G01S7/52038

Method and apparatus for multi-zone, multi-frequency ultrasound image reconstruction with sub-zone blending

Systems and methods of ultrasound imaging of an object that includes multiple depth zones. Each of the zones can be imaged using a different frequency, or the same frequency as another zone. A method includes imaging a first zone using plane wave imaging, imaging a second zone using tissue harmonic imaging, and imaging a third zone using fundamental and subharmonic deep imaging. The depth of each zone can vary based on the ultrasonic array, and correspondingly, the F # used for imaging the zone. In an example, zones can be imaged at different F #'s, for example, at F #1 for the first zone, at F #2, F #3, or F #6 for one or more zones that extend deeper into the object than the first zone. The method can also include forming an image based on the received signals from the multiple zones, and blending the transitions between the zones.

BROADBAND BLENDED FUNDAMENTAL AND HARMONIC FREQUENCY ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING

An ultrasound system is described which produces blended fundamental and harmonic frequency images. Successively transmitted, differently modulated pulses are transmitted by an ultrasound probe and both fundamental and harmonic frequencies are received in response. The echo signals received from the two pulses are processed by pulse inversion, producing cleanly separated bands of fundamental and harmonic signals in which undesired components have been cancelled. Since the two bands have been separated by signal cancellation rather than filtering, the two bands are allowed to overlap, providing broadband signals in each band. The bands are filtered by bandpass filtering to define the fundamental and harmonic signals to be imaged. The signals are detected, and the detected signals are combined after weighting to produce a blended fundamental/harmonic image.

Medical image processing apparatus, ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, and trained model generating method

A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry configured to generate an output data set apparently expressing a second data set obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasound wave, for each scanning line, as many times as a second number that is larger than a first number, by inputting a first data set to a trained model that generates the output data set on a basis of the first data set obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasound wave as many times as the first number for each scanning line.

Ultrasound analysis apparatus and method for tissue elasticity and viscosity based on the hormonic signals

According to one embodiment, an analysis apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry configured to generate a harmonic signal and a fundamental wave signal based on a reception signal that is collected by an ultrasound probe, the harmonic signal corresponding to a harmonic component of a reflected wave of a ultrasound generated in the subject, the fundamental wave signal corresponding to a fundamental wave component of the reflected wave, calculate a first index value indicating tissue properties of the subject based on the harmonic signal, and calculate a second index value indicating the tissue properties based on the fundamental wave signal, and display an analysis result based on the first index value and the second index value.

MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPARSE PHASED ARRAYS FOR GUIDING FOCUSED ULTRASOUND THERAPIES
20230211187 · 2023-07-06 ·

Multifunctional ultrasound systems and methods for body section registration and mapping of microbubble dynamics. A system is provided that includes one or more micromachined ultrasonic transducer arrays (MUTAs) configured to capture a high-resolution image of at least a portion of a body section using ultrasound and monitor microbubble activity during ultrasound treatment. The system includes an image registration module configured to spatially register the high-resolution image with a reference image. The system includes electronics configured to control one or more of drive signal amplitude, frequency filtering, multiplexing, and DC bias voltage. The system can be configured to control ultrasound treatment based on the monitoring of the microbubble activity during treatment.

REDUCTION OF REVERBERATION ARTIFACTS IN ULTRASOUND IMAGES AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

Aspects of the present disclosure provide ultrasound systems and devices that provide for reduction of reverberation artifacts in ultrasound images by automatically changing imaging settings such as PRI or transmit/receive configuration based on detected amounts of reverberation in ultrasound images. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor circuit in communication with an ultrasound probe. The processor circuit obtains a plurality of ultrasound images obtained using a plurality of different PRIs and/or pulse sequences, calculates an amount of reverberation artifacts in each of the plurality of ultrasound images, selects a pulse repetition interval and/or pulse sequence based on the amounts of reverberation artifacts in each of the plurality of ultrasound images, and controls the ultrasound transducer to obtain a reduced-reverberation ultrasound image using the selected pulse repetition interval or pulse sequence. The reduced-reverberation ultrasound image is then output to a display.

ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND EXTRACTION METHOD
20220401075 · 2022-12-22 · ·

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an ultrasound probe, and processing circuitry. The ultrasound probe performs transmission of ultrasonic pulses of different polarities to different transmission positions of a subject for multiple times. The processing circuitry performs, for each of the different polarities, reception beam-forming processing with respect to plural reception signals acquired by transmission of plural ultrasonic pulses of an identical polarity. The processing circuitry extracts a non-linear signal by adding up reception signals of the different polarities at an identical reception position, the signals subjected to reception beam forming.

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, ultrasound diagnostic method and ultrasound probe
11529117 · 2022-12-20 · ·

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a hardware processor that generates a first B mode image and a second B mode image on the basis of a first reception signal and a second reception signal whose beam width in the slice direction is narrower than the first reception signal, displays a display image on a display section, determines whether the end of the puncture needle in the display image is the actual needle point, and presents the determination result. The hardware processor presents the determination result on the basis of the first puncture needle image included in the first B mode image and the second puncture needle image included in the second B mode image.

ULTRASONIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING OBSTACLES USING A MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHM

A system and method is disclosed for classifying one or more objects within a vicinity of a vehicle. Ultra-sonic data may be received from a plurality of ultra-sonic sensors and may comprise echo signals indicating one or more objects that are proximally located within a vicinity of a vehicle. One or more features may be calculated from the ultra-sonic data using one or more signal processing algorithms unique to each of the plurality of ultra-sonic sensors. The one more features may be combined using a second-level signal processing algorithm to determine geometric relations for the one or more objects. The one or more features may then be statistically aggregated at an object level. The one or more objects may then be classified using a machine learning algorithm that compares an input of each of the one or more features to a trained classifier.

Methods and systems for motion corrected wide-band pulse inversion ultrasonic imaging
11510655 · 2022-11-29 · ·

Systems and methods are provided for motion corrected wide-band pulse inversion ultrasonic imaging. A first pulse is transmitted, a second pulse is then transmitted after a delay, with the second pulse having different polarity. Echoes of the first pulse and the second pulse are received, using a reception bandwidth that enables capturing at least a portion of a fundamental portion of each pulse. The echoes are processed, and corresponding ultrasound images are generated based on processing. The processing includes determining displacement data between the first pulse echo and the echo of the second pulse for at least one structure in an imaged area; determining one or more displacement corrections based on the displacement data; applying at least one displacement correction to at least one of the first pulse echo and the echo of the second pulse; and combining the first pulse echo and the echo of the second pulse.