Acoustic System Testing via Echo Pulse Synthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Acoustic imaging systems lack effective methods for directly evaluating the performance of transmission and receiving elements, leading to subtle degradation issues that can result in incorrect analyses due to the limited utility of phantom-based qualitative methods.
Innovation Solution
A testing device connected to the acoustic system via multiple channels, utilizing a switch matrix and echo pulse synthesizer to mimic responses from selected acoustic probes, allowing for quantitative evaluation of transmitter and receiver elements by generating echo pulses based on detected signal patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If phantom-based qualitative methods are used to evaluate image quality, then users can perform differential diagnosis between system and transducer array, but the evaluation remains limited and subjective without providing effective diagnosis of transmission and receiving elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a testing device as an intermediary between the acoustic system and the evaluation process. This device includes a switch matrix that connects to multiple channels and an echo pulse synthesizer that generates test signals, enabling objective quantitative evaluation of transmission and receiving elements without requiring complex phantom setups
Solution Approach 2:
The echo pulse synthesizer creates synthetic echo signals that mimic the response of actual acoustic probes. By generating these copied responses electronically, the system can evaluate transducer element performance without needing physical phantoms, thereby improving measurement precision while avoiding the limitations of qualitative phantom-based methods
2Reliability
If internal self-diagnostic capabilities are equipped in imaging systems, then limited verification of system operation is allowed, but effective diagnosis of transmission and receiving elements themselves is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The testing device serves as an external intermediary that supplements the system's internal self-diagnostic capabilities. It provides a dedicated interface with switch matrix and pulse synthesizer to specifically target and evaluate transmission and receiving elements, making the previously difficult-to-measure transducer performance accessible and quantifiable
Solution Approach 2:
The testing device performs preliminary evaluation of transmission and receiving elements before clinical use. By systematically testing each element through the switch matrix and comparing actual responses against expected echo pulse patterns, the system identifies degraded elements early, preventing incorrect diagnoses from subtly degraded transducers
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple-element array transducers are used in acoustic imaging systems, then imaging capability is enhanced, but subtle degradation in performance occurs as a result of extended transducer use and user abuse without direct quantitative evaluation method
Solution Approach 1:
The testing device divides the evaluation process into discrete channel-specific tests using the switch matrix. Each element in the multiple-element array can be individually addressed and evaluated, allowing precise identification of which specific transmission or receiving elements have degraded, rather than treating the entire array as a single unit
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by comparing the actual pulse patterns received from each transducer element against expected echo pulse patterns generated by the echo pulse synthesizer. This quantitative feedback mechanism enables precise measurement of performance degradation in individual elements, providing the measurement precision needed to maintain reliability in multi-element arrays
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide for testing acoustic systems. According to one embodiment, testing an acoustic system can comprise receiving a signal from the acoustic system at a testing device via one of a plurality of channels between the acoustic system and the testing device. At least one pulse from a pattern pulses of the signal can be detected with the testing device by matching the pattern of pulses to an expected pulse pattern for the acoustic system. For example, matching the pattern of pulses to an expected pulse pattern can comprise determining whether the pulse pattern includes a first pulse type. If the pulse pattern includes the first pulse type, a determination can be made whether the pulse pattern further includes a second pulse type. If the pulse pattern further includes the second pulse type, a subsequent pulse of the second pulse type can be identified and detected.