System and method of signal processing for ultrasound arrays with mechanically adjustable transducer shapes

Abstract

A deployable ultrasound imaging device is operably connected to an ultrasound imaging system including a processing unit configured to operate the transducer and the individual segments in order to emit ultrasound signals from the segments and to receive ultrasound signals from the structures surrounding the segments. The ultrasound imaging system/processing unit can process the transmitted and received signals by beamforming to direct the ultrasound signals emitted from the segments in order to provide data for an ultrasound image of the desired structure(s). The ultrasound imaging system/processing unit mechanically or acoustically determines the position of the individual segments with regard to one another to determine the angular position of the segments with regard to one another. Using the angular position, the ultrasound imaging system/processing unit can apply a beamforming correction to the ultrasound signals emitted from and/or received by the segments in order to produce an accurate ultrasound image.