Method and apparatus for processing ultrasound signals
AssigneeVingmed Sound A/S
InventorKjell Kristoffersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for processing ultrasound signals. An approximation signal is generated to approximate an undesirable component of an input signal. The input signal may represent an ultrasound (e.g., Doppler) echo from a body. The approximation signal is used to remove the undesirable component from the input signal, leaving an output signal, which may be further processed by an ultrasound measurement and/or imaging system.
Claims44
A circuit in an ultrasound system to process signals within the frequency band of a Doppler signal, said circuit comprising:
- an input circuit to receive an input signal, said input signal comprising a first component and a second component;
- a signal generator coupled to said input circuit, said signal generator generates an approximation signal of said first component;
- and
- a subtractor coupled to said input circuit and to said signal generator, said subtractor subtracts said approximation signal from said input signal to provide an output signal, wherein said output signal represents an approximation of said second component.
A method in an ultrasound system to process signals within the frequency band of a Doppler signal, said method comprising:
- receiving an input signal, said input signal comprising a first component and a second component;
- and
- generating an approximation signal to subtract from said input signal to provide an output signal, wherein said approximation signal represents an approximation of said first component, and wherein said second component represents the output signal.
An apparatus for processing Doppler signals associated with an ultrasound imaging system, said apparatus comprising:
- input means for receiving a Doppler signal;
- and
- circuit means for generating an output signal to be used for generating a display, said circuit means comprising:
- generating means for generating an approximation signal corresponding to at least a first Doppler shifted component of said Doppler signal;
- and
- output means for receiving said approximation signal and said Doppler signal, said output means generating said output signal, said output signal represents said Doppler signal having an approximation of said first Doppler shifted component substantially removed therefrom.
A method to reduce the dynamic range of signals processed in an ultrasound system, said method comprising:
- generating an approximation signal which indicates a component of a Doppler signal;
- and
- based on said approximation signal, removing said component from said input signal.
A dynamic range reduction circuit to process an input signal associated with an ultrasound system, said input signal comprising a first Doppler shifted component and a second Doppler shifted component, said circuit comprising:
- a signal generate or to generate an approximation signal to approximate said first Doppler shifted component of said input signal;
- and
- a subtractor coupled to an input circuit and to said signal generator, said subtractor subtracts said approximation signal from said input signal to provide an output signal, wherein said output signal represents an approximation of said second Doppler shifted component of said input signal, and wherein said subtractor comprises a time-dependent settling mechanism.
In an ultrasound diagnostic method for processing echo ultrasound signals reflected from a body, the echo ultrasound signals containing a tissue component and a blood flow component, the method comprising the improvement of:
- generating a tissue approximation signal based on at least one quadrature reference signal;
- and
- combining an echo ultrasound signal with the tissue approximation signal to substantially remove a tissue component from the echo ultrasound signal to produce an output signal representing an approximation of a blood flow component of the echo ultrasound signal.
In an ultrasound diagnostic system for processing echo ultrasound signals reflected from a body, the echo ultrasound signals containing a tissue component and a blood flow component, the system comprising the improvement of:
- a generator for generating the tissue approximation signal based on at least one
- quadrature reference signal;
- and
- a combiner for combining the echo ultrasound signal with the tissue approximation signal to substantially remove the tissue component from the echo ultrasound signal to produce an output signal representing an approximation of the blood flow component of the echo ultrasound signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.