257 results about "Array transducer" patented technology

A system for acquiring an ultrasound signal comprises a signal processing unit adapted for acquiring a received ultrasound signal from an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of elements. The system is adapted to receive ultrasound signals having a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz) with a transducer having a field of view of at least 5.0 millimeters (mm) at a frame rate of at least 20 frames per second (fps). The signal processing can further produce an ultrasound image from the acquired ultrasound signal. The transducer can be a linear array transducer, a phased array transducer, a two-dimensional (2-D) array transducer, or a curved array transducer.

Frequency-steered acoustic arrays transmitting and / or receiving multiple, angularly dispersed acoustic beams are used to generate 2D and 3D images. Input pulses to the arrays are generally non-linear, frequency-modulated pulses. Frequency-steered acoustic arrays may be provided in one-dimensional linear and two dimensional planar and curvilinear configurations, may be operated as single order or multiple order arrays, may employ periodic or non-periodic transducer element spacing, and may be mechanically scanned to generate 2D and 3D volumetric data. Multiple imaging fields of view may generated in different directions by switching the polarity of phase-shifted array transducer elements. Multiple frequency-steered arrays arranged in an X-configuration provide a wide, contiguous field of view and multiple frequency steered arrays arranged in a T-configuration provide orthogonally oriented fields of view. Methods and systems for operating acoustic arrays in a frequency-steered mode in combination a mechanical beam steering mode, electronic time-delay and phase shift beam forming modes, and phase comparison angle estimation modes are also provided.

The present invention relates to an ultrasound system for diagnosing breast cancers. The ultrasound system comprises an ultrasound probe including an array transducer having an arcuate shape, the array transducer containing a plurality of elements arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the array transducer. The ultrasound probe further includes a probing surface for contacting a surface of the target object, wherein the probing surface is formed to have a concave shape at a front side of the array transducer.

Ultrasonic probe devices are provided which are particularly suitable for use as invasive imaging probes such as endocavity probes and endoscopic probes. The probe devices include a dual cross-scanning bi-plane array transducer formed by a pair of orthogonal, intersecting transducer arrays. The probe devices are capable of providing, either simultaneously or alternately, crossing scanning through a single symmetrical scanning axis.

An apparatus and a method for ultrasonic testing obtains high-resolution and high-S / N ratio testing results by driving a number of piezoelectric elements using fewer pulsers and receivers in comparison with the number of elements composing an array transducer. A sensor information setter sets a plurality of piezoelectric element groups used for transmission and a plurality of piezoelectric element groups used for reception among the plurality of piezoelectric elements composing an ultrasonic array transducer. A computer transmits an ultrasonic wave from the element cluster set for transmission, and stores an ultrasonic wave received by the element cluster set for reception. The procedure is repeated including different element cluster sets for transmission and reception to obtain first receive signals. The first receive signals are summed to obtain a second receive signal; and the second receive signal is displayed with reference to the sensor center position on a display unit.

An ultrasonic photoacoustic imaging apparatus which includes a probe incorporating an array transducer having a plurality of transducers and an acoustic image generation unit that generates, based on a mixed signal obtained by converting an acoustic wave, in which an ultrasonic wave and a photoacoustic wave are mixed and making use of a difference between phase shift aspect of electrical signals of the ultrasonic waves from the same reflection source in the inside of the subject and phase shift aspect of electrical signals of the photoacoustic waves from the same generation source in the inside of the subject, an electrical signal reflecting the ultrasonic wave and an electrical signal reflecting the photoacoustic wave, and generates an ultrasonic image based on the electrical signal reflecting the ultrasonic wave and a photoacoustic image based on the electrical signal reflecting the photoacoustic wave.

A high frequency ultrasonic transducer may include a plurality of adjacent ultrasonic transducer elements. The adjacent transducer elements may be sized and configured so as to resonate at a frequency that is at least 15 MHz. The adjacent transducer elements may collectively form an aperture that is substantially convex along a lateral dimension spanning the cascaded width of the adjacent transducer elements. The aperture may be substantially concave along an elevation spanning the height of each of the transducer elements. The ultrasonic transducer and an associated transmitter system may be configured so as to enable ultrasound that is radiated from the plurality of the transducer elements to be focused on and to scan across locations that are no more than 30 millimeters from the aperture and that span across a field of view of at least 50 degrees without movement of the ultrasonic transducer or tissue during the scanning.

