Add-on Ultrasound Synchronization for Multi-Aperture Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasonic imaging systems face limitations in lateral resolution due to the constraints of aperture size, particularly in medical applications like echocardiography, where increasing the aperture size leads to phase issues and image degradation, making it difficult to achieve high-resolution images without replacing existing probes.
Innovation Solution
An add-on ultrasound system that synchronizes with a host probe using an algorithm to process ultrasound pulses, allowing multiple receivers to enhance image resolution by calculating the start of frame and pulse repetition intervals, and optionally using high impedance taps to access all data from the host probe for synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the aperture size of the ultrasonic probe is increased to improve lateral resolution, then lateral resolution is improved, but phase consistency deteriorates due to tissue velocity variations causing image degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the aperture into multiple independent transducer elements that can be individually controlled and phased. Instead of using a single large aperture, the system segments the aperture into smaller elements (e.g., 64 or 128 elements) that can be independently excited and focused, maintaining phase consistency while achieving improved lateral resolution through electronic beamforming.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beamforming where the phase and amplitude of each element's signal are dynamically adjusted in real-time based on the desired focus point and depth. This allows the system to adaptively compensate for tissue velocity variations and maintain phase consistency across different imaging depths and angles, resolving the contradiction between aperture size and phase stability.
2Measurement precision
If an add-on system is added to enhance resolution of existing systems, then resolution is improved, but system complexity increases due to synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the add-on system receives timing and control signals from the host system, processes the ultrasonic data, and feeds back synchronized results. The system uses trigger signals and timing markers to coordinate data acquisition between the host and add-on components, ensuring synchronized operation without requiring complex manual coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The add-on system is designed with universal interfaces and protocols that can interface with multiple different host ultrasound systems. By implementing standard communication protocols and timing synchronization mechanisms, the add-on module can enhance resolution across different platform types without requiring platform-specific customization, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple receivers are used to enhance image resolution, then lateral resolution is improved, but data processing complexity increases due to synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data from multiple receivers through a unified beamforming and image reconstruction process. Instead of processing each receiver's data independently and then combining results, the system integrates all receiver signals into a single coherent beamforming operation, where signals from multiple elements are coherently summed with appropriate phase and amplitude weighting to form high-resolution images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical synchronization mechanisms with electronic signal processing and digital timing coordination. By using electronic triggering, digital signal timing markers, and software-based synchronization protocols, the system coordinates multiple receivers without requiring complex mechanical linkages or manual synchronization procedures, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining high resolution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The add-on system enables the provision of high-resolution ultrasound images by synchronizing with the host probe, improving lateral resolution without replacing existing equipment, thus enhancing diagnostic capabilities in medical imaging.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting ultrasound pulses from the host ultrasound probe
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
The benefits of a multi-aperture ultrasound probe can be achieved with add-on devices. Synchronization and correlation of echoes from multiple transducer elements located in different arrays is essential to the successful processing of multiple aperture imaging. The algorithms disclosed here teach methods to successfully process these signals when the transmission source is coming from another ultrasound system and synchronize the add-on system to the other ultrasound system. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by individual transducer elements. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging and are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces.