公开(公告)号：US09465101B2

公开(公告)日：2016-10-11

申请号：US11099802

申请日：2005-04-05

申请人： Kutay F. Ustuner ,  Lewis J. Thomas ,  D-L Donald Liu

发明人： Kutay F. Ustuner ,  Lewis J. Thomas ,  D-L Donald Liu

IPC分类号： G01N29/00 ,  G01S15/00 ,  G01S7/52 ,  G01S15/89 ,  G10K11/34

CPC分类号： G01S7/52049 ,  G01S7/52046 ,  G01S7/52085 ,  G01S7/5209 ,  G01S15/8915 ,  G01S15/8925 ,  G01S15/8959 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  G01S15/8997 ,  G10K11/346

摘要： Aberration estimation uses cross correlation of receive-focused transmit element data. A set of sequentially fired broad transmit beams insonify an object from different steering angles. Each transmit beam emanates from an actual or a virtual transmit element. For every firing, a receive beamformer forms a transmit element image of the insonified region by focusing the received signals. An estimator estimates aberration by cross correlating or comparing the transmit element images. Where a virtual transmit element is used, the virtual transmit element images are back propagated to an actual transmit element position before aberration estimation. The estimations are used to form corrected transmit element images which are then summed pre-detection to form a high-resolution synthetic transmit aperture. Alternatively, the estimations are used to improve conventional focused-transmit imaging.

公开(公告)号：US06749570B2

公开(公告)日：2004-06-15

申请号：US10227112

申请日：2002-08-23

申请人： Kutay F. Üstüner ,  D-L Donald Liu ,  Thilaka S. Sumanaweera

发明人： Kutay F. Üstüner ,  D-L Donald Liu ,  Thilaka S. Sumanaweera

IPC分类号： A61B800

CPC分类号： A61B8/0825 ,  A61B8/587 ,  G01S7/52049 ,  G01S7/52071 ,  G01S15/8925 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  Y10S128/915

摘要： A method and apparatus for ultrasound breast imaging is described. Breast is positioned in between an ultrasound array and a plate with embedded point or line targets. The apparatus and reflections from the targets are used 1) to improve focusing by correcting for tissue delay and amplitude aberration and 2) to improve diagnostics by constructing speed of sound and attenuation coefficient images.

公开(公告)号：US08465431B2

公开(公告)日：2013-06-18

申请号：US11788614

申请日：2007-04-20

申请人： Christopher M. W. Daft ,  D-L Donald Liu ,  Paul A. Wagner ,  Igal Ladabaum

发明人： Christopher M. W. Daft ,  D-L Donald Liu ,  Paul A. Wagner ,  Igal Ladabaum

IPC分类号： A61B8/08

CPC分类号： G01S15/8997 ,  A61B8/12 ,  A61B8/4472 ,  A61B8/4483 ,  A61B8/4488 ,  A61B8/483 ,  G01S7/52046 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S15/8925 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G01S15/8977 ,  G10K11/346

摘要： To generate information representing a volume, co-arrays or synthetic transmit aperture process is performed in one dimension and beamforming is performed in another dimension. For example, a transmit aperture focuses in azimuth, but is unfocused or divergent in elevation. A multi-dimensional array receives reflected echoes. The echoes are beamformed for sub-arrays for focus in azimuth. The resulting partial beamformed information is provided to an imaging system from the probe housing for completion of beamforming at least in elevation.

