Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Acuson Corporation

Mirsaid Seyed Bolorforosh

Stephen Roy Barnes

Albert Gee

Kutay F Ustuner

D-l Donald Liu

Ching-Hua Chou

John Alexander Hossack

Bhaskar S Ramamurthy

Thilaka S Sumanaweera

Sriram Krishnan

Gregory L Holley

Edward A Gardner

Vaughn R Marian

Sevig Ayter

Amin M Hanafy

Robert Nolen Phelps

Gregg W Frey

Timothy L Proulx

Todor Sheljaskow

Grazyna M Palczewska

Peter Guo

David I Bruce

Tim Thigpen

Sungrung Huang

Ting Lan Ji

Using configurable arrays, synthetic aperture processes may be used along an elevation dimension for increasing resolution. The increased resolution is used for two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging. Alternatively or additionally, wide band synthetic elevation aperture focusing processes, such as beamformation, are provided along the elevation dimension to increase resolution. In yet another alternative or additional embodiment, a transducer is rotated about a center of the transducer within the elevation and azimuth plane. An aperture associated with the transducer is mechanically or electronically rotated, and ultrasound data acquired associated with a plurality of different positions. The ultrasound data is then used for synthetic elevation aperture processing. In yet another alternative or additional embodiment, multiple scanning modes are provided. In a survey mode, imaging is provided without synthetic elevation aperture processing. For greater detailed imaging, imaging is responsive to synthetic elevation aperture processes with different elevation focusing and scanning.

Synthetic elevation aperture for ultrasound systems and methods

Multiple scanning modes are provided. In a survey mode, imaging is provided without synthetic elevation aperture processing. For greater detailed imaging, imaging is responsive to synthetic elevation aperture processes with different elevation focusing and scanning.

A position of an imaging plane relative to a catheter or other probe is aligned with tissue of interest. Ultrasound tissue images may be registered to the catheter position with minimal rotational ambiguity. The spatial position of an ablation catheter or other device with respect to the imaging plane is more accurately determined, allowing a physician to identify specific anatomy in the relative location of a catheter or catheters. Another alternative or additional approach to determining the position of an imaging plane is to determine the relative position of two or more catheters. A catheter associated with imaging is then moved or bent in a direction having a known spatial relationship with the imaging plane. The position of the catheter is relative to each is then determined again to determine the angle or position of the imaging plane. In addition or as an alternative to determining an angular position of an imaging plane relative to a catheter, an ultrasound image of tissue is generated with acoustic elements for position identification. The acoustic elements are used as an imaging transducer array as well as devices for determining relative positions of the catheters.

Image plane sensing methods and systems for intra-patient probes

Electrical interconnects are provided for CMUTs. For example, electrodes within the silicon substrate, such as the electrodes at the bottom of the void below membranes, are interconnected together within the substrate. The interconnected electrode may then be used as the grounding electrode. By providing interconnection within the substrate and below the membranes, space for vias and the associated connection between the electrodes on an exposed surface of the substrate is minimized. As another example, an electrical conductor is formed on the side of the silicon substrate rather than the top of the substrate. Conductors on the side may allow routing signals from a top surface to a bottom surface without large wire bonding pads. Alternatively, conductors on the edge provide additional space for wire bonding pads. As yet another example, polymer material used as a matching or protection layer is formed on the top surface of the CMUT with electrical traces routed within the polymer. By using multiple layers of polymer, multiple layers of electrical conductors may be routed without interference.

Electrical interconnections and methods for membrane ultrasound transducers

Methods and systems for obtaining ultrasound and sensing other patient characteristics are provided from summary. One or more sensors are provided in a same transducer probe as an array of elements. For example, sensors are formed on a same semiconductor substrate, such as a silicon substrate, as microelectromechanical devices or a capacitive membrane ultrasonic transducer (CMUT). As another example, a sensor is provided separate from or attached to transducer materials. Possible sensors include temperature, pressure, microphone, chemical and/or other sensors.

Transducer arrays with an integrated sensor and methods of use

A method and system for controlling bias voltage for use with an electrostatic transducer are provided. The bias voltage is dynamically varied or set as a function of imaging mode, depth gain compensation, elevational apodization, azimuthal apodization, timing with respect to the transmit waveform, center frequency of transmit and receive waves and desired modulation. Opposite polarity on sub-elements is also provided for removing signals from electromagnetic interference and crosstalk between elements.

Bias control of electrostatic transducers

A transducer system and method for harmonic imaging is provided. At least one transducer element is provided. The transducer element comprises two or more stacked piezoelectric layers. Information from each of the layers is independently processed during one of a transmit event, a receive event, and both transmit and receive events. Information from the transducer element is provided to a filter. The filter isolates harmonic information for imaging. By providing a multi-layer transducer element with independent processing for each layer, a wide bandwidth transducer for harmonic imaging is provided. The null associated with most transducers at the second harmonic of a fundamental frequency is removed or lessened.

Ultrasound selectable frequency response system and method for multi-layer transducers

A medical diagnostic imaging system generates a compounded beam signal C by combining first and second beam signals B , B subsequent to detection and a synthesized beam signal S by combining the first and second beam signals B , B prior to detection. The compounded signal C and the synthesized signal S are then adaptively weighted in response to a selection signal and combined to form an image signal. In this way, the compounded signal C is made to dominate in regions of the image that benefit from increased contrast resolution and the synthesized signal S is made to dominate in regions of the same image that benefit from increased detail resolution.

Medical ultrasonic imaging with adaptive synthesis and compounding

A medical ultrasound diagnostic imaging system includes a delay system that applies a composite delay profile to signals to or from respective transducer elements. One composite delay profile includes a first, substantially point-focus delay profile for a first set of the transducer elements and a second, substantially point-focus delay profile for a second set of the transducer elements. The first and second delay profiles cause ultrasonic energy from the respective first and second sets of the transducer elements to constructively add at first and second respective spaced focal zones in either transmit or receive. Another composite delay profile includes first and second portions that substantially correspond to respective parts of a point-focus delay profile, and third and fourth portions that are intermediate the point-focus delay profile and respective tangents.

Medical ultrasound imaging system with composite delay profile

A multifocus ultrasonic imaging system transmits two or more successive multifocus beams in order to increase the number of separate focal zones along a given scan line. The operating conditions for different transmit foci are controlled in a multifocus transmit event in order to optimize the operating conditions for each transmit focus and to reduce the unwanted transmit foci interference. In one example, two consecutive multifocus transmit events are transmitted and the transmit focal zones of the first and second transmit events are interleaved in range, thereby increasing the separation between transmit focal zones within a single transmit event.

Medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging method and system using simultaneously transmitted ultrasound beams

A method and apparatus to collect a 3-D volume of data using a generic 1-D ultrasound transducer, without using special fixtures, such as position tracking hardware. A 3-D volume is generated by performing two data collecting sweeps, or alternatively, by collecting data from a plurality of locator planes (non-coplanar intersecting planes) and performing one data collecting sweep or rotation. Lines of intersection are determined from intersecting planes of 2-D data sets collected from the 1-D ultrasound transducer. The 2-D data sets are assembled into a 3-D data set and scan converted in a 3-D grid for display.

3-D diagnostic medical ultrasound imaging using a 1-D array

A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system and method modulate the image signal as a function of the ratio of the harmonic receive signal to the fundamental receive signal. Tissue harmonic backscatter differs substantially in spectral shape as compared to contrast agent backscatter, and this method allows improved discrimination between contrast agent and tissue backscatter.

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Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Mirsaid Seyed Bolorforosh