Ultrasound imaging system parameter optimization via fuzzy logic

US8357094B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ZONARE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Larry Y. L. Mo · San Ramon, US
• Glen W. McLaughlin · Redwood City, US
• Brian Derek DeBusschere · Orinda, US
• Ting-Lan Ji · San Jose, US
• Ching-Hua Chou · Fremont, US
• David J. Napolitano · Pleasanton, US
• Kathy S. Jedrzejewicz · Austin, US
• Thomas Jedrzejewicz · Austin, US
• Kurt Sandstrom · San Jose, US
• Feng Yin · Okinawa, JP
• Scott Smith · Greensboro, US
• Wenkang Qi · Cupertino, US
• Robert Stanson · LaSalle, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: May 5, 2011
• Grant date: Jan 22, 2013
• Expiry date: May 5, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06N7/023
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An ultrasound scanner is equipped with one or more fuzzy control units that can perform adaptive system parameter optimization anywhere in the system. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises a plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems configured to generate an ultrasound image, the plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems including a transmitter subsystem, a receiver subsystem, and an image processing subsystem; and a fuzzy logic controller communicatively coupled with at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems. The fuzzy logic controller is configured to receive, from at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems, input data including at least one of pixel image data and data for generating pixel image data; to process the input data using a set of inference rules to produce fuzzy output; and to convert the fuzzy output into numerical values or system states for controlling at least one of the transmit subsystem and the receiver subsystem that generate the pixel image data.