摘要翻译： 为了产生表示音量的信息，在一个维度中执行共阵列或合成发射孔径处理，并且在另一维度上执行波束成形。 例如，发射光圈聚焦在方位角，但是在高度上没有聚焦或发散。 多维阵列接收反射回波。 回波被波束形成用于方位角焦点的子阵列。 所得到的部分波束形成信息被提供给来自探针外壳的成像系统，用于至少在高度上完成波束形成。

公开(公告)号：US07207943B2

公开(公告)日：2007-04-24

申请号：US10807681

申请日：2004-03-24

申请人： Stephen R. Barnes ,  Mirsaid Bolorforosh ,  D-L Donald Liu

发明人： Stephen R. Barnes ,  Mirsaid Bolorforosh ,  D-L Donald Liu

IPC分类号： A61B8/00

CPC分类号： G01S15/8925 ,  A61B8/483 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G01S15/894 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  G01S15/8997

摘要： Using configurable arrays, synthetic aperture processes may be used along an elevation dimension for increasing resolution. The increased resolution is used for two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging. Alternatively or additionally, wide band synthetic elevation aperture focusing processes, such as beamformation, are provided along the elevation dimension to increase resolution. In yet another alternative or additional embodiment, a transducer is rotated about a center of the transducer within the elevation and azimuth plane. An aperture associated with the transducer is mechanically or electronically rotated, and ultrasound data acquired associated with a plurality of different positions. The ultrasound data is then used for synthetic elevation aperture processing. In yet another alternative or additional embodiment, multiple scanning modes are provided. In a survey mode, imaging is provided without synthetic elevation aperture processing. For greater detailed imaging, imaging is responsive to synthetic elevation aperture processes with different elevation focusing and scanning.

公开(公告)号：US06685641B2

公开(公告)日：2004-02-03

申请号：US10061402

申请日：2002-02-01

申请人： D-L Donald Liu

发明人： D-L Donald Liu

IPC分类号： A61B800

CPC分类号： G01S15/8977 ,  G01S7/52028 ,  G01S15/8904 ,  G01S15/8909

摘要： Plane waves are transmitted at different incident angles, and the radio frequency echo waveforms received by the elements in an array are processed with a Fourier transform. This method is capable of generating one frame of “raw” image for each transmitted plane wave. The formation of each raw image includes: temporal Fourier transform of radio frequency echo signal from each element; phase rotation; spatial Fourier transform; complex interpolation; and an inverse spatial-temporal Fourier transform. This method does not require the synthesis of limited diffraction beams and is computationally more efficient compared to conventional delay-and-sum approach. These raw images are combined coherently to enlarge spatial frequency coverage and enhance lateral resolution. The resolution-enhanced images are further combined incoherently to achieve speckle reduction.

摘要翻译： 平面波以不同的入射角发射，由阵列中的元件接收的射频回波波形用傅立叶变换处理。 该方法能够为每个发射的平面波生成一帧“原始”图像。 每个原始图像的形成包括：来自每个元素的射频回波信号的时间傅立叶变换; 相位旋转; 空间傅里叶变换; 复杂插值; 和逆空间 - 时间傅里叶变换。 该方法不需要合成有限的衍射光束，并且与传统的延迟和和方法相比计算上更有效。 这些原始图像被相干地组合以扩大空间频率覆盖并增强横向分辨率。 分辨率增强的图像进一步被不连续地组合以实现斑点减少。

公开(公告)号：US06368279B1

公开(公告)日：2002-04-09

申请号：US09663079

申请日：2000-09-15

申请人： D-L Donald Liu

发明人： D-L Donald Liu

IPC分类号： A61B800

CPC分类号： A61B8/00 ,  G01S7/52046 ,  G01S7/52073 ,  G01S15/18

摘要： An ultrasound imaging system directs a transmit beam of ultrasound from a plurality of elements in a transducer array into a region of interest (ROI) of a patient's body. The receive beam back from the ROI contains a separate waveform for each of the array elements. These waveforms are partitioned into groups, and a control waveform is determined for each group. The control waveform is then jittered, that is, time-shifted, by a trial delay time, and trial delay times for the other waveforms in the group are determined by interpolation. A waveform similarity factor (WSF), which is preferably a function of the r.m.s. value of the sum of the waveforms in the group, is then evaluated. The control waveform is then repeatedly shifted by different trial amounts, with a new WSF being determined for each trial shift. The trial delay for the control waveform is then assumed to be optimum that yielded the greatest group WSF. A global time compensation profile for the entire array is then determined by interpolation, given the locally optimal time delays of the various control waveforms. This global profile is then applied by a beamformer to compensate the receive beamforming and subsequent transmit beamforming to generate the ultrasound image. The array may also be two-dimensional. The user may select, using input devices and visual feedback, a portion of the displayed ultrasound image to identify a region of interest. The optimum time compensation is then calculated based on the waveforms only in this region, but is applied by the beamformer to the entire displayed image.

