Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonic harmonic imaging system and method using waveform pre-distortion

US6905467B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
54References
48Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 18, 2001
Grant dateJun 14, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 1, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S7/52038
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Improvements to a method for imaging a target, which method including the steps of (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency, (b) receiving reflected ultrasonic energy at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency and (c) generating an image responsive to reflected energy at the harmonic, are provided. The transmitting step includes transmitting a waveform with a positive pulse spatially defined by first and second zero values. A positive peak amplitude of the positive pulse is a first distance from the first zero value that is less than half a second distance between said first and second zero values. Thus, the waveform includes a fundamental spectral component and a harmonic spectral component at the transducer. An attenuation normalized peak of the harmonic spectral component is reduced at a region spaced from the transducer as compared to the peak at a region adjacent to the transducer. A negative peak is also shifted or pre-distorted. Various pre-distortions of the waveform may compensate for propagation, scattering, or system non-linearities.

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