Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
System and Method of Beamforming in Pulse-echo Ultrasound Imaging
Technology Category/Market
Category – Medical Imaging and Healthcare
Applications – Medical Imaging and Healthcare
Industry – Medical Device Manufacturers
Market – The global ultrasound market has an estimated CAGR of 6.3% and a revenue size in the of $8.5 billion in 2023.
Image
Problem Statement
- Ultrasound imaging is crucial for diagnostics due to its safety, real-time imaging, and high resolution.
- Traditional Conventional Focused Transmit (CFT) has limited lateral resolution except at the focus.
- Synthetic Aperture (SA) techniques like Synthetic Transmit Aperture (STA) and Multi-element Synthetic Transmit Aperture (MSTA) improve lateral resolution but suffer from poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and depth penetration.
- The problem is to explore Backprojection (BP) as an alternative beamforming method for SA-based ultrasound imaging to enhance SNR and depth while maintaining high resolution.
Technology
- The present invention discloses a pulse echo ultrasound imaging system and a method of beamforming in the pulse echo ultrasound imaging system.
- For a Synthetic Transmit Aperture (STA) transmitting ultrasound diverging beams over a target, reflection data are received and stored in matrices for a plurality of transmit firings. (Fig. 1 & 2)
- Image reconstruction is performed by weighting the backscattered echo signal and backprojecting on an ellipsoidal shell and averaging for every combination of transmit-receive pair.
- The method implements an elliptical backprojection (EBP) formula that is derived from solving linear wave equation for STA.
- For a Multi element Synthetic Transmit Aperture – Diverging beam (MSTA-DB) the eccentricity map is further modified with a virtual source placed behind the transducer. (Fig. 3)
Key Features/Value Proposition
Enhanced Image Quality:
- The invention improves image quality by providing better Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR) compared to conventional methods, making it invaluable for accurate diagnostics.
Superior Lateral Resolution:
- The method offers superior lateral resolution, ensuring that detailed structures are clearly visualized, aiding in more precise medical assessments.
Efficient Data Processing:
- By utilizing matrices to store reflection data and implementing an elliptical backprojection (EBP) formula, the system optimizes data processing, enabling efficient and rapid image reconstruction.
Adaptability:
- The technique is adaptable for both Synthetic Transmit Aperture (STA) and Multi-element Synthetic Transmit Aperture – Diverging beam (MSTA-DB) systems, making it versatile for various ultrasound imaging applications.
Competitive Advantage:
- This innovation provides a competitive edge in the field of ultrasound imaging, potentially leading to improved patient care and better clinical outcomes.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
Research Lab
Prof. Arun K. Thittai
Department of Applied Mechanics & Biomedical Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 1595
- IN 380859 – Patent Granted
Technology Readiness Level
TRL – 4
Technology validated in lab scale.