Patent ID: 9204862
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method for acquiring imaging information comprising: transmitting plural non-straight acoustic beams from at least one emission point in a depth direction extending away from the at least one emission point; acquiring, with plural receive elements, a first non-planar scan plane of reflections of the acoustic beams, wherein the non-planar scan plane is curved in an elevation direction as the non-planar scan plane extends along the depth direction, wherein the elevation direction is perpendicular to a main imaging direction of the scan plane, and wherein the receive elements are arranged in a 2D array extending at least along the elevation direction; acquiring at least a second scan plane, wherein the non-planar scan plane and the at least a second scan plane are mutually offset by a distance in the elevation direction that varies along the depth, wherein the at least a second scan plane is non-planar and curved in the elevation direction as the at least a second scan plane extends along the depth direction; and combining information from the first non-planar scan plane and the at least a second scan plane to generate a compounded image.