Ultrasound scan conversion with spatial dithering

• US 20030028113A1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Teratech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Teratech Corporation
• Inventors: Gilbert, Jeffrey M., Chiang, Alice M., Broadstone, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US10/114,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028113A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/447
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8915 using a transducer array
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8934 using a dynamic transducer configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8979 Combined Doppler and pulse-echo imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52023 Details of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52025 for pulse systems G01S7/52034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52026 Extracting wanted echo signals Doppler systems G01S15/50; Doppler short range imaging systems G01S15/8979
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52034 Data rate converters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52044 Scan converters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52046 Techniques for image enhancement involving transmitter or receiver image enhancement by image data processing G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52053 : Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52063 : Sector scan display
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52073 : Production of cursor lines, markers or indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52074 : Composite displays, e.g. split-screen displays; Combination of multiple images or of images and alphanumeric tabular information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52079 : Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5208 : with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead

Abstract

An ultrasound imaging system includes a scan conversion process for converting ultrasound data into a standard display format conversion and can be performed on a personal computer by programming the computer to convert data from polar coordinates to cartesian coordinates suitable for display on a computer monitor. The data is provided from scan head enclosure that houses an array of ultrasonic transducers and the circuitry associated therewith, including pulse synchronizer circuitry used in the transmit mode for transmission of ultrasonic pulses and beam forming circuitry used in the receive mode to dynamically focus reflected ultrasonic signals returning from the region of interest being imaged.

Claims

1. A method of processing image data with an ultrasound imaging device comprising of:

providing a portable ultrasound imaging system including a transducer array within a handheld probe, an interface unit connected to the handheld probe with a first interface, the interface unit having a beamforming device and being connected to a data processing system with a second interface;

transmitting data from the handheld probe to the interface unit with the first interface;

performing a beamforming operation with the beamforming device in the interface unit; and

transmitting data from the interface unit to the data processing system with the second interface such that the data processing system receives a beamformed electronic representation of the region of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data processing system further comprises a portable computer having a flat panel display.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a colored image of the object.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a beamforming circuit including a programmable delay device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a hand-held probe having a circuit board on which circuit elements are mounted, the circuit elements including a charged coupled device integrated circuit connected to an analog to digital converter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a data processing system further comprises providing a battery powered portable computer having a graphical user interface.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the image in one of a plurality of windows on a display connected to the data processing system.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing a scan conversion with a remap array.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first interface comprises an electrical cable.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second interface comprises an electrical cable.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the second interface comprises a wireless connection.

12. A portable ultrasound system for imaging a region of interest comprising:

a handheld probe housing in which a transducer array is mounted;

an interface unit connected to the handheld probe housing with a first interface, the interface unit including a beamforming device; and

a data processing system connected to the interface unit with a second interface such that the data processing system receives a beamformed representation of the region of interest.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a flat panel display connected to the data processing system that displays an image of the region of interest.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the probe housing further comprises a beamforming circuit board having a programmable delay device.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising a circuit board within the probe housing, the circuit board having a beamforming integrated circuit mounted thereon.

16. The system of claim 12 further comprising a display and a battery in the data processing system such that the battery provides power to the probe housing.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising a digital signal processor in the interface unit.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the data processing system comprises a personal computer having a graphical user interface.

19. The system of claim 12 further comprising a data transmitter that forwards isochronous data from the interface unit to the data processing unit.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the second interface provides asynchronous data transfer between the interface unit and the data processing system.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein asynchronous signals are transmitted from the data processing unit to the interface unit.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein the transducer array comprises a phased array device.

23. The system of claim 12 wherein the beamforming device comprises 32 channels or more.

24. The system of claim 12 wherein the interface unit further comprises a transmit/receiver circuit and a preamplifier circuit.

25. The system of claim 12 wherein the interface unit further comprises a memory and a system controller.

26. The system of claim 12 wherein the beamforming device comprises a CDP beamformer.

27. The system of claim 12 wherein the data processor includes a scan conversion system and a high standard high speed communications port.

28. The system of claim 12 wherein the second interface comprises a wireless connection.

29. The system of claim 12 wherein the data processing system is programmed to perform scan conversion with a remap array.

30. A portable ultrasound system for imaging a region of interest comprising:

an ultrasound probe system including a transducer array and a beamforming device; and

a data processing system connected to the ultrasound probe system with an isochronous transfer connector from the beamforming device to the data processing system to provide a high-speed transmission link such that the data processing system receives a beamformed representation of the region of interest.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising a flat panel display connected to the data processing system that displays an image of the region of interest.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the probe system further comprises a beamforming circuit having a programmable delay device.

33. The system of claim 30 further comprising an interface unit connected to a probe housing and a circuit board within the interface unit, the circuit board having a beamforming integrated circuit mounted thereon.

34. The system of claim 33 further comprising a display and a battery in the data processing system such that the battery provides power to the probe housing.

35. The system of claim 33 further comprising a digital signal processor in the interface unit.

36. The system of claim 30 wherein the data processing system comprises a personal computer having a graphical user interface.

37. The system of claim 30 further comprising a data transmitter that forwards isochronous data from the probe system to the data processing unit.

38. The system claim of 33 wherein the transmission link provides a connection between the interface unit and the data processing unit.

39. The system of claim 30 wherein asynchronous signals are transmitted from the data processing system to the probe.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein the interface unit comprises a wireless interface.

41. The system of claim 30 wherein the transducer array comprises a phased array device.

42. The system of claim 30 wherein the probe system comprises a handheld housing having a transducer array and an interface unit.

43. The system of claim 30 wherein the probe comprises a beamformer device.

44. The system of claim 42 wherein the interface unit comprises a beamforming device.

45. The system of claim 30 wherein the transmission link comprises a wireless interface.

46. The system of claim 30 further comprising a first cable connecting the probe to an interface unit and a second cable for the transmission link between the interface unit and the data processor.