초록 ▼

The ultrasound transducer array defines an average row spacing along the elevation for receiving transducer elements that differs from an average row spacing along the elevation for transmitting transducer elements. In one embodiment a relatively “coarse”row spacing is used for reception and a relat

The ultrasound transducer array defines an average row spacing along the elevation for receiving transducer elements that differs from an average row spacing along the elevation for transmitting transducer elements. In one embodiment a relatively “coarse”row spacing is used for reception and a relatively “fine”row spacing is used for transmission. The differing spacings lead to different transmit-elevation and receive-elevation beam-patterns. In one configuration the number of transducer elements, and correspondingly the number of ultrasound processing channels, is reduced. In an alternative configuration the beam-pattern “footprint”is increased without increasing the number of transducer elements or processing channels. The array includes dedicated transmit-only elements and/or dedicated receive-only elements, together with coincident, time-shared transmit/receive elements. The coarse-fine spacings enable improved elevational focus without substantially increasing side lobe levels in a focal plane and far field portion of a resulting beam-pattern.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of performing an ultrasound scan of a patient with an array of transducer elements, the array comprising a plurality of rows spaced apart along an elevational direction, each one of the rows comprising a plurality of the transducer elements spaced apart along an azimuthal direction, the num

A method of performing an ultrasound scan of a patient with an array of transducer elements, the array comprising a plurality of rows spaced apart along an elevational direction, each one of the rows comprising a plurality of the transducer elements spaced apart along an azimuthal direction, the number of rows being less than the number of transducer elements in a given row, the method comprising the steps of: defining a first elevation aperture for transmitting ultrasound signals from a first plurality of rows of the transducer elements; defining a first azimuthal aperture for transmitting ultrasound signals from a plurality of the transducer elements within each one of the first plurality of rows; transmitting ultrasound signals into the patient from the plurality of transducer elements defined by the elevation aperture and azimuthal aperture; defining a second elevation aperture for receiving ultrasound signals at a second plurality of rows of the transducer elements; defining a second azimuthal aperture for receiving ultrasound signals at a plurality of the transducer elements within each one of the second plurality of rows; receiving reflected signals of the transmitted ultrasound signals from the patient at the plurality of transducer elements defined by the second elevation aperture and second azimuthal aperture; and wherein average row spacing of the first plurality of rows along the elevational direction defines a first spacing, average row spacing of the second plurality of rows along the elevational direction defines a second spacing, and the first spacing is different than the second spacing.