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    Transmit and receive isolation for ultrasound scanning and methods of use
    3.
    发明授权
    Transmit and receive isolation for ultrasound scanning and methods of use 有权

    公开(公告)号：US06806623B2

    公开(公告)日：2004-10-19

    申请号：US10185404

    申请日：2002-06-27

    申请人： David A. Petersen ,  John C. Lazenby ,  Robert P. Hunt ,  Robert N. Phelps

    发明人： David A. Petersen ,  John C. Lazenby ,  Robert P. Hunt ,  Robert N. Phelps

    IPC分类号： H01L4108

    CPC分类号： G01S7/5208 ,  A61B8/483 ,  B06B1/0622 ,  G01S7/003 ,  G01S7/52019 ,  G01S15/8925 ,  G01S15/8961 ,  G10K11/346

    摘要： Methods and systems for isolating transmit and receive circuitry at an ultrasound transducer element are provided. Separate electrodes or electrodes on opposite sides of a transducer element are connected to the separate transmit and receive paths or channels. Instead of high voltage transmit and receive switching, the transducer element isolates the transmit channel from the receive channel. The transmit channel includes circuitry for limiting the voltage at one electrode during receive processing, such as a switch operable to connect the electrode to ground. The receive channel includes circuitry for limiting the voltage at an electrode during transmit processing, such as a diode clamp preventing voltage swings greater than diode voltage at the electrode. Limiting the voltage provides virtual grounding or a direct current for either of the transmit or receive operation. Using a transmit channel discussed above or other transmit channels, a unipolar pulse may be generated starting at one voltage and ending at a different voltage. For example, a unipolar pulse is generated starting at a zero voltage value and ending on a positive voltage value. A subsequent unipolar pulse is transmitted by starting at the positive voltage value and ending on the zero voltage value. These mirrored unipolar transmit waveforms may be used for phase inversion imaging, such as adding responsive received signals for isolating harmonic information.

    Two dimensional array switching for beamforming in a volume
    4.
    发明授权
    Two dimensional array switching for beamforming in a volume 有权
    用于体积波束成形的二维阵列切换

    公开(公告)号：US06676602B1

    公开(公告)日：2004-01-13

    申请号：US10202922

    申请日：2002-07-25

    申请人： Stephen R. Barnes ,  Todor Sheljaskow ,  Robert N. Phelps

    发明人： Stephen R. Barnes ,  Todor Sheljaskow ,  Robert N. Phelps

    IPC分类号： A61B800

    CPC分类号： G10K11/346 ,  A61B8/483

    摘要： Methods and systems for electronically scanning within a three dimensional volume while minimizing the number of system channels and associated cables connecting a two-dimensional array of elements to an ultrasound system are provided. An array of semiconductor or micro-machined switches electronically interconnect various elements of the two-dimensional array. Elements associated with a substantially same time delay are connected together as a macro element, reducing the number of independent elements to be connected to beamforming or system channels. To beam form in the desired direction, the macro elements are configured as a phased array or along substantially straight lines in at least two dimensions (i.e. along the face of the two-dimensional transducer). Such macro elements allow transmission and reception along beams that are at an angle other than normal to the two-dimensional transducer array. Beams at such angles may be used to acquire information beyond the azimuth and elevation extent of the two-dimensional array. Various configurations of macro elements are possible. For example, the macro elements in each configuration are parallel across the two-dimensional array, but different configurations are associated with rotation of the macro elements such that each configuration is at a different angle on the two-dimensional array. As another example, the macro elements are configured in a plurality of separate rows of parallel macro elements (i.e. configured as a 1.25D, 1.5D or 1.75D array of macro elements). Two or more switches are provided for each system channel, allowing for rotation of macro. elements. The different rotation positions of macro elements defines different two-dimensional scan planes within the three-dimensional volume. Two, three or more switches are provided for each element to interconnect the elements in many possible combinations.

