Three dimensional ultrasonic imaging using mechanical probes with beam scanning reversal
US7497830B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S15/8993
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonic probe for three dimensional scanning includes a one-dimensional array transducer which is mechanically swept back and forth. As the array transducer is swept in one direction the array scans a volumetric region with image planes which are alternately scanned in opposite beam scanning directions to scan the volumetric region in a zigzag pattern. As the array transducer is swept in the opposite direction the volumetric region is again scanned with image planes of alternating beam scanning directions to again scan the volumetric region in a zigzag pattern. In a preferred embodiment the image planes scanned in one sweep direction intersect the centers of the image planes scanned in the other sweep direction, and the image planes of each sweep are approximately joined at their lateral edges.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.