Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Siemens Medical Systems, Inc.

David A Petersen

John C Lazenby

Robert Nolen Phelps

Jerry D Hopple

Robert A Hewitt

Robert Patrick Hunt

Stephen Roy Barnes

Terry E Simpson

Ralph Oppelt

William John Park

Vaughn R Marian

Sevig Ayter

Worth B Walters

Lin X Yao

Walter Petersen

Bruce A McDermott

Qinglin Ma

Dalong Liu

Stephen Bruce Hooper

Bhavani Duggirala

Todor Sheljaskow

Daniel Brueske

Stephen C Englund

Henry G Pavy

Xuan-ming Lu

HanSang Ji

Frederick Alan Williams

Richard Lee Morris

Robert Petersen

MinHo Ryu

Colin Brock

Mirsaid S Boloforosh

BaikWoo Lee

Heike Seck

The power supply in ultrasound imaging includes a switched capacitance. The capacitance is switched on to provide power during generation of pushing pulses for elasticity imaging and is switched off during other modes of imaging.

Switched capacitor for elasticity mode imaging with ultrasound

For ultrasound imaging using a matrix transducer, interconnects or switches are provided to allow sub-arrays forming a 1D array, such as with sub-arrays one element wide with the maximum number of elements in elevation. Where groups are used to limit the switches and available system channels per group, an extra switch may connect between elements of different groups through a group output to extend a sub-array across groups. To further limit the number of switches, the group may be sub-divided where different combinations of sub-groups are connectable with different combinations of the system channels for the group.

Matrix transducer configurable as a one-dimensional transducer in ultrasound imaging

A method and an ultrasound system are provided for generating transmission signals of an ultrasound probe used in a contrast-enhanced ultrasound image mode. The ultrasound system generates a pair of pulse control signals n and n+1 and a damping compensation pulse control signal, generates a pair of pulses n and n+1 having polarities opposite to each other and a damping compensation pulse having a polarity opposite to that of the n+1-th pulse based on the pair of pulse control signals and the damping compensation pulse control signal, transmits transmission signals including the pair of pulses and the damping compensation pulse, generates an ultrasound signal based on the transmission signals, transmits the ultrasound signal to a target object, and acquires echo signals for forming a contrast-enhanced ultrasound image of the target object. The damping compensation pulse is successively generated after generating the pair of pulses.

Pulse cancellation compensation method for contrast agent imaging

For phase inversion-based ultrasound imaging with a transmit and receive circuit at an array, a unipolar transmitter is used to reduce the number of high voltage wires. Rather than adding a T/R switch or increasing connections by connecting the receive amplifier to a different electrode than the transmitter, two different receive paths from the element to the receive amplifier are provided. One path is used where the unipolar transmitter ends in one state (e.g., 0V), and the other path is used where the unipolar transmitter ends in another state (e.g., Vtx).

Ultrasound transmit/receive for pulse inversion

For multidimensional transducer array interconnection, circuit boards with electronics are stacked to form a surface for connection with the array. The surface of the circuit boards for connecting with the transducer array is metalized and diced. Rather than relying on small exposed traces, larger contact pads are formed by metalizing the surface and then dicing the surface. This forms an array of contact pads for connecting with the z-axis or other connectors for elements of the multidimensional transducer array.

Contact pads for electrical module assembly with multidimensional transducer arrays

For transformerless switching regulators, a current-mode controlled boost converter operates based on current sensing through a switch to ground, allowing use of common controllers. To avoid reverse current from a cascaded charge pump, the input of the charge pump is blocked by a diode from passing through the switch to ground and is itself separately switched to ground.

Transformerless switching regulator with controllable boost factor

An interconnect is provided for a multidimensional transducer array. An adaptor provides a 90-degrees or other non-zero angle transition of conductors from connection with the elements to connection with a printed circuit board. The adaptor is formed as a component that may surface mount on the printed circuit board and may provide a pitch change from the element pitch to a different pitch, such as a pitch of conductors of an integrated circuit also mounted to the printed circuit board. The adaptor allows stacking of modules where each module uses standardized or regular printed circuit board connections.

Modular assembly for multidimensional transducer arrays

Sub-performing elements of an ultrasound transducer array are detected. The power, such as current, used by or provided to the transmit driver is measured. By driving each element or group of elements separately, defective elements or groups of elements are detected from the amount of power used.

