Ultrasound Data Communication via Transmit Event Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical ultrasound systems are limited by bandwidth, leading to restricted signal processing capabilities and increased complexity and power requirements, which hinder the ability to support higher bandwidths and improve image quality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves acquiring and digitizing ultrasound data using a probe with a transducer array, where a subset of the data is communicated for each transmit event, allowing for increased effective bandwidth without redesigning the hardware, by combining data from multiple transmit events and using techniques like interleaving samples to enhance processing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the ADC sampling rate and digital interface transfer rate are increased to provide higher system bandwidth, then the bandwidth capability is improved, but the cost and complexity of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data transmission process into multiple segments by utilizing multiple transmit events. Instead of transmitting all data in a single high-rate stream, the system segments the data across multiple lower-rate transmissions, thereby achieving higher effective bandwidth without requiring a single high-complexity interface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to data transmission by utilizing multiple transmit events over time. Rather than increasing the speed of a single data channel, the system uses multiple channels across multiple time events to achieve higher effective bandwidth, transforming a one-dimensional speed problem into a multi-dimensional transmission problem
2Quantity of substance
If the ADC sampling rate and digital interface transfer rate are increased to provide higher system bandwidth, then the bandwidth capability is improved, but the cost of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting data transmission across multiple transmit events with moderate sampling rates, the system avoids the need for expensive high-speed ADCs and interfaces. Each individual ADC operates at a manageable, lower sampling rate, reducing component costs while the aggregated data from multiple events achieves the desired effective bandwidth
3Quantity of substance
If conventional systems use existing hardware configurations, then the system is simpler and more cost-effective, but the bandwidth processing capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic data selection and combination logic that operates on top of static hardware. The system dynamically selects which data from multiple transmit events to combine and how to process them, providing adaptive bandwidth processing capability without requiring dynamic or reconfigurable hardware. The flexibility is achieved through software-controlled data routing and combination
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for data communication in an ultrasound system are provided. One method includes acquiring ultrasound data using an ultrasound probe having a plurality of transducer elements, wherein the ultrasound data includes echo information acquired from the plurality of transducer elements and the ultrasound data is acquired using a plurality of transmit events of the ultrasound probe. The method also includes digitizing the acquired ultrasound data. The method further includes communicating a subset of the digitized ultrasound data for at least some of the plurality of transmit events, wherein the subsets of communicated digitized ultrasound data are different for the plurality transmit events.