Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and method of operating the same
Inventors
Kim, Kang-Sik • KIM, Bae-hyeong • Song, Jong-Keun
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12220277-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array in which a plurality of transducers that transmit/receive an ultrasound signal to/from an object are arranged in two dimensions; an analog beamformer configured to perform analog beamforming in a first direction, and perform analog beamforming in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on signals respectively received by the plurality of transducers; and a digital beamformer configured to perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction, and perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction.
Core Innovation
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus uses a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array with transducers arranged in two dimensions to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from an object. The apparatus performs analog beamforming in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on signals respectively received by the transducers, and the analog-beamformed signals in each direction are then used as input to a digital beamformer.
The apparatus includes a digital beamformer that performs digital beamforming on the analog-beamformed signals from the first direction and on the analog-beamformed signals from the second direction. An image processor generates a first ultrasound image using a signal obtained by digital-beamforming the signals analog-beamformed in the first direction, and generates a second ultrasound image using a signal obtained by digital-beamforming the signals analog-beamformed in the second direction.
The apparatus outputs the first and second ultrasound images as perpendicular object cross-sections, where the first cross-section is perpendicular to the second cross-section. The apparatus also supports user interaction in which a user selection of a region of interest from a first ultrasound image is used to display a second ultrasound image that contains the selected region of interest.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent claims, an apparatus claim and a method claim. Across both independent claims, the inventive concept is defined by direction-wise analog beamforming in two perpendicular directions followed by direction-wise digital beamforming to generate two ultrasound images.
Perpendicular-direction analog beamforming on 2D array signals
A two-dimensional (2D) transducer array with transducers arranged in two dimensions is used to perform analog beamforming in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on signals respectively received by the plurality of transducers.
Direction-wise digital beamforming for image generation
A digital beamformer performs digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction and on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction.
First and second ultrasound images from direction-wise digital-beamformed signals
An image processor generates a first ultrasound image by using a signal obtained by digital-beamforming the signals analog-beamformed in the first direction, and generates a second ultrasound image by using a signal obtained by digital-beamforming the signals analog-beamformed in the second direction.
Analog and digital beamforming in a method of operation
In operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, analog beamforming is performed in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first on signals respectively received by the plurality of transducers, followed by performing digital beamforming on the signals analog-beamformed in the first direction and performing digital beamforming on the signals analog-beamformed in the second direction.
Generating two ultrasound images from perpendicular-direction signals
A first ultrasound image is generated by using a signal obtained by digital-beamforming the signals analog-beamformed in the first direction, and a second ultrasound image is generated by using a signal obtained by digital-beamforming the signals analog-beamformed in the second direction.
Both independent claims define an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and its operation in which a 2D transducer array is used for analog beamforming in two perpendicular directions, then digital beamforming is performed separately for each direction to generate a first and a second ultrasound image.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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