System and method for optimized spatio-temporal sampling
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a system and method for spatial compounding on an ultrasound platform to achieve optimized spatio-temporal sampling. This is accomplished by a system and method for mixing the order of steered and straight rays fired within a frame. In one embodiment this is accomplished by changing the firing sequence so that the target region is sampled in subsequent lines as opposed to subsequent frames. Using this approach it is possible to minimize the temporal image artifacts caused by the compounding process. This effectively changes the ray firing sequence to move the location of minimal temporal difference to the desired target point.
1. A method of forming an ultrasound image based upon image forming rays transmitted into a subject, said method comprising:
mixing an order of said rays fired within a beam frame, said mixing comprising:
adjusting a ray firing sequence of particular rays to move a location of optimized temporal difference between different rays of a common frame to a desired region of interest in said subject;
asymmetrically spacing said frame's rays so that paths of said frame's rays intersect at a plurality of points having different depths within said subject to provide a region of interest encompassing said different depths; and
wherein said frame comprises at least one loop having a loop length defined by equation: loop length=round(tan(steer angle)*screen depth/2)/pitch)*line density and wherein at least one other loop has a loop length defined by equation: loop length=(total elements*line density)−2*loop length.
2. A method of forming an ultrasound image based upon image forming rays transmitted into a subject, said method comprising:
mixing an order of said rays fired within a beam frame, said mixing comprising:
adjusting a ray firing sequence of particular rays to move a location of optimized temporal difference between different rays of a common frame to a desired region of interest in said subject;
asymmetrically spacing said frame's rays so that paths of said frame's rays intersect at a plurality of points having different depths within said subject to provide a region of interest encompassing said different depths; and
wherein said frame comprises:
loop 1, which is a loop of steered left rays;
loop 2, which is a loop of steered left rays and steered straight rays;
loop 3, which is a loop of steered left rays, steered right rays and steered straight rays;
loop 4, which is a loop of steered right rays and steered straight rays;
loop 5, which is a loop of steered right rays, wherein a length of loops 1, 2, 4 and 5 are defined, by equation: loop length=round(tan(steer angle)*screen depth/2)/pitch*line density and wherein the length of loop 3 is defined by equation: loop length=(total elements*line density)−2*loop length.