Ultrasound Imaging System Intermediary Processing Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound imaging systems face limitations in scalability and cost due to the need for new interface boards and powerful computers when the number of transducers increases, as existing digital acquisition boards and processing capabilities are not sufficient to handle high data rates effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a processing device between the ultrasound probe and the computer, featuring a first channel for receiving input data, a second channel for transmitting output data, a processing unit with memory for image processing, and a switch unit to manage different data rates, allowing the system to be independent of the number of transducers and using standard, low-cost commercial processing units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of transducers is increased, then the imaging quality and coverage are improved, but the data rate and processing complexity increase beyond the capability of standard computers
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the data processing function into two segments: a first channel that handles high-rate data acquisition from transducers and performs initial processing, and a second channel that handles lower-rate processed data for final imaging. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the system to handle increased transducer counts without overwhelming the computer system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing stage between the transducers and the computer. This intermediary processes the raw high-rate data from multiple transducers, reducing the data burden before it reaches the computer. This mediator enables standard computers to handle systems with increased numbers of transducers by preprocessing the data stream.
2Ease of manufacture
If a digital acquisition board with limited computational power is used, then the system cost is reduced, but the system cannot handle increased numbers of transducers
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic channel allocation where the first channel handles high-rate data acquisition and the second channel handles processed data output. This dynamic architecture allows the system to adapt to varying numbers of transducers without requiring redesign of the entire acquisition board, enabling cost-effective scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The acquisition board is designed with multi-functional channels that can handle different data rates and processing requirements. The first channel universally handles data from any number of transducers, while the second channel universally outputs processed data, making the board scalable without increasing cost proportionally to the number of transducers.
3Loss of information
If all sensed signal samples are sent to the computer by multiplexing, then data loss is minimized, but the computer microprocessor cannot operate beamforming on huge quantities of input data
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of the sensed signal samples in the first channel before transmitting them to the computer. This preliminary action includes initial data acquisition and preprocessing that reduces the complexity of subsequent beamforming operations, allowing the computer to handle the data without being overwhelmed by huge quantities of raw input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the data processing from a single-dimension bottleneck (one channel handling all data) to a two-dimensional architecture with parallel first and second channels. This dimensional change allows data to flow through multiple paths simultaneously, maintaining data completeness while distributing processing complexity across different channels with different data rates.
Data Source
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AI summary
The ultrasound imaging system comprises an ultrasound probe (3) and computer (20) for controlling the ultrasound probe and for visualizing an image. The system comprises a processing device located between the probe and the computer that comprises a processing unit (15) to operate an imaging method and switch unit (13) for routing the input and output data.