Abstract: A capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer, CMUT, device in which integrated probe circuitry includes both the ultrasound transmission and reception circuitry and a DC-DC converter for generating a bias voltage for the CMUT cell. The high voltage pulses of a pulser circuit and a high voltage DC bias voltage are both generated by a single probe circuit, which is local to the CMUT cell.

Abstract: A sensor device comprises at least two sensors at the end of a shaft (such as a guidewire or catheter). One sensor uses signals in a first frequency range and a first voltage range and the other sensor uses signals in a second frequency range different to the first frequency range and a second voltage range different to the first voltage range. The first sensor is shorted based on frequency analysis, thereby to prevent the first sensor being exposed to signals associated with the second sensor. This enables the two sensors to be driven by the same shared pair of wires along the shaft, with automatic selection of the suitable sensor.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a two dimensional matrix array transducer and a digital microbeamformer. The microbeamformer comprises a plurality of transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array transducer, a plurality of low power analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the amplifiers, a microbeamformer controller, a power supply and a USB controller which cumulatively consume three watts or less.

Abstract: The invention concerns a digitizing ASIC (3) for an ultrasound scanning unit (2) of an ultrasound system (1), comprising: an array of analogue-to-digital converters (31) adapted to receive ultrasound signals acquired with an ultrasound transducer array and to convert the ultrasound signals into digitized ultrasound data; a memory module (32) operably coupled to the array of analogue-to-digital converters (31) and adapted to store the digitized ultrasound data; a transmitter operably coupled to the memory module (32) and adapted to transfer the digitized ultrasound data stored in the memory module (32) to a remote interface unit (6); and a controller (33) adapted to receive control signals from the interface unit (6), and, responsive to the control signals, configure the operation of components of the ASIC (3) and/or the ultrasound scanning unit (2) by setting operation parameters, wherein the controller (33) is adapted to change operation parameters of the ASIC (3) and/or the ultrasound scanning unit (2) duri

Abstract: A capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) device in which integrated probe circuitry includes both the ultrasound transmission and reception circuitry and a DC-DC converter for generating a bias voltage for the CMUT cell. The high voltage pulses of a pulser circuit and a high voltage DC bias voltage are both generated by a single probe circuit, which is local to the CMUT cell.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe contains an array transducer and a microbeamformer coupled to elements of the array. The microbeamformer comprises analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry for at least thirty-two digital channels in the microbeamformer. Preferably the analog to digital converters are low power ADCs for reduced power consumption in the probe. Integrated circuits of thirty-two channels can be cascaded to produce 64-channel and 128-channel digital microbeamformers for an ultrasound array probe.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an ultrasound probe (1) configured to be operatively coupled to a cable (10), the cable (10) comprising a plurality of lanes adapted to carry signals between the ultrasound probe (1) and a data processing unit, which is adapted to process the signals, in particular to beamform the signals and to reconstruct ultrasound images of an imaging region. The ultrasonic probe (1) comprises a transducer head comprising a plurality of transducer elements, which are adapted to insonify the imaging region according to an insonification scheme and to receive ultrasound signals, and a controller adapted to, responsive to the information of a faulty lane from a fault detection module adapted to detect integrity of each of the plurality of lanes, redistribute and/or reconfigure the signals carried by the faulty lane onto one or more of the non-faulty lanes.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe in which there is local amplification, time gain compensation and digitization of each transducer element output. Inverting arrangements surround the time gain compensation and digitization units, and a synchronous inversion function enables deterministic distortion to be cancelled.

Abstract: The invention is directed to method for ultrasound (US) imaging using an ultrasound system comprising a US probe (10), wherein the US probe (10) is configured to insonify an imaging region, receive echo signals, digitize the received echo signals and transfer the digitized radiofrequency (RF) data (14) to a data processing unit adapted to beamform the RF data (14). The method comprises acquiring at least one scouting image (15) including an anatomical structure; selecting at least one region of interest (ROI) (16) within the scouting image (15), wherein the at least one ROI (16) includes a portion of the anatomical structure; setting a transmit (TX) scheme (46) and a receive (RX) scheme (48) for US imaging of the imaging region (18), in which the ROI (16) is insonified with different TX and RX settings than the imaging region (18) outside the ROI (16); and acquiring a plurality of US images (26) according to the TX and RX scheme.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer has a control circuit with an array of circuit portions, the used ones of which defining a circuit area. cMUT elements are provided over the top of the control circuit. Vias provide a coupling between each cMUT element and a Respective one of the circuit portions beneath. At least some vias are located beneath the bottom electrode of the cMUT element and each via connects to the respective circuit portion at a same position relative to the circuit portion. The array of cMUT elements overlaps at least one side of the circuit area. The fixed via position makes the circuit design simpler, and the overlap enables tiling or else enables a modular design in which different cMUT designs may be used with the same circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer has a control circuit with an array of circuit portions which together define a circuit area. cMUT elements are provided over the top of the control circuit. Vias provide a coupling between each cMUT element and a respective one of the circuit portions beneath. The vias are located at spaces between the cMUT elements and connect to the circuit portion beneath at a position relative to the shape of the circuit portion. The pitch of the array is greater than the pitch of the circuit portions in at least one direction of the array such that in said at least one direction, the cMUT elements extend beyond one or both sides of the circuit rea. This makes tiling easier and enables a modular design.

