Two-dimensional ultrasonic array with asymmetric apertures
US6783497B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 23, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 23, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/34
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sparse array that uses a small fraction of a fully populated array but yields a radiation pattern that is suitable for high quality medical imaging. The sparse array consists of two or more separate zones for transmitting and receiving as opposed to the overlapping arrays of the prior art. More specifically, a preferred embodiment sets forth an inner array of transmit elements with a narrow effective aperture and a separate non-overlapping outer array of receive elements with a wide effective aperture. The combination of asymmetric apertures is particularly useful for parallel processing applications. This abstract is provided as a tool for those searching for patents, and not as a limitation on the scope of the claims.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.