Patent ID: 7998073
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method for reducing noise in an ultrasound image obtained using an ultrasound transducer, the ultrasound image containing a plurality of digitized scan lines, each of the digitized scan lines including a plurality of linearly arranged samples, the method comprising the steps of: dividing the digitized scan line into a plurality of pixels; determining, in a processor, a raw intensity level for each pixel based on amplitude characteristics of J samples of the digitized scan line corresponding to that pixel; determining, in the processor, an adjustment factor for each pixel based on spectral characteristics of K samples of the digitized scan line, wherein K is greater than J and wherein the K samples include samples of the digitized scan line corresponding to that pixel plus a plurality of additional samples of the digitized scan line from neighboring pixels; generating, in the processor, an output intensity level for each pixel based on the raw intensity level of the pixel and the adjustment factor of the pixel; and displaying an output image in which intensity of pixels in the output image is based on the output intensity level generated in the generating step.