Ultrasonic image reconstruction methods and apparatus

Claim 1

A ultrasonic image reconstruction tomography apparatus for passing ultrasonic energy bursts in a transverse cross-sectional plane of an object and reconstructing the two-dimensional distribution of the values of at least one parameter of said object, comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic energy probes distributed at substantially equal angular intervals along a crown having an axis arranged to be placed perpendicularly to said cross-sectional plane, means for generating successive electric pulses, means associated with said pulse generating means and with said probes for applying each said pulse to a group of said probes including a central transmitting probe and adjacent transmitting probes, said associated means including focusing means arranged to pass said pulse to the adjacent transmitting probes with time delays to provide focussing of the energy in a particular direction such that said group of probes delivers an ultrasonic burst in the form of a beam directed toward and having a focal point at least one associated probe diametrically opposed to said group of probes, receiving means connected to said probes for collecting signals received by said at least one associated probe in response to each burst passed through said cross-sectional plane from one said group of probes, scanning means for changing one at least probe of said group of probes connected to receive said pulse and for changing said at least one associated probe connected to the receiving means after each burst, memory means for storing the successive signals collected by said receiving means, and means for recontructing the distribution of the values of said parameter in said cross-section by processing the stored signals, whereby reconstruction is achieved from the measurements on said beams directed at different angles in the cross-sectional plane without moving the probes.