Ultrasound Probe Sub-Aperture Processing for Dynamic Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound systems face complexity in implementing dynamic beamformers due to the need for thousands of analog-to-digital converters and extensive cable connections, making it impractical for 3D ultrasound systems with numerous transducer elements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of ultrasound probes with sub-aperture processing and dynamic delay updating mechanisms, where transducer elements are assigned to groups for synchronized delay updates, allowing for a simplified and configurable approximation of ideal delay profiles, reducing the complexity of beamforming and silicon area requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If thousands of transducer elements are used in 3D ultrasound systems, then imaging capability and resolution are improved, but the number of required cables and ADCs increases making the system impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large array of transducer elements into multiple sub-apertures, with each sub-aperture processed by a dedicated sub-aperture processor (SAP). This segmentation allows thousands of elements to be managed in manageable groups, reducing the complexity of cable connections and ADC requirements while maintaining high imaging resolution through parallel processing of multiple sub-apertures.
2Measurement precision
If a full dynamic beamformer is implemented for each transducer element, then dynamic focusing precision is improved, but the silicon area and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the beamforming functionality into the sub-aperture processors, combining multiple functions (signal reception, delay application, and beamforming) into integrated SAP circuits. This merging reduces the overall silicon area by eliminating the need for separate full dynamic beamformers for each transducer element, while still achieving dynamic focusing precision through coordinated operation of multiple SAPs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of implementing complete dynamic beamforming for all elements simultaneously, the patent applies partial beamforming action by processing elements in groups through multiple SAPs with sequential or staggered delay updates. This partial action approach reduces instantaneous computational load and silicon area requirements while maintaining overall dynamic focusing capability through repeated delay updates.
3Measurement precision
If delay updates are applied to all transducer elements simultaneously at high rate, then dynamic focus accuracy is improved, but the processing complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments transducer elements into dynamic delay update groups, where each group receives delay updates at different rates or magnitudes. This segmentation allows the system to achieve dynamic focus accuracy by updating critical elements more frequently while reducing processing complexity by applying updates to other elements at lower rates, optimizing the balance between accuracy and complexity.
4Device complexity
If the number of ADCs is reduced to make the system practical, then device complexity is reduced, but signal processing capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing function across multiple sub-aperture processors, each handling a subset of transducer elements. This segmentation allows the system to use fewer ADCs overall while maintaining signal processing capability through parallel processing in multiple SAPs, effectively distributing the processing load to compensate for the reduced number of ADCs.
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 approach enables efficient dynamic focusing and beamforming in ultrasound systems by aligning ultrasound signals in phase, reducing the need for extensive cable connections and minimizing circuitry complexity, thus enhancing the processing capabilities of ultrasound probes.
Implementation Method 1
The transducers can be arranged spatially and can be divided into a plurality of sub-apertures or sub-arrays... the plurality of transducers convert electrical signals to pressure waves and vice versa
Implementation Method 2
The pressure waves generally propagate through tissue and part of the ultrasound energy is reflected back to the transducers
Implementation Method 3
The beamformer generally focuses and steers ultrasound energy transmitted and received by the probe... An initial delay can generally be applied to ultrasound signals associated with the individual transducer elements... dynamically apply delay updates to the ultrasound signals
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary ultrasound probes with sub-aperture processing capable of dynamic focus are provided that generally include an array of transducer elements that form a sub-aperture in the ultrasound probe. The transducer elements can be assigned to dynamic delay update groups and an initial delay can be applied to ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture. A sub-aperture processor can be configured to dynamically apply delay updates to the ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture according to the dynamic delay update groups to which the transducer elements are assigned. Exemplary ultrasound systems with a dynamic focus and methods of transmitting ultrasound signals with a dynamic focus are also provided.