Passive Cavitation Imaging via Main Lobe Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively visualize and track the passive cavitation phenomenon caused by ultrasound irradiation, particularly in displaying the location, time, and intensity of bubble ruptures, which are crucial for understanding the therapeutic effects of ultrasound.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize Delay And Sum (DAS) beam forming to generate and display passive cavitation images, focusing on the main lobe region with significant signal magnitude, while removing complex side lobes, allowing for visualization of the spatiotemporal characteristics of ultrasound signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If passive cavitation images are generated using conventional ultrasound imaging methods, then the location and intensity of bubble ruptures can be detected, but the side lobe regions create complex patterns that obscure the main cavitation events and reduce image clarity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the side lobe regions from the passive cavitation images, retaining only the main lobe regions that contain the primary cavitation event information. This extraction process simplifies the image by eliminating the complex side lobe patterns while preserving the essential location and intensity data of the main cavitation events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the passive cavitation image into distinct main lobe and side lobe regions. By identifying and separating the main lobe (which contains the primary cavitation signal) from the side lobes (which contain secondary or spurious signals), the system can process and display only the relevant information, improving clarity while maintaining precision.
2Loss of information
If all regions including side lobes are displayed in the passive cavitation image, then complete spatial information is preserved, but the time and intensity characteristics of bubble ruptures become difficult to track
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the main lobe regions that contain the primary cavitation events, removing side lobe regions that do not contribute to accurate time tracking. This selective extraction maintains the essential temporal information about bubble rupture timing while eliminating spatial information from side lobe regions that would otherwise interfere with time characteristic analysis.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional beam forming methods are used without side lobe removal, then the imaging process remains simple, but the therapeutic effect assessment becomes inaccurate due to obscured cavitation patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes side lobe regions that create misleading patterns, thereby improving the reliability of therapeutic effect assessment. By eliminating these distracting side lobe components, the system can more accurately evaluate the true cavitation patterns and their therapeutic implications, even though the processing steps have been added.
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 enables clear visualization of the location, time, and intensity of bubble ruptures, enhancing the observation of secondary ultrasound signals and their therapeutic effects by removing side lobes and highlighting key information in passive cavitation images.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound transducer that is configured to be able to generate ultrasound to a ultrasound transmitting medium
Implementation Method 2
Passive cavitation may be generated when high-power ultrasound such as high-intensity focused ultrasound or shock wave is irradiated to a medium
Implementation Method 3
an imaging probe that receives an ultrasound signal caused by a passive cavitation generated by the ultrasound generated in the ultrasound transmitting medium
Implementation Method 4
generating a plurality of first passive cavitation images for the passive cavitation at predetermined respective time frame using the received ultrasound signal by a DAS (Delay And Sum) beam forming
Data Source
AI summary
A method for displaying a passive cavitation image that shows characteristic information of a passive cavitation includes: receiving an ultrasound signal caused by the passive cavitation; generating a plurality of first passive cavitation images for the passive cavitation at predetermined respective time frame using the received ultrasound signal by a DAS beam forming; generating a plurality of second passive cavitation images in which a maximum magnitude signal region is displayed by selecting a main lobe region having a magnitude greater than or equal to a predetermined value in the respective first passive cavitation image; generating a main lobe passive cavitation image in which a main region is displayed in the respective time frame by superimposing the plurality of the second passive cavitation images obtained for the respective time frame; and generating a passive cavitation image by displaying the main lobe passive cavitation image on a background image.