US 11,864,949 B2
Beamforming in ultrasound imaging systems to correct for refraction of ultrasound by transducer elements
Michael Hansen, Bothell, WA (US)
Assigned to FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC., Bothell, WA (US)
Filed by FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC., Bothell, WA (US)
Filed on Jul. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/943,959.
Prior Publication US 2022/0031286 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/5207 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4281 (2013.01); A61B 8/4494 (2013.01); A61B 8/488 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
transmitting a set of ultrasound waves to towards a target area, wherein:
the set of ultrasound waves are transmitted by a set of ultrasound elements; and
the set of ultrasound elements are positioned at different locations in a transducer assembly;
receiving a set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves from the target area, wherein the set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves are received by the set of ultrasound elements;
determining a set of correction values for the set of ultrasound elements,
wherein a correction value of the set of correction values represents a refraction of a reflection of the set of reflections as the reflection passes through a lens of a respective ultrasound element of the set of ultrasound elements,
wherein at least one correction value of the set of correction values is determined from a first curve stored in a memory that represents the correction value for a path of a reflection of the set of reflections through the lens of the respective ultrasound element as a function of depth of the target area,
wherein the first curve is selected based on a first angle of transmission of the set of ultrasound waves towards the target area relative to a skin surface to determine the at least one correction value of the set of correction values for the set of ultrasound elements based on the depth of the target area,
wherein the correction value of the set of correction values representing the refraction of the reflection of the set of reflections as the reflection passes through the lens of the respective ultrasound element of the set of ultrasound elements is greater for a near field imaging of the target area at the depth that is smaller than the depth for a far field imaging of the target area; and
generating imaging data based on the set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves and the set of correction values for the set of ultrasound elements.