# US 8,784,318 B1 · Aberration correction using channel data in ultrasound imaging system

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- Number: US 8,784,318 B1
- Document ID: US8784318B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 11/492,557
- Filed: 2006-07-24
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2005-07-22
- Assignees: Zonare Medical Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: David J. Napolitano; Ching-Hua Chou; Ting-Lan Ji; Brian Derek DeBusschere; Glen W. McLaughlin; Larry Y. L. Mo; Robert W. Steins
- Inventors: David J. Napolitano; Ching-Hua Chou; Ting-Lan Ji; Brian Derek DeBusschere; Glen W. McLaughlin; Larry Y. L. Mo; Robert W. Steins
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784318B1

## CPC

- A61B 8/5207: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image}
- A61B 8/145: {characterised by scanning multiple planes}
- A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer}
- A61B 8/461: {Displaying means of special interest}
- A61B 8/469: {for selection of a region of interest}
- A61B 8/5269: {involving detection or reduction of artifacts}
- A61B 8/585: {Automatic set-up of the device}
- G01N 29/4463: {Signal correction, e.g. distance amplitude correction [DAC], distance gain size [DGS], noise filtering}
- G01S 7/52046: {Techniques for image enhancement involving transmitter or receiver (image enhancement by image data processing G06T5/00)}
- G01S 7/52049: {using correction of medium-induced phase aberration}
- G06T 7/97: {Determining parameters from multiple pictures (depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85)}
- G06T 12/10: Image preprocessing, e.g. calibration, positioning of sources or scatter correction
- A61B 8/00: Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B 8/467: {characterised by special input means}
- A61B 8/488: {involving Doppler signals}
- A61B 8/58: {Testing, adjusting or calibrating the diagnostic device}
- G01S 7/52085: {Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences (control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54)}
- G01S 7/52095: {using multiline receive beamforming}
- G06T 5/50: using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
- G06T 2207/10132: Ultrasound image
- G06T 2207/20172: Image enhancement details
- G06T 2207/30004: Biomedical image processing
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- 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
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an ultrasound scanner equipped with an image data processing unit that can perform adaptive parameter optimization during image formation and processing. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises a channel data memory to store channel data obtained by digitizing ultrasound image data produced by an image scan; an image data processor configured to process the stored channel data in the memory to reconstruct an ultrasound image for each of a plurality of trial values of at least one parameter to be optimized; and a parameter optimization unit configured to evaluate an image quality of the reconstructed ultrasound image for each trial value of the at least one parameter, and to determine the optimized value of the at least one parameter based on the evaluated image quality.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of processing data for generating an ultrasound image, the method comprising the steps, carried out during an ultrasound examination, of:
obtaining a set of channel data by digitizing ultrasound image data produced by an ultrasound scanner in performing an image scan;
storing the set of channel data in a computer-readable storage medium, the set of stored channel data representing at least a selected image region of a frame of channel data;
for the set of stored channel data,
reconstructing a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to a plurality of trial values of at least one parameter to be optimized using the same set of stored channel data in the computer-readable storage medium for each of the plurality of trial values;
evaluating an image quality of the reconstructed ultrasound image for each trial value of the at least one parameter including computing one or more image focus quality parameters wherein computing one or more image focus quality parameters comprises providing a focus quality spectrum of the reconstructed ultrasound image based on the reconstructed ultrasound image for that trial value;
determining the optimized value of the at least one parameter based on the evaluated image quality including determining the optimal value of the at least one parameter to be optimized by comparing the one or more image focus quality parameters; and
using the optimized value in connection with processing of additional channel data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating the image quality comprises computing a figure of merit for the reconstructed ultrasound image for each trial value of the at least one parameter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising performing actual imaging using the optimized value of the at least one parameter to produce an image frame.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the obtaining, storing, reconstructing, evaluating, and determining are performed in real time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one parameter includes one or more of:
a sound speed through an object being scanned, the sound speed being used to process the channel data to produce an image frame from the image scan;
transmit control parameters for a transmitter of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of transmit waveform, aperture function, delay profile, and pulsed repetition frequency for one or more imaging modes;
electronic array focusing parameters for a receiver of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of front end filter, front end gain, and receive aperture function as a function of time/depth and the time delay profiles for image reconstruction; or
image processing parameters for an image data processor of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of display dynamic range, gray or color maps, and spatial/temporal filtering.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein:
evaluating the image quality comprises selecting an image region for evaluation; and
the one or more image focus quality parameters are used to maximize an overall lateral spatial resolution of the selected image region due to improved focusing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the focus quality spectrum Qf(s,c) is selected from one of:
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### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one parameter comprises a sound speed through an object being scanned, the sound speed being used to process the channel data to produce an image frame from the image scan, the image frame having an image scaling; further comprising:
altering transmit and/or receive focusing of the image scan based upon an optimized sound speed, while maintaining the image scaling of the image frame in spite of a change in the sound speed.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step, performed after storing the channel data, of ceasing obtaining channel data while reconstructing the plurality of ultrasound images, evaluating the image quality of each of the reconstructed ultrasound images, and determining the optimized value of the at least one parameter.

