Efficient computation of spatially varying ultrasound analytical point spread functions
US11147538B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 15, 2018 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/52085
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for computing a tissue reflectivity function (TRF) is provided. This method comprises accessing radio-frequency (RF) data and computing a point spread function (PSF), to obtain the TRF. The RF data accessed are data obtained by beamforming time signals from an array of transducers of an ultrasound device. Next, for each pair (r, s) of given pairs of points in the imaging plane, the PSF is computed as a sum of contributions from at least some of the transducers. Each contribution is computed by evaluating a transducer's transfer function, based on two outputs of a respective time-of-flight function. Such outputs are obtained by evaluating the time-of-flight function at a first point r and at a second point s of each pair, respectively. Finally, the RF function can be deconvoluted, based on the computed PSF, so as to obtain the TRF.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.