Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Changhong Hu

Francois Guy Gerard Marie Vignon

Sheng-Wen Huang

James Robertson Jago

Jun Seob Shin

Neil R Owen

Unmin Bae

Bernard Joseph Savord

David Hope Simpson

Steven Russell Freeman

Thanasis Loupas

Douglas Maxwell

Shannon Renee Fox

Xiaowen Hu

Jeffrey Daniel Sherman

Richard Anthony Sampson, Ii

Shubha Rao

Justus Daniel Smitchger

An ultrasound system is configured to perform periodic self-testing of the system's hardware components. Results of the self-testing are stored on the ultrasound system in a data log, and periodically uploaded to a self-test database. The self-test database is sorted, then analyzed by engineers of the ultrasound system manufacturer to discern variances or trends in ultrasound system hardware performance or operation. As a result of the analysis, updated or improved self-test programs are developed by the system manufacturer and uploaded to and installed on ultrasound systems of the installed base of systems.

Ultrasound system self-test data feedback for system trend analysis

A digital transmit beamformer for an ultrasound system has a waveform sample memory which stores sequences of samples of different pulse transmit waveforms of differing pulse widths. The memory is shared by a plurality of transmit channels, each of which can access its own selected sample sequence, independent of the selections by other channels. Waveform sample readout by the channels occurs substantially simultaneously during a transmit event, producing a transmit beam from a transmit aperture with different pulse waveforms applied to different elements of the transmit aperture. Higher energy waveforms with wider pulse widths are applied to central elements of the aperture and lower energy waveforms with narrower pulse widths are applied to lateral elements of the aperture to produce an apodized transmit beam.

Ultrasound imaging system with transmit apodization

Systems and methods for reducing speckle while maintaining frame rate are disclosed. Multiple sub-images associated with different receive angles are acquired for a single transmit/receive event at an observation angle. The sub-images are compounded to generate a final image with reduced speckle. In some examples, multiple sub-images from multiple transmit/receive events are compounded to generate the final image. The observation angle and/or the receive angles may vary between transmit/receive events in some examples.

Methods and systems for speckle reduction in ultrasound images by compounding sub-images associated with different receive angles

Systems, devices, and methods for ultrasonic imaging by sparse sampling are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system comprises an array of ultrasound transducer elements, electronic circuitry in communication with the array of ultrasound transducer elements and configured to select a first receive aperture of the array comprising a plurality of contiguous ultrasound transducer elements and at least one non-contiguous ultrasound transducer element, and a beamformer in communication with the electronic circuitry. Each ultrasound transducer element of the first receive aperture is configured to receive reflected ultrasound echoes and generate an electrical signal representative of imaging data. The beamformer is configured to receive the electrical signals generated by the first receive aperture and apply different weight to the electrical signals generated by the contiguous ultrasound transducer elements and the electrical signal generated by the at least one non-contiguous ultrasound transducer element.

Ultrasonic imaging by sparse sampling and associated devices, systems, and methods

An ultrasound imaging system for needle insertion guidance uses a curved array transducer to scan an image field with unsteered beams as a needle is inserted into the image field. Due to differences in the angle of incidence between the radially directed beams and the needle, echoes will return most strongly from only a section of the needle. This section is identified in an image, and the angle of incidence producing the strongest returns is identified. Beams with this optimal angle of incidence are then steered in parallel from the curved array transducer to produce the best needle image. The steep steering angles of some of the steered beams can give rise to side lobe clutter artifacts, which can be identified and removed from the image data using dual apodization processing of the image data.

Ultrasound imaging system providing needle insertion guidance

An ultrasound system includes a transducer array having three or more rows of transducer elements extending in the azimuth dimension and located adjacent to each other in the elevation dimension. The rows have different mechanical foci in the elevation dimension, with an inner row elevationally focused in the near field and outer rows elevationally focused in the far field. When the user is imaging a subject in the near field, the system beamformer transmits with the inner row with a near field elevation focus. When imaging in the far field a plurality of rows elevationally focused in the far field are used for transmission. When the user is imaging in the mid-range, the beamformer uses both the inner row and the plurality of outer rows to provide an extended mid-range elevation focus.

Ultrasound imaging system with depth-dependent transmit focus

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Bothell, WA, United States of America

Changhong Hu