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US6126598A
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Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with adaptive spatial compounding
Assignee: ATL Ultrasound Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-17
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Granted: 2000-10-03
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Expires: 2019-06-17
Abstract
Abstract An adaptive ultrasonic spatial compounding method is described in which the number of component ultrasonic images which are to be spatially compounded is varied in response to the type of scanning procedure. In a survey mode, when the transducer is rapidly scanning a patient and there is a low degree of correlation from frame to frame, the number of component ultrasonic images which are compounded is reduced. In a study mode, when the transducer is held relatively stationary to study a particular region of the body and the frame-to-frame spatial correspondence is relatively high, the number of component images is increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Entrekin
- 👤 James R. Jago
- 👤 Daniel C. Schmiesing
- 👤 Brent S. Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52085; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8913; G01S15/8995; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52025; G01S7/52034; G01S7/5205; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01S7/52065; G01S7/52036; G01S7/52038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for adaptively adjusting spatial compounding to the mode of ultrasonic scanning comprising the steps of: acquiring temporally different ultrasonic diagnostic image information; processing said image information to produce a measure of scanhead motion; and adjusting an operating parameter of a spatial compounding processor in response to said measure; wherein said temporally different ultrasonic diagnostic image information comprises component frames of a compound image; and wherein said step of processing comprises calculating a metric representing the similarity or difference between component frames.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for adaptively adjusting spatial compounding to the mode of ultrasonic scanning comprising the steps of: acquiring temporally different ultrasonic diagnostic image information; processing said image information to produce a measure of scanhead motion; and adjusting an operating parameter of a spatial compounding processor in response to said measure; wherein said temporally different ultrasonic diagnostic image information comprises component frames of a compound image; and wherein said step of processing comprises calculating a metric representing the similarity or difference between component frames.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter is the number of component images used to form a compound image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said operating parameter results in the use of a relatively few component images to form a compound image when scanhead motion is relatively high, and a relatively greater number of component images to form a compound image when scanhead motion is relatively low.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said temporally different ultrasonic diagnostic image information comprises component frames of a compound image; and wherein said step of processing comprises calculating a metric representing the similarity or difference between component frames.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said metric comprises a sum of absolute differences computation of temporally different image data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said step of calculating comprises calculating said metric for temporally adjacent component frames.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 6, wherein one of said temporally adjacent component frames is a component image of a first compound image, and wherein the other of said temporally adjacent component frames is a component frame of a second compound image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said step of calculating comprises calculating said metric for temporally nonadjacent component frames.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said step of calculating comprises calculating said metric for component frames having corresponding look directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said temporally different ultrasonic diagnostic image information comprises component frames of a compound image; and further comprising the step of: acquiring reference image data on a time interleaved basis with said component frames, wherein said reference image data is processed to produce said measure of scanhead motion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said reference image data comprises reference lines which exhibit a corresponding spatial alignment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter is the look directions of the component images used to form a compound image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter is the steering angle of the component images used to form a compound image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter is the scan line density of the component images used to form a compound image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter is the number of focal zones of the component images used to form a compound image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter is the PRF of the component images used to form a compound image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter is the steering angle of the component images used to form a compound image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter is the acquisition rate of the component images used to form a compound image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter is the display rate of the compound image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said operating parameter controls a temporal operating characteristic of said spatial compounding processor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said temporal operating characteristic is the time during which component images for spatial compounding are acquired.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said spatial compounding processor includes an IIR filter; and wherein said temporal operating characteristic is the time constant of said IIR filter.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for adaptively adjusting spatial compounding to the mode of ultrasonic scanning comprising the steps of: acquiring temporally different ultrasonic diagnostic image information; processing said image information to produce a measure of scanhead motion; and adjusting an operating parameter of a spatial compounding processor in response to said measure; wherein said step of processing comprises calculating a metric representing the similarity or difference between component image frames.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for adaptively adjusting spatial compounding to the mode of ultrasonic scanning comprising the steps of: acquiring temporally different ultrasonic diagnostic image information; processing said image information to produce a measure of scanhead motion; and adjusting an operating parameter of a spatial compounding processor in response to said measure; wherein said step of processing comprises calculating a metric representing the similarity or difference between component image frames.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said step of calculating a metric calculates said metric on the basis of a region of interest in image frames used for spatial compounding.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said step of calculating a metric calculates said metric for temporally adjacent image frames.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 25, wherein one of said temporally adjacent image frames is a component image frame of a first compound image, and wherein the other of said temporally adjacent image frames is a component image frame of a second compound image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said step of calculating a metric calculates said metric for temporally nonadjacent image frames.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said step of calculating a metric calculates said metric for image frames having corresponding look directions.
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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) | 2003-10-03 | 2004-04-03 | 2004-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-03 | 2008-04-03 | 2008-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-03 | 2012-04-03 | 2012-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |