Processing circuitry, system and method to test pixels in an ultrasonic imaging device based on comparing a baseline pixel performance dataset with a current pixel performance dataset

A method comprising:

• determining a current pixel performance dataset for one or more pixels within a transducer array of pixels located adjoining a first medium with a first acoustic impedance Z1, the transducer array within an imaging device, the current pixel performance dataset comprising waveforms obtained from a current pixel performance receive cycle of the one or more pixels against a second medium with a second acoustic impedance Z2 larger than Z1;
• performing a comparison of the current pixel performance dataset with a baseline pixel performance dataset for the one or more pixels, the baseline pixel performance dataset comprising waveforms obtained from a baseline pixel performance receive cycle of the one or more pixels against the second medium, wherein implementation of the current pixel performance receive cycle and of the baseline pixel performance receive cycle is performed without alignment of the second medium with respect to the imaging device, wherein performing the comparison comprises comparing at least one of respective amplitudes, ringdown characteristics, phases, or ringing patterns as between waveforms of the current pixel performance dataset and waveforms of the baseline pixel performance dataset pattern;
• and
• determining a defective pixel dataset for one or more defective pixels of the one or more pixels based on the comparison;
• displaying a pixel heatmap visualization to a user of the imaging device, the pixel heatmap visualization based on the defective pixel dataset.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

• determine a current pixel performance dataset for one or more pixels within a transducer array of pixels located adjoining a first medium with a first acoustic impedance Z1, the transducer array within an imaging device, the current pixel performance dataset comprising waveforms obtained from a current pixel performance receive cycle of the one or more pixels against a second medium with a second acoustic impedance Z2 larger than Z1;
• perform a comparison of the current pixel performance dataset with a baseline pixel performance dataset for the one or more pixels, the baseline pixel performance dataset comprising waveforms obtained from a baseline pixel performance receive cycle of the one or more pixels against the second medium, wherein implementation of the current pixel performance receive cycle and of the baseline pixel performance receive cycle is performed without alignment of the second medium with respect to the imaging device, wherein performing the comparison comprises comparing at least one of respective amplitudes, ringdown characteristics, phases, or ringing patterns as between waveforms of the current pixel performance dataset and waveforms of the baseline pixel performance dataset pattern;
• and
• determine a defective pixel dataset for one or more defective pixels of the one or more pixels based on the comparison;
• and
• cause a pixel heatmap visualization to be displayed, the pixel heatmap visualization based on the defective pixel dataset.