Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for B-mode image banding suppression

US6893399B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
12References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 27, 2003
Grant dateMay 17, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 27, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B8/14
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Certain embodiments include a system and method for banding suppression in a B-mode ultrasound image. Banding occurs in a diagnostic image when two or more focal regions having different waveforms and/or frequencies, for example, are combined. The resulting difference in intensity between the focal regions produces banding in the final image. For purposes of illustration only, the method below will be described with two focal zones. Certain embodiments of the present invention reduce banding in a diagnostic image including a plurality of focal zones by processing the first focal zone, determining intensity around the border or “stitch line” between the two focal regions, and adjusting the second focal region based on the difference in intensity. Preferably, processing is done in real time as image frames are updated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.