m varies between the groups. Within each group, LF pulse varies between pulse complexes in amplitude and/or, where the LF pulse can be zero for a pulse complex, and LF pulse is different from zero for pulse complex within each group. HF receive signals are processed to obtain a parameter relating to bubble vibration amplitude when the HF pulse hits bubble.
ωHωLΠωL ωLtmm tmm m varies between the groups. Within each group, LF pulse varies between pulse complexes in amplitude and/or, where the LF pulse can be zero for a pulse complex, and LF pulse is different from zero for pulse complex within each group. HF receive signals are processed to obtain a parameter relating to bubble vibration amplitude when the HF pulse hits bubble.
A61B 90/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups , e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
3.
SYSTEM FOR STIMULATING IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST AN EXISTING CANCER IN A PATIENT
Ultrasound instrumentation for increasing the immune response to a given cancer in a patient through increasing lymphatic flow out of the cancer region, following a primary action of the cancer that loads professional antigen-presenting cells/dendritic cells (APCs/ DCs) with tumor-associated antigen (TAA) from the tumor into the interstitial fluid of the cancer region. Example primary actions are radio-therapy, and chemical- or radiopharmaceutical therapy. Intra¬ capillary micro-bubbles 109 in the tumor are brought to vibrate with incident ultrasound of appropriate frequency and amplitude, producing vibrations in the extra capillary tissue that produces an outward acoustic radiation force and micro shear waves in the tissue that increases transport of the interstitial fluid. This increases an outward flow from the proximal capillaries, increasing the interstitial fluid pressure that increases lymphatic outflow including APCs/DCs with TAA to primary draining lymph nodes (DLNs).
Increasing the immune response to a given cancer in a patient through increasing lymphatic flow out of the cancer region, following a primary action of the cancer that loads professional antigen-presenting cells/dendritic cells (APCs/DCs) with tumor-associated antigen (TAA) from the tumor into the interstitial fluid of the cancer region. Example primary actions are radio-therapy, both stereotactic and brachytherapy using implanted seeds, proton-therapy, and chemical- or radio-pharmaceutical therapy. Intra-capillary micro-bubbles in the tumor are brought to vibrate with incident ultrasound of appropriate frequency and amplitude, producing vibrations in the extra capillary tissue that produces an outward acoustic radiation force and micro shear waves in the tissue that increases transport of the interstitial fluid. This increases an outward flow from the proximal capillaries, increasing the interstitial fluid pressure that increases lymphatic outflow including APCs/DCs with TAA to primary draining lymph nodes (DLNs).
Estimation and imaging of linear and nonlinear propagation and scattering parameters in a material object where the material parameters for wave propagation and scattering has a nonlinear dependence on the wave field amplitude. The methods transmit at least two pulse complexes composed of co-propagating high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) pulses along at least one LF and HF transmit beam axis, where said HF pulse propagates close to the crest or trough of the LF pulse along at least one HF transmit beam, and where one of the amplitude and polarity of the LF pulse varies between at least two transmitted pulse complexes. At least one HF receive beam crosses the HF transmit beam at an angle, to provide at least two HF cross-beam receive signals from at least two transmitted pulse complexes with different LF pulses.
Estimation and imaging of linear and nonlinear propagation and scattering parameters in a material object where the material parameters for wave propagation and scattering has a nonlinear dependence on the wave field amplitude. The methods transmit at least two pulse complexes composed of co-propagating high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) pulses along at least one LF and HF transmit beam axis, where said HF pulse propagates close to the crest or trough of the LF pulse along at least one HF transmit beam, and where one of the amplitude and polarity of the LF pulse varies between at least two transmitted pulse complexes. At least one HF receive beam crosses the HF transmit beam at an angle, to provide at least two HF cross-beam receive signals from at least two transmitted pulse complexes with different LF pulses.
