US 11,832,993 B2
Ultrasound diagnostic device and ultrasound signal processing method
Akihiro Kawabata, Hachioji (JP); and Yoshihiro Takeda, Hachioji (JP)
Assigned to KONICA MINOLTA, INC., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Konica Minolta, Inc., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jul. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/366,872.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-118463 (JP), filed on Jul. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0008042 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/5246 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4494 (2013.01); A61B 8/5207 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasound diagnostic device that generates images by transmitting and receiving ultrasound to and from a subject via a probe, the ultrasound diagnostic device comprising:
ultrasound signal processing circuitry, the ultrasound signal processing circuitry comprising:
a transmitter that interleaves first transmission events that each include transmission of first detection waves and second transmission events that each include transmission of second detection waves;
a receiver that receives signals based on reflected ultrasound and generates reception signals from the signals;
a first image processor that repeatedly performs an operation of generating a frame of first images based on reception signals corresponding to a plurality of the first transmission events, wherein each of the first transmission events consists of M transmissions of the first detection waves, M being a natural number that is less than the number of first transmission events required to complete the frame of first images;
a second image processor that repeatedly performs an operation of generating a frame of second images based on reception signals corresponding to the second transmission events, wherein each of the second transmission events consists of N transmissions of the second detection waves; and
an image synthesizer that superimposes the second images on the first images to generate and output synthesized images, wherein
frame rate of the second images is higher than frame rate of the first images and the first image processor generates partial updates of the first images when new frames of the second images are generated,
the value N is based on an upper limit of time for each of the second transmission events to prevent seam line artifacts from becoming apparent in the partial updates of the first images and the value of M is determined based on the value N and a required pulse repetition frequency of the second images,
the transmitter performs a third transmission event prior to interleaving the first transmission events and the second transmission events, the third transmission event including transmission of a plurality of the first detection waves to acquire reception signals corresponding to one frame of the first images, and
the first image processor generates one frame of the first images based on the reception signals corresponding to the third transmission event.