Apparatus and process modifications in ultrasonic holography to improve image quality
First Claim
1. A process for improving image quality in an ultrasonic imaging apparatus, wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises a transducer assembly, a transducer means having one or more transducers for outputting an ultrasonic wave, an acoustic lens assembly, and a holographic image detection system, and a transducer assembly electric control means for controlling frequency, power, timing and duration of ultrasonic output pulse, spherical or cylindrical waves of the transducer means wherein the transducer means is mounted on a movable support having a center axis, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an object to be internally imaged to be held by the object holder;
(b) transmitting a pulse sequence of ultrasound, each pulse within the sequence comprises a plurality of cycles of a single frequency (ƒ
) of ultrasound, wherein each sequence comprises multiple frequency pulses (ƒ
1, ƒ
2, ƒ
3, . . . ƒ
n); and
(c) imaging the object from a hologram formed in the holographic detection system for each pulse within the sequence.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a series of process and apparatus modifications to ultrasonic holography imaging systems that each or together function to enhance image quality of ultrasonic holography images. Specifically, there is disclosed a process and apparatus for generating multiple exposure ultrasonic holography images generated from selected orientations, each of which insures multiple images, multiple intensities (amplitudes) and multiple frequencies from each orientation. The inventive process and apparatus for providing multiple view, multiple angle, and multiple frequency or intensity transmissive ultrasound imaging of the internal structures of an object provides an object sound intensity of equal or near equal intensity across the entire field of the object, such as a human breast.
44 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A process for improving image quality in an ultrasonic imaging apparatus, wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises a transducer assembly, a transducer means having one or more transducers for outputting an ultrasonic wave, an acoustic lens assembly, and a holographic image detection system, and a transducer assembly electric control means for controlling frequency, power, timing and duration of ultrasonic output pulse, spherical or cylindrical waves of the transducer means wherein the transducer means is mounted on a movable support having a center axis, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing an object to be internally imaged to be held by the object holder;
(b) transmitting a pulse sequence of ultrasound, each pulse within the sequence comprises a plurality of cycles of a single frequency (ƒ
) of ultrasound, wherein each sequence comprises multiple frequency pulses (ƒ
1, ƒ
2, ƒ
3, . . . ƒ
n); and
(c) imaging the object from a hologram formed in the holographic detection system for each pulse within the sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus for improving ultrasonic holography image quality comprising:
-
a transducer assembly;
an object holder surrounded by acoustically transmissive media, an acoustic lens assembly, and a holographic image detection system;
a transducer assembly electric control means for controlling frequency, power, timing and duration of an ultrasonic output pulse, and a transducer, wherein the transducer is mounted on a movable support having a center axis, and wherein the transducer assembly transmits a pulse sequence of ultrasound, wherein each pulse within the sequence comprises a plurality of cycles of a single frequency (ƒ
) of ultrasound, wherein each sequence comprises multiple frequency pulses (ƒ
1, ƒ
2, ƒ
3, . . . ƒ
n).- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus for improving ultrasonic holography image quality comprising:
-
a transducer assembly;
an acoustic lens assembly;
a holographic image detection system;
a transducer assembly electric control means for controlling frequency, power, timing and duration of an ultrasonic output pulse;
a plurality of a transducer elements for transmission of ultrasound, wherein the transducer elements are mounted on a movable support having a center axis movable at an angle of incidence (θ
), and wherein the transducer assembly transmits a pulse sequence of ultrasound, wherein each pulse within the sequence comprises a plurality of cycles of a single frequency (ƒ
) of ultrasound, wherein each sequence is composed of a plurality of distinct pulses comprises a single or multiple frequency pulses (ƒ
1, ƒ
2, ƒ
3, . . . ƒ
n).- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A process for improving image quality in an ultrasonic imaging apparatus, wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises a transducer assembly;
-
an acoustic lens assembly;
a holographic image detection system;
a transducer assembly electric control means for controlling frequency, power, timing and duration of an ultrasonic output pulse;
and a transducer, wherein the transducer is mounted on a movable support having a center axis, comprising the steps of;
(a) providing an object to be internally imaged to be held by the object holder;
(b) transmitting a pulse sequence of ultrasound, each pulse within the sequence comprises a plurality of cycles and each pulse within the sequence has a different amplitude then every other pulse in the sequence and (c) imaging the object from a hologram formed in the holographic detection system for each pulse within the sequence. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus for improving ultrasonic holography image quality comprising:
-
a transducer assembly;
an acoustic lens assembly, a holographic image detection system;
a transducer assembly electric control means for controlling frequency, power, timing and duration of ultrasonic output pulse; and
a transducer element for transmission of ultrasound, wherein the transducer element is mounted on a movable support having a center axis movable at an angle of incidence (θ
), and wherein the transducer assembly transmits a pulse sequence of ultrasound, wherein each pulse within the sequence comprises a plurality of cycles of ultrasound, wherein each sequence comprises a single or multiple frequency pulses (ƒ
1, ƒ
2, ƒ
3, . . . ƒ
n) and multiple amplitudes (A1, A2, A3, . . . An).- View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus comprising:
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a transducer assembly means for generating an acoustic signal to pass through an object;
a lens means for receiving an acoustic signal after it has passed through the object;
a holographic image detection means for receiving the acoustic signal after it has passed through the lens; and
electronic control means for causing the transducer assembly means to generate a plurality of pulses spaced from each other in time, the plurality of pulses forming a sequence of pulses, each pulse having a selected frequency within the pulse itself and plurality of the pulses in the sequence having a different frequency from each other. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A method generating an acoustic hologram comprising:
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generating a plurality of acoustic pulses;
transmitting the plurality of acoustic pulses as a sequence of pulses through an object;
varying a property of the acoustic pulse from one pulse to another pulse within the sequence of pulses passing through the object;
receiving the sequence of pulses that have passed through the object; and
creating an image for each pulse in the sequence that contains varying data based on the property of the pulse that was varied. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
rotating a source of the acoustic pulses during generation of the sequence of acoustic pulses;
varying the point within the angle of rotation of the generation of the acoustic pulse from one pulse to another pulse within the sequence of pulses in order to vary the property of the acoustic pulse from one pulse to another within the sequence of pulses.
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43. The method according to claim 42 further including:
transmitting each pulse at a different rotational position during the generation of the plurality of the acoustic pulses.
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44. The method according to claim 42 further including:
generating each pulse of the plurality of the acoustic pulses at the same rotational position for each pulse in the sequence.
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45. The method according to claim 40 wherein the difference in frequency from one pulse to another pulse is the same as the difference in frequency for each pulse within the sequence.
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46. The method according to claim 40 wherein the difference in frequency from one pulse to a second pulse is different than the difference in frequency between any other two pulses within the sequence.
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47. The method according to claim 40 wherein the difference in frequency between a first pulse and a second pulse within the sequence is different than the difference in frequency between a second pulse and a third pulse in the same sequence.
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48. The method according to claim 40 wherein the difference in frequency between a first pulse in the sequence and the second pulse in the sequence is the same as the difference in frequency between the second pulse of the sequence and a third pulse in the same sequence.
Specification