Vector Doppler Ultrasound Cross-Beam Velocity Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound systems cannot accurately represent the motion of target objects, such as blood flow, due to limitations in color Doppler imaging, which only indicates velocity in the transmission direction and not the actual motion or direction of the target object.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a vector Doppler method using cross-beam technology to acquire velocity components from multiple directions, forming vector information that includes both velocity and direction, enabling accurate representation of target object motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If color Doppler imaging is used to represent velocity of target object, then velocity information can be obtained, but accurate motion direction information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The velocity measurement is segmented into multiple directional components. Instead of measuring velocity along a single transmission direction, the system divides the measurement into at least two different transmission directions, acquiring velocity components from each direction. These segmented measurements are then combined to reconstruct the complete two-dimensional velocity vector, thereby recovering the motion direction information that would be lost in single-direction measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from one-dimensional velocity measurement (along the transmission direction only) to two-dimensional velocity vector measurement. By acquiring velocity components from multiple transmission directions and combining them, the system constructs a two-dimensional velocity vector that includes both magnitude and direction information, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to the measurement.
2Measurement precision
If cross-beam vector Doppler method is used to acquire velocity components from multiple directions, then accurate vector information including direction can be obtained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasound system is designed with multi-functionality to perform both conventional single-direction Doppler measurement and cross-beam vector Doppler measurement. The same ultrasound probe and signal processing system can operate in different modes: conventional mode for simple velocity measurement and vector mode for comprehensive velocity vector measurement. This universal design allows the system to handle multiple measurement requirements without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple velocity component measurements from different transmission directions into a single unified velocity vector. By combining the velocity components acquired from at least two different directions through vector synthesis, the system produces comprehensive two-dimensional velocity information. This merging process integrates multiple measurement streams into a cohesive result, achieving accurate vector information while managing system complexity through unified processing.
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 allows for the precise determination of target object motion, enhancing diagnostic capabilities in medical imaging by providing accurate velocity and direction information, overcoming the limitations of traditional color Doppler imaging.
Implementation Method 1
a Doppler mode image representing velocity of a moving target object with spectral Doppler by using a Doppler effect
Data Source
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AI summary
There are provided embodiments for transmitting ultrasound signals to a living body including a moving target object in at least one transmission direction, and receiving ultrasound echo signals from the living body in at least one reception direction to form vector information of the target object. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquiring unit configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a living body including a moving target object in at least one transmission direction, and receive ultrasound echo signals from the living body in at least one reception direction to acquire ultrasound data; and a processing unit configured to form vector information of the target object based on ultrasound data corresponding to the at least one reception direction.