The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 07, 1997
Larry Y Mo, Waukesha, WI (US);
Steven C Miller, Pewaukee, WI (US);
General Electric Company, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for adaptively enhancing the B-mode image during post-detection image processing in an ultrasound imaging system. A low pass filter which smooths out speckle and a high pass filter which enhances edges are placed in parallel signal paths connected to the output of an envelope detector in a B-mode processor. The signals in the high pass filter path are logarithmically compressed before high pass filtering. The signals in the low pass filter path are logarithmically compressed after low pass filtering. Respective weighting factors are applied to the low- and high-pass-filtered signals by an adaptive weighting device, which may take the form of a processor or a look-up table. The weighted low- and high-pass-filtered signals are then summed and optionally input to an anti-aliasing low pass filter before decimation and scan conversion.