    摘要翻译： 提供了在三维体积内电子扫描的方法和系统，同时最小化将二维阵列元素连接到超声系统的系统通道和相关电缆的数量最小化。 半导体或微加工开关的阵列电连接二维阵列的各种元件。 与基本相同的时间延迟相关联的元件作为宏元件连接在一起，减少要连接到波束形成或系统通道的独立元件的数量。 为了在期望的方向上波束形成，宏元件被配置为相控阵列，或者沿着至少两个维度（即沿着二维换能器的面）的大致直线构成。 这样的宏元件允许沿着与二维换能器阵列垂直的角度的波束的发射和接收。 以这种角度的光束可以用于获取超出二维阵列的方位和仰角的信息。 宏元素的各种配置是可能的。 例如，每个配置中的宏元素在二维阵列上是平行的，但是不同的配置与宏元素的旋转相关联，使得每个配置在二维阵列上处于不同的角度。 作为另一示例，宏元素被配置在并行宏元素的多个单独行中（即配置为1.25D，1.5D或1.75D的宏元素阵列）。 为每个系统通道提供两个或更多个开关，允许宏的旋转。 元素。 宏元素的不同旋转位置在三维体积内定义不同的二维扫描平面。 为每个元件提供两个，三个或更多个开关以以许多可能的组合来互连元件。

    Dynamic sub-array mapping systems and methods for ultrasound imaging
    5.
    发明授权
    Dynamic sub-array mapping systems and methods for ultrasound imaging 有权
    动态子阵列映射系统和超声成像方法

    公开(公告)号：US07635334B2

    公开(公告)日：2009-12-22

    申请号：US10834779

    申请日：2004-04-28

    申请人： Robert N. Phelps

    发明人： Robert N. Phelps

    IPC分类号： A61B8/00

    CPC分类号： G01S7/5208 ,  G01S15/8925 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G10K11/346

    摘要： Elements within each of a plurality of sub-arrays are dynamically grouped as a function of the steering direction. The dynamic grouping allows for partial beamforming with more similar delays within each grouping of elements within the sub-array. A plurality of partial beamformers is provided for each sub-array. Different ones of the elements are mapped to different ones of the partial beamformers as a function of the steering direction. As used herein, steering direction includes one or more of a focal location, a scan line angle, a scan line origin or other beamforming parameters associated with establishing a relative delay between elements. The shape or grouping of elements is changed at the beginning of any acquisition cycle, such as the beginning of transmit and receive operation for a given steering direction. Dynamic sub-array mapping may minimize negative effects of sub-array partial beamforming by providing an optimal shape of the sub-array groupings based on the steering direction.

    摘要翻译： 作为转向方向的函数，多个子阵列中的每一个内的元素被动态分组。 动态分组允许在子阵列内的每个元素组内具有更相似的延迟的部分波束成形。 为每个子阵列提供多个部分波束形成器。 作为转向方向的函数，不同的元件被映射到不同的部分波束形成器。 如本文所使用的，转向方向包括与建立元件之间的相对延迟相关联的焦点位置，扫描线角度，扫描线原点或其他波束成形参数中的一个或多个。 元件的形状或分组在任何采集周期开始时被改变，例如对于给定转向方向的发射和接收操作的开始。 动态子阵列映射可以通过基于转向方向提供子阵列分组的最佳形状来最小化子阵列部分波束成形的负面影响。

    SCALABLE ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHODS
    6.
    发明申请
    SCALABLE ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHODS 有权
    可扩展超声系统和方法

    公开(公告)号：US20090007414A1

    公开(公告)日：2009-01-08

    申请号：US12234470

    申请日：2008-09-19

    申请人： Robert N. Phelps ,  David A. Petersen ,  John C. Lazenby

    发明人： Robert N. Phelps ,  David A. Petersen ,  John C. Lazenby

    IPC分类号： H04R31/00

    CPC分类号： G01S7/52023 ,  A61B8/4427 ,  G01S7/52046 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S7/52096 ,  G10K11/341 ,  Y10T29/49005 ,  Y10T29/4902 ,  Y10T29/4908 ,  Y10T29/49172 ,  Y10T29/49194

    摘要： A plurality of application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips with different functions is provided. Each of the ASICs performs one or more functions along an ultrasound data path. The chips include communications protocols or processes for allowing scaling. For example, ASICs for backend processing include data exchange ports for communicating between other ASICs of the same type. As another example, receive beamformer ASICs cascade for beamformation. By providing ASICs implementing many or most of the ultrasound data path functions, with scalability, the same ASICs may be used for different system designs. A family of systems from high end to low-end using the same types of ASICs, but in different configurations, is provided.

    摘要翻译： 提供了具有不同功能的多个专用集成电路（ASIC）芯片。 每个ASIC沿着超声数据路径执行一个或多个功能。 这些芯片包括用于允许缩放的通信协议或过程。 例如，用于后端处理的ASIC包括用于在相同类型的其它ASIC之间进行通信的数据交换端口。 作为另一示例，接收波束形成器ASIC级联用于波束形成。 通过提供实现多个或大多数超声数据路径功能的ASIC，具有可扩展性，相同的ASIC可用于不同的系统设计。 提供了使用相同类型的ASIC，但在不同配置中的从高端到低端的系统系列。

    Element mapping and transmitter for continuous wave ultrasound imaging
    9.
    发明授权
    Element mapping and transmitter for continuous wave ultrasound imaging 有权
    用于连续波超声成像的元件映射和发射器

    公开(公告)号：US07794400B2

    公开(公告)日：2010-09-14

    申请号：US10787672

    申请日：2004-02-26

    申请人： Robert N. Phelps ,  David A. Petersen

    发明人： Robert N. Phelps ,  David A. Petersen

    IPC分类号： A61B8/00

    CPC分类号： G01S15/8927 ,  A61B8/12 ,  A61B8/4488 ,  G01S7/52019 ,  G01S7/5208

    摘要： Element mapping and transmission of continuous waves are provided ultrasound imaging. For use with multiple dimensional or large arrays, the number of receive beamformer channels or associated cables connecting the transducer array to the receive beamformer may be limited. Subarrays of signals from different elements associated with similar phasing are combined without switching. The combined subarray signals are then received beamformed to generate a continuous wave image. Receive channels without clocking or beamforming prior to a steered continuous wave Doppler beamformer maximize dynamic range and reduce the power consumption. For further or different optimization of steering continuous waves, low voltage transmitters separate from high voltage transmitters are provided for a plurality of elements.

    摘要翻译： 提供连续波的元素映射和传输超声成像。 为了与多维或大阵列一起使用，可以限制将换能器阵列连接到接收波束形成器的接收波束形成器通道或相关电缆的数量。 来自与类似定相相关联的不同元件的信号的子阵列被组合而不需要切换。 然后接收波束形成的组合子阵列信号以产生连续波图像。 在导向连续波多普勒波束形成器之前，无需时钟或波束成形的接收通道最大化动态范围并降低功耗。 为了进一步或不同的转向连续波的优化，为多个元件提供与高压发射器分离的低电压发射器。

    Computing spatial derivatives for medical diagnostic imaging methods and systems
    10.
    发明授权
    Computing spatial derivatives for medical diagnostic imaging methods and systems 有权

    公开(公告)号：US07037263B2

    公开(公告)日：2006-05-02

    申请号：US10644363

    申请日：2003-08-20

    申请人： Thilaka Sumanaweera ,  Robert N. Phelps ,  John C. Lazenby

    发明人： Thilaka Sumanaweera ,  Robert N. Phelps ,  John C. Lazenby

    IPC分类号： A61B8/00

    CPC分类号： G06T15/08 ,  G06T2210/41 ,  Y10S128/916

    摘要： Spatial derivatives are computed. In one method, gradients are determined from data in an acoustic domain rather than a Cartesian or display coordinate domain. The gradients determined from data in the acoustic domain are then transformed to the Cartesian coordinate or display screen domain. For example, a matrix function representing the spatial relationship between the acoustic domain and the Cartesian coordinate domain transforms the coordinates. As a result, spatial gradients in the Cartesian system are provided where acoustic domain data is being processed. In another method for volume rendering or three-dimensional imaging, a gradient is calculated from data in the display or screen domain. Data from a reconstructed 3D Cartesian coordinate grid or data in an acoustic domain is resampled to ray lines. The ray lines correspond to the display domain as compared to an arbitrary Cartesian coordinate format. The gradients are calculated from the resampled data in the screen domain. When resampling on data in an acoustic domain, gradient computation prior to the resampling may require transformation as discussed above. To avoid the transformation, the gradients are determined after resampling. By calculating the gradients after resampling, interpolation of gradient information as part of the resampling is avoided or minimized. The gradient calculation is then performed using data in the display coordinate space (i.e., screen domain) without requiring further random memory accesses. In yet another method, the number of computation and interpolations for gradient calculation is reduced by performing shading prior to resampling along ray lines to the screen domain. The gradients are calculated and the voxel data in the acoustic or 3D grid Cartesian coordinate formats are altered or weighted as a function of the shading. The shaded data is then resampled to the ray lines. For example, the shading values are computed from data in an acoustic domain and applied to the data in the acoustic domain. The data is then ray cast or interpolated to ray lines without prior scan conversion.