Patent · US Active

Ultrasound beamformer with scalable receiver boards

US8002708B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
38References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 11, 2005
Grant dateAug 23, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 25, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S7/52023
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A beamformer for an ultrasound system and a method for developing a beamformer are provided. The beamformer includes an RF interface configured to be connected to receiver boards that are connected to a probe. The method includes providing receiver boards, wherein each of the receiver boards is capable of conveying a common number of channels per board and has substantially similar circuit components and layouts. The method also includes selecting a number of channels per probe to be conveyed in parallel between a probe and the receiver boards, wherein the channels per probe is an integer multiple of the channels per board. The method further includes determining a combination of the receiver boards to use in the beamformer based on the number of channels per probe, wherein the receiver boards are capable of being used in at least first and second different combinations that support first and second different numbers of channels per probe.

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