KR20200143894A - Ultrasound imaging device and operating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises a data providing unit, a singular value decomposition filter, and an image processing unit. The data providing unit may provide scanline data for each scan line by beamforming a received ultrasound signal reflected from an object. The singular value decomposition filter may configure the scanline data into components based on a singular value decomposition (SVD) method, and may selectively remove noise components among components classified by size according to frequency. The image processing unit may generate an ultrasound image based on image components excluding the noise components among the components. According to the present invention, in the ultrasonic imaging apparatus, the noise components among the components generated based on the SVD method may be selectively removed, thereby improving the quality of the ultrasonic image.

Description

Ultrasonic imaging device and operation method of ultrasonic imaging device {ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICE AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and a method of operating the ultrasonic imaging apparatus.

When a therapeutic ultrasound signal and an image ultrasound signal are simultaneously transmitted to an object and an ultrasound image is configured based on the received ultrasound signal, the ultrasound image may include components of the therapeutic ultrasound signal reflected from the object. Components of the therapeutic ultrasound signal reflected from the object may be displayed as noise in the ultrasound image. Various studies are being conducted to construct an ultrasound image by separating only a signal desired by a user from a received ultrasound signal reflected from an object.

(Patent registration document) KR 10-1120791 (Registration date, 2012.02.20)

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that selectively removes noise components among components generated based on a Singular Value Decomposition (SVD).

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of operating an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that selectively removes noise components among components generated based on a singular value decomposition method.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that provides harmonic components corresponding to a harmonic of a center frequency of an ultrasonic signal among components generated based on a singular value decomposition method.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of operating an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that provides harmonic components corresponding to a harmonic of a center frequency of an ultrasonic signal among components generated based on a singular value decomposition method.

In order to solve this problem, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a data providing unit, a singular value decomposition filter, and an image processing unit. The data provider may provide scanline data for each scan line by beamforming the received ultrasound signal reflected from the object. The singular value decomposition filter may configure the scanline data into components based on a singular value decomposition (SVD) method, and may selectively remove noise components from among the components classified by size according to frequency. . The image processing unit may generate an ultrasound image based on image components excluding the noise components among the components.

In one embodiment, the singular value decomposition filter includes a component configuration unit and a removal unit. The component configuration unit may configure the components for each size according to the frequency of the scanline data based on the singular value decomposition method. The removal unit may selectively remove the noise components among the components.

In an embodiment, when the components are disposed on the frequency and the size plane, the noise components may have a size of the components greater than or equal to a reference size.

In an embodiment, the ultrasound imaging apparatus may simultaneously transmit a therapeutic ultrasound signal and an image ultrasound signal to the object.

In an embodiment, the noise components may include the components corresponding to the therapeutic ultrasound reception signal received by the ultrasound imaging apparatus by reflecting the therapeutic ultrasound signal from an object.

In an embodiment, the noise components may include the components disposed between a first frequency interval centered on a center frequency of the therapeutic ultrasound signal, and having a size greater than or equal to the reference size.

In an embodiment, the noise components are disposed between the second frequency intervals centering on harmonics of the center frequency of the therapeutic ultrasound signal, and may include the components having a size greater than or equal to the reference size.

In order to solve this problem, in the method of operating the ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the data providing unit may provide scanline data for each scan line by beamforming a received ultrasound signal reflected from an object. The singular value decomposition filter may configure the scanline data into components based on a singular value decomposition (SVD) method, and may selectively remove noise components from among the components classified by size according to frequency. . The image processing unit may configure an ultrasound image based on image components excluding the noise components among the components.

In order to solve this problem, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a data providing unit, a singular value decomposition filter, and an image processing unit. The data provider may provide scanline data for each scan line by beamforming the received ultrasound signal reflected from the object. The singular value decomposition filter configures the scanline data into components based on a singular value decomposition (SVD), and the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components classified by size according to frequency Corresponding harmonic components can be provided. The image processor may generate an ultrasound image based on the harmonic components.

In an embodiment, the singular value decomposition filter may include a component configuration unit and a harmonic providing unit. The component configuration unit may configure the components for each size according to the frequency of the scanline data based on the singular value decomposition method. The harmonic providing unit may provide harmonic components corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components.

In one embodiment, the harmonic frequency may correspond to twice the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal.

In an embodiment, the harmonic components may be components disposed between a third frequency interval around the harmonic frequency.

In order to solve this problem, in the method of operating the ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the data providing unit may provide scanline data for each scan line by beamforming a received ultrasound signal reflected from an object. A singular value decomposition filter configures the scanline data into components based on a singular value decomposition (SVD), and the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components classified by size according to frequency Corresponding harmonic components can be provided. An image processor may generate an ultrasound image based on the harmonic components.

In an embodiment, in the method of operating the ultrasound imaging apparatus, a component configuration unit may configure the components according to size according to the frequency of the scanline data based on the singular value decomposition method. The harmonic providing unit may provide harmonic components corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components.

In addition to the technical problems of the present invention mentioned above, other features and advantages of the present invention will be described below or will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from such technology and description.

According to the present invention as described above has the following effects.

In the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention, noise components among components generated based on a Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) are selectively removed, thereby improving image quality of an ultrasonic image.

In the ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention, among components generated based on the singular value decomposition method, harmonic components corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal can be provided to improve the quality of the harmonic ultrasonic image.

In addition, other features and advantages of the present invention may be newly recognized through embodiments of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a singular value decomposition filter included in the ultrasound imaging apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing components provided by the component configuration unit of FIG. 2.
4 is a diagram for explaining components disposed on a frequency and a size plane when simultaneously transmitting and receiving a therapeutic ultrasound signal and an image ultrasound signal.
5 is a diagram illustrating an enlarged frequency domain of the therapeutic ultrasound signal of FIG. 4.
6 is a diagram for describing a method of removing noise components among components.
7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention.
8 is a diagram illustrating an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention.
9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a singular value decomposition filter included in the ultrasound imaging apparatus of FIG. 8.
10 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a singular value decomposition filter included in the ultrasound imaging apparatus of FIG. 8.
11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention.
12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of operating the ultrasound imaging apparatus of FIG. 11.

