公开(公告)号：US08002705B1

公开(公告)日：2011-08-23

申请号：US11492471

申请日：2006-07-24

Applicant: David J. Napolitano ,  Brian Derek DeBusschere ,  Glen W. McLaughlin ,  Larry Y. L. Mo ,  Ching-Hua Chou ,  Ting-Lan Ji ,  Robert W. Steins

Inventor： David J. Napolitano ,  Brian Derek DeBusschere ,  Glen W. McLaughlin ,  Larry Y. L. Mo ,  Ching-Hua Chou ,  Ting-Lan Ji ,  Robert W. Steins

IPC: A61B8/00

CPC classification number: A61B8/145 ,  A61B8/4461 ,  A61B8/4483 ,  A61B8/4488 ,  A61B8/4494 ,  A61B8/463 ,  A61B8/5246 ,  G01S7/52019 ,  G01S7/52046 ,  G01S7/52095 ,  G01S15/8915 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  G10K11/341

Abstract: In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging method comprises: providing a probe that includes one or more transducer elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves; generating a sequence of spatially distinct transmit beams which differ in one or more of origin and angle; determining a transmit beam spacing substantially based upon a combination of actual and desired transmit beam characteristics, thereby achieving a faster echo acquisition rate compared to a transmit beam spacing based upon round-trip transmit-receive beam sampling requirements; storing coherent receive echo data, from two or more transmit beams of the spatially distinct transmit beams; combining coherent receive echo data from at least two or more transmit beams to achieve a substantially spatially invariant synthesized transmit focus at each echo location; and combining coherent receive echo data from each transmit firing to achieve dynamic receive focusing at each echo location.

Abstract translation: 在一个实施例中，超声成像方法包括：提供包括用于发射和接收超声波的一个或多个换能器元件的探针; 产生在原点和角度中的一个或多个中不同的空间上不同的发射光束序列; 基于实际和期望的发射波束特性的组合来确定发射波束间隔，从而相对于基于往返发射 - 接收波束采样要求的发射波束间隔而获得更快的回波采集速率; 存储来自空间不同发射波束的两个或更多个发射波束的相干接收回波数据; 组合来自至少两个或更多个发射波束的相干接收回波数据，以在每个回波位置处实现基本上空间不变的合成发射焦点; 并组合来自每个发射发射的相干接收回波数据，以在每个回波位置实现动态接收聚焦。

公开(公告)号：US07510529B2

公开(公告)日：2009-03-31

申请号：US11453336

申请日：2006-06-13

Applicant: Ching-Hua Chou ,  Glen W. McLaughlin ,  Larry Y. L. Mo ,  Ting-Lan Ji

Inventor： Ching-Hua Chou ,  Glen W. McLaughlin ,  Larry Y. L. Mo ,  Ting-Lan Ji

IPC: A61B8/00

CPC classification number: G01S7/52047 ,  G01S15/8915 ,  Y10S128/916

Abstract: An ultrasound reconstruction unit is provided. In one embodiment, a receive aperture control engine for the unit adaptively determines a set of reconstruction signals based on at least a series of selected echo signals and compares the size of a receive aperture with a predetermined number of reconstruction channels at each imaging point. The unit passes the selected echo signals from selected receive channels of one or more transducer elements to a reconstruction processor if the size of the receive aperture is not greater than the number of reconstruction channels. In another embodiment, the control engine compares the size of the receive aperture with a predetermined number of reconstruction channels at each imaging point and preprocess the selected echo signals to produce reconstructions signals that are equal in number to the number of reconstruction channels if the size of the receive aperture is greater than the number of reconstruction channels. The engine then outputs the reconstruction signals for further processing by a reconstruction processor.

Abstract translation: 提供超声重建单元。 在一个实施例中，用于该单元的接收孔径控制引擎基于至少一系列选择的回波信号自适应地确定一组重建信号，并将接收孔径的大小与每个成像点处的预定数量的重建通道进行比较。 如果接收孔径的尺寸不大于重建通道的数量，则该单元将选定的一个或多个换能器元件的接收通道的回波信号传递到重建处理器。 在另一个实施例中，控制引擎将接收孔径的大小与每个成像点处的预定数量的重建通道进行比较，并且对所选择的回波信号进行预处理，以产生与重建通道数目相等数目的重建信号， 接收孔径大于重建通道的数量。 引擎然后输出重建信号，以便由重建处理器进一步处理。