The invention discloses a phased array ultrasonic detection data acquisition and processing unit, comprising a USB bus and a main control computer; the USB bus communication is connected with a data acquisition and processing card component, and a 64 array element ultrasound phased array transducer in sequence; the data acquisition and processing card component comprises 16 completely same data acquisition and processing cards; the data acquisition and processing card comprises a four-way ultrasonic emission / reception and signal pretreatment circuit, an A / D conversion module, an FPGA module and a DSP microprocessor module, a reset circuit, and a power supply module, which are connected in a coordinating way; the data acquisition and processing card component has 64 input channels and 16 output channels, wherein every four input channels and one output channel have a data acquisition and processing card correspondingly; by controlling the time delaying of pulse excitating or receiving of each array element in a transducer array, and changing the phase relationship of sound wave emitted or received by each array element when reaching or coming from a cetain point in an object, the flexible deflection and focusing of the acoustic beam are achieved, and the transverse movement of the acoustic beam position can also be realized by selecting the needed array element group.

Ultrasonic probe devices are provided which are particularly suitable for use as invasive imaging probes such as endocavity probes and endoscopic probes. The probe devices include a dual cross-scanning bi-plane array transducer formed by a pair of orthogonal, intersecting transducer arrays. The probe devices are capable of providing, either simultaneously or alternately, crossing scanning through a single symmetrical scanning axis.

Frequency-steered acoustic arrays transmitting and / or receiving multiple, angularly dispersed acoustic beams are used to generate 2D and 3D images. Input pulses to the arrays are generally non-linear, frequency-modulated pulses. Frequency-steered acoustic arrays may be provided in one-dimensional linear and two dimensional planar and curvilinear configurations, may be operated as single order or multiple order arrays, may employ periodic or non-periodic transducer element spacing, and may be mechanically scanned to generate 2D and 3D volumetric data. Multiple imaging fields of view may generated in different directions by switching the polarity of phase-shifted array transducer elements. Multiple frequency-steered arrays arranged in an X-configuration provide a wide, contiguous field of view and multiple frequency steered arrays arranged in a T-configuration provide orthogonally oriented fields of view. Methods and systems for operating acoustic arrays in a frequency-steered mode in combination a mechanical beam steering mode, electronic time-delay and phase shift beam forming modes, and phase comparison angle estimation modes are also provided.

A motorized scanhead device is capable of rotating an array transducer through 360 degrees of angular rotation in a manner such as to provide acquisition of images in successive scanning planes arranged around the principal axis of the device. The device can be incorporated in endoscopes (e.g., transesophageal endoscopes), laparoscopes, endocavity or intracavity probes so as to provide an expanded angle of vision or to render 3D images, without the need for external movement of the device. The motorized scanhead device includes a motor that is isolated from the transducer signal interconnections in order to minimize electrical discharges associated with motor operation and to provide more room between an associated probe housing and the scanhead device.

A method for the assessment of various properties of bone is provided. The method includes applying a pair of ultrasound transducers to skin on opposite sides of the bone and generating an ultrasound signal and directing the signal through both the bone to obtain a bone output signal. The method further includes establishing a set of parameters associated with the bone output signal and then further processing the parameters in order to obtain the desired bone property. Two novel parameters are also disclosed, namely the net time delay (NTD) and mean time duration (MTD) parameters. An apparatus for the assessment of various properties of bone is also provided. The apparatus includes a pair of ultrasound transducers which may be single-element transducers or array transducers in any combination. The apparatus further includes various computer hardware components and computer software for generating and directing the ultrasound signal, establishing the parameter set and performing the processing. In addition, an apparatus that is battery powered, handheld, and portable and operates in real time is also provided.

An ultrasonic apparatus is provided for producing three dimensional images using at least one moving curved array transducer for scanning a volume of a region of interest to be imaged. The apparatus includes an acoustic front shell having complex shape and an ultrasonic transducer adapted for swinging movement underneath the front shell and having a front surface of a shape conforming to the complex shape of the front shell. A motor provides the swinging movement of the ultrasonic array transducer underneath the front shell so as to scan a volume of the region of interest. The shell and a transducer carrier may be of an ovoid shape. The transducer may include lips at superior edges thereof which contain a coupling grease. Multiple transducers for different applications may be employed.

Systems and methods adapted for use with uncalibrated patterned surfaces for sensing any of position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, area, and volume are provided. A system includes a memory, processing electronics, and at least one readhead adapted to move relative to the surface and including a radiation source, lens, and an optical array transducer. One aspect includes generating a mapping data set representative of an intensity map of the patterned surface. Another aspect provides a variable travel speed readhead. Other aspects include multiple readheads adapted to travel in concert. Incremental and absolute sensing are provided, including systems having sub-pixel spatial resolution.

The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic device. The ultrasound diagnostic device comprises a pair of transducers operable to transmit / receive ultrasound signals. The transducers are arranged to face each other. The transducers may be an array transducer including a plurality of elements, which are linearly arranged.

