Apparatus and method for imaging objects with wavefields
US6587540B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2211/424
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention describes a method for increasing the speed of the parabolic marching method by about a factor of 256. Firstly, to form true 3-D images or 3-D assembled from 2-D slices. Secondly, the frequency of operation can be increased to 5 MHz to match the operating frequency of reflection tomography. This allow the improved imaging of speed of sound which in turn is used to correct errors in focusing delays in reflection tomography imaging. This allows reflection tomography to reach or closely approach its theoretical spatial resolution of ½ to ¾ wave lengths. A third benefit of increasing the operating frequency of inverse scattering to 5 MHz is the improved out of topographic plane spatial resolution. This improves the ability to detect small lesions. It also allow the use of small transducers and narrower beams so that slices can be made closer to the chest wall.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.