CN111281421A

CN111281421A - Ultrasonic scanning method and ultrasonic system

Info

Publication number: CN111281421A
Application number: CN201811487533.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 何绪金; 朱子俨; 史志伟
Original assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-06
Filing date: 2018-12-06
Publication date: 2020-06-16

Abstract

An ultrasonic scanning method comprises respectively and simultaneously transmitting a first ultrasonic wave and a second ultrasonic wave to a first scanning area and a second scanning area in a body of an examinee through a first transmitting aperture and a second transmitting aperture on an array element, respectively receiving echoes of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave through a first receiving aperture and a second receiving aperture, respectively forming and displaying a first ultrasonic image and a second ultrasonic image based on echo data of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, respectively, wherein the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area is not less than a first threshold value, and/or the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not less than the first threshold value, and the transmission and the reception of the first ultrasonic wave and the reception of the second ultrasonic wave are respectively and independently performed, the mutual influence of the transmission and the reception of the ultrasonic waves is very small, the scanning time can be reduced, and the frame rate can be improved.

Description

Ultrasonic scanning method and ultrasonic system

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of medical images, in particular to an ultrasonic scanning method and an ultrasonic system.

Background

The whole milk scanning probe has a wide scanning range (the length is about 15cm), the travel of the probe under the traction of a mechanical device is about 15cm, and a rectangular area of 15cm x 15cm needs to be scanned. The conventional scanning method has low frame rate, generally needs 1 minute to check a complete section, and has long checking time. Current high frame rate imaging techniques mainly include Multi-transmit (MLT) techniques and plane wave techniques.

The definition of the MLT technique is that a plurality of transmit apertures transmit ultrasonic waves (generally, focused waves) in different directions, and beam synthesis is performed based on echo data to obtain reception scan lines in different directions. If two groups of ultrasonic waves are transmitted simultaneously, the frame rate is improved by 1 time; the plane wave imaging technology means that an ultrasonic transducer emits unfocused ultrasonic waves in a certain direction, and beam-forming is carried out on a receiving scanning line within a wider range, so that the frame rate is obviously improved.

The prior MLT method has the defects that (1) a plurality of groups of receiving beams generated by a plurality of transmitting beams interfere with each other, and the image quality is reduced; (2) the emission scanning strategy is relatively limited and cannot meet the flexible scanning requirement.

The existing plane wave method has the defects that if the complete plane wave is adopted, the number of channels is equal to the number of array elements, and the cost is obviously increased; the plane wave technology realized by adopting a small channel also avoids the problem that a large number of angles can not be compounded, compared with the complete plane wave, the frame rate is greatly reduced, each angle needs a large number of beam forming operations, the calculation amount is large, the realization is difficult, and no advantage exists.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning method is provided, which includes:

simultaneously transmitting a first ultrasonic wave and a second ultrasonic wave to a first scanning area and a second scanning area in the body of the examined person through a first transmitting aperture and a second transmitting aperture on the array element respectively;

receiving an ultrasonic echo returned from the first scanning area through a first receiving aperture on the array element to obtain first ultrasonic echo data;

receiving the ultrasonic echo returned from the second scanning area through a second receiving aperture on the array element to obtain second ultrasonic echo data;

obtaining a first ultrasonic image of the examinee based on the first ultrasonic echo data;

obtaining a second ultrasonic image of the examinee based on the second ultrasonic echo data;

displaying the first ultrasonic image;

displaying the second ultrasound image;

wherein the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area is not less than a first threshold, and/or the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not less than a first threshold.

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning method is provided, which includes:

displaying the first ultrasonic image;

displaying the second ultrasound image;

wherein the distance between the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture is not less than a second threshold value.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are emitted at an included angle between-180 degrees and 180 degrees.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are emitted at an included angle between-45 degrees and 45 degrees.

In one embodiment, the first and second ultrasonic waves are emitted in parallel with each other.

In one embodiment, the first and second ultrasound emission parameters are the same or different.

In one embodiment, the transmit parameters include a frequency of a transmit waveform, a pulse repetition frequency, a transmit aperture, a transmit focal depth, a transmit power, and/or a transmit pattern.