摘要翻译： 超声成像系统将来自换能器阵列中的多个元件的超声波发射束引导到患者身体的感兴趣区域（ROI）。 从ROI返回的接收光束包含每个阵列元素的单独波形。 这些波形被划分成组，并且为每个组确定控制波形。 然后通过试用延迟时间将控制波形抖动，即时移，并且通过插值确定组中其他波形的试验延迟时间。 波形相似因子（WSF），其优选地是r.m.s.的函数。 然后评估组中的波形之和的值。 然后，通过不同的试验量重复地移动控制波形，为每次试验移位确定新的WSF。 然后假设控制波形的试验延迟是最大的，产生最大的组WSF。 给定各种控制波形的局部最佳时间延迟，然后通过插值来确定整个阵列的全局时间补偿曲线。 然后由波束成形器应用该全局轮廓以补偿接收波束成形和随后的发射波束形成以产生超声波图像。 阵列也可以是二维的。 用户可以使用输入设备和视觉反馈来选择所显示的超声图像的一部分来识别感兴趣的区域。 然后，基于仅在该区域中的波形来计算最佳时间补偿，但是由波束形成器将其应用于整个显示的图像。

公开(公告)号：US07789831B2

公开(公告)日：2010-09-07

申请号：US11716368

申请日：2007-03-09

申请人： Stephen R. Barnes ,  Mirsaid Bolorforosh ,  D-L Donald Liu

发明人： Stephen R. Barnes ,  Mirsaid Bolorforosh ,  D-L Donald Liu

IPC分类号： A61B8/00

CPC分类号： G01S15/8925 ,  A61B8/483 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G01S15/894 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  G01S15/8997

摘要： Using configurable arrays, synthetic aperture processes may be used along an elevation dimension for increasing resolution. The increased resolution is used for two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging. Alternatively or additionally, wide band synthetic elevation aperture focusing processes, such as beamformation, are provided along the elevation dimension to increase resolution. In yet another alternative or additional embodiment, a transducer is rotated about a center of the transducer within the elevation and azimuth plane. An aperture associated with the transducer is mechanically or electronically rotated, and ultrasound data acquired associated with a plurality of different positions. The ultrasound data is then used for synthetic elevation aperture processing. In yet another alternative or additional embodiment, multiple scanning modes are provided. In a survey mode, imaging is provided without synthetic elevation aperture processing. For greater detailed imaging, imaging is responsive to synthetic elevation aperture processes with different elevation focusing and scanning.

摘要翻译： 使用可配置阵列，可以沿着高度维度使用合成孔径过程以提高分辨率。 增加的分辨率用于二维或三维成像。 或者或另外，沿着高度尺寸提供宽带合成高程孔径聚焦过程，例如波束形成，以增加分辨率。 在另一替代或另外的实施例中，换能器绕升降和方位平面内的换能器的中心旋转。 与换能器相关联的孔机械地或电子地旋转，并且获取与多个不同位置相关联的超声数据。 然后将超声数据用于合成高程孔径处理。 在又一替代或附加实施例中，提供了多种扫描模式。 在调查模式中，无需合成高程孔径处理即可提供成像。 为了更详细的成像，成像对具有不同高程聚焦和扫描的合成高程孔径过程有反应。

