Point source transmission and speed-of-sound correction using multi-aperture ultrasound imaging
First Claim
1. An ultrasound imaging method, comprising:
- transmitting, through a target region, a first omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform from a first transmit aperture approximating a first point source and comprising at least one transducer element;
receiving ultrasound echoes of the first omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform from the target region with first and second receiving elements of a first receive aperture;
after receiving ultrasound echoes of the first omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform, transmitting, through the target region, a second omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform from a second transmit aperture approximating a second point source and comprising at least one transducer element, the second transmit aperture being separated from the first transmit aperture and the first receive aperture;
receiving ultrasound echoes of the second omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform from the target region with the first and second receiving elements of the first receive aperture;
retrieving position data describing a position of each of the first receiving element, the second receiving element, the first at least one transmit element of the first transmit aperture, and the second at least one transmit element of the second transmit aperture relative to a common reference point;
determining, using the position data, a first time for the first omni-directional unfocused waveform to propagate from the first point source to a first pixel location in the target region to the first receiving element;
determining, using the position data, a second time for the first omni-directional unfocused waveform to propagate from the first point source to the first pixel location in the target region to the second receiving element;
determining, using the position data, a third time for the second omni-directional unfocused waveform to propagate from the second point source to the first pixel location in the target region to the first receiving element;
determining, using the position data, a fourth time for the second omni-directional unfocused waveform to propagate from the second point source to the first pixel location in the target region to the second receiving element;
forming a first ultrasound image of the first pixel location by combining a first echo received by the first receiving element at the first time with a second echo received by the second receiving element at the second time, a third echo received by the first receiving element at the third time, and a fourth echo received by the second receiving element at the fourth time; and
displaying the image of the first pixel on a display device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging system and methods of use are provided with any number of features. In some embodiments, a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound energy to and from separate physical ultrasound apertures. In some embodiments, a transmit aperture of a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit an omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a first point source through a target region. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with a single receiving aperture. In other embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with multiple receiving apertures. Algorithms are described that can combine echoes received by one or more receiving apertures to form high resolution ultrasound images. Additional algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the ultrasound system to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.
482 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An ultrasound imaging method, comprising:
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transmitting, through a target region, a first omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform from a first transmit aperture approximating a first point source and comprising at least one transducer element; receiving ultrasound echoes of the first omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform from the target region with first and second receiving elements of a first receive aperture; after receiving ultrasound echoes of the first omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform, transmitting, through the target region, a second omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform from a second transmit aperture approximating a second point source and comprising at least one transducer element, the second transmit aperture being separated from the first transmit aperture and the first receive aperture; receiving ultrasound echoes of the second omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform from the target region with the first and second receiving elements of the first receive aperture; retrieving position data describing a position of each of the first receiving element, the second receiving element, the first at least one transmit element of the first transmit aperture, and the second at least one transmit element of the second transmit aperture relative to a common reference point; determining, using the position data, a first time for the first omni-directional unfocused waveform to propagate from the first point source to a first pixel location in the target region to the first receiving element; determining, using the position data, a second time for the first omni-directional unfocused waveform to propagate from the first point source to the first pixel location in the target region to the second receiving element; determining, using the position data, a third time for the second omni-directional unfocused waveform to propagate from the second point source to the first pixel location in the target region to the first receiving element; determining, using the position data, a fourth time for the second omni-directional unfocused waveform to propagate from the second point source to the first pixel location in the target region to the second receiving element; forming a first ultrasound image of the first pixel location by combining a first echo received by the first receiving element at the first time with a second echo received by the second receiving element at the second time, a third echo received by the first receiving element at the third time, and a fourth echo received by the second receiving element at the fourth time; and displaying the image of the first pixel on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
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a first transmit aperture comprising at least one transducer element configured to transmit a first omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a first point source through a target region; a second transmit aperture comprising at least one transducer element configured to transmit a second omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a second point source through the target region, the second transmit aperture being physically separated from the first transmit aperture; a first receive aperture having first and second receiving elements, the first receive aperture being physically separated from the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture, wherein the first and second receiving elements are configured to receive ultrasound echoes from the target region in response to waveforms transmitted from the first and second transmit apertures; a position memory containing position data describing a position of each of the first receiving element, the second receiving element, the at least one transducer element of the first transmit aperture, and the at least one transducer element of the second transmit aperture relative to a common reference point; a control system coupled to the first transmit aperture, the second transmit aperture and the first receive aperture, the control system configured to retrieve the position data from the position memory, determine, using the position data, a first time for the first omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform to propagate from the first point source to a first pixel location in the target region to the first receiving element, and is configured to determine a second time for the first omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform to propagate from the first point source to the first pixel location in the target region to the second receiving element, the control system also being configured determine, using the position data, a third time for the second omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform to propagate from the second point source to a first pixel location in the target region to the first receiving element, and a fourth time for the second omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform to propagate from the second point source to the first pixel location in the target region to the second receiving element, the control system also being configured to form a first ultrasound image of the first pixel location by combining a first echo received by the first receiving element at the first time with a second echo received by the second receiving element at the second time, a third echo received by the first receiving element at the third time, and a fourth echo received by the second receiving element at the fourth time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification