Patent ID: 8591418
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling the gains of a time-gain compensation (TGC) amplifier to output signals to a beamformer of an ultrasound system, of a lateral variable gain amplifier, of an elevation gain amplifier, and of an axial variable gain amplifier of the ultrasound system comprising: receiving ultrasound signals; calculating an axial gain compensation curve, a lateral gain compensation curve and an elevation gain compensation curve based on the received ultrasound signals; combining the axial gain compensation curve with axial combination gain curve data comprising a first TGC amplifier gain and a first axial amplifier gain to generate new axial combination gain curve data; determining a first portion of the new axial combination gain curve data to apply to the TGC amplifier, and a second portion of the new axial combination gain curve gain data to apply to the axial variable gain amplifier; combining the lateral gain compensation curve with lateral combination gain curve data comprising a second TGC amplifier gain and a first lateral amplifier gain to generate new lateral combination gain curve data; combining the elevation gain compensation curve with elevation combination gain curve data comprising a third TGC amplifier gain and a first elevation amplifier gain to generate new elevation combination gain curve data; determining a first portion of the new lateral combination gain curve data to apply to the TGC amplifier, and a second portion of the new lateral combination gain curve data to apply to the lateral variable gain amplifier; determining a first portion of the new elevation combination gain curve data to apply to the TGC amplifier, and a second portion of the new elevation combination gain curve gain data to apply to the elevation variable gain amplifier; combining the first portion of the new axial combination gain curve data, the first portion of the new lateral combination gain curve data, and the first portion of the new elevation combination gain curve data to create new TGC amplifier data; distributing the new TGC amplifier data to the TGC amplifier; distributing the second portion of the new axial combination gain curve data to the axial variable gain amplifier; distributing the second portion of the new lateral combination gain curve gain data to the lateral variable gain amplifier; and distributing the second portion of the new elevation combination gain curve gain data to the elevation variable gain amplifier.