Multiple aperture ultrasound array alignment fixture

US9192355B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Maui Imaging, Inc. · US

Inventors

• David M. Smith · Saratoga, US
• Sharon L. Adam · San Jose, US
• Donald F. Specht · Los Altos, US
• Kenneth D. Brewer · Santa Clara, US
• John P. Lunsford · Redwood City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 14, 2013
• Grant date: Nov 24, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 11, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49778
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Increasing the effective aperture of an ultrasound imaging probe by including more than one probe head and using the elements of all of the probes to render an image can greatly improve the lateral resolution of the generated image. In order to render an image, the relative positions of all of the elements must be known precisely. A calibration fixture is described in which the probe assembly to be calibrated is placed above a test block and transmits ultrasonic pulses through the test block to an ultrasonic sensor. As the ultrasonic pulses are transmitted though some or all of the elements in the probe to be tested, the differential transit times of arrival of the waveform are measured precisely. From these measurements the relative positions of the probe elements can be computed and the probe can be aligned.