Ultrasonic Signal Processing Circuit for High-Resolution Blood Flow Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic diagnosis devices face limitations in image resolution due to the point spread function, which is determined by the wavelength of ultrasonic waves and the aperture width, leading to poor blood flow data resolution when using a small number of frames or high computational load with many frames.
Innovation Solution
A medical information processing device that acquires ultrasonic data through continuous extraction of signal components representing objects from first ultrasonic data, obtained by adding frame data, allowing for high-resolution ultrasonic data generation with reduced computational load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a small number of frames are used to extract objects from ultrasonic data, then the responsiveness is improved, but the extraction accuracy deteriorates causing discrete extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing clutter signal suppression and blood flow signal extraction in advance through preprocessing steps. The processing circuit suppresses clutter signals and extracts blood flow signals before integration, ensuring that even with a small number of frames, the extraction maintains high accuracy by preparing the signal quality beforehand. This allows responsive processing with few frames while avoiding discrete extraction issues.
2Measurement precision
If a large number of frames are used to extract objects from ultrasonic data, then the extraction accuracy is improved, but the computational load increases resulting in poor responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by selectively extracting only the necessary blood flow signals from ultrasonic data after suppressing clutter signals. The processing circuit extracts blood flow signals from a small number of frames (e.g., 3-10 frames) rather than processing large numbers of frames, thereby achieving high extraction accuracy with reduced computational load. This selective extraction of essential signal components enables both high accuracy and fast responsiveness.
3Manufacturing precision
If the frequency of transmission ultrasonic waves is increased to improve resolution, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to probe bandwidth limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the mechanical approach of increasing transmission frequency (which requires higher bandwidth probes) with a signal processing approach. The processing circuit achieves high-resolution blood flow images by suppressing clutter signals and integrating blood flow signals from multiple frames through computational methods rather than mechanical frequency increases. This substitutes complex hardware requirements with sophisticated signal processing algorithms.
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 continuous extraction of objects even with a small number of frames, resulting in highly responsive and high-resolution ultrasonic data, while significantly reducing the arithmetic load compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
The ultrasonic diagnosis device generates and displays blood flow information from reflected ultrasonic waves using a Doppler method based on a Doppler effect.
Implementation Method 2
The processing circuit adds up a plurality of pieces of frame data to acquire first ultrasonic data
Data Source
AI summary
A medical information processing device according to an embodiment includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit acquires first ultrasonic data obtained based on a result of an ultrasonic scan of a subject, continuously extracts signal components representing an object from the first ultrasonic data, and outputs second ultrasonic data, based on the continuously extracted signal components representing the object.