US6083168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasound imaging system and method for improving resolution and operation
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
•
Filing: 1999-02-04
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Granted: 2000-07-04
•
Expires: 2019-02-04
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasound system and method are provided for improving resolution and operation. The system applies different imaging parameters within and outside a region of interest in an ultrasound image to improve spatial and/or temporal resolution inside a region of interest. The system also increases an apparent frame rate within a region of interest in an ultrasound-image frame by generating a motion-compensated interpolated image based on measured motion. The ultrasound imaging system also performs a method for automatically adjusting ultrasound imaging parameters in at least a portion of an ultrasound image in response to transducer or image motion to improve spatial or temporal resolution. With the measured motion, the system can also alter an operating mode of an ultrasound transducer array in response to an absence of transducer motion. Further, the system corrects distortion in an acquired ultrasound image caused by transducer or image motion.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Hossack
- 👤 John S. Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52085; G01S7/52046; G01S7/5205; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01S7/52066; G01S7/52074; G01S7/52095; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/52; A61B8/5207; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52034
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for correcting distortion of image pixels due to a line acquisition time delay in an ultrasound image in response to measured image or transducer motion, the method comprising: (a) measuring motion; and then (b) correcting distortion in an ultrasound image in response to the measured motion by repositioning at least one sub-block of said pixels in response to motion measured in (a).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for correcting distortion of image pixels due to a line acquisition time delay in an ultrasound image in response to measured image or transducer motion, the method comprising: (a) measuring motion; and then (b) correcting distortion in an ultrasound image in response to the measured motion by repositioning at least one sub-block of said pixels in response to motion measured in (a).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises measuring motion with a motion sensor in a transducer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises measuring motion by measuring motion of a sub-block of pixels between at least two ultrasound images.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises correcting distortion in the entire ultrasound image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises correcting distortion in a portion of the ultrasound image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises manually selecting a region of interest in the ultrasound image and wherein (b) comprises correcting distortion in the region of interest.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises automatically selecting a region of interest in the ultrasound image and wherein (b) comprises correcting distortion in the region of interest.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for generating a distortion-corrected ultrasound image in response to measured image or transducer motion, the distortion of image pixels in the ultrasound image due to a line acquisition time delay, the method comprising: (a) measuring motion; and then (b) generating a distortion-corrected ultrasound image in response to the measured motion by repositioning at least one sub-block of said pixels in response to motion measured in (a).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for generating a distortion-corrected ultrasound image in response to measured image or transducer motion, the distortion of image pixels in the ultrasound image due to a line acquisition time delay, the method comprising: (a) measuring motion; and then (b) generating a distortion-corrected ultrasound image in response to the measured motion by repositioning at least one sub-block of said pixels in response to motion measured in (a).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8, wherein (a) comprises measuring motion with a motion sensor in a transducer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8, wherein (a) comprises measuring motion by measuring motion of a sub-block of pixels between at least two ultrasound images.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8, wherein (b) comprises generating a distortion-corrected image in the entire ultrasound image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8, wherein (b) comprises generating a distortion-corrected image in a portion of the ultrasound image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises manually selecting a region of interest in the ultrasound image and wherein (b) comprises generating a distortion-corrected image in the region of interest.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises automatically selecting a region of interest in the ultrasound image and wherein (b) comprises generating a distortion-corrected image in the region of interest.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for correcting distortion in an ultrasound image in response to measured image or transducer motion, the method comprising: (a) measuring motion; and then (b) correcting distortion in an ultrasound image in response to the measured motion by estimating an effect of the measured motion on line spacing and expanding a display width of the ultrasound image in response to motion measured in (a).
Claim 18
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for correcting distortion in an ultrasound image in response to measured image or transducer motion, the method comprising: (a) measuring motion; and then (b) correcting distortion in an ultrasound image in response to the measured motion by estimating an effect of the measured motion on line spacing and expanding a display width of the ultrasound image in response to motion measured in (a).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15, wherein (a) comprises measuring motion with a motion sensor in a transducer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, wherein (a) comprises measuring motion by measuring motion of a sub-block of pixels between at least two ultrasound images.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein (b) comprises correcting distortion in the entire ultrasound image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15, wherein (b) comprises correcting distortion in a portion of the ultrasound image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises manually selecting a region of interest in the ultrasound image and wherein (b) comprises correcting distortion in the region of interest.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises automatically selecting a region of interest in the ultrasound image and wherein (b) comprises correcting distortion in the region of interest.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for generating a distortion-corrected ultrasound image in response to measured image or transducer motion, the method comprising: (a) measuring motion; and then (b) generating a distortion-corrected ultrasound image in response to the measured motion by estimating an effect of the measured motion on line spacing and expanding a display width of the ultrasound image in response to motion measured in (a).
Claim 26
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for generating a distortion-corrected ultrasound image in response to measured image or transducer motion, the method comprising: (a) measuring motion; and then (b) generating a distortion-corrected ultrasound image in response to the measured motion by estimating an effect of the measured motion on line spacing and expanding a display width of the ultrasound image in response to motion measured in (a).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22, wherein (a) comprises measuring motion with a motion sensor in a transducer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22, wherein (a) comprises measuring motion by measuring motion of a sub-block of pixels between at least two ultrasound images.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22, wherein (b) comprises generating a distortion-corrected image in the entire ultrasound image.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22, wherein (b) comprises generating a distortion-corrected image in a portion of the ultrasound image.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises manually selecting a region of interest in the ultrasound image and wherein (b) comprises generating a distortion-corrected image in the region of interest.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises automatically selecting a region of interest in the ultrasound image and wherein (b) comprises generating a distortion-corrected image in the region of interest.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-04 | 2004-01-03 | 2004-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-04 | 2008-01-03 | 2008-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-04 | 2012-01-03 | 2012-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |