Ultrasound imaging apparatus and methods

Ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising an ultrasound scanner and a separate ultrasound data processor:

• the ultrasound scanner comprising:
• one or more ultrasound sources and receivers,
• transmit circuitry configured to apply electrical signals to the ultrasound sources to transmit ultrasound pulses into a scan region,
• receive circuitry configured to measure ultrasound echoes received at the ultrasound receivers from the scan region,
• a beam processor configured to process the measured ultrasound echoes and output ultrasound frame data, the ultrasound frame data comprising measurements of ultrasound echoes from each of a series of scan positions in the scan region,
• a data compressor configured to process ultrasound frame data output by the beam processor to generate compressed ultrasound frame data, and
• a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the compressed ultrasound frame data;
• the ultrasound data processor comprising:
• a wireless receiver configured to receive the compressed ultrasound frame data transmitted by the wireless transmitter,
• a data decompressor configured to decompress compressed ultrasound frame data received by the wireless transmitter,
• an image processor configured to process decompressed data output by the data decompressor to form ultrasound images of the scan region, and
• a display interface wherein
• the ultrasound frame data comprises ultrasound line data portions which specify the measured strength of ultrasound echoes received by one or more ultrasound receivers from a series of spaced apart positions along a line and the data compressor is configured to output compressed ultrasound frame data in which each individual ultrasound line is compressed separately.