System and method for equalizing received intravascular ultrasound echo signals

摘要

A system and method are disclosed for providing an equalized ultrasound echo signal for the rendering intravascular images. The system includes an ultrasound catheter including an ultrasound transducer probe. An intravascular ultrasound console receives an ultrasound echo signal corresponding to reflections of an ultrasound signal by backscatterers. An ultrasound echo signal time-gain compensation equalizer compensates the ultrasound echo signal according to sub-bands within a frequency response spectrum of the ultrasound echo signal. After applying selective amplifier gains on the sub-bands, the sub-band signals are combined to create an equalized ultrasound echo signal.

主权项

1. A method of rendering intravascular images comprising:
performing a first time-gain compensation on an ultrasound echo signal to accommodate for a drop in the ultrasound echo signal as a function of distance; and performing a second time-gain compensation on the ultrasound echo signal according to sub-bands within a frequency response spectrum of the ultrasound echo signal, the second time-gain compensation comprising:
separating, using an odd-numbered set of band-pass filters, the ultrasound echo signal into a set of frequency band-specific signal components, wherein frequency bands of adjacent band-pass filters partially overlap and wherein the middle band-pass filter of the odd-numbered set of band-pass filters covers a center frequency of the transducer portion of the catheter,applying frequency band-specific amplifier gains to the set of frequency band-specific signal components to create a set of gain compensated frequency band-specific components, andcombining the set of gain compensated frequency band-specific components to create an equalized ultrasound echo signal; and displaying an intravascular image based on the equalized ultrasound echo signal.