Patent · US Active

Beamforming method and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

US9575178B2 · kind B2 · utility

33Cited by
7References
11Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateNov 21, 2013
Grant dateFeb 21, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 24, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG10K11/346
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A beamforming method includes: generating a main beam signal by performing, with a focus on a first region, a delay and sum operation on receiving echo signals; generating a sub beam signal which has a low sensitivity to ultrasound signals reflected off the first region; and generating a narrow beam signal by (i) calculating a coefficient for narrowing an angle of the main beam signal, and (ii) multiplying the main beam signal by the coefficient, wherein in the generating of a sub beam signal, the sub beam signal is generated using a differential signal that is a difference between two beam signals each of which is generated by performing a delay and sum operation on the receiving echo signals, with a focus on a corresponding one of two regions of a subject which are different from the first region and are different from each other.

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