In one embodiment, the first and second ultrasound waves employ the same or different imaging modes.

In one embodiment, the imaging mode includes a B-image imaging mode, a doppler image imaging mode, a flow imaging mode, or an elastography mode.

In one embodiment, on the basis of the above embodiment, the method further includes:

moving the first and second transmit apertures to scan the subject with the first and second ultrasonic waves and stopping transmitting the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmit aperture when the first transmit aperture moves to an edge of the array element or stopping transmitting the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmit aperture when the second transmit aperture moves to an edge of the array element.

detecting whether a ratio of an echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region to an echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region is not less than a first threshold value, and stopping the transmission of the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmission aperture or stopping the transmission of the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmission aperture when the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region is less than the first threshold value; and/or

Detecting whether the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not less than a first threshold value, and stopping transmitting the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmitting aperture or stopping transmitting the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmitting aperture when the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is less than the first threshold value.

In one embodiment, on the basis of the above embodiments, the method further includes:

detecting whether the distance between the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture is smaller than a second threshold value, and stopping transmitting the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmitting aperture and/or stopping transmitting the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmitting aperture when the distance between the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture is smaller than the second threshold value.

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning method is provided, which includes:

obtaining an ultrasound image of the examinee based on the first ultrasound echo data and the second ultrasound echo data;

displaying the ultrasonic image;

wherein the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area is not less than a first threshold, and/or the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not less than a first threshold; or the distance between the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture is not less than a second threshold value.

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning method is provided, which includes:

transmitting a first ultrasonic wave to a first scanning area in the body of the examined person through a first transmitting hole on the array element;

transmitting a second ultrasonic wave to a second scanning area in the body of the examined person through a second transmitting hole on the array element;

forming a second ultrasound image of the examinee based on the second ultrasound echo data;

displaying the first ultrasonic image;

and displaying the second ultrasonic image.

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning system is provided, comprising:

the array element is used for converting an electric signal into an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted out and converting a received ultrasonic echo into an electric signal to obtain echo data, and comprises a first transmitting aperture, a second transmitting aperture, a first receiving aperture and a second receiving aperture;

the transmitting circuit is used for controlling the array element to transmit ultrasonic waves to a checked person, and the transmitting circuit controls the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture to simultaneously transmit the first ultrasonic waves and the second ultrasonic waves to a first scanning area and a second scanning area in the checked person;

the receiving circuit is used for controlling the array element to receive ultrasonic echoes to acquire echo data, controlling the first receiving aperture to receive the ultrasonic echoes returned from the first scanning area to acquire first ultrasonic echo data, and controlling the second receiving aperture to receive the ultrasonic echoes returned from the second scanning area to acquire second ultrasonic echo data;

a processor for obtaining an ultrasound image from the ultrasound echo data, obtaining a first ultrasound image of the examinee based on the first ultrasound echo data, and obtaining a second ultrasound image of the examinee based on the second ultrasound echo data;

a display for displaying an ultrasound image, the display displaying a first ultrasound image and a second ultrasound image, respectively;

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning system is provided, comprising:

wherein the first transmit aperture is spaced from the second transmit aperture by no less than a second threshold.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic wave emitted by the first emitting aperture and the second ultrasonic wave emitted by the second emitting aperture are emitted at an included angle between-180 degrees and 180 degrees.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic wave emitted by the first emitting aperture and the second ultrasonic wave emitted by the second emitting aperture are emitted at an included angle between-45 degrees and 45 degrees.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic waves emitted by the first emitting aperture and the second ultrasonic waves emitted by the second emitting aperture are emitted in parallel with each other.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic wave emitted by the first emitting aperture and the second ultrasonic wave emitted by the second emitting aperture have the same or different emission parameters.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic waves emitted by the first emitting aperture and the second ultrasonic waves emitted by the second emitting aperture are in the same or different imaging modes.

In one embodiment, the transmit circuit controls to move the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture to scan the subject with the first ultrasound and the second ultrasound, and to stop transmitting the first ultrasound through the first transmit aperture when the first transmit aperture moves to an edge of the array element or to stop transmitting the second ultrasound through the second transmit aperture when the second transmit aperture moves to an edge of the array element.

In one embodiment, the processor detects whether a ratio of an echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region to an echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region is not less than a first threshold value, and stops transmitting the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmitting aperture or the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmitting aperture when the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region is less than the first threshold value; and/or

The processor detects whether the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not less than a first threshold value, and stops transmitting the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmitting aperture or stops transmitting the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmitting aperture when the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is less than the first threshold value.

In one embodiment, the processor detects whether the spacing between the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture is less than a second threshold, and stops transmitting the first ultrasound waves through the first transmit aperture and/or stops transmitting the second ultrasound waves through the second transmit aperture when the spacing between the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture is less than the second threshold.

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning system is provided, comprising:

a processor for obtaining an ultrasound image from the ultrasound echo data, and obtaining an ultrasound image of the examinee based on the first ultrasound echo data and the second ultrasound echo data;

and a display for displaying the ultrasound image.

Wherein the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area is not less than a first threshold, and/or the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not less than a first threshold; or

The spacing between the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture is not less than a second threshold.

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning system is provided, comprising:

a transmitting circuit for controlling the array element to transmit ultrasonic waves to a subject, wherein the transmitting circuit controls the first transmitting hole to transmit first ultrasonic waves to a first scanning area in the subject, and the transmitting circuit controls the second transmitting hole to transmit second ultrasonic waves to a second scanning area in the subject;

the embodiment provides an ultrasonic scanning method and system, wherein a first ultrasonic wave emitted by the first emitting aperture and a second ultrasonic wave emitted by the second emitting aperture can be independently performed, the first receiving aperture and the second receiving aperture can independently perform the receiving of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, the first ultrasonic wave emitted by the first emitting aperture and the second ultrasonic wave emitted by the second emitting aperture can be independently performed at the same time, respectively, the first receiving aperture and the second receiving aperture can independently perform the receiving of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, wherein the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area is not less than a first threshold value, and/or the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not less than the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area When the ratio of the signal intensities is not less than the first threshold, the mutual influence between the emission and the reception of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is very small and can be ignored, the scanning time can be reduced, the frame rate can be improved, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are respectively and independently received, and the beam synthesis calculation cost can be greatly reduced.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of independently emitted ultrasonic waves;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound scanning system configuration according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound scanning system configuration according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an array element evagination structure according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a convex structure in an array element according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound scanning system configuration according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound scanning system configuration according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an ultrasound scanning system of an embodiment;

figure 9 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound scanning system configuration of an embodiment.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. Wherein like elements in different embodiments are numbered with like associated elements. In the following description, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a better understanding of the present application. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that some of the features may be omitted or replaced with other elements, materials, methods in different instances. In some instances, certain operations related to the present application have not been shown or described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the core of the present application from excessive description, and it is not necessary for those skilled in the art to describe these operations in detail, so that they may be fully understood from the description in the specification and the general knowledge in the art.

Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification may be combined in any suitable manner to form various embodiments. Also, the various steps or actions in the method descriptions may be transposed or transposed in order, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the various sequences in the specification and drawings are for the purpose of describing certain embodiments only and are not intended to imply a required sequence unless otherwise indicated where such sequence must be followed.

The numbering of the components as such, e.g., "first", "second", etc., is used herein only to distinguish the objects as described, and does not have any sequential or technical meaning. The term "connected" and "coupled" when used in this application, unless otherwise indicated, includes both direct and indirect connections (couplings).

In one embodiment, the array comprises array elements, a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, a processor and a display. The array element is used for converting the electric signal into ultrasonic wave to be transmitted out and converting the received ultrasonic echo into the electric signal to obtain echo data. The array elements may be arranged in a linear array, as shown in fig. 2 and 3; a convex array arrangement is also possible, as shown in fig. 4 and 5.

The transmitting circuit is used for controlling the array element to transmit ultrasonic waves to the examined person. In an embodiment of the present invention, the transmitting circuit may control the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture on the array element to simultaneously transmit the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave to the first scanning area and the second scanning area in the body of the subject.

