Patent ID: 6524254
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: A61B,B06B,G01S

Abstract:
An orthogonally switchable matrix array transducer for ultrasound imaging, comprisinga multiplicity of tiled planar acoustic/electronic subarrays, each subarray consisting of an N vertical by N horizontal pattern of uniformly spaced acoustical transducers fabricated on a transducer substrate and closely connected to supporting circuitry, N being at least 2 transducers and preferably 8 transducers, said supporting circuitry including N vertical bus lines and N horizontal bus lines, each said transducer being connected by a transducer switch to a said vertical bus line and a said horizontal bus line, N transducers to each said vertical bus line and N transducers to each said horizontal bus line, each said transducer being thereby switchable between respective vertical and horizontal bus lines, all said transducer switches controlled by a bus selector switch so as to enable reconfiguration of said subarray between a set of N vertical linear transducer strips for horizontal mode operation and a set of N horizontal linear transducer strips for vertical mode operation, said supporting circuitry further including a transmit/receive selector switch controlled by a signal line enabling said subarray to be switched between a transmit and a receiving mode, a linear transducer strip transmitter time delay circuit enabling said linear transducer strips to be relatively time shifted for transmitting, a receiver time delay circuit enabling said linear transducer strips to be time shifted for receiving, and a summer circuit for integrating the received signals of all said linear transducer strips of said subarray into a common output signal, said supporting circuitry yet further including means for connecting said subarrays to an ultra sound imaging system, said imaging system thereby providing control inputs to each said subarray of said matrix array transducer for transmit steering, receive steering, selecting between vertical and horizontal operation, power, and clock signals, said control system thereby also accepting a received said output signal from the said summer circuit of each respective said subarray.