Patent Document ID: 20140286552
Application ID: 14215201
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. Apparatus for producing image data representing a specimen being imaged using ultrasound, comprising a processor and memory, wherein said processor is configured to: receive input data representing an output from an ultrasound probe; process said input data to produce output image data; and output said output image data; said processor being configured to carry out said step of processing said input data by: obtaining a first matrix that is dependent upon attributes of said probe and upon the way in which said input data was produced; obtaining a constant; evaluating a second matrix using said first matrix and said constant; initialising an estimate of the mean of the distribution of said image data using said first matrix and said input data; initialising estimates of echogenicity of said image data and variance of noise of said image data; iteratively performing the following steps until a predetermined level of convergence is reached: (a) update said estimate of the mean of the distribution of said image data using: said first matrix, a respective said estimate of said echogenicity, a respective said estimate of said variance of said noise, and said input data, and (b) update said estimate of the echogenicity and said estimate of the variance of the noise using said updated estimate of the mean of the distribution of said image data, wherein said processor is configured to perform at least one iteration of step (a) using an algorithm that is preconditioned with said second matrix; and using a converged estimate of the mean of the distribution of said image data to produce said output image data.