The receiving circuit is used for controlling the array elements to receive the ultrasonic echoes and acquiring echo data. In an embodiment of the present invention, the receiving circuit may control a first receiving aperture in the array element to receive the ultrasound echo returned from the first scanning area to obtain first ultrasound echo data, and control a second receiving aperture in the array element to receive the ultrasound echo returned from the second scanning area to obtain second ultrasound echo data. When receiving the ultrasonic echo, the time of the array element in the corresponding receiving aperture starting and stopping receiving the ultrasonic echo is controlled, the ultrasonic echo from the predetermined area can be selectively received, and thus the echo signal from the area is obtained. Herein, the region corresponding to the ultrasonic echo received through the aforementioned first receiving aperture is referred to as a first scanning region, and the corresponding ultrasonic echo data is referred to as first ultrasonic echo data; the region corresponding to the ultrasonic echo received through the second receiving aperture is referred to as a second scanning region, and the corresponding ultrasonic echo data is referred to as second ultrasonic echo data.

The processor may obtain an ultrasound image from the ultrasound echo data. For example, the processor may obtain a first ultrasound image of the examinee based on the first ultrasound echo data, and obtain a second ultrasound image of the examinee based on the second ultrasound echo data. The display may display the first and second ultrasound images, respectively.

In one embodiment, the same transmitting circuit can control the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture to simultaneously transmit the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave to the first scanning area and the second scanning area in the body of the examined person, and the different transmitting circuits can control the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture to simultaneously transmit the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave to the first scanning area and the second scanning area in the body of the examined person. Similarly, the first receiving aperture and the second receiving aperture may be controlled by the same receiving circuit to receive echoes of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, or the first receiving aperture and the second receiving aperture may be controlled by two different receiving circuits to receive echoes of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave. The first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are transmitted and received simultaneously and independently, and the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave can be transmitted in a non-parallel mode or in a parallel mode.

The transmitted ultrasound waves will generally propagate in the entire field region. That is, the first ultrasonic wave may propagate to the second scanning area, and the second ultrasonic wave may also propagate to the first scanning area. That is, the first ultrasonic echo signal from the first scanning region received through the first receiving aperture may include an echo signal generated by the reflection of the second ultrasonic wave by the tissue in the first scanning region, in addition to an echo signal generated by the reflection of the first ultrasonic wave by the tissue in the first scanning region. Similarly, the second ultrasound echo signals from the second scanning region received through the second receive aperture may include echo signals resulting from the reflection of the first ultrasound waves by tissue within the second scanning region, in addition to echo signals resulting from the reflection of the second ultrasound waves by tissue within the second scanning region. That is, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave may affect imaging of each other. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area is controlled to be not less than the first threshold, and/or the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is controlled to be not less than the first threshold. When this condition is satisfied, the influence of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave on each other is considered to be relatively small, and the imaging requirements of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are satisfied.

For example, in one embodiment, before normal scan imaging is performed, imaging parameters (e.g., transmission apertures of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, a transmission aperture interval of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, frequencies of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, transmission powers of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, a probe type, and the like) satisfying the condition may be determined in advance. For example, it is possible to transmit the first ultrasonic wave alone in advance, obtain the intensity of the echo signal of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region, then stop transmitting the first ultrasonic wave and transmit the second ultrasonic wave alone, obtain the intensity of the echo signal of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region, then calculate the ratio of the two, and thereby confirm the imaging parameter such that the ratio of the two satisfies the above-mentioned requirement (for example, not less than the first threshold) as the suitable imaging parameter; similarly, suitable imaging parameters may be corresponded for the second ultrasound beam. Normal imaging scans are then performed with these identified suitable imaging parameters.

