Filtering and apodization combination for ultrasound image generation and associated systems, methods, and devices

1 . An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:

an array of acoustic elements configured to transmit ultrasound energy and receive echoes associated with the ultrasound energy; and

a processor circuit in communication with the array of acoustic elements and configured to:

receive, from the array of acoustic elements, ultrasound signals associated with the received echoes, wherein the ultrasound signals correspond to at least one aperture of the array of acoustic elements;

process the same ultrasound signals in different signal processing pathways to generate an individual ultrasound image; and

output the individual ultrasound image to a display in communication with the processor circuit,

wherein, to process the same ultrasound signals in the different signal processing pathways, the processor circuit is configured to:

generate, in a first signal processing pathway, first image data based on applying a first filter to the same ultrasound signals and performing a first apodization on the same ultrasound signals, wherein the first filter is configured to emphasize a first set of frequencies of the same ultrasound signals, wherein the first filter is distinct from the first apodization, wherein the first apodization is configured to emphasize a first portion of the same ultrasound signals corresponding to one or more acoustic elements comprising a first physical location within the at least one aperture;

generate, in a different, second signal processing pathway, different, second image data based on applying a second filter to the same ultrasound signals and performing a second apodization on the same ultrasound signals, wherein the second filter is configured to emphasize a different, second set of frequencies of the same ultrasound signals, wherein the second filter is distinct from the second apodization, wherein the second apodization is configured to emphasize a second portion of the same ultrasound signals corresponding to one or more acoustic elements comprising a different, second physical location within the at least one aperture;

generate the individual ultrasound image based on a combination of the first image data and the second image data.

2 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the processor circuit is configured to perform a minimum intensity projection (MIP) operation on the first image data and the second image data,

wherein the MIP operation is configured to reduce at least one of a side lobe artifact, a grating lobe artifact, or a Gibbs ringing artifact in the individual ultrasound image.

3 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one aperture comprises a first aperture and a different, second aperture,

wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

perform the first apodization with respect to the first aperture; and

perform the second apodization with respect to the second aperture.

4 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first apodization comprises a first apodization function configured to:

apply a first weight to the same ultrasound signals corresponding to the one or more acoustic elements comprising the first physical location within the at least one aperture; and

apply a second weight less than the first weight to the same ultrasound signals corresponding to the one or more acoustic elements comprising the second physical location within the at least one aperture.

5 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 4 , wherein the second apodization comprises a second apodization function configured to:

apply a third weight to the same ultrasound signals corresponding to the one or more acoustic elements comprising the first physical location within the at least one aperture; and

apply a fourth weight greater than the third weight to the same ultrasound signals corresponding to the one or more acoustic elements comprising the second physical location within the at least one aperture.

6 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the processor circuit is further configured to generate third image data based on applying a third filter to the same ultrasound signals and performing a third apodization on the same ultrasound signals,

wherein the third image data is different than the first image data and the second image data, and

wherein the processor circuit is configured to generate the individual ultrasound image further based on the third image data.

7 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the processor circuit is configured to provide a depth-dependent filtering,

wherein, to provide the depth-dependent filtering, the processor circuit is configured to:

divide the same ultrasound signals based on a first depth, a second depth, and a third depth, wherein the first depth is closer to the array of acoustic elements than the second depth and the third depth; and

at least one of:

apply the first filter to ultrasound signals of the first depth and apply the second filter to ultrasound signals of the second depth; or

apply a first version of the second filter to the ultrasound signals of the second depth and a second version of the second filter to ultrasound signals of the third depth.

8 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

adjust at least one of a gain of the first image data or a gain of the second image data such that a mean level intensity of the first image data and a mean level intensity of the second image data are equal.

9 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to generate the individual ultrasound image further based on performing envelope detection.

10 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to generate the individual ultrasound image further based on performing scan conversion.

11 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit comprises a graphics processing unit (GPU).

12 . A method, comprising:

controlling an array of acoustic elements in communication with a processor circuit to transmit ultrasound energy and receive echoes associated with the ultrasound energy;

receiving, from the array of acoustic elements, ultrasound signals associated with the received echoes, wherein the ultrasound signals correspond to at least one aperture of the array of acoustic elements;

processing the same ultrasound signals in different signal processing pathways to generate an individual ultrasound image; and

outputting the individual ultrasound image to a display in communication with the processor circuit,

wherein processing the same ultrasound signals in the different signal processing pathways comprises:

generating, in a first signal processing pathway, first image data based on applying a first filter to the same ultrasound signals and performing a first apodization on the same ultrasound signals, wherein the first filter emphasizes a first set of frequencies of the same ultrasound signals, wherein the first filter is distinct from the first apodization, wherein the first apodization emphasizes a first portion of the same ultrasound signals corresponding to one or more acoustic elements comprising a first physical location within the at least one aperture;

generating, in a different, second signal processing pathway, different, second image data based on applying a second filter to the same ultrasound signals and performing a second apodization on the same ultrasound signals, wherein the second filter emphasizes a different, second set of frequencies of the same ultrasound signals, wherein the second filter is distinct from the second apodization, wherein the second apodization emphasizes a second portion of the same ultrasound signals corresponding to one or more acoustic elements comprising a different, second physical location within the at least one aperture;

generating the ultrasound image based on a combination of the first image data and the second image data.

13 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the second apodization comprises a whitened apodization.

14 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the second apodization is configured to provide a second lateral resolution to the second image data,

wherein the second lateral resolution exceeds a first lateral resolution of the first imaging data.

15 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the second filter comprises a whitened filter.

16 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the second filter is configured to provide a second axial resolution to the second image data,

wherein the second axial resolution exceeds a first axial resolution of the first imaging data.

17 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 ,

further comprising an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheter configured to be positioned inside a blood vessel of a patient,

wherein the IVUS catheter comprises the array of acoustic elements in a circumferential arrangement.

18 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein an axial resolution of the individual ultrasound image exceeds an axial resolution of the first image data and an axial resolution of the second image data, and

wherein a lateral resolution of the individual ultrasound image exceeds a lateral resolution of the first image data and a lateral resolution of the second image data.

19 . The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the first physical location is within a distance to a center of the at least one aperture such that the one or more acoustic elements corresponding to the first physical location comprise one or more center acoustic elements,

wherein the second physical location is outside the distance such that the one or more acoustic elements corresponding to the second physical location comprise one or more off-center acoustic elements.