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: A diagnostic ultrasound system has a 2D array transducer which is operated with 1×N patches, patches which are only a single element wide. The “N” length of the patches extends in the elevation direction of a scanned 2D image plane, with the single element width extending in the lateral (azimuth) direction. Focusing is done along each patch in the elevation direction by a microbeamformer, and focusing in the lateral (azimuth) direction is done by the system beamformer. The minimal width of each patch in the azimuth direction enables the production of images highly resolved in the azimuthal plane of a 2D image, including the reception of highly resolved multilines for high frame rate imaging.

Abstract: An imaging assembly for an intraluminal imaging device is provided. In one embodiment, the imaging assembly includes an imaging array positioned at a distal portion of the intraluminal imaging device. The imaging array may have a plurality of imaging elements arranged into subarrays. The imaging assembly also may include a micro-beam-former integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the imaging array at the distal portion of the intraluminal imaging device. The micro-beam-former IC includes a plurality of microchannels that may separately beam-form signals received from imaging elements of at least two subarrays. The imaging assembly further includes two or more signal lines that may couple to the micro beam-former IC. Each signal line may correspond to a specific subarray and may receive the beam-formed signals specific to corresponding subarray.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe includes a housing and a transducer array with first, second, and third acoustic elements. The first acoustic element is arranged between the second and third acoustic elements in an elevation dimension. The first acoustic element generates a first analog ultrasound signal, and the second third acoustic elements are electrically coupled to generate a second analog ultrasound signal. The ultrasound probe includes a first amplifier in communication with the first acoustic element. The ultrasound probe includes second and third amplifiers in communication with the second and third acoustic elements. The first and second amplifiers apply gain to the first and second analog ultrasound signals, respectively, according to a first gain profile. The third amplifier applies gain only to the second analog ultrasound signal according to a second gain profile that is different than the first gain profile.

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: An ultrasound probe is in communication with an ultrasound system. The ultrasound probe includes a transducer array configured to generate analog ultrasound signals. The ultrasound probe includes analog in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) mixers disposed within a housing of the ultrasound probe and in communication with the transducer array. The analog I/Q mixers are configured to generate analog continuous wave (CW) Doppler signals based on the analog ultrasound signals. The ultrasound probe includes a cable coupled to the housing, wherein the cable is configured to transmit the analog CW Doppler signals from the ultrasound probe to the ultrasound system. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also provided.

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: An ultrasound system includes a transducer array configured to generate analog ultrasound signals. The system includes one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) in communication with the transducer array. The ADCs is configured to convert the analog ultrasound signals to digital ultrasound signals. The system includes a processor circuit in communication with the ADCs. The processor circuit includes digital in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) mixers configured to generate digital continuous wave (CW) Doppler signals based on the digital ultrasound signals. The processor circuit is configured to process the digital CW Doppler signals, generate a graphical representation of a distribution of blood flow velocities over a plurality of cardiac cycles, and output the graphical representation to a display in communication with the processor circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe contains an array transducer coupled to a digital microbeamformer. The digital microbeamformer is capable of producing delayed echo signals which are a delayed by a fraction of a clock cycle of received digital echo signals. The fractional delay is produced by an FIR filter which conserves power by weighting digital echo signals without the use of digital multipliers.

Abstract: Handheld ultrasound devices with display-retaining designs that allow the processor/display assembly to be removed and/or repositioned are provided. According to one embodiment, a handheld ultrasound scanning device includes a main body housing having a first side and a second side. An ultrasound transducer is coupled to the second side and is configured to obtain ultrasound data. A communication interface is communicatively coupled to the ultrasound transducer and configured to transmit the ultrasound data obtained by the ultrasound transducer to a processor and display assembly. The first side of the main body housing includes a retention feature that is configured to retain the processor and display assembly in contact with the main body housing at a position and orientation relative to the main body housing.

Abstract: A digital transmit beamformer for an ultrasound system has a waveform sample memory which stores sequences of samples of different pulse transmit waveforms of differing pulse widths. The memory is shared by a plurality of transmit channels, each of which can access its own selected sample sequence, independent of the selections by other channels. Waveform sample readout by the channels occurs substantially simultaneously during a transmit event, producing a transmit beam from a transmit aperture with different pulse waveforms applied to different elements of the transmit aperture. Higher energy waveforms with wider pulse widths are applied to central elements of the aperture and lower energy waveforms with narrower pulse widths are applied to lateral elements of the aperture to produce an apodized transmit beam.

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: A two dimensional ultrasonic array transducer receives echo signals from increasing depths of a volumetric region. The 2D array is configured into patches of elements which are processed by a microbeamformer and summed signals from a patch are coupled to a channel of an ultrasound beamformer At the shallowest depth the 2D array receives echoes from small patches in the center of the aperture. As signals are received from increasing depths the aperture is grown by symmetrically adding patches of progressively larger sizes on either side of the small patches in the center. The inventive technique can improve the multiline performance of both 1D and 2D array probes.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe (106) contains an array transducer (101) and a microbeamformer coupled to elements of the array. The microbeamformer comprises analog ASICs (102) with transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array (101). The microbeamformer also comprises analog to digital converters which convert received echo signals to digital data, and digital beamforming circuitry located in digital ASICs (103). The digital ASICs (103) are clocked at a lower core frequency than that of which the digital integrated circuit process of the digital ASICs (103) is capable, and the digital ASICs (103) are operated at a lower supply voltage than that for which the digital integrated circuit process is designed, both of which reduce power consumption by the microbeamformer.

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 array of CMUT cells has a DC bias voltage (VB) coupled to the membrane and floor electrodes of the cells to bias the electrode to a desired collapsed or partially collapsed state. The low voltage or ground terminal of the DC bias supply is coupled to the patient-facing membrane electrodes and the high voltage is applied to the floor electrodes. An ASIC for controlling the CMUT array is located in the probe with the array. The ASIC electronics are electrically floating relative to ground potential of the ultrasound system to which the CMUT probe is connected. Control and signal lines are coupled to the CMUT probe by level shifters which translate signals to the floating potential of the ASIC and provide DC isolation between the CMUT probe and the ultrasound system.

Abstract: An array of CMUT cells has a DC bias voltage coupled to the top electrodes of the cells to bias the electrode to a desired collapsed or partially collapsed state. In the event of a short-circuit failure of a CMUT cell a protection circuit for the cell senses an over-current condition and responds by opening the DC current path through the failed cell. The protection circuit further disables the transmit and receive circuitry of the cell. In another implementation a sense circuit senses an over-current condition of the DC bias supply and responds by disabling all of the CMUT cells of the array, then sequentially re-enabling them, except that an attempt to re-enable a failed cell results in that cell remaining in a disabled state.

Abstract: An array of CMUT cells (10) has a DC bias voltage (VB) coupled to the top electrodes of the cells to bias the electrode to a desired collapsed or partially collapsed state. Fuses (200) are coupled in series with the bottom electrodes (22) of the cells which will open and isolate an individual cell from the other still-functional cells of the array in the event of a failure of the individual cell. In a preferred embodiment the cells are coupled to control integrated circuitry such as microbeamformer circuitry and the fuses are formed of semiconductor materials with the integrated circuitry, thereby leaving the MUT surface area available for high density MUT fabrication. Damage to the integrated circuitry due to short-circuiting of the DC bias current through a failed cell is prevented.

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: Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided.