel for a single transmit event. The effect of any grating lobes generated from shorting the transducer elements during a transmit event are minimized by isolating information at a harmonic of a fundamental transmit frequency. In another embodiment, a multiplexer with a limited number of switches is used to short pairs of transducer elements together. In yet another embodiment, a multiplexer with a limited number of switches is used to transmit from spaced apertures, such as by connecting a transmit channel to every second transducer element.
In a first aspect of one embodiment, a method for obtaining ultrasound data during an imaging session with an ultrasound system is provided. At least two transducer elements are electrically connected to a single transmit channel. The single transmit channel generates an excitation waveform at a fundamental frequency, and, in response, the at least two transducer elements transmit ultrasonic acoustic energy into a target during the imaging session. The target is free of ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session. In response to the transmission of ultrasonic energy, ultrasonic data is obtained at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency.
In a second aspect, a system for obtaining ultrasound data is provided. The system includes a transmit beamformer with at least two transmit channels and a transducer with at least four transducer elements. A multiplexer operatively connects one of the two transmit channels to two of the transducer elements during a transmit event. The multiplexer includes less than eight switches for each set of two transmit channels and four transducer elements performing the connections.
In a third aspect, an ultrasonic system for obtaining ultrasonic data is provided. The ultrasound system includes a transmit beamformer with a plurality, P, of transmit channels, M, where M represents transmit channels
0
through P−1. A transducer with at least 2P transducer elements is also provided. A multiplexer is used for operatively connecting each one of the transmit channels M to the transducer elements numbered M and at least M+P, and to at least another transducer elements selected from the group of: transducer elements numbered M+1 and M+P−1. The multiplexer includes less than 4P switches.
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Carp Stuart L.
Gee Albert
Ramamurthy Bhaskar S.
Acuson Corporation
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Jaworski Francis J.
Summerfield, Esq. Craig A.
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