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Publication Number
US-11879973-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
Various approaches for focusing an ultrasound transducer include introducing at least one transient acoustic reflector located in proximity to at least one target region; generating multiple sonications to the at least one target region; measuring a reflection signal of each of the sonications off the at least one transient acoustic reflector; selecting the measured reflection signals, and based at least in part on the selected reflection signals, adjusting a parameter value associated with at least one of the transducer elements so as to improve an ultrasound focus at the target region.
Core Innovation
The disclosed approach focuses an ultrasound transducer on at least one target region using an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements that provide sonications to the target region. The system generates a plurality of sonications to the target region and measures a reflection signal from at least one transient acoustic reflector located in proximity to the target region.
The controller selects the measured reflection signals based at least in part on criteria including an amplitude ratio of processed signals associated with sets of consecutive measurements, a distance between at least one of the transducer elements and the at least one target region, a noise level associated with the reflection signals, or consistency therebetween. The selection uses processed signals from consecutive measurements to identify reflection signals likely associated with transient acoustic reflector events.
Based at least in part on the selected reflection signals, the controller adjusts a parameter value associated with at least one of the transducer elements so as to improve an ultrasound focus at the target region. Consistent reflector locations are computationally shifted to a coincident point, and the controller computes transducer element amplitude/phase parameters to compensate aberrations, with optional updating based on comparison to a sonication location estimated using CT images and a physical model.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim reciting a system-level ultrasound focusing method driven by selecting reflection signals from transient acoustic reflectors using amplitude-ratio, distance, noise-level, and/or consistency criteria, followed by adjusting transducer-element parameters to improve focus. Dependent claims further refine preprocessing, selection logic using thresholds and noise-based rules, multi-target repeat logic, and consistency function forms with weighting factors and phase terms.
Ultrasound system with transient acoustic reflector-based focusing
A system for focusing an ultrasound transducer comprising an ultrasound transducer with a plurality of transducer elements providing sonications to at least one target region and a controller configured to generate a plurality of sonications, measure a reflection signal of each sonication off at least one transient acoustic reflector located in proximity to the at least one target region, select the measured reflection signals based at least in part on an amplitude ratio of processed signals associated with sets of consecutive measurements, a distance between at least one transducer element and the at least one target region, a noise level associated with the reflection signals, or consistency therebetween, and adjust a parameter value associated with at least one transducer element so as to improve an ultrasound focus at the target region.
Overall claim coverage centers on selecting reflection signals associated with transient acoustic reflectors near the target region using amplitude ratio over consecutive measurements, element-to-target distance, noise level, and/or consistency, then adjusting transducer-element parameters to improve the ultrasound focus.
Stated Advantages
Improves an ultrasound focus at the target region.
Documented Applications
Autofocusing an ultrasound transducer on a target region using transient acoustic reflectors located in proximity to the target region, including integration with imaging devices such as CT for sonication location estimation.
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