Ultrasonic Imaging Apparatus Uniform Acoustic Line Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic imaging apparatuses face a decrease in image quality due to the decreasing density of acoustic lines in the far field during convex or virtual convex scans, which is inadequate for invasive medical procedures requiring a proper Field of View (FOV) and high image quality.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus captures multiple B-mode images using linear scans with ultrasonic beams steered at different directions, creating and displaying compound images that maintain a consistent Field of View, enhancing image quality by combining these images to achieve a uniform acoustic line density across all fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a convex scan or virtual convex scan is performed to obtain a suitable FOV for invasive treatment, then the Field of View is improved, but the image quality decreases due to decreasing acoustic line density in the far field
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging task into multiple linear scans with different beam directions (e.g., right oblique, front, left oblique) rather than using a single convex scan. Each linear scan captures a specific portion of the FOV with uniform acoustic line density, and these segmented images are then combined to form the complete FOV, resolving the contradiction between FOV coverage and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple B-mode images captured by linear scans with different beam directions to create a compound image. By combining images from multiple scans (e.g., right oblique, front, left oblique), the system achieves both adequate FOV coverage and maintained image quality through the aggregation of uniform-density acoustic lines from each scan.
2Manufacturing precision
If linear scans with different directional ultrasonic beams are used to capture multiple B-mode images, then image quality is improved through uniform acoustic line density, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic beam steering to adjust the ultrasonic beam direction for each linear scan. By dynamically changing the beam orientation (e.g., right oblique, front, left oblique) according to the scanning sequence, the system achieves multiple imaging perspectives without requiring multiple physical transducer arrays, thus managing complexity through dynamic control rather than static hardware multiplication.
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 results in high-quality images with improved contrast resolution and reduced noise, ensuring a proper FOV for invasive medical procedures by maintaining uniform acoustic line density from the near to far field.
Implementation Method 1
a linear scan with an ultrasonic beam steered to a reference direction and a linear scan or scans with an ultrasonic beam or beams steered to one or more directions different from the reference direction
Implementation Method 2
scans a range to be imaged with an ultrasonic beam, generates a B-mode image from echo signals received
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus captures a plurality of B-mode images of a same cross section respectively by a plurality of linear scans with different directional ultrasonic beams and creates and displays a compound image from the plurality of B-mode images. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a device for capturing an image to capture a plurality of B-mode images respectively by a linear scan with an ultrasonic beam steered to a reference direction and a linear scan or scans with an ultrasonic beam or beams steered to one or more directions different from the reference direction, a device for creating an image to create a compound image using the plurality of B-mode images, and a display device to display the compound image.