Method and apparatus for coherent image formation

An apparatus for creating an ultrasonic image of an object, said apparatus comprising:

• means for acquiring coherent samples representative of an ultrasonic signal from an object on a plurality of receive beams;
• and
• means for using a plurality of the coherent samples on spatially distinct receive beams to synthesize new coherent samples on synthetic scan lines which are spatially distinct from said spatially distinct receive beams.

An apparatus for creating an ultrasonic image of an object, said apparatus comprising:

• a beam former system operative to acquire coherent samples representative of an ultrasonic signal from an object on a plurality of receive beams, said coherent samples characterized by substantial beam-to-beam coherence;
• and
• a synthetic signal generator responsive to a plurality of the coherent samples on spatially distinct receive beams to synthesize new samples on synthetic scan lines which are spatially distinct from said spatially distinct receive beams.

An apparatus for creating an ultrasonic image of an object, said apparatus comprising:

• a beam former system operative to acquire coherent samples representative of an ultrasonic signal from an object on a plurality of receive beams;
• and
• a synthetic signal generator responsive to a plurality of the coherent samples on spatially distinct receive beams to synthesize new coherent samples on synthetic scan lines which are spatially distinct from said spatially distinct receive beams.

A method for creating an ultrasonic image of an object, said method comprising the following steps:

• acquiring coherent samples representative of an ultrasonic signal from an object on a plurality of receive beams, said coherent samples characterized by substantial beam-to-beam coherence;
• and
• using a plurality of the coherent samples on spatially distinct receive beams to synthesize new samples on synthetic scan lines which are spatially distinct from said spatially distinct receive beams.

A method for creating an ultrasonic image of an object, said method comprising the following steps:

• acquiring coherent samples representative of an ultrasonic signal from an object on a plurality of receive beams;
• and
• using a plurality of the coherent samples on spatially distinct receive beams to synthesize new coherent samples on synthetic scan lines which are spatially distinct from said spatially distinct receive beams.

A method for ultrasonic three dimensional imaging of an object, said method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring a three dimensional data set of coherent samples of signals representative of a signal from an object;
• and
• generating synthetic samples from the coherent samples on synthetic scan lines which are spatially distinct from receive scan lines on which a signal was reflected from the object.

A method for three dimensional medical imaging of an object using an ultrasound signal, said method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring a three dimensional data set of coherent samples representative of a signal from an object, wherein said acquiring step includes acquiring samples from an object from successive multiple excitation events on one or more receive beams on receive scan lines, which signal was initially transmitted to an object by a beam on one of a plurality of transmit scan lines as a field of view of the object is scanned;
• and
• using the coherent samples to synthesize new samples on synthetic scan lines which are spatially distinct from receive scan lines on which the signal was reflected from the object.

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus for imaging of an object, said apparatus comprising:

• means for acquiring a three dimensional data set of coherent samples representative of a signal from an object;
• and
• means for using the coherent samples to synthesize new samples on synthetic scan lines which are spatially distinct from receive scan lines on which a signal was received from the object.

A method for ultrasonic imaging of an object, said method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring coherent samples of signals representative of a signal from an object;
• and
• generating synthetic samples from the coherent samples on synthetic scan lines which are spatially distinct from receive scan lines on which a signal was reflected from the object.