Ultrasound Imaging Variable Attenuation Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound imaging methods assume a constant sound speed of propagation, leading to angular displacement and image artifacts due to refractions, and automatic gain compensation techniques can result in brightening or shadowing of tissues, degrading image quality by failing to accurately account for varying attenuation and sound speed within the tissue.
Innovation Solution
The method involves emitting acoustic waveforms, detecting signals, and generating variable attenuation and sound speed maps to modify the signals, using the Kirchhoff migration algorithm and Green's function to create accurate reflection renderings that account for varying attenuation and sound speed, thereby improving tissue characterization and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If automatic gain compensation (AGC) and time gain compensation (TGC) are used to compensate for signal decay, then signal attenuation is compensated, but image artifacts (brightening or shadowing of tissues) are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of attenuation compensation from fixed (hardcoded gain in conventional AGC/TGC) to variable (computed attenuation map). By calculating the actual attenuation along each beam path and using this variable parameter to compensate signals, the system avoids the artifacts caused by fixed gain compensation while maintaining signal integrity.
2Device complexity
If constant sound speed assumption is used for imaging, then image processing is simplified, but angular displacement and boundary positioning errors occur due to refractions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sound speed parameter from constant (assumed uniform value) to variable (spatially-dependent map). By computing and using a variable sound speed map that reflects actual tissue properties, the system corrects refraction effects and improves boundary positioning accuracy without excessive complexity increase.
3Measurement precision
If variable attenuation maps are generated for each detecting transducer, then signal modification accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computation of attenuation maps for all detecting transducers before actual signal processing. By pre-calculating the attenuation characteristics and storing them, the system avoids repeated real-time computations during imaging, thus maintaining high accuracy while managing computational complexity efficiently.
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 more accurate and detailed ultrasound images by properly compensating for signal attenuation and sound speed variations, reducing artifacts and enhancing the characterization of tissue structures, such as cysts and tumors, without creating unnecessary noise.
Implementation Method 1
The basic principle of ultrasound involves emitting an acoustic wave or beam along a focused path from a source transmitter, and allowing the wave to scatter (e.g. in reflection, refraction, diffraction, transmission) from tissue or other boundaries in its path.
Implementation Method 2
The assumption of a constant sound speed of propagation can cause angular displacement of objects due to refractions of the beam at boundary interfaces
Implementation Method 3
to compensate for signal decay due to attenuation in tissue (energy loss due to scatter and energy absorption)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for imaging a volume of tissue in a scan region, including: emitting, from transmitting transducers, acoustic waveforms toward the volume of tissue; detecting, with detecting transducers, a plurality acoustic signals derived from acoustic waveforms interacting with the volume of tissue; generating from the detected acoustic signals a plurality of variable attenuation maps, in which each variable attenuation map corresponds to acoustic signals detected by a respective detecting transducer and includes a plurality of variable attenuation coefficients mapped to the scan region; modifying at least a portion of the detected acoustic signals based on one or more variable attenuation maps; and generating a reflection rendering of the volume of tissue based on the modified acoustic signals.