| CPC G01S 7/52036 (2013.01) [A61B 8/08 (2013.01); A61B 8/48 (2013.01); A61B 8/5223 (2013.01); G01N 29/11 (2013.01); G01S 7/52028 (2013.01); G01S 7/52077 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02466 (2013.01)] | 10 Claims |
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1. A method for estimating ultrasound attenuation coefficient data using an ultrasound system, the steps of the method comprising:
(a) providing signal power spectrum data to a computer system;
(b) providing noise power spectrum data to the computer system;
(c) computing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) data using the signal power spectrum data and the noise power spectrum data;
(d) estimating at least one of a frequency bandwidth using the SNR data or an ultrasound depth setting using the SNR data;
(e) acquiring ultrasound data from a subject with the ultrasound system by controlling the ultrasound system to perform an acquisition scheme using the at least one of the frequency bandwidth or the ultrasound depth setting;
(f) generating a backscattered signal power spectrum data from the acquired ultrasound data;
(g) generating pure signal power spectrum data by subtracting the noise power spectrum data from the backscattered signal power spectrum data; and
(h) estimating attenuation coefficient data using the pure signal spectrum data from the ultrasound data acquired with the ultrasound system, wherein noise in the attenuation coefficient data is suppressed based on using the at least one of the frequency bandwidth or the ultrasound depth setting when acquiring the ultrasound data, wherein the noise in the attenuation coefficient data is additionally suppressed by using the pure signal spectrum data in the attenuation coefficient data estimation.
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