Apparatus and method for generating echographic images
First Claim
1. In a method of generating an echographic image of a target object including the steps of transmitting a plurality of ultrasonic signals toward said target object, receiving a corresponding plurality of echo signals from said target object, correlating said ultrasonic signals and said echo signals to produce correlated data including amplitude data sufficient to map an image of said target object and phase data, mapping said amplitude data, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- partitioning said correlated data into a plurality of data sets including a visibility amplitude data set and a visibility phase data set;
reducing noise present in said correlated data by at least one of;
(i) a side lobe subtraction process, (ii) a hybrid mapping process, (iii) a vectorial summing of possible combinations of three visibility phase data values to produce a closure phase data set, and (iv) forming ratios of possible combinations of four visibility amplitude data values to produce a closure amplitude data set; and
during said mapping step, mapping said amplitude data and said phase data after said step of reducing noise.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to generate low power ultrasonic, echograph images of selected stationary and moving target objects having high resolution. The apparatus and method include: an apparatus for transmitting a plurality of ultrasonic signals into a selected area of tissue, and apparatus for receiving the corresponding ultrasonic echo signals for each of the transmitted signals. A correlator autocorrelates and cross-correlates the transmitted and received ultrasonic signals. The correlated signals are summed, combined in ratios and partitioned into visibility amplitude data, visibility phase data, differential phase data, closure amplitude data and closure phase data for mapping. The preferred apparatus and method thereafter perform a non-linear image processing, either by an iterative side lobe subtraction signal processing procedure to remove signal noise and/or by an interative hybrid mapping signal processing procedure. The resulting data map yields a high resolution image of the selected target with more data and less noise. Signal processing to show motion or target object changes after noise reduction is also disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus and method is employed as a clinical diagnostic tool for generating non-traumatic, high resolution imaging of bodily tissue.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. In a method of generating an echographic image of a target object including the steps of transmitting a plurality of ultrasonic signals toward said target object, receiving a corresponding plurality of echo signals from said target object, correlating said ultrasonic signals and said echo signals to produce correlated data including amplitude data sufficient to map an image of said target object and phase data, mapping said amplitude data, the improvement comprising the steps of:
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partitioning said correlated data into a plurality of data sets including a visibility amplitude data set and a visibility phase data set; reducing noise present in said correlated data by at least one of;
(i) a side lobe subtraction process, (ii) a hybrid mapping process, (iii) a vectorial summing of possible combinations of three visibility phase data values to produce a closure phase data set, and (iv) forming ratios of possible combinations of four visibility amplitude data values to produce a closure amplitude data set; andduring said mapping step, mapping said amplitude data and said phase data after said step of reducing noise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34)
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32. In an apparatus for generating an echographic image including an ultrasonic transducer, generator means coupled to drive said transducer, signal processing means coupled to said transducer to receive echo signal data therefrom and coupled to receive transmitted ultrasonic signal data, said signal processing means correlating and mapping amplitude data from said ultrasonic signal data and said echo signal data, and display means coupled to said signal processing means to receive mapped data from said signal processing means and to display said mapped data as an image, the improvement comprising:
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said apparatus including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers mounted in an array and coupled to said generator means and said signal processing means; and said signal processing means including means for processing phase data, said means for processing phase data including means for reducing noise in said phase data, said means for reducing noise being provided by one of;
(i) means for subtracting side lobe noise from said phase data, and (ii) means for substituting hybrid map data for actual phase and amplitude data; andsaid processing means further mapping substantially all of said amplitude data and said phase data after the reduction of noise therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (33, 35)
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36. In an apparatus for generating an echographic image including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers mounted in an array, signal generator means coupled to drive said transducers, signal processing means coupled to receive echo signals from said transducers and coupled to receive echo signals, said signal processing means being response to correlate said echo signals relative to said transmitted signals to produce amplitude signals suitable for image mapping, and display means coupled to said signal processing means to receive said amplitude signals and response thereto to produce an image, the improvement in said apparatus comprising:
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said signal processing means being responsive to said transmitted signals and said echo signals to correlate said echo signals relative to said transmitted signals to produce both amplitude signals and phase signals; said signal processing means further including noise reduction means responsive to said phase signals and said amplitude signals to reduce noise in said phase signals and said amplitude signals; said noise reduction means including at least one of;
(i) means for subtracting side lobe noise from said amplitude signals and said phase signals, (ii) means for substituting hybrid map signals for said amplitude signals and said phase signals, (iii) means for vectorially summing sets of three phase signals to produce closure phase signals, and (iv) means for forming ratios of sets of four amplitude signals to produce closure amplitude signals;said display means coupled to said signal processing means to receive signals therefrom at a position after noise reduction has been effected. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification