Patent · US Active

Alignment of ultrasound transducer arrays and multiple aperture probe assembly

US9510806B2 · kind B2 · utility

22Cited by

256References

31Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Maui Imaging, Inc. · US

Inventors

David M. Smith · Saratoga, US
Sharon L. Adam · San Jose, US
Dennis R. Dietz · Littleton, US

Key dates

Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 15, 2034

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY10T29/5313
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The effective aperture of an ultrasound imaging probe can be increased by including more than one transducer array and using the transducer elements of all of the arrays 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. Systems and methods for accurately calibrating and adjusting a multi-aperture ultrasound system are disclosed. The relative positions of the transducer elements can be computed and aligned prior to and during probe assembly.

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