For example, as shown in fig. 1, where Tx1 and Tx2 are a first transmitting circuit and a second transmitting circuit, respectively, Tx1 and Tx2 are a first receiving circuit and a second receiving circuit, respectively, and Rx1 and Rx2 are a first receiving circuit and a second receiving circuit, respectively, and Rx1 and Rx2 are first ultrasonic waves and second ultrasonic waves, respectively, controlled to be received. For the image point in the imaging region F1, the Rx1 receives the reception signal intensity from the first ultrasonic wave as a11, and the Rx1 receives the reception signal intensity from the second ultrasonic wave as a 12. For the image point in the imaging region F1, when the ratio a11/a12 of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region is larger, it is considered that the mutual influence between the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is smaller. For example, in one embodiment, when the difference is not less than 100, the mutual influence between the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is relatively small, and the influence on the imaging of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is negligible or acceptable, and in this case, 100 is the first threshold. Similarly, for the image point in the imaging region 2, the received signal intensity from the second ultrasonic wave received by Rx2 is a22, the received signal intensity from the first ultrasonic wave received by Rx2 is a21, and the greater the ratio a22/a21 between the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning region and the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning region, the smaller the mutual influence between the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave can be considered. For example, in one embodiment, it is considered that when the difference is not less than 100, the mutual influence between the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is relatively small, and the influence on the imaging of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is negligible or acceptable. In one embodiment, the above two conditions may be satisfied simultaneously, i.e., A11/A12 is not less than the first threshold and A22/A21 is not less than the first threshold.

The specific value of the first threshold can be determined according to the needs of the actual situation. For example, in one embodiment, the first threshold may take a value of not less than 30. The first threshold value may be 30 if the requirements for the mutual influence of different ultrasonic waves are relatively low. Similarly, if the requirement is severe, the first threshold may be a value greater than 100, such as 316. The first threshold may also be any value between 30 and 316, the first threshold may also be a value greater than 316, and so on.

In the foregoing embodiment, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are respectively and independently transmitted and received at the same time, so that the scanning time is greatly increased, the frame rate is improved, and the beam synthesis calculation cost is also greatly reduced when the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are respectively and independently received.

In one embodiment, the interaction of the first and second ultrasound waves during imaging may also be controlled by controlling the distance between the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture. For example, when the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture are sufficiently spaced apart, the first ultrasound wave and the second ultrasound wave may be considered to have sufficiently little or acceptable mutual influence. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture spacing may be controlled to be not less than the second threshold. Here, the distance between the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture may be a distance between midpoints of the two transmit apertures, a distance between start array elements of the two transmit apertures, a distance between end array elements of the two transmit apertures, or may be defined in other manners.

The specific value of the second threshold may be determined according to the needs of actual situations, as long as it can make the mutual influence between the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave on the imaging smaller or acceptable. When the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture are spaced apart by more than the second threshold, the mutual influence of the transmission and reception of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is smaller. The second threshold may be related to the probe transmit waveform and transmit angle. For example, in one embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, the first transmitting circuit Tx1 and the second transmitting circuit Tx2 in the breast probe simultaneously transmit the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, respectively, and both the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are transmitted vertically (the sound beams are parallel to each other), if both Tx1 and Tx2 are gray-scale imaging, and the transmitting waveforms are the same. At this time, through calculation (or measurement), it is considered that when the Tx1 and Tx2 transmit aperture distance d is 5cm, the mutual influence between the two is acceptable.

In one embodiment, Tx1 is changed to contrast transmission (waveform), Tx2 is still gray-scale image transmission (waveform), contrast is low voltage transmission, Tx1 may be 1/10 of Tx2, Tx1 and Tx2 transmit waveforms are different, therefore, Tx2 has no negligible effect on Tx1, and therefore, in this condition, the transmit aperture spacing d needs to be increased until Tx2 has a relatively small or acceptable effect on Tx 1.

In one embodiment, the emission angle of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is between-180 degrees and 180 degrees, wherein the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are emitted in a straight line and oppositely when the angle is-180 degrees, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are emitted in a straight line and oppositely when the angle is 180 degrees, and the angle can be any angle between-180 degrees and 180 degrees.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are emitted in parallel, and the emission angle of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is 0 degrees, as shown in fig. 2.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are transmitted and received simultaneously and independently, and the transmission parameters of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave can be the same or different, wherein the transmission parameters comprise the frequency of a transmission waveform and/or a pulse repetition frequency and/or a transmission aperture and/or a transmission focal depth and/or a transmission power and/or a transmission mode. As shown in fig. 7, the first transmitting circuit Tx1 transmits a first ultrasonic wave, the second transmitting circuit Tx2 simultaneously transmits a second ultrasonic wave, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are transmitted and received independently of each other, and the depths of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are different.

