Ultrasound Transducer Array with Optical Tile Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound transducer arrays face challenges in achieving conformal contact with three-dimensional surfaces, particularly for large area arrays, due to difficulties in applying coupling gel and requiring expensive orientation sensors for coherent beamforming.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound transducer array with elongate support members that have a single degree of translational freedom, equipped with sensors for detecting displacement and deformation, and a locking mechanism to maintain position, allowing for cost-effective and flexible conformal contact with contoured surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flexible ultrasound transducer arrays are used to achieve conformal contact with contoured surfaces, then the compliance with three-dimensional surfaces is improved, but the complexity of determining tile orientation for coherent beamforming increases and requires expensive orientation sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical orientation sensors with an optical measurement system. Optical sensors detect the position and orientation of each tile by tracking reflective markers or fiducial markers, substituting mechanical sensing with optical field-based measurement. This reduces device complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to determine tile orientation for coherent beamforming.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fiducial markers or reflective markers as intermediaries between the transducer tiles and the optical sensors. These markers serve as mediators that enable the optical sensors to indirectly measure tile position and orientation without requiring direct mechanical sensors on each tile. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple degrees of freedom are allowed for transducer tiles to conform to surfaces, then the conformal contact is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring actual tile orientation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical markers with distinct visual characteristics (such as reflective properties or color-coded fiducial markers) that enable easy detection and tracking by optical sensors. These visual markers simplify the detection of tile position and orientation by providing high-contrast, easily distinguishable targets for optical measurement systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical orientation sensing with optical field-based measurement. By using optical sensors to detect marker positions and calculate tile orientation mathematically, the system avoids the complexity of mechanical sensors while maintaining accurate measurement of multiple degrees of freedom.
3Area of stationary object
If large area ultrasound transducer arrays are used to cover larger body areas, then the imaging coverage is improved, but the difficulty of achieving conformal contact without excessive coupling gel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large area transducer array into multiple smaller tiles that can be independently positioned and oriented. This segmentation allows each tile to conform to local surface variations more easily, reducing the need for excessive coupling gel across the entire large array while maintaining conformal contact over the extended imaging area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of each tile's position and orientation relative to the surface. This dynamic capability allows the array to adapt to contoured surfaces in real-time, improving conformal contact without requiring large amounts of coupling gel to fill gaps across the entire large area array.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective conformal contact with three-dimensional surfaces, reducing the risk of accidental displacement and beamforming artefacts, while simplifying the control unit and operation of the ultrasound system.
Implementation Method 1
an array of elongate support members displaceable and/or deformable relative to each other in an elongation direction, each elongate support member having a patient facing surface carrying an ultrasound transducer tile; and a plurality of sensors, each adapted to detect the relative displacement and/or deformation of one of the elongate support members
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound transducer array includes an array of elongate support members that are displaceable and/or deformable relative to each other in the elongation direction of the elongate support members, each elongate support member having a patient facing surface carrying an ultrasound transducer tile; and multiple sensors, each adapted to detect the relative displacement and/or deformation of one of the elongate support members. The ultrasound transducer array may be included in an ultrasound system.