Method for ultrasound imaging

US5113866A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Dietrich Hassler · Uttenreuth, DE
• Klaus Killig · Höchstadt an der Aisch, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 24, 1990
• Grant date: May 19, 1992
• Expiry date: Dec 24, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S7/52049
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for generating an ultrasound image of a plane of a section of an examination subject having a non-uniform speed of sound distribution near the surface of the subject includes the steps of scanning the section plane line-by-line with a transducer array in an adaption phase and calculating values from the received, focussed echo signals which deviate from anticipated values which would arise given a uniform speed of sound distribution, the calculation being undertaken by a cross-correlation function of neighboring elementary transducers. Correction values are formed from the deviating values depending on the angle of incidence of the echo signals on the elementary transducers. In an imaging phase following the adaption phase, the delay values for focussing are modified dependent on the incident angle of the echo signals and dependent on the correction values for this incident angle. Image disturbances due to the non-uniform speed of sound distribution can thus be compensated even in the presence of thick, transducer-proximate disturbing layers in the examination subject.