Ultrasound imaging method and system for transmit signal generation for an ultrasonic imaging system capable of harmonic imaging
First Claim
1. In a method comprising the steps of (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency and (b) receiving reflected ultrasonic energy at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency in an ultrasound system, the reflected ultrasonic energy responsive to the transmitted ultrasonic energy, an improvement wherein step (a) comprises the step of:
- (a1) transmitting a uni-polar waveform comprising an amplitude shape rising gradually to a respective maximum value and falling gradually from said respective maximum value.
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Abstract
An improvement to the method for harmonic imaging including the steps of (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency and (b) receiving reflected ultrasonic energy at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency is provided. For the improvement, the transmitting step includes the step of transmitting a uni-polar waveform or a waveform characterized by an amplitude change rate of 8 or fewer times pre carrier cycle, said waveform comprising an envelope shape rising gradually to a respective maximum value and falling gradually from the respective maximum value.
259 Citations
51 Claims
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1. In a method comprising the steps of (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency and (b) receiving reflected ultrasonic energy at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency in an ultrasound system, the reflected ultrasonic energy responsive to the transmitted ultrasonic energy, an improvement wherein step (a) comprises the step of:
(a1) transmitting a uni-polar waveform comprising an amplitude shape rising gradually to a respective maximum value and falling gradually from said respective maximum value. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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2. In a method comprising the steps of (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency and (b) receiving reflected ultrasonic energy at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency in an ultrasound system, the reflected ultrasonic energy responsive to the transmitted ultrasonic energy, an improvement wherein step (a) comprises the step of:
(a1) transmitting a waveform characterized by an amplitude change rate of 8 or fewer times a carrier cycle, said waveform comprising an amplitude shape rising gradually to a respective maximum value and falling gradually from said respective maximum value. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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33. An ultrasound apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency for receipt of reflected ultrasonic energy at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency, the reflected ultrasonic energy responsive to the transmitted ultrasonic energy, comprising:
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a transducer; and a signal generator for transmitting a uni-polar waveform comprising an amplitude shape rising gradually to a respective maximum value and falling gradually from said respective maximum value. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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34. An ultrasound apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency for receipt of reflected ultrasonic energy at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency, the reflected ultrasonic energy responsive to the transmitted ultrasonic energy, comprising:
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a transducer; and a signal generator for transmitting a waveform comprising 8 or fewer samples per carrier cycle and an amplitude shape rising gradually to a respective maximum value and falling gradually from said respective maximum value.
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38. In a method comprising the steps of (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency and (b) receiving reflected ultrasonic energy at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency in an ultrasound system, the reflected ultrasonic energy responsive to the transmitted ultrasonic energy, an improvement wherein step (a) comprises the step of:
(a1) generating a stepped pulse comprising an amplitude shape rising gradually to a respective maximum value and falling gradually from said respective maximum value. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. In a method comprising the steps of (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency and (b) receiving reflected ultrasonic energy at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency in an ultrasound system, the reflected ultrasonic energy responsive to the transmitted ultrasonic energy, an improvement wherein step (a) comprises the step of:
(a1) generating a waveform comprising a plurality of amplitudes selected from the group of;
a plurality of positive amplitudes and a plurality of negative amplitudes, wherein said amplitudes each comprise a duration representing a step and corresponding to a sample rate less than or equal to 8 times the fundamental frequency, wherein an amplitude shape associated with said amplitudes rises gradually to a respective maximum value and falls gradually from said respective maximum value.- View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of generating a waveform transmitted from at least one of a plurality of transducer elements for harmonic imaging responsive to transmission of the waveform in an ultrasound system comprising the steps of:
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(a1) generating a waveform carrier signal associated with a fundamental frequency; (a2) modulating said rectangular wave carrier signal with an envelope signal comprising a gradually increasing and gradually decreasing amplitude; and (a3) transmitting a waveform responsive to data created in step (a2) and sampled at 8 samples or less for each cycle of said carrier signal.
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51. A method of generating a uni-polar waveform transmitted from at least one of a plurality of transducer elements for harmonic imaging in an ultrasound system comprising the steps of:
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(a1) generating a bi-polar waveform; (a2) off-setting said bi-polar waveform with an off-set signal comprising a gradually increasing and gradually decreasing amplitude; and (a3) transmitting said uni-polar waveform responsive to data created in step (a2).
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Specification