Ultrasound imaging system having digital ultrasonic imaging devices
An ultrasound (US) imaging system ( 100 ) is disclosed. The US imaging system ( 100 ) includes an ultrasound imaging device ( 110 ) comprising a transducer; and a digital transducer interface (DTI ( 206 )). The DTI ( 206 ) includes a plurality of transducer ports ( 309 ) each comprising a plurality of digital data streams adapted to transmit digitized echo output data from the ultrasound imaging device ( 110 ). The transducer ports ( 309 ) are adapted to connect to the ultrasound imaging device ( 110 ). The US system also includes: a switching circuit ( 301 ) connected to each of the plurality of transducer ports ( 309 ); and a controller ( 102 ) adapted to control switches ( 24 ) of the switching circuit ( 301 ) to transmit digital input data to and the digital echo output data from one of the plurality of transducer ports ( 309 ) at a time.
1 . An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
an ultrasound imaging device comprising a transducer; and
a digital transducer interface (DTI) comprising: a plurality of transducer ports each comprising a plurality of digital data streams adapted to receive and transmit digital echo output data from the ultrasound imaging device, the transducer ports being adapted to connect to the ultrasound imaging device; a switching circuit connected to each of the plurality of transducer ports; and a controller adapted to control switches of the switching circuit to transmit digital input data to and the digital echo output data from one of the plurality of transducer ports at a time.
2 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a memory that stores instructions, which when executed by the controller causes the controller to control the switches of the switching circuit to transmit the digital input data to and the digital echo output data from the one of the plurality of transducer ports at a time.
3 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein connections between the DTI and the ultrasound imaging device comprise a connector adapted to transfer data at a combined data rate of at least 20 Gbps for the plurality of digital data streams.
4 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 3 , wherein the connector comprises a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIE) connector.
5 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
6 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 5 , wherein the switching circuit comprises a multiplexer circuit disposed in the FPGA.
7 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the DTI further comprises an analog processor adapted to receive continuous wave (CW) data from the switching circuit.
8 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power supply configured to provide voltage to the switching circuit and thereby to the one of the plurality of transducer ports; and
a remote sense signal path from the one of the plurality of transducer ports to the power supply and configured to provide a measured voltage level at the transducer to the power supply,
wherein the power supply is configured to adjust the provided voltage based on the measured voltage level.
9 . A digital transducer interface (DTI) comprising:
a plurality of transducer ports each comprising a plurality of digital data streams adapted to receive and transmit digital echo output data from an ultrasound transducer, the transducer ports being adapted to connect to the ultrasound transducer; a switching circuit connected to each of the plurality of transducer ports; and a controller adapted to control switches of the switching circuit to transmit digital input data to and the digital echo output data from one of the plurality of transducer ports at a time.
10 . The DTI of claim 9 , further comprising a memory that stores instructions, which when executed by the controller causes the controller to control the switches of the switching circuit to transmit the digital input data to and the digital echo output data from the one of the plurality of transducer ports at a time.
11 . The DTI of claim 9 , wherein connections between the DTI and the ultrasound transducer comprise a connector adapted to transfer data at a combined data rate of at least 20 Gbps for the plurality of digital data streams.
12 . The DTI of claim 9 , wherein the controller comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
13 . The DTI of claim 12 , wherein the switching circuit comprises a multiplexer circuit disposed in the FPGA.
14 . The DTI of claim 9 , further comprising an analog processor adapted to receive continuous wave (CW) data from the switching circuit.
15 . The DTI of claim 9 , wherein the switching circuit further comprises a single active connector and a switch adapted to connect a control signal from the controller to the single active connector.
16 . The digital transducer interface (DTI) of claim 9 , further comprising:
a power supply configured to provide voltage to the one of the plurality of transducer ports via the switching circuit; and
a remote sense signal path from the one of the plurality of transducer ports to the power supply and configured to provide a measured voltage level at the ultrasound transducer to the power supply,
wherein the power supply is configured to adjust the provided voltage based on the measured voltage level.
17 . A method of initiating and operating an ultrasound imaging system having a digital transducer interface, the digital transducer interface comprising a plurality of transducer ports, the method comprising:
receiving a handshake from a selected port of the digital transducer interface;
determining switches to engage for a particular transducer; and
executing instructions to engage the switches for the selected port connected to the imaging transducer.