Ultrasonic Gain Control Using Block Segmentation for Image Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses face challenges in maintaining consistent detection sensitivity due to ultrasonic wave attenuation and difficulty in accurately identifying anatomical tissue components, particularly in regions with low variance values like the liver, and struggle to provide even brightness for two-dimensionally extended anatomical structures.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with a gain control section that adjusts brightness using offset patterns, including equalization and emphasis/suppression patterns, to optimize gain levels across the entire image frame, allowing for automatic gain adjustment without operator intervention, ensuring even brightness and enhanced visibility of anatomical tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DGC and LGC are used to correct gain variations, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the unit of correction is limited to depth or scan direction causing uneven brightness in two-dimensionally extended anatomical structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image into multiple blocks (e.g., 4 blocks) and calculates gain correction values independently for each block. This segmentation allows different gain corrections to be applied to different regions, enabling even brightness for two-dimensionally extended anatomical structures while maintaining detection sensitivity through block-specific optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local gain correction by calculating mean signal intensity and variance for each block, then determining correction values specific to each block's characteristics. This local quality approach allows each region to receive optimized gain correction based on its specific anatomical content and signal properties, rather than applying a uniform correction across the entire image
2Object-generated harmful factors
If pixel intensity and variance value are used as index values for noise determination, then noise suppression is achieved, but pixel intensity lowers due to wave attenuation making it difficult to accurately identify non-noise images in deep regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for noise determination from raw pixel intensity to normalized mean signal intensity (mean signal intensity divided by reference mean signal intensity). This parameter transformation compensates for wave attenuation effects, allowing accurate identification of non-noise images in deep regions while maintaining noise suppression capability through variance-based filtering
3Reliability
If gain correction is applied in depth direction or scan direction, then detection sensitivity is corrected, but anatomical tissue components extending two-dimensionally appear with uneven brightness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into multiple blocks and applies independent gain correction to each block. This segmentation approach allows two-dimensionally extended anatomical structures to receive appropriate gain correction in both depth and scan directions within each block, resulting in even brightness while maintaining detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional gain correction (depth direction or scan direction only) to two-dimensional block-based correction. By treating each block as an independent unit, the system can apply gain correction across multiple dimensions simultaneously, enabling even brightness for anatomical structures that extend in two dimensions
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
The apparatus achieves optimal gain levels and improved visibility of anatomical tissues by automatically adjusting brightness, reducing noise and maintaining contrast, thus overcoming the limitations of existing methods in sensitivity and image uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus enables the user to observe the inside of a subject by irradiating the subject with an ultrasonic wave, and analyzing information contained in the echo signal thereof
Implementation Method 2
Generally, an ultrasonic wave attenuates while propagating through a subject. This generally decreases the intensity of the reflection wave obtained from inside the subject
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a transmitter section for driving a probe so that a subject is scanned with an ultrasonic beam over a predetermined period of time; a receiver section for receiving, using the probe, an echo resulting from the ultrasonic beam being reflected by the subject, and producing a receive signal for each passage of the predetermined period of time; an image constructing section for producing a tomographic image frame composed of brightness information based on an intensity of the receive signal for each passage of the predetermined period of time, and adjusting brightness of the produced tomographic image frame with a set gain; a gain control section for producing the set gain; and a display section for displaying the tomographic image frame whose brightness has been adjusted.