Imaging devices with an array of transducers and methods of manufacture and use
US9427210B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 2014 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S15/8956
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A medical imaging assembly includes an elongated catheter having a connector at the proximal end; an array of transducers on the distal end of the catheter; conductors electrically coupled to the array of transducers and in electrical communication with the connector of the catheter; and a control unit coupleable to the catheter to send and receive electrical signals between the control unit and the array of transducers through the connector of the catheter. The control unit has a processor to execute instructions including 1) selecting a first subset of M transmitting transducers and a second subset of N receiving transducers from the array of transducers, where N>M; and 2) for each of at least N transmit/receive cycles, a) directing the first subset of M transmitting transducers to transmit an acoustic signal; and b) directing the second subset of N receiving transducers to receive corresponding echo signals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.