Medical diagnostic ultrasound system and method
First Claim
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1. A diagnostic ultrasound system scan converter for processing data, the scan converter comprising:
- scan converter memory;
an ultrasound scan converter device operable to successively read at least two samples from the memory for interpolating a single value as a function of the at least two samples.
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Abstract
A scan converter using a re-programmable logic device provides flexibility for converting data from an acoustic grid to a display format. A set of instruction codes is provided for implementing the flexibility. By changing the instruction codes, the scan conversion process changes. A single memory stores the incoming data where read and write operations are performed sequentially. The same memory may be used for storing the scan converted data. A field programmable gate array is preferably used to scan convert the data and is programmed differently for different modes of operation.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A diagnostic ultrasound system scan converter for processing data, the scan converter comprising:
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scan converter memory;
an ultrasound scan converter device operable to successively read at least two samples from the memory for interpolating a single value as a function of the at least two samples. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A diagnostic ultrasound scan conversion method for processing data, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) successively reading at least two samples from an ultrasound scan converter memory, the at least two samples associated with a first spatial format; and
(b) interpolating a single value as a function of the at least two samples, the single value associated with a second spatial format, the second spatial format different than the first spatial format. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
(c) successively storing the at least two samples in the memory.
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15. The method of claim 13 wherein (a) comprises successively reading at least four samples from the memory and (b) comprises interpolating the single value as a function of the at least four samples.
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16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
(c) storing different sets of data on at least two pages in the memory.
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17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
(c) providing transform instructions from a central processing unit.
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18. The method of claim 17 wherein (c) comprises providing pre-computed transform instructions.
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19. The method of claim 17 wherein (c) comprises determining the transform instructions in real-time with the central processing unit.
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20. The method of claim 13 wherein (b) comprises interpolating with a re-programmable logic device.
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21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:
(c) re-programming the re-programmable logic device as a function of a change in an imaging mode.
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22. The method of claim 20 wherein the memory is part of the re-programmable logic device.
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23. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
(c) storing both data for scan conversion and scan converted data in the memory, the memory comprising a single device.
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24. The method of claim 13 wherein (a) comprises successively reading two groups of samples, a first of the two groups comprising at least two samples along a scan line and a second of the two groups comprising at least two samples along a different scan line.
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25. A diagnostic ultrasound system for generating display data, the system comprising:
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a display; and
an ultrasound scan converter comprising a single memory device operable to store both data for scan conversion and scan converted data. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A diagnostic ultrasound method for generating display data, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) storing both data for scan conversion and scan converted data in a single ultrasound scan converter memory device; and
(b) displaying an image as a function of the scan converted data. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
(c) successively storing the at least two samples in the memory.
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36. The method of claim 34 further comprising:
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(c) successively reading at least two samples from the memory; and
(d) interpolating a single value as a function of the at least two samples.
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37. The method of claim 34 wherein (a) comprises storing different sets of data on at least two pages in the memory.
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38. The method of claim 34 further comprising:
(c) providing transform instructions from a central processing unit.
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39. The method of claim 38 wherein (c) comprises providing pre-computed transform instructions.
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40. The method of claim 38 wherein (c) comprises determining the transform instructions in real-time with the central processing unit.
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41. The method of claim 34 further comprising:
(c) interpolating with a re-programmable logic device.
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42. The method of claim 41 further comprising:
(d) re-programming the re-programmable logic device as a function of a change in an imaging mode.
Specification