Concave ultrasound transducers and 3D arrays

US9220478B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Maui Imaging, Inc. · US

Inventors

• David M. Smith · Saratoga, US
• Donald F. Specht · Los Altos, US
• Linda V. Cabrera · Cypress, US
• Kenneth D. Brewer · Santa Clara, US
• David J. Specht · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 12, 2015
• Grant date: Dec 29, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 12, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S7/52084
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate apertures of ultrasound arrays. Some embodiments provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound probes having continuous arrays of ultrasound transducers which may have a substantially continuous concave curved shape in two or three dimensions (i.e., concave relative to an object to be imaged). Other embodiments herein provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound imaging probes having other unique configurations, such as adjustable probes and probes with variable configurations.