US 12,442,918 B2
Acquisition and processing of V-wave ultrasound data using a linear or curved array transducer
Chengbin Peng, Houston, TX (US); and Jun Tang, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to CLOUDSTREAM MEDICAL IMAGING, INC., Houston, TX (US)
Appl. No. 18/288,365
Filed by CLOUDSTREAM MEDICAL IMAGING, INC., Houston, TX (US)
PCT Filed May 3, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/027440
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 25, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/235646, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 10, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/184,174, filed on May 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0210560 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. G01S 15/89 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 15/8995 (2013.01) [G01S 15/8918 (2013.01); G01S 15/892 (2013.01); G01S 15/8927 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasound system comprising:
a V-wave ultrasound data acquisition with a transducer that includes an array of transducer elements, the array of transducer elements including a first sub-array and a second sub-array;
a V-wave ultrasound beamformer to receive ultrasound beams from the V-wave ultrasound data acquisition and generate ultrasound images; and
an ultrasound image display to render the ultrasound images locally or transmit the images over internet,
wherein the first sub-array transmits first planar wave ultrasound beams in a plural of inward directions, and the first planar wave ultrasound beams have a plural of first flex angle α1, the first flex angle di being an angle of the local wave front of the first planar wave ultrasound beam and the first sub-array;
wherein the second sub-array transmits second planar wave ultrasound beams in a plural of conjugate directions at a same time, and the second planar wave ultrasound beams have a plural of second flex angle α2, the second flex angle α2 being an angle of the local wave front of the second planar wave ultrasound beam and the second sub-array;
wherein the inward directions and the conjugate directions are opposing each other;
wherein the local wave front of the first planar wave ultrasound beam and the local wave front of the second planar wave ultrasound beam form a V-shaped pattern;
wherein the first flex angle di and the second flex angle α2 are adapted for changing from larger than 0° to less than 45°; and
wherein the first sub-array illuminates a center of and a first portion of an image domain, and the second sub-array illuminates the center of and a second portion of the image domain.