# US 2024/0188933 A1 · Filtering and apodization combination for ultrasound image generation and associated systems, methods, and devices

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- Number: US 2024/0188933 A1
- Document ID: US20240188933A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/286,467
- Filed: 2022-04-15
- Published: 2024-06-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-26
- Assignees: Philips Image Guided Therapy Corporation
- Applicants: Philips Image Guided Therapy Corporation
- Inventors: Yiqun YANG; Andrew HANCOCK; David HOPE SIMPSON; Francois Guy Gerard Marie VIGNON; Jun Seob SHIN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240188933A1

## CPC

- A61B 8/5207: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image}
- A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters
- A61B 8/4488: {the transducer being a phased array}
- A61B 8/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display}
- A61B 8/5269: {involving detection or reduction of artifacts}
- A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device}
- B06B 1/0207: {Driving circuits (specially adapted for particular applications, see the relevant subclass, e.g. G01; circuits for steering transducer arrays G10K11/34; basic circuits H03)}
- G01S 7/52047: {for elimination of side lobes or of grating lobes; for increasing resolving power}
- G01S 15/8922: {the array being concentric or annular}
- G01S 15/8927: {using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures}
- G10K 11/346: {using phase variation}
- B06B 1/0292: {Electrostatic transducers, e.g. electret-type}
- B06B 1/0607: {using multiple elements (B06B1/064 and B06B1/0688 take precedence)}
- B06B 2201/76: Medical, dental
- G01S 7/52077: {with means for elimination of unwanted signals, e.g. noise or interference}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)
- 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
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An ultrasound imaging system may include an array of acoustic elements and a processor circuit. The array may be configured to transmit ultrasound energy and receive echoes. The processor circuit may be configured to generate first image data based on a first filtering and apodization of ultrasound signals associated with the received echoes and to generate second image data based on a second filtering and apodization of the ultrasound signals. The first image data is associated with a first resolution, and the second image data is associated with a second resolution. The processor circuit may be configured to generate an ultrasound image based on the first and second image data such that the ultrasound image includes a different, third resolution, where each of the first. second, and third resolution includes a respective axial and a respective lateral resolution, and to output the ultrasound image to a display.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
an array of acoustic elements configured to transmit ultrasound energy and receive echoes associated with the ultrasound energy; and
a processor circuit in communication with the array of acoustic elements and configured to:
generate first image data based on performing a first filtering and a first apodization of ultrasound signals associated with the received echoes, wherein the first image data is associated with a first resolution;
generate different, second image data based on performing a second filtering and a second apodization of the ultrasound signals, wherein the second image data is associated with a second resolution;
generate an ultrasound image based on the first image data and the second image data such that the ultrasound image comprises a third resolution different than at least one of the first resolution or the second resolution, wherein each of the first resolution, the second resolution, and the third resolution comprises a respective axial resolution and a respective lateral resolution; and
output the generated ultrasound image to a display in communication with the processor circuit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein:
the first filtering of the ultrasound signals comprises a first filter configured to emphasize a center frequency of the ultrasound signals with respect to an off-center frequency of the ultrasound signals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 2, wherein:
the second filtering of the ultrasound signals comprises a second filter configured to emphasize the off-center frequency of the ultrasound signals with respect to the center frequency of the ultrasound signals.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit is configured to generate the ultrasound image further based on a minimum intensity projection (MIP) operation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:
perform the first apodization with respect to a first aperture; and
perform the second apodization with respect to a different, second aperture.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the first apodization comprises a first apodization function configured to:
weight ultrasound signals corresponding to a first subset of the array of acoustic elements with a first weight; and
weight ultrasound signals corresponding to a different, second subset of the array of acoustic elements with a second weight less than the first weight,
wherein the first subset corresponds to one or more acoustic elements within a distance to a center of an aperture and the second subset corresponds to one or more acoustic elements outside the distance.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 6, wherein the second apodization comprises a second apodization function configured to:
weight the ultrasound signals corresponding to the first subset with a third weight; and
weight the ultrasound signals corresponding to the second subset of the array of acoustic elements with a fourth weight greater than the third weight.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:
generate third image data based on performing a third filtering and a third apodization of ultrasound signals, wherein the third image data is different than the first image data and the second image data, and
wherein the processor circuit is configured to generate the ultrasound image further based on the third image data.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the second filtering comprises a depth-dependent filtering.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:
adjust at least one of a gain of the first image data or a gain of the second image data such that a mean level intensity of the first image data and a mean level intensity of the second image data are equal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of a grating lobe or a Gibbs ringing artifact is reduced within the ultrasound image in comparison with the first image data or the second image data.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit is configured to generate the first image data using a first signal pathway and generate the second image data using a second signal pathway.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit is configured to generate the ultrasound image further based on performing envelope detection.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit is configured to generate the ultrasound image further based on performing scan conversion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit comprises a graphics processing unit (GPU).

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the axial resolution of the third resolution exceeds the axial resolution of at least one of the first resolution or the second resolution and the lateral resolution of the third resolution exceeds the lateral resolution of at least one of the first resolution or the second resolution.

### Claim 17

A method, comprising:
controlling, by a processor circuit, an array of acoustic elements in communication with the processor circuit to transmit ultrasound energy and receive echoes associated with the ultrasound energy;
generating, by the processor circuit, first image data based on performing a first filtering and a first apodization of ultrasound signals associated with the received echoes, wherein the first image data is associated with a first resolution;
generating, by the processor circuit, different, second image data based on performing a second filtering and a second apodization of the ultrasound signals, wherein the second image data is associated with a second resolution;
generating, by the processor circuit, an ultrasound image based on the first image data and the second image data such that the ultrasound image comprises a third resolution different than at least one of the first resolution or the second resolution, wherein each of the first resolution, the second resolution, and the third resolution comprises a respective axial resolution and a respective lateral resolution; and
outputting, by the processor circuit, the generated ultrasound image to a display in communication with the processor circuit.