公开(公告)号：US06866632B1

公开(公告)日：2005-03-15

申请号：US10246854

申请日：2002-09-18

Applicant: Ching-Hua Chou ,  Glen W. McLanghlin ,  Larry Y. L. Mo ,  Ting-Lan Ji

Inventor： Ching-Hua Chou ,  Glen W. McLanghlin ,  Larry Y. L. Mo ,  Ting-Lan Ji

IPC: G01S7/52 ,  G01S15/89 ,  A61B8/00

CPC classification number: G01S7/52047 ,  G01S15/8915 ,  Y10S128/916

Abstract: A method for adaptively determining reconstruction signals in an ultrasound system comprises determining a size of a receive aperture, comparing the size of receive aperture at each imaging point with a predetermined number of reconstruction channels, if the size of the receive aperture is not greater than the number of reconstruction channels, processing received echo signals for the receive aperture to produce an ultrasonic image, and if the size of the receive aperture is greater than the number of reconstruction channels, preprocessing the received echo signals to produce reconstruction signals, the number of reconstruction signals being equal to the number of reconstruction channels. The reconstruction signals are further processed to produce an ultrasonic image. In one embodiment, the receive aperture is a function of location of an imaging point in a medium under investigation.

Abstract translation: 一种用于在超声系统中自适应地确定重建信号的方法包括确定接收孔径的大小，将每个成像点处的接收孔径的大小与预定数量的重建通道进行比较，如果接收孔径的尺寸不大于 重建通道的数量，处理接收孔径的接收回波信号以产生超声波图像，并且如果接收孔径的大小大于重构信道的数量，则预处理所接收的回波信号以产生重建信号，重建次数 信号等于重建信道的数量。 重建信号被进一步处理以产生超声波图像。 在一个实施例中，接收孔径是被调查介质中成像点的位置的函数。

公开(公告)号：US06551246B1

公开(公告)日：2003-04-22

申请号：US09839890

申请日：2001-04-19

Applicant: Kutay F. Ustuner ,  Charles E. Bradley ,  Lewis J. Thomas ,  Ching-Hua Chou ,  David J. Napolitano ,  Patrick J. Phillips

Inventor： Kutay F. Ustuner ,  Charles E. Bradley ,  Lewis J. Thomas ,  Ching-Hua Chou ,  David J. Napolitano ,  Patrick J. Phillips

IPC: A61B800

CPC classification number: G01S7/52026 ,  G01S7/52049 ,  G01S15/8909 ,  G01S15/8959 ,  G01S15/8993

Abstract: A pulse echo beamforming system generates high spatial bandwidth ultrasound images using only a few transmit/receive events per frame. Each transmit/receive event consists of firing an unfocused or weakly focused wave and receiving and storing the echo on every receive channel. Each set of stored echoes is delayed and apodized to form component beams for each desired image point in the region insonified by that particular wave. The final images are synthesized by adding two or more of the component beams for each image point.

Abstract translation: 脉冲回波波束成形系统使用每帧仅使用少量发射/接收事件来生成高空间带宽超声图像。 每个发射/接收事件包括触发未聚焦或弱聚焦的波，并在每个接收通道上接收和存储回波。 每组存储的回波被延迟和变迹以形成由该特定波加密的区域中的每个期望图像点的分量波束。 通过为每个图像点添加两个或更多个分量光束来合成最终图像。

公开(公告)号：US5873830A

公开(公告)日：1999-02-23

申请号：US916358

申请日：1997-08-22

Applicant: John A. Hossack ,  Bhaskar S. Ramamurthy ,  John S. Wang ,  Kutay F. Ustuner ,  Ching-Hua Chou ,  James W. Arenson ,  Arvind Jain

Inventor： John A. Hossack ,  Bhaskar S. Ramamurthy ,  John S. Wang ,  Kutay F. Ustuner ,  Ching-Hua Chou ,  James W. Arenson ,  Arvind Jain

IPC: G01S7/52 ,  A61B8/00

CPC classification number: G01S7/52085 ,  G01S7/52046 ,  G01S7/5205 ,  G01S7/52066 ,  G01S7/52074 ,  G01S7/52095 ,  G01S7/52034

Abstract: An ultrasound system and method are provided for improving resolution and operation. The system applies different imaging parameters within and outside a region of interest in an ultrasound image to improve spatial and/or temporal resolution inside a region of interest. The system also increases an apparent frame rate within a region of interest in an ultrasound-image frame by generating a motion-compensated interpolated image based on measured motion. The ultrasound imaging system also performs a method for automatically adjusting ultrasound imaging parameters in at least a portion of an ultrasound image in response to transducer or image motion to improve spatial or temporal resolution. With the measured motion, the system can also alter an operating mode of an ultrasound transducer array in response to an absence of transducer motion. Further, the system corrects distortion in an acquired ultrasound image caused by transducer or image motion.