Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-03
2004-05-11
Jaworski, Francis J. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06733453
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to ultrasound imaging with reduced speckle. In particular, ultrasound data associated with different spatial and/or frequency content is compounded. Speckle information in one frame of data is decorrelated with speckle information in another frame of data associated with different spatial or frequency content. By compounding the frames of data, the decorrelated speckle is reduced.
U.S. pat. No. 6,511,426 (U.S. application Ser. No. 09/328,113) shows reducing speckle through elevation compounding. Frames of data from scan planes having different elevation positions are compounded together. For example, the transducer is translated along the elevation dimension or an elevation aperture is translated in the elevation dimension along a multi-dimensional transducer array. The compounded frames have reduced speckle variation.
U.S. pat. No. 5,653,235 discloses a system for reducing speckle for two-dimensional imaging. A two-dimensional transducer array produces multiple beams at different orientations. A scan plane is rotated to insonify a particular location from different angles. The data for the spatial location is compounded.
Multi-dimensional transducer arrays are also used for imaging without compounding. For example, 1.25D, 1.5D or 1.75D arrays are used to acquire data representing a scan plane. Rows of elements along the elevation dimension are used to electronically or mechanically focus the transmitted energy in the elevation dimension, increasing resolution.
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described below include methods and systems for reducing speckle using compounding with multi-dimensional transducer arrays. 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2D arrays are used to obtain frames of data representing a same scan plane, but with different elevational spatial frequency content. The elevation aperture for one frame of data is different than an elevation aperture of another frame of data. The frames of data responsive to the different elevation apertures are compounded, reducing speckle.
Further aspects and advantages of the invention are discussed below in conjunction with the preferred embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5546946 (1996-08-01), Souquet
patent: 5653235 (1997-08-01), Teo
patent: 5678554 (1997-10-01), Hossack et al.
patent: 5897501 (1999-04-01), Wildes et al.
patent: 5902242 (1999-05-01), Ustuner et al.
patent: 6043589 (2000-03-01), Hanafy
patent: 6057632 (2000-05-01), Ustuner
patent: 6132375 (2000-10-01), Napolitano
patent: 6464638 (2002-10-01), Adams et al.
patent: 6511426 (2003-01-01), Hossack et al.
patent: 6524247 (2003-02-01), Zhao et al.
patent: 6527720 (2003-03-01), Ustuner et al.
Freiburger Paul D.
Ramamurthy Bhaskar S.
Jaworski Francis J.
Siemens Medical Solutions USA , Inc.
LandOfFree
Elevation compounding for ultrasound imaging does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Elevation compounding for ultrasound imaging, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Elevation compounding for ultrasound imaging will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3246961