Ultrasound system performing simultaneous parallel computer instructions

Abstract

An ultrasound system comprises a front end subsystem and a back end subsystem. The back end subsystem processes data samples representative of the echo signals from the front end subsystem. The back end subsystem includes at least one microprocessor with registers that simultaneously store at least two data samples. The microprocessor performs parallel common arithmetic or logic instructions upon at least two ultrasound data samples in one register. The microprocessor may be configured to scan convert polar data samples to Cartesian pixel values. During scan conversion, one register simultaneously stores multiple polar data samples and another register simultaneously stores coefficients associated with the polar data samples. The microprocessor multiplies corresponding data samples and coefficients, and sums the product of the parallel multiplication operations in order to produce a Cartesian data sample associated with a pixel to be displayed on an image arranged in a Cartesian coordinate pattern. The microprocessor may be configured to perform parallel arithmetic instructions to carry out auto-correlation operations, such as during Color Doppler signal processing. To do so, the registers store simultaneously multiple data samples representative of echo signals received from the same physical point from several transmissions. The registers each store the same data samples except that the data samples are shifted in the registers with respect to one another. During the parallel common arithmetic instructions, the microprocessor multiplies the data samples within the first and second registers and sums the products of the multiplication operations as part of an autocorrelation operation. The microprocessor may be reconfigured to perform blending operations two-dimensional greyscale images (B-mode) and Color Doppler images for a region of interest.