Color Doppler Ultrasound Wall Filter Tuning for Clutter Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses face issues with noise, such as clutter, in color Doppler images due to inappropriate transmission and reception conditions and wall filter characteristics, which vary based on the observation site.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus adjusts transmission and reception conditions and wall filter characteristics based on pixel evaluation values and observation sites, using S/N evaluation processing to optimize these settings for each site, thereby suppressing noise in color Doppler images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wall filter characteristics are set fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but noise suppression performance deteriorates for different observation sites
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines optimal wall filter characteristics by evaluating pixel values in B-mode images without requiring manual intervention. The evaluation unit computes evaluation values based on pixel intensity distributions, and the determination unit automatically selects appropriate filter characteristics, enabling the system to self-optimize for different observation sites
Solution Approach 2:
The wall filter characteristics are dynamically adjusted based on the observation site by changing parameters such as cutoff frequency and filter coefficient. The system modifies these parameters according to the evaluated pixel characteristics, allowing optimal noise suppression for each specific imaging condition
2Measurement precision
If transmission and reception conditions are not adjusted per site, then ease of operation is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to inappropriate settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines optimal transmission and reception conditions by evaluating the B-mode image pixel values. The evaluation unit calculates evaluation values based on pixel intensity distributions, and the determination unit automatically adjusts transmission/reception parameters without requiring manual user input, maintaining ease of operation while improving imaging precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from B-mode image evaluation to automatically adjust transmission and reception conditions. The evaluation values derived from pixel distributions provide feedback that guides the automatic parameter adjustment, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes imaging quality without user intervention
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wall filter characteristics are changed frequently per site, then noise suppression improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of B-mode image pixel values before determining wall filter characteristics. By pre-calculating evaluation values based on pixel intensity distributions, the system prepares the necessary information in advance, enabling rapid automatic determination of optimal filter settings without time-consuming manual adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The system efficiently changes wall filter parameters such as cutoff frequency and filter coefficient based on evaluated pixel characteristics. By using predetermined parameter sets corresponding to different observation sites, the system can quickly adjust filters without complex real-time calculations, reducing processing time while maintaining effective noise suppression
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
This approach effectively suppresses noise in color Doppler images by setting appropriate transmission and reception conditions and wall filter characteristics, ensuring clearer imaging results.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission and reception unit that transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject through an ultrasound probe and receives a reflected wave reflected by the subject through the ultrasound probe
Implementation Method 2
receives a reflected wave reflected by the subject through the ultrasound probe
Implementation Method 3
color Doppler processing of generating color mapping data for the B-mode image data based on the Doppler reception signal subjected to the wall filter processing
Data Source
AI summary
The information processing unit executes B-mode image generation processing of generating B-mode image data based on a reception signal generated by the transmission and reception unit, evaluation area setting processing of setting a blood flow evaluation area and a clutter evaluation area in a region where the B-mode image data is generated, wall filter processing on a Doppler reception signal generated by the transmission and reception unit, color Doppler processing of generating color mapping data for the B-mode image based on the Doppler reception signal subjected to the wall filter processing, evaluation processing of obtaining a pixel evaluation value for each of the blood flow evaluation area and the clutter evaluation area, and measurement condition setting processing of setting at least one of a transmission and reception condition in the transmission and reception unit or a characteristic of the wall filter processing according to each pixel evaluation value.