Systems and methods for testing and calibrating a focused ultrasound transducer array
US6543272B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB06B2201/76
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems and methods for testing the performance of a focused ultrasound transducer array include transmitting ultrasonic energy from the transducer array towards an acoustic reflector, such as a planar air mirror, and receiving ultrasonic energy reflected off of the acoustic reflector using a sensing element. A characteristic of the reflected ultrasonic energy, such as amplitude and phase, is measured by processing circuitry, for example, by comparing the characteristic of the received ultrasonic energy to a corresponding characteristic of the transmitted ultrasonic energy to obtain an actual gain and phase shift for the received ultrasonic energy. A controller compares the actual gain and phase shift of the received ultrasonic energy to an expected gain and phase shift of the received ultrasonic energy. This information is used to calibrate the transducer array and/or to declare a system failure if the comparison indicates an error.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.