Methods and systems for filtering ultrasound image clutter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020081107-A1
Application number	US-201816493149-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2018
Priority date	Mar 13, 2017
Publication date	Mar 12, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention provides a method for generating a filtered ultrasound image. The method begins by obtaining channel data. First and second apodization functions are applied to the channel data to generate first (610) and second (620) image data, respectively. A minimization function is then applied to the first (610) and second (620) image data, which may then be used to generate third (630) image data. The filtered ultrasound image may then be generated based on the first (610) and third (630) image data.

First claim

1 . A method for generating a filtered ultrasound image, the method comprising:
obtaining channel data from an ultrasonic transducer array; generating first image data from the channel data using a first apodization function; generating second image data from the channel data using a second apodization function, wherein the second apodization function comprises a null filter; applying a minimizing function to the first and second image data; generating third image data based on the minimized first and second image data; and generating the filtered ultrasound image based on the first and third image data, wherein the generation of the filtered ultrasound image comprises:
subtracting the pixel values of the third image data from the pixel values of the first image data, thereby generating filtered pixels; and
constructing the filtered ultrasound image using the filtered pixels.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the minimization function comprises:
comparing the first and second image data; and for each pair of pixels from the first and second image data, selecting a pixel with the minimum pixel value based on the comparison.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the generation of the third image data comprises:
constructing the third image data using the selected pixels.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises performing a log compression on the filtered ultrasound image.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the method, after the step of preforming a log compression on the filtered ultrasound image, further comprises:
applying a spatial low pass filter to the first image data; applying a spatial low pass filter to the filtered ultrasound image; generating a detail component of the first image data by subtracting the spatial low pass filtered first image data from the first image data; and combining the detail component of the first image data with the spatial low pass filtered version of the filtered ultrasound image.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first apodization function comprises a rectangular function.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a scaling factor of the second apodization function is variable.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises applying DAS beamforming to the first and second image data, the DAS beamforming comprising:
before the steps of generating the first and second image data, delaying the channel data; after the steps of generating the first and second image data, summing the first image data and summing the second image data, respectively.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises applying envelope detection to the first and second image data.

10 . A computer program comprising computer program code means which is adapted, when said computer is run on a computer, to implement the method of claim 1 .

11 . A controller for generating a filtered ultrasound image in an ultrasound system, wherein the controller is coupled to an ultrasonic transducer array and adapted to:
obtain channel data from the ultrasonic transducer array; generate first image data from the channel data using a first apodization function; generate second image data from the channel data using a second apodization function, wherein the second apodization function comprises a null filter; apply a minimizing function to the first and second image data; generate third image data based on the minimized first and second image data; and generate the filtered ultrasound image based on the first and third image data, wherein during the generation of the filtered ultrasound image the controller is further adapted to:
subtract the pixel values of the third image data from the pixel values of the first image data, thereby generating filtered pixels; and
construct the filtered ultrasound image using the filtered pixels.

12 . An ultrasound system comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer array, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array is capable of emitting and receiving ultrasonic signals, based on which channel data are obtained; a signal processor for compiling the received ultrasonic signals into an ultrasound image; a controller as claimed in claim 11 ; and an image output device for outputting the filtered ultrasound image.

13 . The ultrasound system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the ultrasound system further comprises:
a filter design processor, wherein the filter design processor is adapted to alter the second apodization function.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Shin Jun Soeb
• Kim Seungsoo
• Vignon Francois Guy Gerard Marie
• Huang Sheng-Wen
• Robert Jean-Luc Francois-Marie

Classifications

• G01S7/52047 Primary

  for elimination of side lobes or of grating lobes; for increasing resolving power · CPC title

• G01S15/8915

  using a transducer array · CPC title