Ultrasound Transducer Subarray Beamforming for 3D Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical ultrasound imaging technologies face challenges in achieving high-quality real-time three-dimensional imaging and continuous four-dimensional imaging capabilities due to power requirements and complexity, leading to compromised image quality and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a two-dimensional transducer array with a first beamforming circuit for far-field subarray beamforming and a second beamforming circuit for near-field beamsteering and beamfocusing, incorporating a low-power charge domain processor and sparse array actuation to minimize power consumption and improve image quality, while enabling 3D and 4D imaging capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If thousands of beamforming channels are used to provide three dimensional images, then image quality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the two-dimensional transducer array into multiple subarrays, with each subarray processed by a separate beamforming channel. This segmentation allows the system to achieve three-dimensional imaging capabilities while reducing the total number of full-channel beamforming operations required, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining image quality.
2Use of energy by moving object
If analog phase shift technique with digital delay beamformer is used to reduce power, then power consumption is reduced, but image quality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic beamforming strategies where the system adaptively selects and activates specific subarrays and beamforming channels based on the imaging requirements and depth of the region of interest. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain high image quality when needed while minimizing power consumption during routine operations.
3Measurement precision
If continuous real-time four dimensional imaging is implemented, then temporal resolution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic scanning of the imaging volume by sequentially activating different subarrays and steering beams through the region of interest over time. This periodic action enables four-dimensional imaging (three spatial dimensions plus time) by capturing multiple three-dimensional frames in sequence, achieving high temporal resolution while managing system complexity through structured, repeating patterns.
4Adaptability or versatility
If two dimensional transducer array is used for three dimensional imaging, then versatility is improved, but beamforming complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the two-dimensional transducer array into multiple one-dimensional subarrays that can be independently controlled and processed. This segmentation transforms the complex two-dimensional beamforming problem into a series of simpler one-dimensional beamforming operations, reducing computational complexity while maintaining the versatility to perform three-dimensional imaging.
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound imaging system and method in which a transducer assembly in a probe housing in which sub-array beamforming and multiplexing operations are performed in the probe housing. The probe housing can be connected to a processor housing in which a second beamforming operation can be performed to generate images for display. The processor housing can be a handheld ultrasound display device for portable use.