Three-Dimensional (3D) and/or Four-Dimensional (4D) Ultrasound Imaging

摘要

An ultrasound imaging system (100) includes at least first and second arrays (108) of transducer elements, which are angularly offset from each other in a same plane. Transmit circuitry (112) excites the first and second arrays to concurrently transmit over a plurality of angles. Receive circuitry (114) controls the first and second arrays to concurrently receive echo signals over the plurality of angles. An echo processor (116) processes the received signals, producing a first data stream for the first array and a second data stream for the second array. The first and second data streams include digitized representations of the received echo signals. A sample matcher (118) compares samples of the first and second data streams and determines a cross-correlation there between. A correlation factor generator (120) that generates a correlation factor signal based on the determined cross-correlation. A scan converter (122) generates a 3D image for display based on the correlation factor signal and the first and second data streams.

主权项

1. An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
at least two 1D arrays of transducer elements, including a first array of transducer elements and a second array of transducer elements angularly offset from each other in a same plane; transmit circuitry that excites the first and second arrays of transducer elements to concurrently transmit over a plurality of angles; receive circuitry that controls the first and second arrays of transducer elements to concurrently receive echo signals over the plurality of angles; an echo processor that processes the received signals, producing a first data stream for the first array and a second data stream for the second array, wherein the first and second data streams include digitized representations of the received echo signals; a sample matcher that compares samples of the first and second data streams and determines a cross-correlation there between; a correlation factor generator that generates a correlation factor signal based on the determined cross-correlation; and a scan converter that generates a 3D image based on the correlation factor signal and the first and second data streams.