### Claim 10

A method of processing data for generating an ultrasound image, the method comprising the steps, carried out during an ultrasound examination, of:
obtaining multiple sets of channel data by digitizing ultrasound image data produced by an ultrasound scanner in performing an image scan;
storing the multiple sets of channel data in a computer-readable storage medium, each set of stored channel data representing at least a selected image region of a respective frame of channel data;
for each particular set of stored channel data,
reconstructing a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to a plurality of trial values of at least one parameter to be optimized using that same particular set of stored channel data in the computer-readable storage medium for each of the plurality of trial values;
for each of the plurality of reconstructed ultrasound images based on that particular set of stored channel data, evaluating an image quality of that reconstructed ultrasound image by computing a figure of merit for that reconstructed ultrasound image;
determining the optimized value of the at least one parameter by combining the figures of merit for the multiple sets of channel data to provide combined figures of merit; and
using the optimized value in connection with further processing of additional channel data.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein obtaining channel data by digitizing ultrasound image data is ceased while ultrasound images are reconstructed, image qualities are evaluated, and the optimized value of the at least one parameter is determined.

### Claim 12

An ultrasound system comprising:
a channel data memory to store a set of channel data obtained by digitizing ultrasound image data produced by an image scan;
an image data processor configured to process, for a set of stored channel data representing at least a selected image region of a particular frame of channel data, the same set of stored channel data in the memory to reconstruct a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to a plurality of trial values of at least one parameter to be optimized; and
a parameter optimization unit configured to
compute one or more image focus quality parameters in order to evaluate an image quality for each of the plurality of reconstructed ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of trial values of the at least one parameter, wherein the parameter optimization unit is configured to provide a focus quality spectrum of the image for use in computing the one or more image focus quality parameters,
determine the optimized value of the at least one parameter based on the evaluated image quality by comparing the one or more image focus quality parameters, and
provide the optimized value for use in connection with processing of additional channel data.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The ultrasound system of claim 12 wherein the parameter optimization unit is configured to evaluate the image quality by computing a figure of merit for the reconstructed ultrasound image for each trial value of the at least one parameter.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The ultrasound system of claim 12 wherein the image data processor is configured to perform actual imaging using the optimized value of the at least one parameter to produce an image frame, and further comprising a display to display the produced image frame.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The ultrasound system of claim 12 wherein the at least one parameter includes one or more of:
a sound speed through an object being scanned, the sound speed being used to process the channel data to produce an image frame from the image scan;
transmit control parameters for a transmitter of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of transmit waveform, aperture function, delay profile, and pulsed repetition frequency for one or more imaging modes;
electronic array focusing parameters for a receiver of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of front end filter, front end gain, and receive aperture function as a function of time/depth and the time delay profiles for image reconstruction; or
image processing parameters for an image data processor of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of display dynamic range, gray or color maps, and spatial/temporal filtering.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The ultrasound system of claim 12 wherein:
the parameter optimization unit is configured to select an image region for evaluation; and
the one or more image focus quality parameters are used to maximize an overall lateral spatial resolution of the selected image region due to improved focusing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The ultrasound system of claim 12 wherein the focus quality spectrum Qf(s,c) is selected from one of:
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### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The ultrasound system of claim 12 wherein:
the parameter optimization unit is configured to evaluate the image quality by computing a figure of merit for the reconstructed ultrasound image for each trial value of the at least one parameter;
multiple sets of channel data are stored by the channel data memory, and processed by the image data processor and the parameter optimization unit; and
the parameter optimization unit is configured to combine the figure of merits for the multiple sets of channel data to provide a combined figure of merit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The ultrasound system of claim 12 wherein obtaining channel data by digitizing ultrasound image data is ceased while the image data processor processes the stored channel data and the parameter optimization unit computes the one or more image focus quality parameters and determines the optimized value of the at least one parameter.

