Sparkle artifact detection in Ultrasound color flow

Abstract

Sparkle in color flow imaging is detected. Color flow data is estimated with different pulse repetition frequency (PRF). By correlating the color flow data estimated with different PRFs, sparkle is identified. Color flow images may be filtered to reduce motion while maintaining the sparkle region (e.g., kidney stone imaging) or reduce the sparkle region while maintaining motion (e.g., remove sparkle as system noise).

Description

Background technique [0001] This present embodiment relates to glint detection in ultrasound color flow imaging. Color flow imaging is susceptible to artifacts when there is a loss of correlation in the backscattered echoes. Due to surface roughness, loss of correlation can be indicative of underlying physiology, such as kidney stones. Correlation loss may alternatively be due to system imperfections, such as phase noise or reverberation noise. Typically, gain or transmit power is reduced to reduce this flicker artifact, but at the expense of loss of sensitivity. Using the spatial variation of the color flow can identify glints, but possibly reduce aliased flows or disturbances and artifacts. Contents of the invention [0002] By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described below include methods, systems, computer readable media, and instructions for glint detection in color flow imaging. Estimate color flow data using different pulse repetition frequencies (...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Typically, the gain or transmit power is reduced to reduce this flicker artifact, but at the expense of loss of sensitivity

Flashes can be identified using spatial variation of the color flow, but may reduce aliased flow or perturbation and artifacts

Images