An ultrasound transducer array probe arranged as a layered structure having at least one layer of transducer array elements, and at least one further layer mounted in at least one of i) acoustic, and ii) thermal contact with said layer of transducer elements. The further layer has particles of a polymer core coated with at least one surface layer of a material that at least one of i) determines an acoustic impedance, and ii) a thermal conductivity of the further layer. The density of particles provides for a large number of particles to be in contact with neighboring particles, and the further layer is, at least across a part of its surface, coated with an electrically isolating layer that is so thin that the effect of the isolating layer on acoustic and thermal performance of the further layer is negligible.
Methods and instrumentation for pulse scattering estimation and imaging of scattering parameters in a material object by transmitting a pulse along a transmit beam and directing a receive beam that crosses at least one transmit beam at an angle <45 deg. The receive beam is at least in an azimuth direction at the transmit beam, and records scattered receive signal from the overlap region. A receive interval of the receive signal is gated for further processing to form measurement and/or image signals from cross-beam observation cells.
Methods and instrumentation for pulse scattering estimation and imaging of scattering parameters in a material object by transmitting a pulse along a transmit beam and directing a receive beam that crosses at least one transmit beam at an angle < 45 deg. The receive beam is at least in an azimuth direction at the transmit beam, and records scattered receive signal from the overlap region. A receive interval of the receive signal is gated for further processing to form measurement and/or image signals from cross-beam observation cells.
A61B 5/05 - Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fieldsMeasuring using microwaves or radio waves
A61B 8/00 - Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
G01S 7/52 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group
G01S 7/539 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group using analysis of echo signal for target characterisationTarget signatureTarget cross-section
G01S 15/89 - Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
10.
ULTRASOUND ESTIMATION OF NONLINEAR BULK ELASTICITY OF MATERIALS
Methods and instrumentation for estimation of nonlinear bulk elasticity parameters (NEP) of a material through measuring nonlinear propagation delays (NPDs) at a set of multiple range cells along at least one transmit beam axis, and adapting said NEPs to minimize a functional of the NEPs. The method calculates a distance between a model of the NPDs with the NEPs as input and the measured NPDs, and estimated NEPs are obtained at the minimum of the functional. The NPDs are measured by transmitting at least two pulse complexes comprising a low frequency (LF) and a high frequency (HF) pulse with differences in the LF pulse, along at least one common LF and HF transmit beam axes, and gating out HF receive signals from a multitude of depth ranges along said at least one HF transmit beam axis, and comparing the HF receive signals from two pulse complexes with difference in the LF pulse for each depth range.
Methods and instrumentation for estimation of nonlinear bulk elasticity parameters (NEP) of a material through measuring nonlinear propagation delays (NPDs) at a set of multiple range cells along at least one transmit beam axis, and adapting said NEPs to minimize a functional of the NEPs. The method calculates a distance between a model of the NPDs with the NEPs as input and the measured NPDs, and estimated NEPs are obtained at the minimum of the functional. The NPDs are measured by transmitting at least two pulse complexes comprising a low frequency (LF) and a high frequency (HF) pulse with differences in the LF pulse, along at least one common LF and HF transmit beam axes, and gating out HF receive signals from a multitude of depth ranges along said at least one HF transmit beam axis, and comparing the HF receive signals from two pulse complexes with difference in the LF pulse for each depth range.
Estimation and imaging of linear and nonlinear propagation and scattering parameters in a material object where the material parameters for wave propagation and scattering has a nonlinear dependence on the wave field amplitude. The methods comprise transmitting at least two pulse complexes composed of co-propagating high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) pulses along at least one LF and HF transmit beam axis, where said HF pulse propagates close to the crest or trough of the LF pulse along at least one HF transmit beam, and where one of the amplitude and polarity of the LF pulse varies between at least two transmitted pulse complexes. At least one HF receive beam crosses the HF transmit beam at an angle >20 deg to provide at least two HF cross-beam receive signals from at least two transmitted pulse complexes with different LF pulses. The HF cross-beam receive signals are processed to estimate one or both of i) a nonlinear propagation delay (NPD), and ii) a nonlinear pulse form distortion (PFD) of the transmitted HF pulse for said cross-beam observation cell.
Estimation and imaging of linear and nonlinear propagation and scattering parameters in a material object where the material parameters for wave propagation and scattering has a nonlinear dependence on the wave field amplitude. The methods comprise transmitting at least two pulse complexes composed of co-propagating high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) pulses along at least one LF and HF transmit beam axis, where said HF pulse propagates close to the crest or trough of the LF pulse along at least one HF transmit beam, and where one of the amplitude and polarity of the LF pulse varies between at least two transmitted pulse complexes. At least one HF receive beam crosses the HF transmit beam at an angle > 20 deg to provide at least two HF cross¬ beam receive signals from at least two transmitted pulse complexes with different LF pulses. The HF cross-beam receive signals are processed to estimate one or both of i) a nonlinear propagation delay (NPD), and ii) a nonlinear pulse form distortion (PFD) of the transmitted HF pulse for said cross-beam observation cell.
A structure of an acoustic transducer array probe for transmission of acoustic waves from a front radiation surface into an acoustic load material, where said acoustic waves can have frequencies in a high frequency (HF) band and further lower frequency (LF1,..., LFn, LFN) bands with N≥ 1, arranged in order of decreasing center frequency. The acoustic waves are transmitted from separate high and lower frequency arrays stacked together with matching layers in a thickness dimension into a layered structure, with at least a common radiation surface for said high and lower frequency bands. At least for said common radiation surface at least one lower frequency LFn electro- acoustic structure (n = 1,...,Ν) comprises a piezoelectric array with an acoustic isolation section to its front face. The acoustic isolation section includes to the front a section composed of a sequence of L ≥ 3 matching layers with interchanging low and high characteristic impedances, where the front layer of said section is one of i) a lower characteristic impedance layer, and ii) a higher characteristic impedance layer, and where at least one lower characteristic impedance layer is made of a homogeneous material.
B06B 1/06 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
G10K 11/02 - Mechanical acoustic impedancesImpedance matching, e.g. by hornsAcoustic resonators
15.
Multiple frequency band acoustic transducer arrays
A structure of an acoustic transducer array probe for transmission of acoustic waves from a front radiation surface into an acoustic load material, where said acoustic waves can have frequencies in a high frequency (HF) band and further lower frequency (LF1, . . . , LFn, . . . , LFN) bands with N≥1, arranged in order of decreasing center frequency. The acoustic waves are transmitted from separate high and lower frequency arrays stacked together with matching layers in a thickness dimension into a layered structure, with at least a common radiation surface for said high and lower frequency bands. At least for said common radiation surface at least one lower frequency LFn electro-acoustic structure (n=1, . . . , N) comprises a piezoelectric array with an acoustic isolation section to its front face. The acoustic isolation section includes to the front a section composed of a sequence of L≥3 matching layers with interchanging low and high characteristic impedances, where the front layer of said section is one of i) a lower characteristic impedance layer, and ii) a higher characteristic impedance layer, and where at least one lower characteristic impedance layer is made of a homogeneous material.
B06B 1/06 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
G10K 11/02 - Mechanical acoustic impedancesImpedance matching, e.g. by hornsAcoustic resonators
H03H 9/00 - Networks comprising electromechanical or electro-acoustic elementsElectromechanical resonators
16.
Method for imaging of nonlinear interaction scattering
nd pulsed waves overlap at least in an overlap region (Z) to produce nonlinear interaction scattering sources in said region. The scattered signal components from at least the nonlinear interaction scattering sources are picked up by a receiver (102) and processed to suppress other components than said nonlinear interaction scattered signal components, to provide nonlinear interaction measurement or image signals. At least a receive beam is scanned in an azimuth or combined azimuth and elevation direction to produce 2D or 3D images of said nonlinear interaction scattering sources.
G01S 7/52 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group
G01S 15/89 - Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
A61B 5/00 - Measuring for diagnostic purposes Identification of persons
G01S 7/41 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group using analysis of echo signal for target characterisationTarget signatureTarget cross-section
G01S 7/48 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group
An ultrasound transducer array with at least one composite material layer. The layer having a polymer base in which polymer particles are embedded. The polymer particles are coated with a material that has a thermal conductivity that is higher than the thermal conductivity of the polymer base and the polymer particles.
G10K 11/02 - Mechanical acoustic impedancesImpedance matching, e.g. by hornsAcoustic resonators
B32B 5/16 - Layered products characterised by the non-homogeneity or physical structure of a layer characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, chopped fibres, powder
B32B 15/16 - Layered products essentially comprising metal next to a particulate layer
B06B 1/02 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
19.
METHOD FOR IMAGING OF NONLINEAR INTERACTION SCATTERING
1st and 2nd pulsed waves (103, 104) with 1st and 2nd center frequencies are transmitted along 1st and 2nd transmit beams so that the 1st and 2nd pulsed waves overlap at least in an overlap region (Z) to produce nonlinear interaction scattering sources in said region. The scattered signal components from at least the nonlinear interaction scattering sources are picked up by a receiver (102) and processed to suppress other components than said nonlinear interaction scattered signal components, to provide nonlinear interaction measurement or image signals. At least a receive beam is scanned in an azimuth or combined azimuth and elevation direction to produce 2D or 3D images of said nonlinear interaction scattering sources.
G01S 15/89 - Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
G01S 7/52 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group
G01S 7/41 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group using analysis of echo signal for target characterisationTarget signatureTarget cross-section
G01S 7/48 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group
A61B 5/00 - Measuring for diagnostic purposes Identification of persons
G01N 21/63 - Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
20.
Ultrasound transducer matching layers and method of manufacturing
An acoustic matching layer where the thickness is defined by a single layer of defined mono-disperse particles. The layer comprises a polymer base in which mono-disperse particles are embedded. The mono-disperse particles can be coated with a solid material that participates in the definition of the acoustic impedance of the layer. The polymer base can include smaller solid particles that participates in the definition of the acoustic impedance of the layer. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing.
B06B 1/02 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
B29C 43/00 - Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding materialApparatus therefor
G10K 11/02 - Mechanical acoustic impedancesImpedance matching, e.g. by hornsAcoustic resonators
B06B 1/06 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
B29K 103/00 - Use of resin-bonded materials as moulding material
B29L 31/34 - Electrical apparatus, e.g. sparking plugs or parts thereof
21.
ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER MATCHING LAYERS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
An acoustic matching layer (400) where the thickness is defined by a single layer of defined mono-disperse particles (101). The layer comprises a polymer base in which mono-disperse particles are embedded. The mono-disperse particles can be coated with a solid material that participates in the definition of the acoustic impedance of the layer. The polymer base can include smaller solid particles (103) that participates in the definition of the acoustic impedance of the layer. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing.
An ultrasound transducer array comprising at least one composite material layer. The layer comprises a polymer base in which polymer particles are embedded. The polymer particles are coated with a material that has a thermal conductivity that is higher than the thermal conductivity of the polymer base and the polymer particles.
A61B 8/00 - Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
B32B 5/16 - Layered products characterised by the non-homogeneity or physical structure of a layer characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, chopped fibres, powder
G10K 11/00 - Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in generalMethods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
B06B 1/02 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
23.
Measurement and imaging of scatterers with memory of scatterer parameters using at least two-frequency elastic wave pulse complexes
Measurement or imaging of elastic wave nonlinear scatterers with a memory of scattering parameters comprises selecting LF pulses having characteristics to change the scattering parameters of nonlinear scatterers. A transmit time relation is selected so that the incident HF pulse propagates sufficiently close to the LF pulse that the effect of the incident LF pulse on its scatterer parameters is observed by the HF pulse. At least two elastic wave pulse complexes comprising a high frequency (HF) pulse and a selected low frequency (LF) pulse are transmitted towards the region. Received HF signals are combined to form nonlinear HF signals representing the scatterers with memory, with suppression of received HF signals from other scatterers. At least one of the received HF signals may be corrected by time delay correction and/or speckle correction with a speckle correction filter, determined by movement of the scattering object. Systems are also disclosed.