A composite array transducer of ERT / ECT double mode state imaging system is prepared as having 8 ¿C 64 electrode in ERT electrode array and the same number of electrode in ECT electrode array, setting electrode in two said arrays on internal and external wall at the same section of pipe for passing through fluid to be tested in peripheral uniform distribution type and position opposite mode by fixing bolts and sealed insulation washer, setting a radial shielding electrode between each two ECT electrodes and placing shield cover outside of shielding electrode.

A method for the assessment of various properties of bone is provided. The method includes applying a pair of ultrasound transducers to skin on opposite sides of the bone and generating an ultrasound signal and directing the signal through both the bone to obtain a bone output signal. The method further includes establishing a set of parameters associated with the bone output signal and then further processing the parameters in order to obtain the desired bone property. Two novel parameters are also disclosed, namely the net time delay (NTD) and mean time duration (MTD) parameters. An apparatus for the assessment of various properties of bone is also provided. The apparatus includes a pair of ultrasound transducers which may be single-element transducers or array transducers in any combination. The apparatus further includes various computer hardware components and computer software for generating and directing the ultrasound signal, establishing the parameter set and performing the processing. In addition, an apparatus that is battery powered, handheld, and portable and operates in real time is also provided.

The invention discloses a multimode broadband circular array transducer, which comprises a piezoelectric composite material cambered base array, a decoupling material, a back lining, a shell, a matching layer, a water sealing joint and a cable, wherein the piezoelectric composite material cambered base array is formed by uniformly arranging a plurality of piezoelectric composite material base elements; the decoupling material is filled between the piezoelectric composite material base elements, so that a circular sensitive element is formed; the back lining is tightly attached to the inner side of the circular sensitive element; the shell supports and encircles the sensitive element and the back lining; the matching layer is poured on the outer side of the sensitive element; electrodes are arranged on the upper surfaces and the lower surfaces of the piezoelectric composite material base elements, so that positive electrodes and negative electrodes are led out by wires; wire holes are formed in the back lining, so that the wires pass through the wire holes; a wire outlet is formed on the shell; the water sealing joint seals the wire outlet; and the wires are connected with the cable in the water sealing joint. The transducer has the characteristics of high frequency, high sensitivity, broadband and large directive opening angle.

Improved two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer apparatus and methods. In one embodiment, the two-dimensional planar array transducer is capable of simultaneously or sequentially forming multiple acoustic beams in two axes and at two or more widely separated acoustic frequencies from a single flat planar array transducer. The transducer planar array consists of two or more electrically and acoustically independent two dimensional planar transducer array structures operating at different frequencies that are physically integrated onto a single multi frequency configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, a second higher frequency transducer array is positioned within the aperture area of a lower frequency planar array transducer. Methods of using the aforementioned two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer are also disclosed.

The invention discloses a flexible ultrasonic phased array transducer which comprises a flexible piezoelectric ceramic composite material chip, a damping back material, a matching layer, a flexible circuit board, a coaxial cable and a probe interface. The matching layer, the flexible piezoelectric ceramic composite material chip and the damping back material are adhered together in sequence to form an acoustic laminating layer. The flexible circuit board is connected with the flexible piezoelectric ceramic composite material chip, and the multi-core coaxial cable is led out from the flexible circuit board to the probe interface. When the center frequency Fc of the ultrasonic transducer equals to 7.85 MH, the bandwidth Bw can reach 87.78 %, pulse echo sensitivity Sr equals to minus 36.54 decibels, and crosstalk of adjacent array elements is minus 34 decibels. The flexible ultrasonic phased array transducer can be applied to industrial non-destructive testing.

A segmented magnetostrictive patch array transducer capable of generating a high frequency shear wave in a structure such as a rod or a pipe, a structural fault diagnosing apparatus including the segmented magnetostrictive patch array transducer, and a method of operating the segmented magnetostrictive patch array transducer are shown. The segmented magnetostrictive patch array transducer includes a plurality of magnetostrictive patches attached along a circumference of a rod member; a plurality of insulators that are disposed on the magnetostrictive patches; a plurality of meander coils, each of the meander coils comprising a plurality of coil lines extending along the circumference direction of the rod member on each of the insulators, wherein a current flows through adjacent coil lines in opposite directions to one another; and a plurality of magnets that respectively form a magnetic field along the circumferential direction of the rod member on the magnetostrictive patches.

An ultrasonic probe for use in an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for a living body comprises an array transducer made up of a plurality of layered transducer elements. A specified structure (face-to-face structure) is created across two adjacent transducer elements. In each transducer element, a first vertical electrode layer for ground is connected with a top electrode layer and an inner electrode layer, and a second vertical electrode layer for signal is connected with a bottom electrode layer and an inner electrode layer. When creating the specified structure, steps including formation of slits in a layered assembly and filling of the slits or the like are repeated. By finally forming a plurality of separating slits, the layered assembly is divided into a plurality of transducer elements. On the other hand, each transducer element is compounded in the horizontal direction. The compounding is performed at any stage of before, during or after formation of the specified structure.

