2D Blood Flow Velocity Imaging Using Sphere Wave Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound systems face limitations in measuring blood flow velocity and direction, particularly in complex media, with low frame rates, poor lateral resolution, pre-drawn window limitations, and difficulties in detecting transverse flow, requiring multiple transmissions and direction steering.
Innovation Solution
A fast two-dimensional blood flow velocity system using point source transmission with a single or small number of transducer elements to transmit sphere waves, allowing for simultaneous detection of velocity and direction without direction steering, improving frame rate and lateral resolution, and eliminating the need for a pre-drawn window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional color Doppler imaging uses multiple transducer elements to transmit ultrasound pulses toward a focus point, then lateral resolution at the focus point is improved, but frame rate deteriorates due to multiple transmissions required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process by using a single transducer element to transmit sphere waves that illuminate the entire region of interest simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple focused transmissions across different lines. This segmentation approach allows parallel acquisition of velocity data across the full field of view, resolving the contradiction between lateral resolution and frame rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional line-by-line scanning in one dimension to omnidirectional sphere wave transmission in three dimensions. By transmitting sphere waves from a point source, the system achieves coverage of the entire region of interest simultaneously, improving frame rate while maintaining velocity measurement capability through a different geometric approach.
2Measurement precision
If conventional color Doppler imaging uses multiple transmissions to detect velocity, then velocity measurement accuracy is improved, but frame rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous useful action by using a single transducer element to continuously transmit sphere waves that illuminate the entire region of interest. This continuous transmission enables simultaneous velocity measurement at all locations without requiring multiple discrete transmissions, maintaining measurement accuracy while maximizing frame rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The single transducer element performs multiple functions by transmitting sphere waves that simultaneously illuminate the entire region of interest. This universal approach allows velocity measurement at all locations within the field of view during a single transmission event, eliminating the need for multiple specialized transmissions and improving frame rate.
3Measurement precision
If conventional systems require a pre-drawn window for color Doppler imaging, then detailed quantification of flow velocity is improved, but detection of moving reflectors outside the window deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the system universal by using a single transducer element to transmit sphere waves that illuminate the entire region of interest simultaneously. This approach provides both detailed velocity quantification within any region and automatic detection of moving reflectors anywhere in the field of view, eliminating the need for pre-drawn windows and improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent expands detection coverage by transitioning from confined window-based sampling to omnidirectional sphere wave transmission. This dimensional change allows the system to detect moving reflectors throughout the entire region of interest while maintaining the capability for detailed velocity quantification, resolving the contradiction between precision and adaptability.
4Productivity
If conventional plane wave methods form a great scale of receive beams simultaneously, then frame rate is improved, but lateral resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by using a single transducer element to transmit sphere waves instead of using multiple elements to transmit focused beams. This inversion achieves both high frame rate through simultaneous omnidirectional illumination and improved lateral resolution through the spherical wave geometry, resolving the contradiction between productivity and measurement precision.
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
Enables high-quality imaging with a high frame rate, capable of detecting blood flow velocity and direction in the entire region of interest without pre-drawn window constraints, improving the accuracy and efficiency of blood flow velocity estimation.
Implementation Method 1
a first transducer element out of a set of transducer elements residing inside the probe is selected as a transmit element in a first transmit event. The transmit element is made to repeatedly transmit sphere waves into a region of interest
Implementation Method 2
ultrasound echo waves reflected from the region of interest are received
Implementation Method 3
Fast 2D blood flow velocity imaging
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for fast 2D blood flow velocity ultrasound imaging. In embodiments, this includes generating beam data representing a plurality of beams formed in a plurality of transmit events, wherein each of the plurality of transmit events is associated with a transmit event index, each beam is associated with a beam index, and the beam data is associated with the transmit event index, the receiving beam index, and a repeat index; calculating positions within a region of interest based on the beam data; processing the beam data to derive velocities, wherein each of the velocities is associated with the transmit event index and the receiving beam index; grouping the velocities; and for each group, calculating an angle component of a 2D velocity vector, and calculating an amplitude component of the 2D velocity vector.