Patent ID: 7549963
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: A61B,G01S,G03B

Abstract:
1. A method for ultrasound beamforming data from a region received at an array, the method comprising: receiving signals at a plurality, N, of elements, the signals responsive to a region of a patient; filtering first and second sets of data responsive to the signals, first and second pass bands of the filtering for the first and second sets of data, respectively, being a function of first and second different beam steering directions, respectively; decimating the first and second sets of the filtered data; repeating the filtering and decimating for each of the first and second sets of the decimated data, each of the first and second sets corresponding to a beam wherein the repetition narrows a beamwidth associated with each of the respective beams of the first and second sets, the repeating providing multiple data sets for each of the first and second data sets, the data of each of the multiple data sets having the narrowed beamwidth relative to the respective first and second data sets; and generating an image as a function of the data of each of the multiple data sets.