High Frequency Ultrasound Arrays Mechanical Scanning

描述（申请人提供）：高频超声的需求 随着越来越多的精细功能的应用，探针变得越来越重要。 在眼睛、血管和皮肤中的成像被开发。但有 制造高频（30至75 MHz）线性和 相控阵换能器，其中最重要的是使大型 多个精细尺度互连到阵列元件，并且构造 具有足够采样速度或通道的声束形成电子设备 延迟分辨率。为了解决这些问题，一种替代换能器设计将 由先进的高频复合材料和精密的 压电致动器以机械地扫描换能器。以来 压电致动器的分辨率极高，该阵列可以 容易移动小于元件间距的距离。这项议案 允许针对每个脉冲之间的空间位置采集脉冲回波数据 元素因此，空间采样将不再受 阵列元件的间距。然后可以使用合成的 孔径，以大大简化阵列电子器件， 高速波束形成器。因此，可以构造致动合成阵列， 利用现有的电子技术。

Description (Provided by Applicant): The need fcr high frequency ultrasound probes is becoming increasingly important as more application for fine-featured imaging in the eye, blood vessels and skin are developed. However, there are a number of difficulties with fabricating high frequency (30 to 75 MHz) linear and phased array transducers the most important of which are making the large number of fine scales interconnects to the array elements, and constructing acoustic beam forming electronics with sufficient sampling speed or channel delay resolution. To solve these problems an alternative transducer design will be developed consisting of advance high frequency composites and a precision piezoelectric actuator to mechanically scan the transducer. Since the resolution of piezoelectric actuators is extremely high, the array can be easily moved over a distance less than the element pitch. This motion will allow pulse echo data to be acquired for spatial locations between each element. The spatial sampling will, therefore, no longer be limited by the pitch of the array elements. Images can then be reconstructed using a synthetic aperture to greatly simplify the array electronics avoiding the need for high-speed beam former. Thus the actuated synthetic array can be constructed using existing electronics technology.