Global Patent Index - EP 0000068 A1

EP 0000068 A1 19781220 - Apparatus for ultrasonic imaging using dynamic focussing.

Title (en)

Apparatus for ultrasonic imaging using dynamic focussing.

Title (de)

Vorrichtung zur Ultraschalldarstellung mittels dynamischer Fokussierung.

Title (fr)

Dispositif pour la representation par ultrasons utilisant la focalisation dynamique.

Publication

EP 0000068 A1 19781220 (DE)

Application

EP 78100126 A 19780612

Priority

US 80600577 A 19770613

Abstract (en)

[origin: US4227417A] The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for imaging a body, such as an ultrasonic imaging system. In the disclosed apparatus, means are provided for transmitting energy, such as ultrasound energy, into the body. A transducer is provided for converting energy reflected from the body, typically ultrasound echoes, into electrical signals. The transducer, which is divided into a plurality of defined segments, such as concentric annular segments surrounding a central circular segment, is utilized for both transmitting and receiving. A plurality of register devices are provided, preferably analog registers of the charge-transfer type. The input of each of the register devices is coupled to a respective one of the transducer segments. A first clock is associated with each of the register devices. A plurality of second clocks are also provided, each being associated with one of the plurality of register devices.The second clocks have different characteristic clock rates. Timing means are provided for effecting clocking of the electrical signals from the segments into their respective devices with one of the device's associated clocks (i.e., either the common first clock or the device's associated second clock) and for subsequently effecting the clocking of the stored information out of each of the devices with the other of its associated clocks. Finally, means are provided for combining the signals clocked out of the devices to form an image-representative signal. In the present disclosure, the increasing or decreasing delay associated with the different transducer elements, as is required for dynamic focusing, is achieved by utilizing signals of slightly differing frequencies (e.g. the second clocks) so that, as time passes, the cumulative difference in sampling times for the different registers "builds up" to provide the desired variable delay.

Abstract (de)

Der Empfänger (80) eines Ultraschallsystems wird in konzentrisch ineinander liegende Teile (81,82,83) aufgeteilt, die je einem Speicher (130,131,132,133) zugeordnet sind. Eine Verzögerung der zwischen dem Zentrum (81) und den äusseren Rinren (82,83) ankommenden Schallwellen wird dadurch erreicht, dass äussere Empfänger und Speicher (132,133) mit einer grösseren Taktfrequenz (141,142,143) unterteilt werden oder dass Verzögerungsleitungen (201, 202) vorgesehen sind. Die Verteilung der Signale wird mit einer geeigneten logischen Schaltung (135, 137, 139, 148, 170) so sortiert, dass den Speichern (130, 131, 132, 133) bildschirmgerechte Signale entnommen werden können.

IPC 1-7

G01S 9/66; A61B 10/00; G10K 11/10

IPC 8 full level

A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/08 (2006.01); G01S 7/52 (2006.01); A61B 8/14 (2006.01); G01S 15/89 (2006.01); G10K 11/34 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

A61B 8/08 (2013.01 - EP US); G01S 15/8922 (2013.01 - EP US); G01S 15/8931 (2013.01 - EP US); G10K 11/346 (2013.01 - EP US)

Citation (search report)

  • GB 820165 A 19590916 - KELVIN & HUGHES LTD
  • US 3090030 A 19630514 - HUGO SCHUCK OSCAR
  • US 4011750 A 19770315 - ROBINSON DAVID ERROL
  • US 4012952 A 19770322 - DORY JACQUES
  • US 4019169 A 19770419 - TAKAMIZAWA KINYA
  • [P] US 4058003 A 19771115 - MACOVSKI ALBERT
  • [P] US 4084582 A 19780418 - NIGAM ANANT K
  • [P] NL 7712029 A 19780503 - STANFORD RESEARCH INST
  • QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT NO.98, (1970) Research Laboratory for Electronics Massachusetts Institute of technology, Cambridge Mass. (US) HUBELBANK & TRETIAK "Focused ultrasonic transducer design", Seiten 169-177
  • CCD 75 PROCEEDINGS OF CCD APPLICATIONS CONFERENCE NAVAL ELECTRONICS LABORATORY CENTER, 29-31 Oktober 1975, San Diego California, Herausgeber: Learned Information New York (US) und Oxford (GB) MELEN u.a. "CCD dynamically focussed lenses for ultrasonic imaging systems" Seiten 165-171
  • ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS IN. JAPAN BAND 58-A Nr. 12, Dezember 1975, Washington DC (US) UEDA u.a. "Dynamic focusing ultrasonic transducers using analog-switch phase shifters", Seiten 1-8

Designated contracting state (EPC)

BE CH DE FR GB NL SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0000068 A1 19781220; EP 0000068 B1 19820407; AT A430478 A 19860415; AU 3668478 A 19791206; AU 520174 B2 19820121; CA 1116741 A 19820119; DE 2861715 D1 19820519; DK 261578 A 19790116; FI 781828 A 19781214; IL 54883 A0 19780831; IL 54883 A 19810629; IT 1105498 B 19851104; IT 7849824 A0 19780612; JP S5418180 A 19790209; US 4227417 A 19801014

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 78100126 A 19780612; AT 430478 A 19780613; AU 3668478 A 19780531; CA 305230 A 19780612; DE 2861715 T 19780612; DK 261578 A 19780612; FI 781828 A 19780608; IL 5488378 A 19780609; IT 4982478 A 19780612; JP 7048578 A 19780613; US 80600577 A 19770613