Sub-performing transducer element detection for medical ultrasound

Modular electronics are provided for a multi-dimensional array. The electronics are positioned perpendicular to the array in modules. The modules include frames to support the electronics and provide for electrical connection between the array and the electronics. The frames include thermally conductive material to transfer heat away from the electronics and the array. The frames form a surface to support part of the array and a single layer of flexible circuit material with pads and traces over the surface for electrical connection. The flexible circuit material allows connection to the electronics at a pitch different than the pitch of the array. The modules allow the same electronics parts to be used with different sized arrays. The traces and pads of the flexible circuit material may be changed for different arrays without having to redesign the electronics and/or modules.

Modular array and circuits for ultrasound transducers

Transmitters and waveform generators are provided for ultrasound imaging. Low-voltage transistors are connected in cascode with the high-voltage transistors used to generate the ultrasound pulses. The low-voltage transistors trim the high-voltage transistors, adjusting the drive strength of the high-voltage transistors. By trimming, the rise and fall time of the pulses generated by the high-voltage transistors may be more closely matched.

Integrated ultrasound transmitter with cascode trimming

Methods and systems are provided for adapting signals from an ultrasound transducer for an ultrasound system. Where the signal processing in a transducer assembly outputs data incompatible with the ultrasound system, circuitry provided within the transducer assembly converts the data to be compatible with the ultrasound systems. For example, sub-array mixing is provided to partially beamform signals from a plurality of transducer elements. The resulting output signals from a plurality sub-arrays are provided through a cable to a connector housing of the transducer probe assembly. Since the mixers alter the data, such as shifting the data to an intermediate frequency, the output data may be at a frequency different than the frequencies for operation of the receive beamformer. Additional mixers are then provided to convert the intermediate frequency signals to radio frequency signals that may be processed by the ultrasound systems received beamformer. As another example, signals from a plurality of transducer elements are multiplexed together. Where the receive beamformer is not operable to de-multiplex such signals, circuitry within the transducer probe assembly converts the signals by de-multiplexing the data for beamforming. Ultrasound systems have a limited number of received beamformer channels. By providing signal processing, conversion, and/or partial beamforming within the transducer probe assembly, the number of elements used may be different than the number of received beamformer channels provided by the system.

Ultrasound adaptor methods and systems for transducer and system separation

Methods, systems and probes communicate signals from a transducer for imaging or connection with an imaging system. Beamforming-related electronics are positioned in the connector housing of the transducer probe assembly. For example, analog-to-digital converters are positioned in the connector housing. Power is provided through connection with the ultrasound imaging system. Fans or other heat-dissipating structures are also positioned within the connector housing. Other beamformer electronics, such as delays and sums, are positioned in the imaging system, partly in the connector housing or entirely in the connector housing. Since the analog-to-digital converters are provided in the connector housing, partial digital beam forming may be provided in the transducer probe assembly. The length of the transducer cables is held constant to avoid interference and transmission line effects due to line-length variation. The number of cables and other interconnections from the transducer array to the analog-to-digital converters is unconstrained by the number of connectors or channels provided by the imaging system. Data compression provided by the electronics of the transducer probe assembly provides independence of the number of system channels from transducer channels.

Probe based digitizing or compression system and method for medical ultrasound

A plurality of application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips with different functions is provided. Each of the ASICs performs one or more functions along an ultrasound data path. The chips include communications protocols or processes for allowing scaling. For example, ASICs for backend processing include data exchange ports for communicating between other ASICs of the same type. As another example, receive beamformer ASICs cascade for beamformation. By providing ASICs implementing many or most of the ultrasound data path functions, with scalability, the same ASICs may be used for different system designs. A family of systems from high end to low-end using the same types of ASICs, but in different configurations, is provided.

Method for scalable manufacturing of medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems

Element mapping and transmission of continuous waves are provided ultrasound imaging. For use with multiple dimensional or large arrays, the number of receive beamformer channels or associated cables connecting the transducer array to the receive beamformer may be limited. Subarrays of signals from different elements associated with similar phasing are combined without switching. The combined subarray signals are then received beamformed to generate a continuous wave image. Receive channels without clocking or beamforming prior to a steered continuous wave Doppler beamformer maximize dynamic range and reduce the power consumption. For further or different optimization of steering continuous waves, low voltage transmitters separate from high voltage transmitters are provided for a plurality of elements.

Growing community of inventors

Fall City, WA, United States of America

David A Petersen