Multiple transmit zone splicing
First Claim
1. A method for multiple transmit zone splicing in an imaging system, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a set of acoustic signal samples for a first transmit zone;
receiving a set of acoustic signal samples for a second transmit zone spatially overlapping said first transmit zone in an overlap region;
dynamically generating weighting values and applying said weighting values to the signal samples in the overlap region to create weighted signal samples; and
synthesizing a set of new signal samples for said overlap region from said weighted signal samples.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention includes a method and system for multiple transmit zone splicing in an ultrasound imaging system. Acoustic signals from a pair of adjacent transmit zones are crossfaded in a region where the two transmit zones overlap (an "overlap region"), to produce a set of combined acoustic signals that transition from one transmit zone to the next with little or no delineation between transmit zones. The crossfade is linear and for the entire overlap region; however, the crossfade may alternatively employ a nonlinear function, or may encompass regions near to the overlap region. When a scan line comprises more than two transmit zones, pairs of transmit zones are crossfaded, preferably at each overlap region. When overlap regions are close to each other, a crossfade employing more than two transmit zones may be employed, such as a linear crossfade in which acoustic signals from three or more transmit zones are weighted and summed.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for multiple transmit zone splicing in an imaging system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a set of acoustic signal samples for a first transmit zone; receiving a set of acoustic signal samples for a second transmit zone spatially overlapping said first transmit zone in an overlap region; dynamically generating weighting values and applying said weighting values to the signal samples in the overlap region to create weighted signal samples; and synthesizing a set of new signal samples for said overlap region from said weighted signal samples. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for multiple transmit zone splicing in an imaging system, comprising:
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means for receiving a set of acoustic signal samples for a first transmit zone; means for receiving a set of acoustic signal samples for a second transmit zone spatially overlapping said first transmit zone in an overlap region; means for dynamically generating weighting values and applying said weighting values to signal samples in the overlap region to create weighted signal samples; and means for synthesizing a set of new signal samples for said overlap region from said weighted signal samples. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for displaying an ultrasound image, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a set of acoustic signal samples for a first transmit zone; receiving a set of acoustic signal samples for a second transmit zone spatially overlapping said first transmit zone in an overlap region; dynamically generating weighting values and applying said weighting values to the signal samples in the overlap region to create weighted signal samples; and synthesizing a set of new signal samples for said overlap region from said weighted signal samples; constructing a set of synthesized scan lines comprising, outside said overlap region, acoustic signal samples of said sets of acoustic signal samples for the first and second transmit zones, and inside said overlap region, said set of new signal samples for said overlap region; and scan converting said set of synthesized scan lines.
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15. An apparatus for displaying an ultrasound image, comprising:
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means for a set of acoustic signal samples for a first transmit zone; means for a set of acoustic signal samples for a second transmit zone spatially overlapping said first transmit zone in an overlap region; means for dynamically generating weighting values; means for constructing a set of synthesized scan lines comprising, outside said overlap region, acoustic signal samples of said sets of acoustic signal samples for the first and second transmit zones, and inside said overlap region, said set of new signal samples for said overlap region; and means for scan converting said set of synthesized scan lines.
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Specification