Methods and instrumentation for ultrasound mediated delivery of drugs to diseased tissue. Devices to use ultrasound beams with frequency and focusing that provides an ultrasound radiation force acting on the drug and surrounding fluid, that produces a convection of drugs and compensates for the lack of a pressure gradient. To manipulate drug encapsulations and also stimulate transport of drugs across biological membranes, like the cell membrane or the blood brain barrier, devices to use low frequency beams with high mechanical index. Devices additional use of ultrasound heating of the tissue to increase blood flow and manipulate thermally sensitive particles.
The invention presents methods and instrumentation for measurement or imaging of a region of an object with waves of a general nature, for example electromagnetic (EM) and elastic (EL) waves, where the material parameters for wave propagation and scattering in the object depend on the wave field strength. The invention specially addresses suppression of 3rd order multiple scattering noise, referred to as pulse reverberation noise, and also suppression of linear scattering components to enhanced signal components from nonlinear scattering. The pulse reverberation noise is divided into three classes where the invention specially addresses Class I and Class II 3rd order multiple scattering that are generated from the same three scatterers, but in opposite sequence. One specially addresses methods to achieve close to the same sensitivity to the Class I and II pulse reverberation noise, which simplifies the suppression of both classes combined, and methods for estimation of suppression of pulse reverberation noise that compensates for the difference between Class I and Class II noise. The methods are based on transmission of dual band pulse complexes composed of a low frequency (LF) pulse and a high frequency (HF) pulse, where the LF pulse is used to nonlinearly manipulate the object parameters observed by the co-propagating HF pulse. One or both of scattered and transmitted components from the HF pulse are picked up and further processed to suppress pulse reverberation noise and enhance nonlinear scattering components.
Methods and instrumentation for detecting and representing at least one geologic formation in front of an operating drill-bit using the vibration noise generated by the operating drill-bit as a source, comprising at least one receiver array comprising more than one receiver vibration sensor elements, said at least one receiver array are located in one or both of i) at least one receiver well, and ii) submerged in water for sub-sea operation, and beam forming at least one received signal from the signals from said more than one receiver elements of said at least one receiver array, and forming at least one reference signal representing the vibrations of the operating drill-bit, and correlating said at least one received signal with said at least one reference signal with different correlation lags, and forming a seismic representation of the at least one geologic formation in front of the drill-bit through said correlating.
G01V 1/37 - Effecting static or dynamic corrections on records, e.g. correcting spreadCorrelating seismic signalsEliminating effects of unwanted energy specially adapted for seismic systems using continuous agitation of the ground
G01V 1/42 - SeismologySeismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for well-logging using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice-versa
28.
Method for imaging of nonlinear interaction scattering
nd transmit beams, or both. The methods are applicable to image nonlinear scattering sources for both electromagnetic and elastic waves, and combinations of these.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
29.
METHOD FOR IMAGING OF NONLINEAR INTERACTION SCATTERING
1st and 2nd pulsed waves (105, 105) are transmitted along 1st and 2nd transmit beams (101, 102) where at least one of the beams is broad in at least one direction, and the transmit timing between said 1st and 2nd pulsed waves are selected so that the pulsed wave fronts overlap in an overlap region R(r,t) (106) that propagates along at least one measurement or image curve Γ(r) (107) in the material object. At least the scattered signal produced by nonlinear interaction between said 1st and 2nd waves in the overlap region (106) is received and processed to form a nonlinear interaction scattering image signal along Γ(r). The measurement or image curve Γ(r) (107) can be scanned laterally by either changing of the relative transmit timing between the 1st and 2nd pulsed waves (104, 105) or the direction of at least one of the 1st and 2nd transmit beams (101, 102), or both. The methods are applicable to image nonlinear scattering sources for both electromagnetic and elastic waves, and combinations of these.
G01S 7/52 - Details of systems according to groups , , of systems according to group
G01S 15/89 - Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
G01N 21/00 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
G01N 22/00 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more
G01N 29/00 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic wavesVisualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
G01V 1/00 - SeismologySeismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
30.
