Systems and methods to improve clarity in ultrasound images

• US 8,221,322 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verathon Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verathon Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Yanwei, Yang, Fuxing, Bloch, Susannah Helen, Dudycha, Stephen, McMorrow, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lamprecht, Joel
• Application Number:
  US11/680,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 600437-439, 600441-447, 736/02, 736/07, 378/62
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0883 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/481 involving the use of contrast agent, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream analysis of echo signal exploiting properties of a contrast enhancer in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52039
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5276 due to motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10132 Ultrasound image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20192 Edge enhancement; Edge preservation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30048 Heart; Cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/70 : Denoising; Smoothing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/73 : Deblurring; Sharpening
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/269 : using gradient-based methods

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for image clarity of ultrasound-based images are described wherein motion sections are compensated with the still sections of the region of interest. Velocity map analysis of regions-of-interest is determined to compensate for instrument motion from motions attributable to structures within the region of interest. Methods include image processing algorithms applied to collected echogenic data sets and the dispensers that use apply air-expunged sonic coupling mediums.

Claims

1. A system to improve image clarity in ultrasound images comprising:

an ultrasound transducer connected with a microprocessor configured to collect and process signals of at least one of a fundamental and harmonic ultrasound echoes returning from at least two ultrasound-based images from a scanned region-of-interest based upon a change in pixel movement revealed by information contained in optical flow velocity maps pertaining to the scanned region-of-interest between the at least two ultrasound images, and

a computer executable point spread function algorithm having instructions configured to suppress motion induced reverberations attributable to the change in pixel movement,

wherein motion sections are compensated with the stationary sections within the scanned region of interest.

2. A method to improve image clarity in ultrasound images comprising:

acquiring at least two ultrasound images from a region of interest of a subject derived from at least one of a fundamental and harmonic ultrasound echoes;

segmenting the region of interest;

determining the motion and still sections of the region of interest; and

compensating for the motion section within the region of interest based upon applying a point spread function algorithm having computer executable instructions to suppress induced reverberations attributable to a change in pixel movement revealed by information contained in optical flow velocity maps pertaining to the region-of-interest between the at least two ultrasound images.