### Claim 20

An ultrasound system comprising:
a channel data memory to store multiple sets of channel data obtained by digitizing ultrasound image data produced by an image scan, each set of stored channel data representing at least a selected image region of a respective particular frame of channel data;
an image data processor configured to process each set of stored channel data in the memory to reconstruct for that set of stored channel data a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to a plurality of trial values of at least one parameter to be optimized; and
a parameter optimization unit including a parameter optimization program stored in a computer readable storage medium;
wherein the parameter optimization program includes
code for evaluating, for each set of stored channel data, an image quality of each of the plurality of reconstructed ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of trial values of the at least one parameter including code for computing, for each set of stored channel data, a figure of merit for each of the plurality of reconstructed ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of trial values of the at least one parameter,
code for determining the optimized value of the at least one parameter based on the evaluated image quality including code for combining the figures of merit for the multiple sets of channel data to provide combined figures of merit, and
code for providing the optimized value for use in connection with processing of additional channel data.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The ultrasound system of claim 20 wherein code for evaluating the image quality comprises code for computing a figure of merit for the reconstructed ultrasound image for each trial value of the at least one parameter.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The ultrasound system of claim 20 wherein the at least one parameter includes one or more of:
a sound speed through an object being scanned, the sound speed being used to process the channel data to produce an image frame from the image scan;
transmit control parameters for a transmitter of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of transmit waveform, aperture function, delay profile, and pulsed repetition frequency for one or more imaging modes;
electronic array focusing parameters for a receiver of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of front end filter, front end gain, and receive aperture function as a function of time/depth and the time delay profiles for image reconstruction; or
image processing parameters for an image data processor of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of display dynamic range, gray or color maps, and spatial/temporal filtering.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The ultrasound system of claim 20 wherein the parameter optimization program further includes code for selecting an image region for evaluation.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The ultrasound system of claim 23 wherein:
the code for evaluating the image quality comprises code for computing one or more image focus quality parameters; and
the code for determining the optimized value comprises code for determining the optimal value of the at least one parameter to be optimized by comparing the one or more image focus quality parameters.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The ultrasound system of claim 24 wherein the one or more image focus quality parameters are used to maximize an overall lateral spatial resolution of the selected image region due to improved focusing.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The ultrasound system of claim 20 wherein obtaining channel data by digitizing ultrasound image data is ceased while ultrasound images are reconstructed, image qualities are evaluated, and the optimized value of the at least one parameter is determined.

### Claim 27

An ultrasound system comprising:
a channel data memory to store multiple sets of channel data obtained by digitizing ultrasound image data produced by an image scan, each set of stored channel data representing at least a selected image region of a respective frame of channel data;
means for processing the multiple sets of stored channel data in the memory to reconstruct, for each set of stored channel data, a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to a plurality of trial values of at least one parameter to be optimized;
means for evaluating, for each set of stored channel data, an image quality of each of the plurality of reconstructed ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of trial values of the at least one parameter including means for computing a figure of merit for each of the plurality of reconstructed ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of trial values of the at least one parameter;
means for determining the optimized value of the at least one parameter based on the evaluated image quality including means for combining the figures of merit for the multiple sets of channel data to provide combined figures of merit; and
means for providing the optimized value for use in connection with processing of additional channel data.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The ultrasound system of claim 27 wherein the at least one parameter includes one or more of:
a sound speed through an object being scanned, the sound speed being used to process the channel data to produce an image frame from the image scan;
transmit control parameters for a transmitter of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of transmit waveform, aperture function, delay profile, and pulsed repetition frequency for one or more imaging modes;
electronic array focusing parameters for a receiver of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of front end filter, front end gain, and receive aperture function as a function of time/depth and the time delay profiles for image reconstruction; or
image processing parameters for an image data processor of the ultrasound scanner to specify at least one of display dynamic range, gray or color maps, and spatial/temporal filtering.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The ultrasound system of claim 27 wherein the image quality is represented by one or more image focus quality parameters are used to maximize an overall lateral spatial resolution of the selected image region due to improved focusing.

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

The ultrasound system of claim 27 wherein obtaining channel data by digitizing ultrasound image data is ceased while ultrasound images are reconstructed, image qualities are evaluated, and the optimized value of the at least one parameter is determined.

### Claim 31

An ultrasound system comprising:
a channel data memory configured to store a set of channel data obtained by digitizing ultrasound image data produced by an image scan, the set of stored channel data representing at least a selected image region of a frame of channel data;
means for processing the set of stored channel data in the memory to reconstruct a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to a plurality of trial values of at least one parameter to be optimized; and
means for evaluating an image quality of each of the plurality of reconstructed ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of trial values of the at least one parameter including means for computing a figure of merit for each of the plurality of reconstructed ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of trial values of the at least one parameter;
means for determining the optimal value of the at least one parameter by comparing the figures of merit for the plurality of reconstructed ultrasound images; and
means for providing the optimized value for use in connection with processing of additional channel data.