Siemens Medical Systems, Inc.

Patrick L Von Behren

Jian-Feng Chen

Lin-Xin Yao

David J Thomas

An ultrasound system (50) estimates the speed of sound in the tissue (60) under examination. The ultrasound system obtains a series of test images (150) using different estimates of the speed of sound in the body tissue. For each image produced, the ultrasound system computes a function that is indicative of image quality for one or more regions of interest (152) in the test image. The image quality function exhibits a minimum or maximum when computed for a region of interest obtained at a speed of sound substantially equal to a true speed of sound in the tissue. The ultrasound system selects the test image having the minimum or maximum function value and obtains subsequent images of the tissue using the speed of sound used to obtain the test image selected.

Ultrasound system for estimating the speed of sound in body tissue

An ultrasound imaging system comprises a position location array adapted to be affixed to a surface layer of an imaging subject. The position location array comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed in a grid pattern within a flexible substrate. An imaging transducer having at least one element is operable to provide an acoustic pulse through the position location array and the surface layer in response to a driving signal and to provide a corresponding return signal in response thereto. A receiver is coupled to the imaging transducer to receive the return signal from the at least one element and provide a beamformed signal. A processor coupled to the receiver and the position location array forms an image from the beamformed signal that includes position coordinates that correspond to an intersection between the acoustic pulse and associated ones of the plurality of electrodes.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Patrick L Von Behren