Ultrasound image enhancement and super-resolution
AssigneeEagleyemed Inc.
InventorHarish P. HIRIYANNAIAH
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques to improve resolution in an ultrasound system are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus is a portable ultrasound probe having transducer elements and supporting electronics within the probe. The beam is shaped to split the resolution to sub-pixel accuracy. Super resolution sample technique based on interpolation can be used to further increase resolution. In one embodiment the ultrasound system supports ½ crystal physical resolution and ¼ crystal digital resolution.
Claims30
A method of providing super-resolution in an ultrasound imaging system having a handheld probe including piezoelectric transducer having an array of piezoelectric crystals, comprising:
- generating ultrasound pulses, including generating high voltage pulses within the handheld probe in a firing sequence selected to drive the array of piezoelectric transducer crystals such that the gain and a delay of each high voltage pulse coupled to the array of piezoelectric transducer crystals splits the resolution to sub-pixel accuracy;
- detecting reflected ultrasound pulses;
- performing scan conversion within the handheld probe;
- and
- outputting ultrasound images.
An ultrasound probe, comprising:
- a housing;
- an array of piezoelectric transducers disposed in a transducer head detachable attached to the housing, wherein each piezoelectric transducer in the array includes a piezoelectric crystal;
- a beamformer disposed in the housing, the beamformer including beam forming and control electronics to shape a gain and a delay of high voltage pulses coupled to the array of the piezoelectric transducers with a firing sequence selected to generate a transmitted ultrasound beam shape that splits the resolution to sub-pixel accuracy;
- and
- scan conversion electronics to convert detected reflected ultrasound pulses into ultrasound images.
An ultrasound probe, comprising,
- a housing;
- an array of piezoelectric transducers disposed in a transducer head detachably attached to the housing, wherein each piezoelectric transducer in the array includes a piezoelectric crystal;
- beamforming means to shape a gain and a delay of high voltage pulses coupled to the array of the piezoelectric transducers with a firing sequence to generate a transmitted ultrasound beam shape that splits the resolution to sub-pixel accuracy;
- and
- scan conversion means including interpolation means to increase a number of samples in scan conversion.
A method of providing super-resolution in an ultrasound imaging system having a handheld probe including piezoelectric transducer having an array of piezoelectric crystals, comprising:
- generating ultrasound pulses, including generating high voltage pulses within the handheld probe in a firing sequence to drive the array of piezoelectric transducer crystals is selected such that a gain and a delay of each high voltage pulse coupled to the array of piezoelectric transducer crystals splits the resolution to sub-pixel accuracy;
- detecting reflected ultrasound pulses;
- performing scan conversion within the handheld probe for detected reflected ultrasound pulses, including performing, in a scan line domain, interpolation of samples for scan line processing used to reconstruct the ultrasound image;
- and
- outputting ultrasound images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.