Described here are systems and methods for super-resolution imaging with ultrasound in which a Kalman filter-based microvessel inpainting technique is used to facilitate robust super-resolution imaging with limited or otherwise missing microbubble signals. The systems and methods described in the present disclosure can be combined with both local and global microbubble tracking methods.

Systems and methods for encoding radiofrequency, RF, data, e.g., electrical signals, by a microbeamformer are disclosed herein. The microbeamformer may use a pseudo-random sampling pattern (700) to sum samples of the RF data stored in a plurality of memory cells. The memory cells may be included in a delay line of the microbeamformer in some examples. The summed samples may form an encoded signal transmitted to a decoder which reconstructs the original RF data from the encoded signal. The decoder may use knowledge of the pseudo-random sampling pattern to reconstruct the original data in some examples.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for tracking a position of an interventional device respective an image plane of an ultrasound field. The position includes an out-of-plane distance (Dop). A geometry-providing unit (GPU) includes a plurality of transducer-to-distal-end lengths (Ltde.sub.1 . . . n), each length corresponding to a predetermined distance (Ltde) between a distal end of an interventional device and an ultrasound detector attached to the interventional device, for each of a plurality of interventional device types (T.sub.1 . . . n). An image fusion unit (IFU) receives data indicative of the type (T) of the interventional device being tracked; and based on the type (T): selects from the geometry-providing unit (GPU), a corresponding transducer-to-distal-end length (Ltde); and indicates in a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI) both the out-of-plane distance (Dop) and the transducer-to-distal-end length (Ltde) for the interventional device within the ultrasound field.

Methods and apparatus are described for implementing a coding scheme on ultrasound signals received by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The coding, and subsequent decoding, may allow for multiple ultrasonic transducers to be operated in a receive mode simultaneously while still differentiating the contribution of the individual ultrasonic transducers. Improved signal characteristics may result, including improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Techniques for operating an ultrasonic sensor array, the ultrasonic sensor array disposed under a platen, include: making a determination whether or not to recalibrate the ultrasonic sensor array based on whether a first screen protector disposed above the platen has been removed or replaced by a second screen protector; and recalibrating the ultrasonic sensor array, when the determination is to recalibrate the ultrasonic sensor array. In some cases, the techniques include prompting a user to indicate whether or not the screen protector has been changed or removed, and recalibrating the ultrasonic sensor array only after confirmation from the user.

Acoustic data, such as a full matrix capture (FMC) matrix, can be reconstructed by applying a previously trained decoder machine learning model to one or more encoded acoustic images, such as the TFM image(s), to generate reconstructed acoustic data. A processor can use the reconstructed acoustic data, such as an FMC matrix, to recreate new encoded acoustic images, such as TFM image(s), using different generation parameters (e.g., acoustic velocity, part thickness, acoustic mode, etc.)

A system for boundary identification includes a memory (42) to store shear wave displacements through a medium as a displacement field including a spatial component and a temporal component. A directional filter (206, 208) filters the displacement field to provide a directional displacement field. A signal processing device (26) is coupled to the memory to execute a boundary estimator (214) to estimate a tissue boundary in a displayed image based upon a history of the directional displacement field accumulated over time.

An ultrasonic imaging method and an ultrasonic imaging system are provided herein. The ultrasonic imaging system includes: a scanning assembly having an ultrasonic transducer to send ultrasonic signals to a tissue to be scanned and acquire a plurality of ultrasonic echo signals at a plurality of positions; a processor to receive the plurality of ultrasonic echo signals acquired at the plurality of positions, and generate an ultrasonic image corresponding to each of the plurality of positions; a display to display the ultrasonic images; and a user input unit to select the ultrasonic image corresponding to any specific position and send an input signal that is configured to control movement of the ultrasonic transducer, driven by a driving device, to the specific position. Also provided in the present invention is an ultrasonic imaging method using the system.

The invention provides an ultrasound data processing method for pre-processing signal data in advance of generating ultrasound images. The method seeks to reduce noise through application of coherent persistence to a series of raw ultrasound signal representations representative of the same path or section through a body but at different successive times. A motion compensation procedure including amplitude peak registration and phase alignment is applied to raw echo signal data in advance of application of persistence in order to cohere the signals and thereby limit the introduction of motion induced artifacts.

Some disclosed methods involve acquiring, via an ultrasonic sensor system, first (reference) ultrasonic signals at a first time and acquiring second ultrasonic signals via the ultrasonic sensor system at a second time. Such methods may involve determining, based at least in part on a comparison of the first ultrasonic signals and the second ultrasonic signals, whether one or more layers reside on the cover glass at the second time. If it is determined that the one or more layers reside on the cover glass at the second time, some methods may involve determining one or more signal characteristics corresponding to properties of the one or more layers and determining, based at least in part on the one or more properties, whether the one or more layers are compatible with the ultrasonic sensor system. If so, the method may involve calibrating the ultrasonic sensor system.