A method of medical ultrasound imaging is provided. The method includes transmitting ultrasound waves into a volume at a first rate, receiving ultrasound echoes for each of the ultrasound waves, each echo is indicative of a density interface within the volume, each set of received echoes that corresponds to a single transmitted wave defines a steering frame, detecting motion of the array transducer, and combining a plurality of steering frames into a compound image based on the detected array transducer motion.

A method for ultrasonically inspecting components with wavy or uneven surfaces. A multi-element array ultrasonic transducer is operated with a substantial fluid layer, such as water, between the array transducer and the component surface. This fluid layer may be maintained by immersing the component in liquid or by using a captive couplant column between the probe and the component surface. The component is scanned, measuring the two dimensional surface profile using either a mechanical stylus, laser, or ultrasonic technique. Once an accurate surface profile of the component's surface has been obtained, data processing parameters are calculated for processing the ultrasonic signals reflected from the interior of the component that eliminate beam distortion effects and reflector mis-location that would otherwise occur due to the uneven surfaces.

The invention relates to virtual instrument based system and method for detecting ultrasonic imaging by synthetic aperture focusing. The virtual instrument based system comprises a virtual instrument system, a 12-way energy converter array, an energy converter array controller and a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), wherein the energy converter array controller can control a 24-way energy converter array, the virtual instrument system comprises a high-voltage pulse generator, a signal amplifier, a high-speed signal collector and a mini-size industrial personal computer which are all provided with PXI interfaces, wherein the mini-size industrial personal computer is equipped with a Labview software program. The invention adopts the integrated design, thereby having compact structure and being convenient for carrying, remote transportation and outdoor work; the invention adopts human-machine interface, thereby having high intellectualization and integration degree and simple operation procedure; the invention adopts a rough detection process and a detailed detection process, can reach an area of 60cm through primary rough detection, can detect structures with high requirements for resolution ratio through detailed detection and achieve the resolution ratio of 1cm; and the system can remotely control the signal amplifier and the energy converter array, and the detection function of the system can be fulfilled by only operating the industrial personal computer.

The invention discloses a two-dimensional annular phased array ultrasonic transducer structure for three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging. The transducer structurally comprises more than one array element ring which is annularly distributed in a concentric circle way, and each array element ring comprises more than two array elements, and the area of each array element is the same. According to the two-dimensional annular phased array ultrasonic transducer structure, the defect of signal to noise ratio caused by high technical process difficulty and small array element size of a two-dimensional area array transducer can be overcome, and the limit that a one-dimensional array and a phased array are in geometric focusing fixing, and a wave beam cannot be effectively narrowed can be overcome, so that the lateral resolution can be comprehensively improved, the signal to noise ratio can be effectively increased, and real-time three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging can be realized by electronic phased scanning.

The invention discloses an ultrasonic power supply device with an array transducer. The ultrasonic power supply device with the array transducer comprises an upper personal computer (PC), a universal serial bus (USB), sixteen signal generation and power amplification modules, a phase-control signal bus and the array ultrasonic transducer. The upper PC is in communication connection with the sixteen signal generation and power amplification modules through the USB. The signal generation and power amplification modules are connected with the array ultrasonic transducer through the phase-control signal bus. A transducer array is driven through an array transducer ultrasonic power supply to achieve the functions of multi-frequency ultrasonic focusing, ultrasonic suspension and the like; the ultrasonic power supply device is suitable for construction of scientific research places and experiment platform; by the adoption of the modular design, a machine body and a circuit structure can be obtained easily, and the ultrasonic power supply device has broad application prospects and fills the blank of achieving application and study of multi-frequency ultrasonic focusing through the transducer array at present.

The invention provides a device and method for generating a spatially focused vortex sound field. The device comprises a spherical focusing ultrasonic transducer and a driving circuit. Multiple channels of driving signals corresponding to the number of splitting array elements are generated, the power is amplified, and the phase difference and amplitude of the driving signals input to every two adjacent array elements in the splitting array elements are kept consistent through impedance matching. A spherical focusing ultrasound splitting array transducer is adopted for generating the vortex sound field, and compared with a current mode of adopting a transducer array composed of hundreds of thousands of transducers for generating the vortex sound field, the method has the advantage that cumbersome and complex effects of a system caused by the vortex sound field can be effectively reduced. The device and the method utilize the advantage of geometric focusing of the spherical focusing ultrasound transducer to produce the highly focused vortex sound field, so that efficient and fine acoustic manipulation of particles are achieved.