Patent ID: 6544177
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
A harmonic ultrasonic spatially compounded diagnostic imaging system, comprising:a transducer array; a transmitter coupled to the transducer array, the transmitter applying transmit signals to the transducer array at a fundamental frequency, the transmit signals causing the transducer array to direct ultrasonic signals toward a target from a plurality of different look directions; a receive beamformer coupled to the transducer array, the beamformer generating echo signals from the target at each of the plurality of different look directions responsive to the ultrasonic signals being directed toward the look direction; a filter receiving the echo signals and passing echo signals having a frequency that are a harmonic of the fundamental frequency; and a compound image processor coupled to the filter to receive the echo signals passed by the filter, the image processor spatially compounding the received echo signals from each of the different look directions to form a spatially compounded image.