Patent · US Expired

Multiple sub-array transducer for improved data acquisition in ultrasonic imaging systems

US6155982A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
18References
3Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 9, 1999
Grant dateDec 5, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 9, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/42
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A transducer for use in an ultrasonic imaging system. The transducer includes a plurality of acoustically and electrically independent sub-arrays, wherein each sub-array includes a plurality of transmitting and receiving elements and a backing assembly. Each sub-array is capable of transmitting lines of ultrasonic energy and receiving echo lines containing information for generating an image concurrent with the operation of the other sub-arrays. The sub-arrays are mounted onto the backing assembly to form a single mechanical unit with the backing assembly providing electrical and acoustic isolation between the cub-arrays. An acoustic insulator is placed between each pair of adjacent sub-arrays to isolate each sub-array from adjacent sub-arrays.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.