3D/4D ultrasound imaging system
First Claim
1. A method for elastic wave imaging of a three dimensional object using an array of elastic wave sources and receivers of known position, the method comprising:
- (a) the elastic wave sources emitting elastic wave pulses that are reflected within the volume of the three dimensional object;
(b) the elastic wave receivers measuring the reflected elastic wave pulses; and
(c) constructing an image of the three dimensional object from the resulting record of the reflected elastic wave pulses, wherein the elastic wave pulses are ultrasound pulses, said pulses comprising known encoded signals of at least one octave in bandwidth, the elastic wave sources are ultrasound omnidirectional point-like sources, the elastic wave receivers are ultrasound receivers, the ultrasound receivers are configured to measure both the phase and amplitude of the ultrasound pulses, such that both phase and amplitude information of the reflected ultrasound pulses is retained and used in constructing an image of the three dimensional object.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for 3D/4D ultrasonic imaging. An array of ultrasonic sources and receivers (7) positioned over or near tissue (6) transmit short encoded omnidirectional ultrasonic shots (9). The amplitude and phase of the resulting reflected waves (10) are detected, sampled and digitised. Traces from each shot are reconstructed by digital data processing. A three dimensional data volume is constructed corresponding to reflection amplitude through a regular volume. The data volume may then be imaged through any arbitrary plane. Time varying images can be readily produced as the process takes only a fraction of a second.
79 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for elastic wave imaging of a three dimensional object using an array of elastic wave sources and receivers of known position, the method comprising:
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(a) the elastic wave sources emitting elastic wave pulses that are reflected within the volume of the three dimensional object;
(b) the elastic wave receivers measuring the reflected elastic wave pulses; and
(c) constructing an image of the three dimensional object from the resulting record of the reflected elastic wave pulses, wherein the elastic wave pulses are ultrasound pulses, said pulses comprising known encoded signals of at least one octave in bandwidth, the elastic wave sources are ultrasound omnidirectional point-like sources, the elastic wave receivers are ultrasound receivers, the ultrasound receivers are configured to measure both the phase and amplitude of the ultrasound pulses, such that both phase and amplitude information of the reflected ultrasound pulses is retained and used in constructing an image of the three dimensional object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An elastic wave imaging apparatus for producing an image of a three dimensional object, the apparatus comprising:
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an array of elastic wave sources configured to emit elastic wave pulses which are reflected within the volume of the three dimensional object;
an array of elastic wave receivers configured to measure the reflected elastic wave pulses; and
a data processor configured to calculate an image of the three dimensional object, wherein the elastic wave pulses are ultrasound pulses, said pulses comprising known encoded signals of at least one octave in bandwidth, the elastic wave sources are ultrasound omnidirectional point-like sources, the elastic wave receivers are ultrasound receivers, the ultrasound receivers are configured to measure both the phase and amplitude of the ultrasound pulses, that both phase and amplitude information of the reflected ultrasound pulses is retained and used in constructing an image of the three dimensional object. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification