Ultrasound transducers with improved focus in the elevation direction
US8246545B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 2006 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B8/445
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A phased array ultrasound transducer is made from a plurality of independently excitable elements that are arranged in a row in the azimuthal direction, configured so that azimuthal aiming of an outgoing ultrasound beam is controlled by timing the excitation of the elements. The geometry of the elements is configured to focus the outgoing beam in the elevation direction so as to improve the images of target regions located at or about a particular radial distance. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by forming each element from a plurality of subelements that are stacked in the elevation direction, with the subelements of any given element all (a) wired together and (b) positioned at about the same distance from a substantially rod-shaped focal region.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.