Dynamic Resolution Beam Synthesis for Ultrasound Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound imaging systems face challenges in achieving well-defined beams with reduced sidelobes, leading to degraded image quality due to the trade-off between sidelobe reduction and mainlobe width, where either sidelobes are minimized at the expense of wider mainlobes or narrower mainlobes result in increased clutter.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of dynamic resolution (DR) beam synthesizing techniques, which combine and manipulate sample beams to create a DR beam with reduced sidelobes and minimal mainlobe spread, using a combination of unapodized and apodized beams to optimize beamforming parameters and enhance image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional beamforming techniques are used to reduce sidelobes, then sidelobe levels are minimized, but mainlobe width increases leading to degraded image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple beams (first beam with high sidelobes and narrow mainlobe, second beam with low sidelobes and wide mainlobe) to create a synthesized beam that achieves both low sidelobe levels and narrow mainlobe width, resolving the trade-off between sidelobe reduction and image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The synthesized beam is created as a composite of multiple beam components with different characteristics, combining the advantages of each individual beam (narrow mainlobe from first beam, low sidelobes from second beam) to achieve superior overall performance
2Manufacturing precision
If narrower mainlobes are used to improve image quality, then detailed resolution is enhanced, but sidelobe levels increase causing increased clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a narrow mainlobe beam with a low sidelobe beam to create a synthesized beam that maintains the narrow mainlobe for high image quality while suppressing sidelobes to reduce clutter, achieving both goals simultaneously
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 results in improved image quality by minimizing sidelobes and maintaining a narrow mainlobe, thereby enhancing contrast resolution and detailed resolution without significant artifacts, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional beamforming techniques.
Implementation Method 1
The transducers of a sonographic system scanhead convert electrical energy to mechanical (acoustic) energy radiating away from its surface when transmitting
Implementation Method 2
The transducers of a sonographic system scanhead convert electrical energy to mechanical (acoustic) energy radiating away from its surface when transmitting and mechanical (acoustic) energy impinging upon its surface to electrical energy when receiving
Implementation Method 3
In sonographic systems, acoustic signals are transmitted by a scanhead into a body or other subject and reflected signals are received by the scanhead for image processing
Data Source
AI summary
Beam enhancement through sidelobe reduction and/or mainlobe sharpening is shown. Embodiments utilize dynamic resolution, improved dynamic resolution, and/or enhanced dynamic resolution techniques to synthesize beams, such as ultrasonic beams used in ultrasonic imaging, having desired attributes. Embodiments simultaneously form a first sample beam and a second or auxiliary sample beam for every sample to synthesize enhanced scan beams. According to a dynamic resolution techniques herein a new beam may be formed from the sum of the two sample beams. A synthesized dynamic resolution beam of embodiments has reduced sidelobes with relatively little or no spread of the mainlobe. An enhanced dynamic resolution beam sharpening function can be applied to provide a further enhanced beam, such as to further narrow the mainlobe.