In one embodiment, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are transmitted and received independently, and the imaging modes used may be the same or different, where the imaging modes include a B-image imaging mode, a doppler image imaging mode, a blood flow imaging mode, or an elastography mode, for example, the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image may both be a B-image, or the first ultrasonic image may be a B-image, and the second ultrasonic image may be a C-image. As shown in fig. 8, the first transmitting circuit Tx1 transmits a first ultrasonic wave, and the second transmitting circuit Tx2 simultaneously transmits a second ultrasonic wave, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave being different in imaging mode.

In one embodiment, based on the above embodiment, the transmit circuit may control to move the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture to scan the inspected object with the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave (e.g., scan from left to right or scan from right to left), and stop transmitting the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmit aperture when the first transmit aperture moves to the edge of the array element or stop transmitting the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmit aperture when the second transmit aperture moves to the edge of the array element, as shown in fig. 9. At the next moment, the second transmitting aperture controlled by the second transmitting circuit Tx2 is out of the range of the probe, only the first transmitting aperture controlled by the first transmitting circuit Tx1 is transmitted temporarily, and when the second transmitting aperture starts from the left side of the array element and meets the independent transmitting condition from the first transmitting aperture, the second transmitting aperture starts transmitting from the left side of the probe.

In one embodiment, during normal imaging, the processor may also detect (e.g., once every predetermined time) whether a ratio of an echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region to an echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region is not less than a first threshold, and stop transmitting the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmit aperture or stop transmitting the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmit aperture when the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning region is less than the first threshold; and/or the processor may detect whether a ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning region to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning region is not less than a first threshold. For example, in the normal imaging scanning process, at regular intervals, the processor may control to suspend the normal scanning, then transmit the first ultrasonic wave separately to obtain the intensity of the echo signal of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area, then stop transmitting the first ultrasonic wave and transmit the second ultrasonic wave separately to obtain the intensity of the echo signal of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area, then calculate the ratio of the two, and accordingly determine whether the ratio of the two is not less than the first threshold; similarly, the processor may detect whether a ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning region to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning region is not less than a first threshold value.

The processor may stop transmitting the first ultrasound wave through the first transmit aperture or stop transmitting the second ultrasound wave through the second transmit aperture when a ratio of an echo signal intensity of the second ultrasound wave in the second scan region to an echo signal intensity of the first ultrasound wave in the second scan region is less than a first threshold. In this way, the processor can monitor the interaction between the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, and automatically turn off one of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave when the interaction between the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave is too large, so that the ultrasonic image with the quality not meeting the requirement can be avoided.

The processor may detect the first ultrasonic wave and the echo signal strength of the first ultrasonic wave in a suitable manner, for example, such as a method of turning off one from the other, or may calculate the two signal strengths through simulation.

In one embodiment, on the basis of the above embodiment, the processor may also detect whether the distance between the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture is smaller than a second threshold value, and stop transmitting the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmitting aperture and/or stop transmitting the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmitting aperture when the distance between the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture is smaller than the second threshold value. In this way, the processor can monitor the spacing between the transmit apertures of the first and second ultrasound waves and automatically turn off one of the first and second ultrasound waves when the spacing is too small, which can avoid obtaining an ultrasound image of unsatisfactory quality

In the foregoing embodiment, the processor obtains the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image according to the first ultrasound echo signal and the second ultrasound echo signal, respectively. In another embodiment, after obtaining the first ultrasonic echo signal and the second ultrasonic echo signal, the processor may also obtain an ultrasonic image of the examinee according to both the first ultrasonic echo signal and the second ultrasonic echo signal. For example, a first ultrasonic wave may be used to scan a portion of the examinee, a second ultrasonic wave may be used to scan another portion of the examinee, and the processor obtains an overall image of the examinee including the portion and the another portion based on echo signals of both. In this way, the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave scan a part of the examinee respectively and combine the ultrasonic echo signals of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave to form a whole image, so that the frame rate of imaging the examinee finally can be greatly improved.

