Method and system for monitoring a transducer array in an ultrasound system

USRE46603E1 · kind E1 · reissue

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Kjell Kristoffersen · Oslo, NO
• Geir Ultveit Haugen · Oslo, NO
• Morten Lennart Haugen · Lyngdal, NO
• Anders Sornes · Oslo, NO

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 5, 2014
• Grant date: Nov 14, 2017
• Expiry date: Sep 5, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

Methods and systems for monitoring a transducer array in an ultrasound probe are provided. One method includes acquiring ultrasound data using an ultrasound probe during an imaging mode of operation, wherein the ultrasound data includes echo information. The method further includes comparing the echo information from a plurality of transducer elements of a transducer array of the ultrasound probe during the imaging mode of operation, wherein the echo information is non-beamformed signal data. The method also includes determining non-uniformity information for the transducer array using the compared echo information during the imaging mode of operation.