3D ultrasound imaging using 2D array
US6123669A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 7, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/916
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A three-dimensional imaging method using an ultrasound wave enables a region of interest to be extracted through threshold processing. The method above has its image readily adversely affected and the technique has not yet been too much advanced from the practical viewpoint. By creating an image based on the harmonics components contained in an echo signal it is possible to acquire a high image quality and to advance a practical application of the three-dimensional imaging by the ultrasound wave. The harmonics wave is produced in proportion to sound pressure. That is, the higher the sound pressure, more harmonics components are produced. As a result, the ultrasound beam is effectively narrowed and the spatial resolution is improved. Since the harmonics components are not too much produced from a grating lobe lower in sound pressure than a main lobe, the production of the grating lobe is effectively suppressed, so that an image quality is prominently improved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.