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning method is provided, which includes the following steps:

respectively and simultaneously transmitting a first ultrasonic wave and a second ultrasonic wave to a first scanning area and a second scanning area in the body of an examined person through a first transmitting aperture and a second transmitting aperture on an array element, wherein the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture are transmitting apertures at different positions on the array element, and the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are received and respectively and independently transmitted;

receiving an ultrasonic echo returned from the first scanning area through a first receiving aperture of the array element to obtain first ultrasonic echo data;

receiving the ultrasonic echo returned from the second scanning area through a second receiving aperture of the array element to obtain second ultrasonic echo data, wherein the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are received independently;

obtaining a first ultrasonic image of the examined person based on the first ultrasonic echo data;

obtaining a second ultrasonic image of the examined person based on the second ultrasonic echo data, wherein the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image can be combined to form the same frame of ultrasonic image, and the ultrasonic images can be separately and independently displayed;

displaying the first ultrasonic image;

displaying the second ultrasonic image;

the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area is not less than a first threshold, and/or the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not less than a first threshold.

displaying the first ultrasonic image;

displaying the second ultrasonic image;

wherein the distance between the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture is not less than the second threshold value.

In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanning method is provided, which includes the following steps: the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture on the array element are respectively and simultaneously directed

A first scanning area and a second scanning area in the body of an examinee transmit first ultrasonic waves and second ultrasonic waves, wherein the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture are transmitting apertures at different positions on an array element, and the first ultrasonic waves and the second ultrasonic waves are received and independently transmitted at the same time;

displaying an ultrasonic image;

the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area is not smaller than a first threshold, and/or the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not smaller than the first threshold; or the distance between the first transmitting aperture and the second transmitting aperture is not less than the second threshold value. The embodiment provides an ultrasonic scanning method and system, a first ultrasonic wave emitted by a first emitting aperture and a second ultrasonic wave emitted by a second emitting aperture can be respectively and independently performed, a first receiving aperture and a second receiving aperture can independently perform the receiving of the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave, the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in a first scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning area is not less than a first threshold, and/or the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area to the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the second scanning area is not less than the first threshold, the mutual influence of the emission and the receiving of the ultrasonic waves is very small, the scanning time can be reduced, the frame rate is improved, and the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are respectively and independently received, the beam forming computation cost can be greatly reduced.

Reference is made herein to various exemplary embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope hereof. For example, the various operational steps, as well as the components used to perform the operational steps, may be implemented in differing ways depending upon the particular application or consideration of any number of cost functions associated with operation of the system (e.g., one or more steps may be deleted, modified or incorporated into other steps).

Additionally, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the principles herein may be reflected in a computer program product on a computer readable storage medium, which is pre-loaded with computer readable program code. Any tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be used, including magnetic storage devices (hard disks, floppy disks, etc.), optical storage devices (CD-ROMs, DVDs, Blu Ray disks, etc.), flash memory, and/or the like. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including means for implementing the function specified. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified.

While the principles herein have been illustrated in various embodiments, many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, elements, materials, and components particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements may be employed without departing from the principles and scope of the present disclosure. The above modifications and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this document.

The foregoing detailed description has been described with reference to various examples. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is to be considered in an illustrative and not a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope thereof. Also, advantages, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to various embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any element(s) to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the term "coupled," and any other variation thereof, as used herein, refers to a physical connection, an electrical connection, a magnetic connection, an optical connection, a communicative connection, a functional connection, and/or any other connection.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims.

Claims

1. An ultrasound scanning method, comprising:

displaying the first ultrasonic image;

displaying the second ultrasound image;

2. An ultrasound scanning method, comprising:

displaying the first ultrasonic image;

displaying the second ultrasound image;

3. A method as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first and second ultrasound waves are emitted at an angle of between-180 degrees and 180 degrees.

