Method and apparatus for adaptive focusing in a medical ultrasound imaging apparatus

Patent 4817614 Issued on April 4, 1989. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 19, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3805596

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Patent #: 4395909
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Method and apparatus for ultrasonically scanning a subject with an ultrasound head Patent #: 4691570
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Inventors

Assignee

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Application

No. 07/087046 filed on 08/19/1987

US Classes:

600/441, Having B-scan and Doppler73/625Having plural sonic type transmitter or receiver transducers

Examiners

Primary: Jaworski, Francis J.
Assistant: Manuel, George

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Hill, Van Santen, Steadman & Simpson

International Classes

G01S 15/00 (20060101)
G01S 15/89 (20060101)
G01H 17/00 (20060101)
G01S 7/52 (20060101)

Foreign Application Priority Data

1986-08-20 DE

Abstract

A sectional plane of the examination subject is first scanned by focused ultrasound transmission beams in an adaptation phase. Disturbing effects from the reflected echo signals which are caused by the inhomogenities in the tissue are thereby measured. In this adaptation phase, correction values for the delay time of the signals of the elemental transducers of the ultrasound array in comparison to the standard focusing are also derived from the measured values. In a following B-image imaging phase, the delay times of the active aperture are then varied dependent on the correction values during the emission and/or during reception. The disturbing effects are thereby compensated. A method and apparatus are disclosed which are especially well-suited for linear array systems and for patients having inhomogeneous tissues.

Other References

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