ULTRASOUND IMAGING AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHODS
Apparatus and methods are described that include ultrasound imaging devices, which may operate in a transmissive ultrasound imaging modality, and which may be used to detect properties of interest of a subject such as index of refraction, density and/or speed of sound. Devices suitable for performing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as well as HIFU and ultrasound imaging, are also described.
1 - 395 . (canceled)
396 . An apparatus, comprising;
a substrate;
a first plurality of ultrasound elements configured as ultrasound imaging elements coupled to the substrate; and
a second plurality of ultrasound elements configured as high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) elements coupled to the substrate.
397 . The apparatus of claim 396 , wherein the substrate is formed of an acoustically insulating material.
398 . The apparatus of claim 396 , wherein at least some elements of the first plurality of ultrasound elements are arranged among at least some elements of the second plurality of ultrasound elements.
399 . The apparatus of claim 396 , wherein at least some elements of the first plurality of ultrasound elements are interspersed with at least some elements of the second plurality of ultrasound elements.
400 . The apparatus of claim 396 , wherein at least some elements of the first plurality of ultrasound elements are interleaved with at least some elements of the second plurality of ultrasound elements.
401 . The apparatus of claim 396 , wherein the first plurality of ultrasound elements and the second plurality of ultrasound elements are arranged in combination in a checkerboard pattern.
402 . The apparatus of claim 396 , wherein each of the first plurality of ultrasound imaging elements is configured to perform at least one of emission of a radiation source signal incident upon a volume to be imaged three-dimensionally or detection of such a radiation source signal.
403 . The apparatus of claim 402 , wherein the second plurality of ultrasound elements is configured to emit ultrasound radiation of sufficient intensity to induce a change in a tissue state of tissue located within the volume.
404 . The apparatus of claim 396 , wherein the first plurality of ultrasound elements is configured to emit and/or receive ultrasound signals of wavelength λ, and wherein a minimum spacing between nearest neighbor ultrasound elements of the first plurality of ultrasound imaging elements is greater than λ/2.
405 . The apparatus of claim 396 , wherein the first plurality of ultrasound elements is disposed on the substrate, and wherein the second plurality of ultrasound elements is disposed on the substrate.