G01S15/8925

Acoustic dual-frequency phased array with common beam angles
11630205 · 2023-04-18 · ·

An acoustic dual-frequency phased array system with common beam angles is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a planar array of transducer elements and a multiplexing circuit for selecting between a first state and a second state during either transmit operation, receive operation or both transmit and receive operation. The multiplexer is configured to connect transducer elements to a plurality of connections different between the first state and second state. The system is configured to transmit and receive beams at a first frequency when the multiplexer is in the first state and transmit and receive beams at a second frequency when the multiplexer is in the second state. The angle of the beams from vertical in the first and second state are substantially similar.

Foldable 2-D CMUT-on-CMOS arrays

Apparatus, including an insertion tube, configured to be inserted into a body cavity and having a first lumen having a first lumen diameter and a distal opening, and a tubular channel, having a second lumen and an outer channel diameter smaller than the first lumen diameter, inserted into the first lumen. The apparatus includes a support structure, configured to be passed through a space between an inner wall of the insertion tube and an outer wall of the tubular channel to the distal opening in a folded state and to unfold, upon exit of the support structure through the distal opening, in a direction transverse to the first lumen to reach a support dimension that is greater than the first lumen diameter. A plurality of planar two-dimensional arrays of ultrasonic transducers are supported by the support structure, the arrays having transverse dimensions less than the first lumen diameter.

ULTRASONIC FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION CIRCUIT, DRIVING METHOD THEREOF, AND DISPLAY DEVICE

Provided are an ultrasonic fingerprint identification circuit, a driving method thereof, and a display device. The ultrasonic fingerprint identification circuit comprises fingerprint identification units each including an ultrasonic fingerprint identification sensor connected to a first node; a control module connected to a composite signal line, a first control signal line and the first node and configured to provide a reset potential to the first node and to provide a pull-up potential to the first node in response to a first level provided by the composite signal line; a reading module connected to a second control signal line, the first node and a reading signal line, and configured to read a detection signal of the first node. The first control signal line connected to one fingerprint identification unit is reused as the second control signal line connected to another fingerprint identification unit.

METHOD FOR OBTAINING ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF A SOFT SOLID, WHICH USES ACOUSTIC VORTICES

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining elastic properties of a soft solid by means of quasi-omnidirectional transverse waves generated by a focused ultrasound beam, with a helical phase profile that produces an acoustic vortex that generates a transverse wave front, not only in the direction perpendicular to the ultrasound beam but also in the same direction as the ultrasound beam. The invention also allows control of the transverse wave front generated, which facilitates the carrying out of elastography studies at different frequencies and increases the amplitude of the transverse waves produced, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio.

Method for imaging a sample with blood and associated devices

The present invention aims at improving the Doppler imaging of a biological sample comprising blood. For this, it is proposed a method for imaging a biological sample (10), the sample (10) comprising blood (14) comprising diffusors and solid tissue (16), the method comprising obtaining observation, each observation being characterized by a different point spread function associating a signal to each location of the region of interest, the signal comprising a first contribution representative of the diffusors of blood vessels within the location, a second contribution representative of the tissue diffusors and a third contribution representative of blood signal associated to blood diffusors outside of the location, and estimating, for each location, the blood flow by using a statistical analysis.

IMAGING DEVICES HAVING PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSCEIVERS WITH HARMONIC CHARACTERISTICS
20220314278 · 2022-10-06 ·

A micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) which comprises a first piezoelectric layer and a second piezoelectric layer. The first piezoelectric layer is disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The second piezoelectric layer is disposed between the second electrode and a third electrode. At least the first electrode has first and second ends along a first axis, one or more of which is defined by a radius of curvature R. A second axis normal to the first passes through a midpoint of the first axis. A half-width of the first electrode is defined by a length L measured from the midpoint, in the direction of the second axis, to an outer perimeter of the first electrode. A total width of the first electrode at its narrowest point along the first axis is at most 2L such that the first electrode has a concave shape. R/L, is greater than 1.

THREE DIMENSIONAL COLOR DOPPLER FOR ULTRASONIC VOLUME FLOW MEASUREMENT
20230143880 · 2023-05-11 ·

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is used to measure volume flow. An ultrasound probe operating in the biplane mode is used to acquire a vessel in a long axis view in a first Doppler image, and simultaneously in a transverse view in a second Doppler image. Volume flow is calculated from the transverse view of the vessel. The plane of the second image is aligned with the Doppler angle of the first image so that angle correction determined for the first image can be used for angle correction in the volume flow calculation.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING SCAN PATTERN FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for automatically updating scan patterns used during ultrasound imaging. A handheld ultrasound system may include an ultrasound device with a two-dimensional array of ultrasound transducers, and a smartphone or tablet that configures the ultrasound device to obtain a first ultrasound image frame using a scan pattern defining an acoustic beam. The system then updates the scan pattern to optimize a view of the desired anatomy. When the system is operating in cardiac imaging mode, the scan pattern may be updated by adjusting the azimuthal tilt and/or the elevational tilt of the acoustic beam. When the system is operating in lung imaging mode, the scan pattern may be updated by adjusting the elevational tilt and/or the translation of the aperture of the array of ultrasound transducers. The system then configures the ultrasound device to obtain a second ultrasound image frame using the updated scan pattern.

ULTRASONIC SENSING APPARATUS AND SENSING METHOD THEREOF
20170367681 · 2017-12-28 ·

An ultrasonic sensing apparatus held next to a target can detect vital signs of the target. The ultrasonic sensing apparatus includes a first flexible circuit board, a transmitting layer, a readout layer, and a receiving layer. Emitting elements in the transmitting layer generate ultrasonic signals and the receiving layer receives reflected ultrasonic signals and converts the reflections into electrical signals. The emitting elements are staggered in relation to elements of the receiving layer for better resolution and accuracy. The readout layer reads the electric signals for calculating vital signs. The readout layer includes input lines and output lines and readout pixels are defined by the crossing points of input and output lines. Ultrasonic signals are generated during a first period, and the reflections are read in a second period next following. The readout layer completes one reading operation corresponding to one readout pixel during the second period.

EQUALIZATION FOR MATRIX BASED LINE IMAGERS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMS

Disclosed herein are ultrasonic transducer systems comprising: an ultrasonic imager comprising a plurality of pMUT transducer elements; and one or more circuitries connected electronically to the plurality of transducer element, the one or more circuitries configured to enable: pulse transmission and reception of reflected signal for the ultrasonic transducer, where inductors are used to equalize impedance to obtain greater pressure output. Also disclosed are methods of altering a pressure of an ultrasonic wave emitted by an ultrasonic transducer.