Abstract: An ultrasound system has a set of CMUT ultrasound transducer devices and a drive circuit for operating the ultrasound transducer devices, for delivering an AC drive signal and receiving a reflected signal. An intermediate circuit is between the drive circuit and the set of ultrasound devices in the form of an array of coupling circuits, each coupling circuit between the drive circuit and an associated at least one ultrasound transducer device. Each coupling circuit comprises a buffer element connected between a bias voltage and a device terminal and as series capacitor. The intermediate circuit serves as a connection link between the set of CMUT transducer elements and the driving/sensing electronics, and is formed as a passive integrated technology circuit. The buffer element prevents a low-impedance short between the CMUT cell bias node and the counter electrode in the case of a CMUT cell drum short circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging catheter comprises an ultrasound transducer array provided at a distal end of an ultrasound imaging catheter. The ultrasound transducer array comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers and is adapted to transmit and receive ultrasound signals. The ultrasound imaging catheter includes a local memory provided at the distal end of the ultrasound imaging catheter. The local memory is adapted to store a plurality of activation patterns, each activation pattern corresponding to a number of transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements to be activated and a number of transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements to be deactivated.

Abstract: An ultrasound (US) system is discloses and includes a plurality of transducer elements forming a one-dimensional array and a plurality of bias voltage circuits. Each bias voltage circuit is in communication with a respective first set of the transducer elements and configured to apply a bias voltage to its respective first set of the transducer elements. The US system also included a second plurality of transmit and receive circuits. Each transmit and receive circuit is in communication with a respective second set of transducer elements and configured to stimulate signal transmission or reception of the respective second set of transducer elements.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a two dimensional matrix array transducer and a digital microbeamformer. The microbeamformer comprises a plurality of transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array transducer, a plurality of low power analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the amplifiers, a microbeamformer controller, a power supply and a USB controller which cumulatively consume three watts or less.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a two dimensional matrix array transducer and a digital microbeamformer. The microbeamformer comprises a plurality of transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array transducer, a plurality of low power analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the amplifiers, a microbeamformer controller, a power supply and a USB controller which cumulatively consume three watts or less.

Abstract: An intravascular ultrasound device (12) comprising an array (16) of ultrasound transducer elements (18) which extends in a longitudinal (22) and annular (20) direction along and around the device body (14). The device includes control electronics which allow the array to driven either as a set of longitudinally oriented (28) subgroups of elements (e.g. each including one or more rows of the array), or as a set of annularly oriented subgroups (26) of elements (e.g. each including one or more columns of the array). By switching between these two different operation modes, two different functions can be performed using the same single unitary array of elements: either cross-sectional imaging in the longitudinal mode, or blood flow sensing in the annular mode.

Abstract: Disclosed are an imaging system (10) or an interventional tool, such as a catheter (20), having a first ultrasound transducer array (23) and a second ultrasound transducer array (21) spaced by a fixed distance (D) from each other; wherein both arrays may be used to generate diagnostic images; and a processing arrangement (31, 32) to process a first sensor signal indicative of the first array imaging a reference location (X) at a first point in time, and to process a second sensor signal indicative of the second array imaging the reference location at a second point in time; and determine a translation (pullback) speed of the catheter from the set distance and the difference between the first point in time and the second point in time. Alternatively, a catheter may be provided comprising an ultrasound transducer array at a distal end of the catheter, and two pressure sensors for determining the translation speed.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound imaging system, comprising an array of transducer elements grouped into element groups, wherein the element groups comprise a plurality of first element groups (having a first orientation) and a plurality of second element groups (having a second orientation different from the first orientation). A first conductor is connected to each of the elements in each first element grouping and a second conductor is connected to each of the elements in each second element grouping. Each element group is adapted to be activated for transmission or reception by the application of a bias voltage, by way of a plurality of bias voltage circuits, and controlled by a plurality of transmit and receive circuits. The system is adapted to acquire first ultrasound data, wherein the bias voltage is applied to the first conductors of the array (or a sub-array) and the transducers receive a signal from a transmit and receive circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound probe that includes an array of CMUT (capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer) cells. Each cell includes a substrate carrying a first electrode of an electrode arrangement. The substrate is spatially separated from a flexible membrane by a gap. The flexible membrane includes a second electrode of the electrode arrangement. The ultrasound probe also includes an acoustic window over the array of CMUT cells. The ultrasound probe further includes a data storage element accessible to an external control module of the ultrasound probe. The data storage element stores configuration information for configuring an operation of the array of CMUT cells in pre-collapse or collapse mode with the external control module to optimize the effective bandwidth of the array. Also disclosed is a calibration method of the ultrasound probe, an ultrasound system and a method of operating the ultrasound system.