Ultrasonic Imaging Transducer Array Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound imaging methods face challenges in achieving high temporal resolution without degrading image quality, particularly in echography of the heart, elastography, and 3D imaging, as they often require a large number of firings which increases noise and reduces image quality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using an array of transducers with successive transmission matrices, where preliminary images are acquired, and eigenvectors associated with the highest eigenvalues are used to define a truncated transmission matrix, reducing the number of firings necessary for high-resolution image acquisition while maintaining image quality by concentrating energy spatially and adjusting the image acquisition rate based on the area of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the number of firings is increased to improve image quality, then image quality is improved, but the image acquisition rate decreases and temporal resolution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting only K unfocused waves instead of N focused waves, where K < N. The transmission matrix is truncated to include only K columns corresponding to the K highest eigenvalues, thereby reducing the number of firings while maintaining adequate image quality through selective energy concentration in the area of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of transmission focusing by switching from focused beams to unfocused waves. The unfocused waves are transmitted without traditional focusing delays, and the area of interest is defined by the spatial distribution of eigenvalues rather than by geometric focusing, which allows for reduced number of firings while maintaining image quality.
2Productivity
If the number of firings is reduced to increase image acquisition rate, then image acquisition rate increases, but image quality degrades due to increased noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wave transmission parameter from focused to unfocused, which fundamentally alters how energy is distributed. Unfocused waves transmit energy uniformly across the field, and the area of interest is defined through the eigenvalue distribution of the correlation matrix rather than through geometric focusing, allowing reduced firings while maintaining quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/geometric focusing system with a mathematical/eigenvalue-based system. Instead of using physical lens-like focusing through delay laws, the system uses the spatial distribution of eigenvalues to define the area of interest and selects transmission directions based on eigenvalue magnitude, substituting geometric optics with linear algebra principles.
3Area of stationary object
If traditional focused beams are used to image the entire area, then complete area coverage is achieved, but the number of firings increases and temporal resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating transmission energy specifically in the area of interest rather than uniformly across the entire imaging area. The eigenvalue-based method identifies and prioritizes directions corresponding to the area of interest, transmitting unfocused waves that naturally concentrate energy where needed while reducing or eliminating transmissions to areas outside the region of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transmits only K unfocused waves corresponding to the K highest eigenvalues associated with the area of interest, rather than transmitting N focused waves covering the entire imaging area. This partial action approach reduces the number of firings by transmitting only the essential directions needed to capture the area of interest with adequate quality.
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 allows for a significant increase in image acquisition rate without compromising image quality, enabling high temporal resolution and adaptable imaging by reducing the size of the image obtained, thus optimizing the trade-off between acquisition rate and image size.
Implementation Method 1
These transducers are controlled individually via independent electronic channels capable of applying to them electrical signals delayed relative to one another. Transmission focusing is effected by applying delays to the various signals transmitted.
Implementation Method 2
Standard echographic imaging systems utilize the echoes backscattered by the medium to be probed, generally a biological tissue, to analyze the variations in acoustic impedance characteristic of biological structures
Implementation Method 3
dynamic focusing laws, i.e. a delay law for each reconstructed pixel, are used on reception to isolate the acoustic signatures coming from a given location of the medium and reconstituting its acoustic image. This is known as beamforming.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure includes a method of acquiring high-resolution ultrasound images using an array of transducers using successive transmission matrices. Implementations include operations for determining inter-transducer correlation matrices of an area of interest and an unwanted area; determining a characteristic matrix of the area of interest from the product of the inverse of the inter-transducer correlation matrix of the unwanted area and the inter-transducer correlation matrix of the area of interest; calculating eigenvectors and values of the characteristic matrix to define a transmission matrix; adjusting the image acquisition rate and image quality in order to define eigenvectors for firing; multiplying a reception matrix comprising the acquired signals completed by data set to zero corresponding to the firings not effected by the inverse of the transmission matrix to obtain a complete data set; reconstructing a high-resolution image of the area of interest as in synthetic aperture echographic imaging methods.