Ultrasound probe with dynamic focus and associated systems and methods

摘要

Exemplary ultrasound probes with sub-aperture processing capable of dynamic focus are provided that generally include an array of transducer elements that form a sub-aperture in the ultrasound probe. The transducer elements can be assigned to dynamic delay update groups and an initial delay can be applied to ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture. A sub-aperture processor can be configured to dynamically apply delay updates to the ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture according to the dynamic delay update groups to which the transducer elements are assigned. Exemplary ultrasound systems with a dynamic focus and methods of transmitting ultrasound signals with a dynamic focus are also provided.

主权项

1. An ultrasound probe with sub-aperture processing capable of dynamic focus, comprising:
an array of transducer elements that forms a sub-aperture in the ultrasound probe, wherein the transducer elements of the sub-aperture are configured to receive ultrasound signals, and wherein the transducer elements of the sub-aperture are divided into a plurality of dynamic delay update groups comprising at least a first group of transducer elements and a second group of transducer elements; a sub-aperture processor configured to:
apply an initial delay to the transducer elements of the sub-aperture; anddynamically apply delay updates to the ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture, wherein the delay updates are applied to the ultrasound signals repeatedly for a predetermined time period to approximate an ideal delay profile, and wherein a magnitude of the delay updates is dependent on the dynamic delay update groups.