3D Ultrasound Image Processing Adaptive Spatial Frequency Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional ultrasound image processing faces challenges with artifacts caused by pixel value undulation in the depth direction, leading to stripe patterns in ultrasound images due to increased scanning intervals, which degrade image quality and frame rate.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional ultrasound image processing apparatus that acquires spatial frequency distribution data and performs filter processing based on determined filter characteristics to suppress these artifacts, adjusting filter settings dynamically based on scanning intervals and image characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the scanning interval of the transmission beam is increased to reduce acquisition time and improve frame rate, then productivity is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to stripe pattern artifacts appearing in the image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful spatial frequency components corresponding to the stripe pattern artifacts through filter processing. By identifying the specific spatial frequency range caused by parallel reception phasing and applying a filter to remove these components, the artifact is eliminated while preserving the useful image information and maintaining the increased frame rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of pixel value undulation and stripe patterns into a beneficial filtering operation. By analyzing the spatial frequency distribution and identifying the characteristic frequencies of the artifacts, the system applies targeted filter processing that removes only the harmful components while preserving the useful diagnostic information, thus turning the artifact problem into a solvable frequency separation task.
2Manufacturing precision
If parallel reception phasing is used to improve spatial resolution, then manufacturing precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to pixel value undulation and stripe artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spatial frequency analysis and filter processing as an intermediary step between parallel reception phasing and image display. This intermediary processing analyzes the spatial frequency distribution of the image data, identifies the harmful frequency components caused by pixel value undulation, and selectively removes them while preserving the high spatial resolution information generated by parallel reception phasing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If filter processing is applied to suppress stripe patterns, then object-affected harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service filtering system that automatically analyzes the spatial frequency distribution of each image and adaptively determines the appropriate filter characteristics. The system self-adjusts the filter parameters based on the actual image content and artifact characteristics, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex external control systems while effectively suppressing stripe patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the filter parameters based on the spatial frequency distribution analysis of the input image. By adapting the filter characteristics to match the specific artifact frequencies present in each image, the system achieves effective artifact suppression with minimal processing complexity, as the filter parameters are automatically adjusted rather than requiring fixed complex processing pipelines.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing unit acquires spatial frequency distribution data in a depth direction for one frame in two-dimensional ultrasound image data of a plurality of frames constituting three-dimensional ultrasound image data, and performs filter processing, based on filter characteristics determined in accordance with the spatial frequency distribution data and characteristics of transmitted ultrasound in which each two-dimensional ultrasound image data is acquired. The information processing unit searches for a spatial frequency corresponding to a maximal value of a distribution indicated by the spatial frequency distribution data in a search range determined in accordance with a pulse width of the transmitted ultrasound, and obtains characteristics for suppressing a level of the spatial frequency distribution in a spatial frequency band including the spatial frequency that is searched for.