Abstract: A system for ultrasound imaging including an ultrasound transducer array housed in a single patch and comprising a plurality of ultrasound sensor elements and associated electronic; a beamformer electrically coupled to the ultrasound transducer array patch for combining outputs of said ultrasound sensor elements; and a CPU electrically coupled to the beamformer and configured to receive the combined outputs of said ultrasound sensor elements, perform image processing and analytics and generate an image or metrics to be displayed on a remote display screen.

Abstract: Sidelobe and clutter suppression techniques in ultrasound imaging are described and referred to as Dual Apodization with Cross-correlation or “DAX”. DAX dramatically improves the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) allowing for easier visualization of anechoic cysts and blood vessels. These techniques use dual apodization or weighting strategies that are effective in removing or minimizing clutter and efficient in terms of computational load and hardware/software needs. This dual apodization allows for determination of the amount of mainlobe versus clutter contribution in a signal by cross-correlating RF data acquired from two apodization functions.

Abstract: Dual-layer acoustic transducer array designs, related fabrication methods, and ultrasound imaging techniques are described. The designs include two perpendicular 1-D arrays for clinical 3-D acoustic imaging of targets near the transducer. These targets can include the breast, carotid artery, prostate, and musculoskeletal system among others. The transducer designs reduce the fabrication complexity and the channel count making 3-D rectilinear imaging more realizable. With such designs, an effective N×N 2-D array can be developed using only N transmitters and N receivers. This benefit becomes very significant when N becomes greater than 128, for example. Embodiments/aspects of the present disclosure are directed to fabricating and interconnecting 2-D arrays with a large number of elements (>5,000) for 3-D rectilinear imaging.

Abstract: Sidelobe and clutter suppression techniques in ultrasound imaging are described and referred to as Dual Apodization with Cross-correlation or “DAX”. DAX dramatically improves the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) allowing for easier visualization of anechoic cysts and blood vessels. These techniques use dual apodization or weighting strategies that are effective in removing or minimizing clutter and efficient in terms of computational load and hardware/software needs. This dual apodization allows for determination of the amount of mainlobe versus clutter contribution in a signal by cross-correlating RF data acquired from two apodization functions.

Abstract: Methods of scanning using a two dimensional (2D) ultrasound transducer array are disclosed. The 2D ultrasound transducer arrays include at least one row of ultrasound transducer elements that is configured to extend in a curved dimension of the array and at least one column of ultrasound transducer elements that is configured to extend in a linear dimension of the array. A 2D ultrasound transducer array can be used to scan by defining a sub-aperture of the 2D ultrasound transducer array that includes a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements in the curved dimension of the array and in the linear dimension of the array and exciting the ultrasound transducer elements included in the sub-aperture to generate a transmit/receive ultrasound beam. Related 2D ultrasound transducer arrays and elements are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of scanning using a two dimensional (2D) ultrasound transducer array are disclosed. The 2D ultrasound transducer arrays include at least one row of ultrasound transducer elements that is configured to extend in a curved dimension of the array and at least one column of ultrasound transducer elements that is configured to extend in a linear dimension of the array. A 2D ultrasound transducer array can be used to scan by defining a sub-aperture of the 2D ultrasound transducer array that includes a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements in the curved dimension of the array and in the linear dimension of the array and exciting the ultrasound transducer elements included in the sub-aperture to generate a transmit/receive ultrasound beam. Related 2D ultrasound transducer arrays and elements are also disclosed.