Multiple aperture probe internal apparatus and cable assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10925577-B2
Application number	US-201715785233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2017
Priority date	Oct 13, 2010
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate physical apertures of ultrasound arrays. The probe can include separate backing plates configured to secure the ultrasound arrays in predetermined positions and orientations relative to one another. Some embodiments of the probe include flex circuit connected to the ultrasound arrays. In additional embodiments, a flex/PC board comprising flex connectors and an array of terminals is connected to the ultrasound arrays. Algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the probe apparatus to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple aperture ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
an imaging control system containing control electronics;
an ultrasound probe connected to the imaging control system comprising:
a probe housing containing a first array of ultrasound transducer elements and a second array of ultrasound transducer elements, the probe housing further comprising a PC board comprising a signal terminal and a ground terminal corresponding to each individual ultrasound transducer element of the first and second arrays, the probe housing further comprising a first flex circuit having a plurality of differential pairs of signal and ground conductors, each differential pair of the first flex circuit connecting one ultrasound transducer element of the first array to its corresponding signal and ground terminals on the PC board;
wherein each transducer element of the first array and the second array is electrically connected to the imaging control system with a differential pair of conductors, each differential pair having a signal conductor and a ground conductor and being different than another differential pair.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the probe housing further comprises a backing plate electrically connected to the imaging control system via a chassis ground conductor, wherein the chassis ground conductor is electrically separated from the differential pairs of conductors of the first array and the second array.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein an interior surface of the probe housing comprises a continuous electrically conductive layer electrically connected to the chassis ground conductor.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first and second arrays are mechanically secured to the backing plate.

5. The system of claim 1 , the probe housing further comprising a second flex circuit having a plurality of differential pairs of signal and ground conductors, each differential pair of the second flex circuit connecting one ultrasound transducer element of the second array to its corresponding signal and ground terminals on the PC board.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising first and second groups of coaxial cables comprising a plurality of coaxial signal and ground conductors, the first and second groups of coaxial cables being configured to connect the signal and ground terminals of the PC board corresponding to the transducer elements of the first and second ultrasound arrays to the imaging controller with the coaxial signal and ground conductors of the first and second groups of coaxial cables.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the backing plate internally supports the probe housing.

8. The system of claim 1 , the probe housing further comprising a calibration chip mounted on the PC board.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the calibration chip is configured to store position and orientation information about the first and second ultrasound arrays.

10. The system of claim 1 , the probe housing further comprising a probe position sensor mounted on the PC board.

11. The system of claim 5 , the probe housing further comprising:
a third ultrasound array of transducer elements secured to the backing plate;
a third flex circuit comprising a plurality of differential pairs of signal and ground conductors, the third flex circuit being configured to connect each transducer element of the third ultrasound array to its corresponding signal and ground terminals of the PC board with one of the differential pairs of signal and ground conductors; and
a third group of coaxial cables comprising a plurality of differential coaxial signal and ground conductors, the third group of coaxial cables being configured to connect the signal and ground terminals of the PC board corresponding to the transducer elements of the third ultrasound array to the imaging controller with the differential coaxial signal and ground conductors of the third group of coaxial cables.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first ultrasound array and the second ultrasound array comprises an internal flex cabling configured to accommodate movement of the first ultrasound array away from the second ultrasound array.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first ultrasound array and the second ultrasound array is configured to rotate about an axis of the probe housing.

14. The system of claim 12 , the probe housing further comprising a lever configured to move the first ultrasound array or the second ultrasound array relative to the probe housing.

15. The system of claim 12 , the probe housing further comprising a dial and an electric motor configured to move the first ultrasound array or the second ultrasound array relative to the probe housing.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic switch on the PC board configured to allow for dynamic switching between the more than one transducer element of the first ultrasound array.

Assignees

• Maui Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Adam Sharon L
• Smith David M
• Specht Donald F
• Brewer Kenneth D

Classifications

• G01S15/8915

  using a transducer array · CPC title

• A61B8/12 Primary

  in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters · CPC title

• G01S7/52079

  Constructional features (constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44) · CPC title

• A61B8/4483

  characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer · CPC title

• G01S7/52047

  for elimination of side lobes or of grating lobes; for increasing resolving power · CPC title