Medison Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Industry-university Cooperation Foundation Sogang University

Tai Kyong Song

Yang Mo Yoo

Jae Sub Hwang

Jin Ho Chang

Kang Sik Kim

Min Hwa Lee

Jae Hee Song

Seong Min Jin

Young Kwan Jeong

Choye Kim

Dong Yeul Kim

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to improve picture quality of images by automatically adjusting image parameters, and a control method thereof are provided. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an image signal processor to perform envelope detection processing on ultrasound image data, and an image parameter processor to calculate a Time Gain Compensation (TGC) parameter from the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data, adjust the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data based on the TGC parameter, and calculate a Dynamic Range (DR) parameter from the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data adjusted based on the TGC parameter to apply the DR parameter to the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data.

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and control method thereof

The present invention discloses an ultrasound imaging system and method based on simultaneous multiple transmit-focusing using the weighted orthogonal chirp signals so that resolution of an ultrasound image is enhanced without sacrifice in the frame rate. The ultrasound imaging system according to the present invention includes: a storing means for storing weighted orthogonal signals including N number of orthogonal codes wherein the orthogonal codes are orthogonal to each other; a transmitter for transmitting simultaneously the weighted orthogonal signals as ultrasound transmission signals to corresponding N number of focal points within the target object; a receiver for receiving signals reflected from the N number of focal points corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound signals; a pulse-compressor for pulse-compressing with respect to each orthogonal code by extracting the stored N number of orthogonal codes from the reflected signals; a producer for producing receive-focused signals from the pulse-compressed signals; and a display for displaying the receive-focused signals by processing them. As a result, transmission signals are simultaneously transmitted to the plurality of focal points and received signals are separated on reception, thereby improving resolution without sacrifice in the frame rate.

Ultrasound imaging system and method based on simultaneous multiple transmit-focusing using weighted orthogonal chirp signals

An ultrasound imaging system and method for making a harmonic image of a good SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) by effectively removing fundamental frequency components through a pulse-compressing using weighted chirp signals, is provided. The ultrasound imaging system includes: a transducer array for converting weighted chirp signals to ultrasound signals, and transmitting the ultrasound signals to a target object; a receiver for receiving signals reflected from the target object; a pulse-compressor for selectively pulse-compressing fundamental frequency components or harmonic frequency components in the reflected signals; and a producer for producing receive-focused signals from the pulse-compressed signals. Therefore, the ultrasound imaging system can form ultrasound image using the fundamental frequency components, and can form ultrasound harmonic image using the harmonic frequency components according to 2fo-correlation method or 2fo-correlation (PI) method.

Ultrasound imaging system and method using weighted chirp signals

A three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging system performs receive-focusing at voxels corresponding to pixels of a display device. The system comprises a display device; transducers for transmitting ultrasound signals toward the object and receiving echo signals from a voxel corresponding to a pixel on the display device, wherein the voxel is on a scanning region of the object; an RF volume memory for storing signals from the transducers; a signal processor for processing the stored signals to obtain 3D data sets with respect to the voxel; and an image former for forming the 3D image.

Three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system for performing receive-focusing at voxels corresponding to display pixels

Planar waves are transmitted to a target object with an angle of wave propagation corresponding to a center position of a receive subaperture. The echo signals reflected from the target object are received by the receive subaperture, stored in a receive pattern memory and dynamic-focused. The dynamic-focused signals are then combined to form at least one beam pattern to produce an ultrasound image.

Synthetic aperture focusing method for ultrasound imaging based on planar waves

All RF data received by transducers in response to an ultrasonic signal that was transmit-focused on a point along a predetermined scan lines are stored to compute display data for those points of an object that do not necessarily correspond to the pixels of the screen of a display device. For the determination of display data for each pixel point, reflected ultrasonic signals from multiple points around the point of interest are found and used to detect the peak of a waveform constituted by the reflected ultrasonic signals. With this scheme, the distortion due to conventional interpolation used for a limited number of scan lines can be greatly reduced.

Ultrasound imaging system for performing receiving focusing at points corresponding to display pixels and method thereof

An ultrasound imaging method forms an image of an object using signals reflected from the object after transmitting an ultrasound pulse to the object. In the method, at a first step, a predetermined first spread spectrum signal is converted to the ultrasound signal at one or more transducers and the ultrasound signal is transmitted to the object. At a second step, pulse compression is performed on a reflected signal of the ultrasound signal reflected from the object to form a pulse compressed signal. And the pulse compressed signal is processed to produce a receive-focused signal and the image of the object from the receive-focused signal is generated.

Ultrasound imaging method and apparatus based on pulse compression technique using a spread spectrum signal

Ultrasound images are obtained using a set of Golay codes with orthogonal property as ultrasound receiving and transmitting signals. Ultrasound signals having a plurality of codes are transmitted simultaneously by using the orthogonal property of the Golay codes. A superior signal-to-noise rate (SNR) is realized using the Golay codes, without suffering a decrease in the frame rate.

Ultrasound imaging apparatus and method using Golay codes with orthogonal property

A storing method of a RF ultrasound pulse echo and a medical digital ultrasonic imaging apparatus capable of re-using the stored RF ultrasound pulse echo store and focus each RF ultrasound pulse echo received from a plurality of transducer elements in order to implement an ultrasonic image of at least one frame. Then, the stored RF ultrasound pulse echoes are analyzed, to thereby control the system according to the analysis result, which results in implementation of an optimal ultrasonic image.

Medical digital ultrasonic imaging apparatus capable of storing and reusing radio-frequency (RF) ultrasound pulse echoes

An ultrasound imaging method for forming an image of an object using received signals reflected from the object, received after transmitting an ultrasound pulse to the object. The inventive method comprises the steps of (a) transmitting a first set of the ultrasound pulses to the object by applying voltages according to a first code of a pair of modified Golay codes to one or more transducers; (b) performing pulse compression on a first set of reflected signals of the first set of the ultrasound pulses reflected from the object; (c) transmitting a second set of the ultrasound pulses to the object by applying the voltages according to a second code of the pair of the modified Golay codes to said one or more transducers; (d) performing pulse compression on a second set of reflected signals of the second set of the ultrasound pulses reflected from the object; (e) adding the pulse compressed signals of the first and the second sets of the reflected signals; (f) producing a receive-focused signal by using the added signal; and (g) displaying the image according to the receive-focused signal after signal processing.

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Seoul, South Korea

Tai Kyong Song