Nonlinear elastic wave measurement and imaging with two-frequency elastic wave pulse complexes
Elastic wave pulse complexes are transmitted towards said region where said pulse complexes are composed of a high frequency (HF) and a low frequency (LF) pulse with the same or overlapping beam directions and where the HF pulse is so close to the LF pulse that it observes the modification of the object by the LF pulse at least for a part of the image depth. Received HF signals are picked up by transducers from scattered and/or transmitted components of the transmitted HF pulses. The received HF signals are processed to form measurement or image signals for display, and combined in slow time to form noise suppressed HF signals or nonlinear scattering HF signals.
An acoustic probe transmits/receives acoustic pulses with frequencies both in a high frequency (HF), and a selectable amount of lower frequency (LF1, LF2, . . . , LFn, . . . ) bands. The radiation surfaces of at least two of the multiple frequency bands have a common region. The arrays and elements can be of a general type such as annular arrays, phased or switched arrays, linear arrays with division in both azimuth and elevation direction, like a 1.5D, a 1.75D and a full 2D array, or curved arrays. The element division, array type, and array aperture sizes for the different bands can also be different.
Methods and instruments for suppression of multiple scattering noise and extraction of nonlinear scattering components with measurement or imaging of a region of an object with elastic waves, where at least two elastic wave pulse complexes are transmitted towards said region where said pulse complexes are composed of a high frequency (HF) and a low frequency (LF) pulse with the same or overlapping beam directions and where the HF pulse is so close to the LF pulse that it observes the modification of the object by the LF pulse at least for a part of the image depth. The frequency and/or amplitude and/or phase of said LF pulse relative to said HF pulse varies for each transmitted pulse complex in order to nonlinearly manipulate the object elasticity observed by the HF pulse along at least parts of its propagation, and where received HF signals are picked up by transducers from one or both of scattered and transmitted components of the transmitted HF pulses. Said received HF signals are processed to form measurement or image signals for display, and where in the process of forming said measurement or image signals said received HF signals are one or both of delay corrected with correction delay in the fast time (depth-time), and pulse distortion corrected in the fast time, and combined in slow time to form noise suppressed HF signals or nonlinear scattering HF signals that are used for further processing to form measurement or image signals. The methods are applicable to elastic waves where the material elasticity is nonlinear in relation to the material deformation.
Acoustic probes that transmits/receives acoustic pulses with frequencies both in a high frequency (HF), a and a selectable amount of lower frequency (LF1, LF2,..., LFn,...) bands, where the radiation surfaces of at least two of the multiple frequency bands have a common region. Several solutions for transmission (and reception) of HF, LF1, LF2,.... pulses and signals through the common radiation surface are given. The arrays and elements can be of a general type, for example annular arrays, phased or switched arrays, linear arrays with division in both azimuth and elevation direction, like a 1.5D, a 1.75D and a full 2D array, curved arrays, etc. The element division, array type, and array aperture sizes for the different bands can also be different. Electronic substrate layers with integrated electronic that connects to array elements can be stacked within the probe.
B06B 1/06 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
B06B 1/02 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
34.
Acoustic imaging by nonlinear low frequency manipulation of high frequency scattering and propagation properties
Methods of acoustic imaging provide images with reduced reverberation noise and images of nonlinear scattering and propagation parameters of the object, and estimation methods of corrections for wave front aberrations produced by spatial variations in the acoustic propagation velocity. The methods are based on processing of the received signal from transmitted dual frequency band acoustic pulse complexes with overlapping high and low frequency pulses. The high frequency pulse is used for the image reconstruction and the low frequency pulse is used to manipulate the nonlinear scattering and/or propagation properties of the high frequency pulse. Through filtering in the pulse number coordinate and corrections for nonlinear propagation delays and optionally also amplitudes, a linear back scattering signal with suppressed pulse reverberation noise, a nonlinear back scattering signal, and quantitative nonlinear forward propagation and scattering parameters are extracted.
A61B 8/00 - Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
G01N 29/22 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic wavesVisualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object Details
patents
