Ultrasound Phase Difference Analysis for Vessel Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound imaging techniques face challenges in achieving sufficient contrast and accurately defining blood vessel contours, especially without the use of contrast agents, leading to weak tissue signal representation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the emission and reception of ultrasound waves with varying amplitudes, calculating phase differences between emitted and received pulses, and determining physical characteristics based on these differences to enhance imaging accuracy and contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ultrasound imaging techniques are used, then imaging can be performed, but contrast is weak and blood vessel contours are insufficiently defined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transmitting ultrasound pulses with varying amplitudes (different energy levels) and analyzing the nonlinear response of contrast agents. This allows differentiation between linear tissue responses and nonlinear contrast agent responses, thereby improving contrast and defining blood vessel contours more clearly without losing imaging information
2Measurement precision
If contrast agents are used to improve sensitivity, then detection capability improves, but tissue signals remain and blood vessel contours are still insufficiently defined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ultrasound response into different components by using multiple pulse amplitudes. It separates the linear response (from tissue) from the nonlinear response (from contrast agents in blood vessels) through harmonic analysis. This segmentation allows selective enhancement of blood vessel contours while suppressing tissue signals, achieving better contour definition
3Measurement precision
If multiple excitation levels are used to improve sensitivity, then non-linear response detection improves, but image contrast remains weak
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional single-amplitude ultrasound imaging with a multi-amplitude pulse sequence approach. By transmitting pulses at different energy levels and analyzing the nonlinear response through harmonic content analysis, it substitutes the traditional imaging mechanism with one that exploits nonlinear acoustics, thereby improving both sensitivity and image contrast simultaneously
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 improves the accuracy and sensitivity of ultrasound imaging, allowing for better differentiation between tissue and blood vessels, even without contrast agents, by utilizing phase difference analysis to determine physical characteristics within the medium.
Implementation Method 1
using ultrasound waves propagation inside said medium
Implementation Method 2
receiving a received sequence of ultrasound waves from the location, the received sequence comprising two received pulses corresponding to echoes of said emitted pulses
Implementation Method 3
calculating a phase difference between the received pulses relative to the two emitted pulses
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a physical characteristic on a punctual location inside a medium, comprising the steps of: sending an emitted sequence comprising emitted pulses having different amplitudes, receiving a received sequence comprising received pulses corresponding to echoes of emitted pulses, calculating a phase difference between the received pulses relative to the emitted pulses, and determining the physical characteristic on the bases of a phase difference.