Patent ID: 8300502
Filing Date: 2012-10-30
Classification: E21B,G01N

Abstract:
1. An acoustic imaging system for imaging a structure, the system comprising: a probe having a plurality of arrays of acoustic transmitters, the acoustic transmitters of each array being arranged in a juxtaposed or spaced relationship around at least a portion of a circumferential surface of the probe, the acoustic transmitter arrays being in a juxtaposed or spaced relationship longitudinally on the probe; an array of acoustic receivers disposed radially around at least a portion of the circumferential surface of the probe; and a beam-former to focus and to steer a plurality of acoustic transmit beams from the array of acoustic transmitters onto at least a portion of the structure to be examined and to focus and to steer a plurality of receive beams from said structure, said beam-former adapted to cause the plurality of acoustic transmit beams to be focussed in a plane orthogonal to a plane used to focus the plurality of receive beams.