Spatial Temporal Encoding for Synthetic Aperture Ultrasound Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound imaging techniques face limitations in spatial resolution and tissue differentiation due to inadequate signal transmissions, leading to suboptimal image quality, especially in clinical applications where real-time imaging of moving targets is required.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of spatial and temporal encoding of acoustic waveforms in full synthetic transmit aperture imaging, utilizing unique sets of coded waveforms, transmit delay patterns, and amplitude and phase patterns to enhance image resolution and contrast, allowing for fewer signal transmissions while maintaining high spatial and contrast resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ultrasound imaging techniques are used, then the imaging process is simple, but spatial resolution and tissue differentiation are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ultrasound signal transmission into multiple coded waveforms with unique spatial and temporal encoding patterns. Each transducer element transmits a specifically coded waveform rather than conventional uniform pulses, allowing the system to achieve higher spatial resolution through sophisticated signal decomposition and reconstruction techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple parameters of the transmitted acoustic waveforms simultaneously, including amplitude, phase, frequency, and time delays, according to specific encoding schemes. These parameter variations enable the system to encode spatial information into the waveforms, improving measurement precision while managing complexity through systematic parameter modulation.
2Measurement precision
If more signal transmissions are performed to improve image quality, then spatial resolution improves, but acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic transmission of coded waveforms with optimized pulse repetition intervals. By using periodic encoding schemes where transducer elements transmit coded pulses in structured sequences, the system achieves high-resolution imaging through coherent signal accumulation over multiple periodic cycles, improving image quality without linearly increasing acquisition time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by overlapping transmission and reception operations. While some transducer elements are transmitting coded waveforms, other elements are simultaneously receiving echoes, and the system continuously processes and accumulates signal data. This continuous operation enables high-resolution imaging with reduced acquisition time compared to sequential methods.
3Reliability
If conventional transmission methods are used, then the system is easy to operate, but signal-to-noise ratio is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the received echo signals are processed through decoding algorithms that reference the original coded transmission patterns. The system uses the known encoding schemes applied during transmission to guide the decomposition and reconstruction of received signals, effectively separating true tissue reflections from noise and artifacts through systematic feedback-based signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces coded waveforms as intermediary carriers that embed spatial and temporal information. These specially encoded intermediate signals serve as mediators between the transducer array and the tissue being imaged, allowing the system to transmit multiple pieces of information simultaneously and improve signal-to-noise ratio through the information-rich intermediary signals.
4Productivity
If fewer signal transmissions are used, then acquisition time decreases, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the transmitted coded waveforms, including spatial encoding, temporal encoding, and focusing information, all within single acoustic pulses. By combining multiple information streams into unified coded transmissions, the system achieves high-resolution imaging with fewer transmissions, improving acquisition speed without sacrificing image quality through the information efficiency of merged encoding schemes.
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 significantly improves image quality by reducing redundancy in signal transmissions, increasing signal-to-noise ratio, and enhancing penetration depth, enabling faster acquisition and better resolution in ultrasound imaging.
Implementation Method 1
generating a set of spatially and temporally encoded acoustic waveforms for transmission toward a target volume
Implementation Method 2
a transmission of one or more acoustic waves results in one or more echoes from structures that are received and processed to form an image
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for spatial and temporal encoding of transmission in full synthetic transmit aperture imaging to achieve optimal spatial and contrast resolution and large signal-to-noise ratio for medical imaging applications with fewer signal transmissions, which can be equal to or less than the number of array elements within the aperture. In some aspects, a method of signal transmission is disclosed that includes a sequence of one or more sets of transmissions on a plurality of elements with unique, random, and/or optimized combinations of waveforms using amplitude and phase, and/or delay encoding. Sets of echoes corresponding to the sequence are beamformed such that fewer transmissions are needed than the number of array elements within the aperture, while maintaining complete spatial sampling of the aperture as if sampled according to a full set of synthetic transmit aperture transmissions on the same aperture.