US 12,085,537 B2
Energy efficient simplified analogue phased array transducer for beam steering
Bastianus Theodorus Johannes Alberts, Nijmegen (NL); and Reinout Woltjer, Nijmegen (NL)
Assigned to NovioScan B.V., Nijmegen (NL)
Appl. No. 17/435,818
Filed by NovioScan B.V., Nijmegen (NL)
PCT Filed Mar. 6, 2020, PCT No. PCT/NL2020/050145
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 2, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/180184, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 10, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2022682 (NL), filed on Mar. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0146461 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 29/26 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); G01N 29/06 (2006.01); G01N 29/24 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 29/262 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4227 (2013.01); A61B 8/4254 (2013.01); A61B 8/4488 (2013.01); G01N 29/0654 (2013.01); G01N 29/245 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wireless, wearable ultrasound device for signaling a change in or determining a volume of a user's bladder using a phased array transducer for ultrasound beam steering comprising:
an array of n*m transducer elements operable at a frequency of 20 kHz-50 MHZ,
transmission control electronics for beam steering of the array, comprising at least one high-voltage pulse source operating at a voltage of greater than 12 volts, wherein said at least one pulse source is linked to a low-voltage timing circuit operating at a voltage of less than 5.5 volts, for timing of the at least one pulse source,
receiving control electronics arranged to limit energy consumption when processing received ultrasound, wherein less than 20% of the n*m transducer elements are configured for connection to the receiving control electronics and available for operation as ultrasound receiving transducer elements, and
an electrical power source in electrical connection with the array for providing electrical power to the array.