Patent ID: 7559897
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: A61B,B06B

Abstract:
1. An electronic array probe for ultrasonic imaging, comprising an array of electroacoustic transducers, said transducers being arranged in adjacent positions on concentric annular bands, said transducers being tangent to one another in both radial and circumferential directions, characterized in that said transducers are arranged within said array with such a geometry that the number of transducers having the same focusing delay with respect to a scan point, scan line or scan area, is minimal or null, a central portion adjacent to the innermost annular band, wherein each annular band and said central portion contain identical numbers of transducers, wherein each annular band of transducers contains a predetermined number of transducers, each transducer having a geometric center, each transducer being disposed with its geometric center angularly staggered with respect to the geometric centers of the transducers of the adjacent bands, or the central portion, by a constant length from band to band, said length being a rational fraction of the angular displacement of said transducer.