Method and apparatus for enhancing resolution and sensitivity in color flow ultrasound imaging using multiple transmit focal zones

US5908391A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• David John Muzilla · Mukwonago, US
• Anne Lindsay Hall · New Berlin, US
• Mir Said Seyed-Bolorforosh · Brookfield, US
• Michael J. Washburn · New Berlin, US
• David Dale Becker · Seattle, US
• Doralie Martinez · Milwaukee, US
• Xiao-Liang Xu · Brookfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 7, 1997
• Grant date: Jun 1, 1999
• Expiry date: May 7, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/02836
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for increasing the spatial resolution and sensitivity of a color flow image while maintaining a desired acoustic frame rate. The ultrasound energy is concentrated at a more narrowly defined focal region, which allows for increased flow sensitivity and vessel filling. Better flow uniformity across the color region of interest is also achieved. The method uses multiple transmit focal zones, and transmit and receive apertures having low f-numbers. Using multiple focal zones with low f-numbers allows for tight focusing over a larger depth-of-field. Unique waveforms and unique gain curves are used for each focal zone. Each focal zone is fired on a separate acoustic frame. An adaptive frame averaging algorithm is used to blend together the in-focus data from each of these acoustic frames before the data is displayed.