4. The scanning method of claim 3 wherein said first ultrasonic wave and said second ultrasonic wave are emitted at an angle of between-45 degrees and 45 degrees.

5. The scanning method according to claim 4, wherein the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are emitted in parallel with each other.

6. A scanning method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first and second ultrasound emission parameters are the same or different.

7. The scanning method of claim 6, wherein the transmit parameters include a frequency of a transmit waveform, a pulse repetition frequency, a transmit aperture, a transmit focal depth, a transmit power, and/or a transmit pattern.

8. A scanning method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first and second ultrasound waves employ the same or different imaging modes.

9. The scanning method of claim 8 wherein the imaging mode comprises a B-image imaging mode, a doppler image imaging mode, a flow imaging mode, or an elastography mode.

10. The scanning method of any of claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

11. The scanning method of claim 1, further comprising:

12. The scanning method of claim 2, further comprising:

13. An ultrasound scanning method, comprising:

displaying the ultrasonic image;

14. An ultrasound scanning method, comprising:

displaying the first ultrasonic image;

and displaying the second ultrasonic image.

15. An ultrasound scanning system, comprising:

16. An ultrasound scanning system, comprising:

17. The scanning system of either of claims 15 or 16 wherein the first ultrasound waves emitted by the first emitting aperture and the second ultrasound waves emitted by the second emitting aperture are emitted at an included angle of between-180 degrees and 180 degrees.

18. The scanning system of either of claims 15 or 16 wherein the first ultrasound waves emitted by the first emitting aperture and the second ultrasound waves emitted by the second emitting aperture are emitted at an included angle of between-45 degrees and 45 degrees.

19. The scanning system of claim 18 wherein the first ultrasound waves transmitted by the first transmit aperture and the second ultrasound waves transmitted by the second transmit aperture are transmitted parallel to each other.

20. The scanning system of either of claims 15 or 16 wherein the first ultrasound emitted by the first emitting aperture and the second ultrasound emitted by the second emitting aperture have the same or different emission parameters.

21. The scanning system of claim 20 wherein the transmit parameters comprise a frequency of a transmit waveform and/or a pulse repetition frequency and/or a transmit aperture and/or a transmit focal depth and/or a transmit power and/or a transmit pattern.

22. The scanning system of either of claims 15 or 16 wherein the first ultrasound waves transmitted by the first transmit aperture and the second ultrasound waves transmitted by the second transmit aperture are in the same or different imaging modes.

23. The scanning system of any of claim 22 wherein the imaging mode comprises a B-image imaging mode, a doppler image imaging mode, a flow imaging mode, or an elastography mode.

24. The scanning system of claim 15 or 16 wherein the transmit circuitry controls movement of the first transmit aperture and the second transmit aperture to scan the subject with the first ultrasound and the second ultrasound and stops transmitting the first ultrasound through the first transmit aperture when the first transmit aperture moves to the edge of the array element or stops transmitting the second ultrasound through the second transmit aperture when the second transmit aperture moves to the edge of the array element.

25. The scanning system of claim 15 wherein the processor detects whether the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning zone to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning zone is not less than a first threshold value, and stops transmitting the first ultrasonic wave through the first transmitting aperture or the second ultrasonic wave through the second transmitting aperture when the ratio of the echo signal intensity of the first ultrasonic wave in the first scanning zone to the echo signal intensity of the second ultrasonic wave in the first scanning zone is less than the first threshold value; and/or

26. The scanning system of claim 16 wherein the processor detects whether the spacing of the first transmit aperture from the second transmit aperture is less than a second threshold and stops transmitting the first ultrasound waves through the first transmit aperture and/or stops transmitting the second ultrasound waves through the second transmit aperture when the spacing of the first transmit aperture from the second transmit aperture is less than the second threshold.

27. An ultrasound scanning system, comprising:

and a display for displaying the ultrasound image.

28. An ultrasound scanning system, comprising:

and the display is used for displaying the ultrasonic images, and the display respectively displays the first ultrasonic image and the second ultrasonic image.