公开(公告)号：US07658713B2

公开(公告)日：2010-02-09

申请号：US11716371

申请日：2007-03-09

申请人： Stephen R. Barnes ,  Mirsaid Bolorforosh ,  D-L Donald Liu

发明人： Stephen R. Barnes ,  Mirsaid Bolorforosh ,  D-L Donald Liu

IPC分类号： A61B8/00 ,  A61B8/12 ,  A61B8/14

CPC分类号： G01S15/8925 ,  A61B8/483 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G01S15/894 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  G01S15/8997

摘要： Multiple scanning modes are provided. In a survey mode, imaging is provided without synthetic elevation aperture processing. For greater detailed imaging, imaging is responsive to synthetic elevation aperture processes with different elevation focusing and scanning.

摘要翻译： 提供多种扫描模式。 在调查模式中，无需合成高程孔径处理即可提供成像。 为了更详细的成像，成像对具有不同高程聚焦和扫描的合成高程孔径过程有反应。

公开(公告)号：US07583214B2

公开(公告)日：2009-09-01

申请号：US11731567

申请日：2007-03-30

申请人： D-L Donald Liu ,  Daniel Edward Brueske ,  Brian Vincent Colby

发明人： D-L Donald Liu ,  Daniel Edward Brueske ,  Brian Vincent Colby

IPC分类号： H03M3/00

CPC分类号： G10K11/346 ,  G01S7/52025 ,  G01S7/52034 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S7/52095

摘要： Receive beamformers for receive beamforming ultrasound information include a plurality of channels. The received signals for each channel are oversampled for conversion to digital form, such as sampling with a sigma-delta converter. The reconstruction of the samples into data at the Nyquist or other rate is performed in stages. Partial reconstruction to a rate less than the oversampling rate, but greater than the Nyquist rate, occurs prior to summation across channels. Delays are implemented by selecting data from the sample stream. After summation, the samples are reconstructed at a Nyquist or other rate.

摘要翻译： 用于接收波束形成超声信息的接收波束形成器包括多个信道。 每个通道的接收信号被过采样以便转换成数字形式，例如用Σ-Δ转换器进行采样。 以奈奎斯特或其他速率将样本重建为数据分阶段进行。 部分重建的速率小于过采样率，但大于奈奎斯特速率，则发生在跨通道求和之前。 通过从样本流中选择数据来实现延迟。 在求和之后，以奈奎斯特或其他速率重建样本。

公开(公告)号：US07466256B2

公开(公告)日：2008-12-16

申请号：US11731568

申请日：2007-03-30

申请人： Daniel Edward Brueske ,  D-L Donald Liu ,  Steven Martin ,  Brian Colby

发明人： Daniel Edward Brueske ,  D-L Donald Liu ,  Steven Martin ,  Brian Colby

IPC分类号： H03M3/00

CPC分类号： G01S7/52028 ,  G01S7/5205 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S7/52095 ,  G01S15/8979

摘要： Ultrasound information for B-mode and CW Doppler mode use the same digital beamformer. Due to sigma-delta conversion or over sampling, sufficient dynamic range is provided for the desired bandwidth. By mixing the input ultrasound information to base band before conversion, additional dynamic range may be provided. The electrical impedance may be better matched to elements by connecting a different number of sigma-delta converters to an element. Elements with lower impedance may be connected to a plurality of sigma-delta converters. To increase the aperture size for elements with a higher impedance, the same sigma-delta converters may be used as separate receive beamformer channels without the summation.

摘要翻译： B模式和CW多普勒模式的超声信息使用相同的数字波束形成器。 由于Σ-Δ转换或过采样，为期望的带宽提供足够的动态范围。 通过将输入超声信息与转换之前的基带混合，可以提供额外的动态范围。 通过将不同数量的Σ-Δ转换器连接到元件，电阻抗可以更好地匹配元件。 具有较低阻抗的元件可以连接到多个Σ-Δ转换器。 为了增加具有更高阻抗的元件的孔径尺寸，可以将相同的Σ-Δ转换器用作单独的接收波束形成器通道而不需要求和。