Ultrasonic Probe Linear Aperture Arrangement for Miniaturization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasonic diagnostic devices face challenges in miniaturization while maintaining high detection accuracy for high-order harmonic waves, as increasing aperture sizes lead to larger probes and reduced resolution due to the parallel arrangement of transmitting and receiving arrays.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic device arranges transmitting and receiving sections in a line, with receiving sections spaced at intervals corresponding to the order of the harmonic wave, allowing them to function as a single channel with increased intervals, enabling accurate detection of high-order harmonic waves while minimizing probe size and improving resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sizes of the transmitting aperture and the receiving aperture in the slicing direction are increased, then the detection accuracy of the ultrasonic wave is improved, but the size of the whole ultrasonic array in the slicing direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional parallel arrangement to a one-dimensional linear arrangement along the scanning direction. By arranging transmitting and receiving apertures sequentially in a line rather than parallel to each other, the aperture size can be increased in the slicing direction without proportionally increasing the overall array size, thus improving detection accuracy while controlling probe size.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving aperture is positioned to overlap with the transmitting aperture in the slicing direction, creating a nested configuration where the receiving aperture is effectively 'inside' the spatial footprint of the transmitting aperture. This nesting allows both apertures to maintain large sizes in the slicing direction without significantly increasing the overall probe size.
2Length of stationary object
If the receiving array is disposed at a position approaching in the slicing direction to the transmitting array, then the probe size is reduced, but the detection accuracy of the high-order harmonic wave deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different arrangement strategies to different parts of the ultrasonic array. The transmitting and receiving apertures are arranged at specific intervals along the scanning direction that correspond to the wavelength characteristics of the high-order harmonic wave. This localized optimization of aperture spacing ensures accurate detection of high-order harmonic waves while maintaining compact probe dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the interval between transmitting and receiving apertures based on the wavelength of the high-order harmonic wave. By carefully selecting this parameter (the interval), the system achieves accurate detection of high-order harmonic waves despite the reduced overall probe size resulting from the linear arrangement.
3Device complexity
If the transmitting array and receiving array are arranged in parallel, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the miniaturization of the ultrasonic probe is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the arrangement from a two-dimensional parallel configuration to a one-dimensional linear configuration along the scanning direction. This dimensional simplification reduces the probe size in the slicing direction while maintaining functional effectiveness through optimized aperture intervals based on harmonic wave wavelengths.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for miniaturization of the ultrasonic device while enhancing detection accuracy and resolution by aligning the central positions of transmitting and receiving apertures, reducing the likelihood of resolution degradation and improving the reception of reflected waves.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of ultrasonic wave transmitting sections 42 for transmitting an ultrasonic wave as a fundamental wave
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of ultrasonic wave receiving sections 43 for receiving an N-th-order harmonic wave with respect to the fundamental wave
Implementation Method 3
in the case of converging the ultrasonic wave using the acoustic lens and so on, by increasing the size in the slicing direction of the aperture (transmitting aperture) for transmitting the ultrasonic wave, it is possible to converge the ultrasonic wave into a smaller area to thereby improve the resolution
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic device includes a plurality of ultrasonic wave transmitting sections adapted to transmit an ultrasonic wave as a fundamental wave, and a plurality of ultrasonic wave receiving sections capable of receiving a second-order harmonic wave with respect to the fundamental wave, the plurality of ultrasonic wave transmitting sections and the plurality of ultrasonic wave receiving sections are arranged along an X direction, the plurality of ultrasonic wave receiving sections are arranged at first intervals corresponding to the order of the second-order harmonic wave, the N ultrasonic wave transmitting sections constitute a single transmission channel, and are wired with each other, and the transmission channels are arranged at second intervals each twice as long as the first interval. N is a natural number.