Patent ID: 7658713
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method for imaging with synthetic elevation aperture processing, the method comprising: (a) acquiring first data representing a first volume of a patient in a first mode; (b) generating at least a first image as a function of the first data, the generating of the first image and acquiring of the first data being free of synthetic elevation processing; (c) acquiring second data representing a second volume of the patient in a second mode, the second mode including synthetic elevation aperture processing, the second mode different than the first mode; and (d) generating at least a second image as a function of the second data; wherein (a) and (c) are performed in a same imaging session with (a) and (b) being used to survey for a location of a region of interest and (c) and (d) being used for imaging the region of interest after the survey using (a) and (b); wherein (a) comprises acquiring with a first elevation focus and a first elevation aperture step size and wherein (c) comprises acquiring with a second elevation focus wider than the first elevation focus and a second elevation aperture step size smaller than the first elevation aperture step size.