# US 2017/0287129 A1 · Image generation apparatus and image generation method

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- Number: US 2017/0287129 A1
- Document ID: US20170287129A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/473,056
- Filed: 2017-03-29
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Ryoki WATANABE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170287129A1

## CPC

- G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection}
- A61B 8/14: Echotomography
- A61B 8/4218: {characterised by articulated arms}
- A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe}
- A61B 8/5207: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image}
- G01S 7/52036: {using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation}
- G06T 5/00: Image enhancement or restoration
- A61B 8/461: {Displaying means of special interest}
- A61B 8/467: {characterised by special input means}
- G06T 2207/10132: Ultrasound image
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

An image generation apparatus includes an arithmetic processing unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on a received signal obtained by receiving a reflected wave from a subject of an ultrasonic wave incident on the subject. The arithmetic processing unit calculates an attenuation feature value at each position in an incidence direction of the ultrasonic wave based on the received signal, performs signal processing on the attenuation feature value at each position in the incidence direction, and generates an attenuation feature image using the attenuation feature value subjected to the signal processing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image generation apparatus comprising:
an arithmetic processing unit that generates an ultrasonic image based on a received signal obtained by receiving a reflected wave from a subject of an ultrasonic wave incident on the subject,
wherein the arithmetic processing unit performs
calculation of an attenuation feature value at each position in an incidence direction of the ultrasonic wave based on the received signal,
signal processing on the attenuation feature value at each position in the incidence direction, and
generation of an attenuation feature image using the attenuation feature value subjected to the signal processing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the signal processing includes normalization of the attenuation feature value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the signal processing includes differentiation of the attenuation feature value in the incidence direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The image generation apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the generation of the attenuation feature image includes identification display of a portion in which a predetermined abrupt drop condition indicating that the differentiated attenuation feature value is considerably dropped in the incident direction is satisfied.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the arithmetic processing unit further performs control of superimposition display or parallel display of the ultrasonic image and the attenuation feature image.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the calculation of the attenuation feature value is calculation of an attenuation correction value for cancelling attenuation of the received signal using an incident signal strength of the ultrasonic wave and a reception signal strength of the reflected wave.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the calculation of the attenuation feature value is calculation of an attenuation strength value of the received signal using an incident signal strength of the ultrasonic wave and a reception signal strength of the reflected wave.

### Claim 8

An image generation method of generating an ultrasonic image based on a received signal obtained by receiving a reflected wave from a subject of an ultrasonic wave incident on the subject, the method comprising:
calculating an attenuation feature value at each position in an incidence direction of the ultrasonic wave based on the received signal;
performing signal processing on the attenuation feature value at each position in the incidence direction; and
generating an attenuation feature image using the attenuation feature value subjected to the signal processing.