In the present specification, in adding reference numerals to elements of each drawing, it should be noted that only the same elements have the same number as possible, even if they are indicated on different drawings.

Meanwhile, the meaning of terms described in the present specification should be understood as follows.

Singular expressions are to be understood as including plural expressions unless clearly defined differently in context, and the scope of rights should not be limited by these terms.

It is to be understood that terms such as "comprise" or "have" do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features or numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention designed to solve the above problem will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a singular value decomposition filter included in the ultrasound imaging apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a component of FIG. A diagram for describing components provided by a configuration unit.

1 to 3, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a data providing unit 100, a singular value decomposition filter 200, and an image processing unit 300. The ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 may transmit a transmission ultrasound signal toward an object. The data providing unit 100 may provide scanline data SC_D for each scan line by beamforming the received ultrasound signal RX_US reflected from the object. The singular value decomposition filter 200 may configure the scanline data SC_D into components CMP based on a singular value decomposition (SVD). The singular value decomposition method is a concept used in linear algebra and may be a separate method in which a certain matrix is expressed as a product of a plurality of matrices. As shown in FIG. 3, the components CMP may be displayed on a plane by size according to frequency in small circles.

The singular value decomposition filter 200 may selectively remove noise components CP_N from among components CMP classified by size according to frequency. The singular value decomposition filter 200 may include a component construction unit 210 and a removal unit 230. The component configuration unit 210 may configure the components CMP for each size according to the frequency of the scanline data SC_D based on the singular value decomposition method. The removal unit 230 may selectively remove noise components CP_N from among the components CMP.

In an embodiment, when the components CMP are arranged on a frequency (FREQUENCY) and a magnitude (AMPLITUDE) plane, the noise components CP_N may have a size of the components CMP greater than or equal to the reference size (A_REF) . For example, the reference size A_REF may be -30dB. When the reference size A_REF is -30dB, noise components CP_N having a size of the components CMP larger than the reference size A_REF may be distributed in the first region RG. In this case, the noise components CP_N distributed in the first region RG may be removed by the singular value decomposition filter 200.

The image processing unit 300 may generate an ultrasound image IM based on image components CP_I excluding noise components CP_N among the components CMP. For example, when the noise components CP_N distributed in the first region RG are removed by the singular value decomposition filter 200, better noise removal performance than when noise is removed using a conventional filter. Can be indicated.

In the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 according to the present invention, noise components CP_N among components CMP generated based on a singular value decomposition (SVD) are selectively removed to improve the quality of an ultrasound image. can do.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining components arranged on a frequency and size plane when simultaneously transmitting and receiving a therapeutic ultrasound signal and an image ultrasound signal, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an enlarged frequency domain of the therapeutic ultrasound signal of FIG. 4, 6 is a diagram for describing a method of removing noise components among components.

1 and 4 to 6, the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 includes a data providing unit 100, a singular value decomposition filter 200, and an image processing unit 300. The ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 may simultaneously transmit the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU and the image ultrasound signal IU to the object. For example, the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 may simultaneously transmit the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU and the imaging ultrasound signal IU to the object. In this case, the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 may receive an ultrasound signal reflected from the object. When the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 receives the received ultrasound signal RX_US reflected from the object, the data providing unit 100 beamforms the received ultrasound signal RX_US reflected from the object to scan line data for each scan line. (SC_D) can be provided.

Thereafter, the singular value decomposition filter 200 may configure the scanline data SC_D into components CMP based on a singular value decomposition (SVD). The components CMP may include noise components CP_N and image components CP_I. In this case, the components CMP corresponding to the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU may be noise components CP_N. Components CMP corresponding to the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU may be included in the hi-fu region H_RG. Also, the components CMP corresponding to the ultrasound image signal IU may be image components CP_I. Components CMP corresponding to the ultrasound image signal IU may be included in the image area I_RG. In an embodiment, the noise components CP_N may include components CMP corresponding to a therapeutic ultrasound reception signal received by the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 by reflecting a therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU from an object. .

In one embodiment, the noise components CP_N are disposed between the first frequency interval FR_D1 based on the center frequency F0_T of the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU, and components having a size greater than or equal to the reference size A_REF (CMP) may be included. For example, the center frequency F0_T of the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU may be 1.2 MHz. When the center frequency F0_T of the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU is 1.2 MHz, the first frequency interval FR_D1 may be an interval between the first therapeutic ultrasound frequency F1_T and the second therapeutic ultrasound frequency F2_T. In this case, the noise components CP_N may be located between the first therapeutic ultrasound frequency F1_T and the second therapeutic ultrasound frequency F2_T. Also, the size of the noise components CP_N may be greater than or equal to the reference size A_REF. For example, the reference size A_REF may be -30dB. When the reference size A_REF is -30dB, noise components CP_N having a size of the components CMP larger than the reference size A_REF may be distributed in the first region RG. In this case, the noise components CP_N distributed in the first region RG may be removed by the singular value decomposition filter 200.

In one embodiment, the noise components CP_N are disposed between the second frequency intervals centering on the harmonics of the center frequency F0_T of the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU, and components having a size greater than or equal to the reference size A_REF ( CMP). For example, the harmonic 2FO_T of the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU may include 2.4 MHz. When the harmonic 2FO_T of the therapeutic ultrasound signal HFU is 2.4 MHz, the second frequency interval FR_D2 may be an interval between the third therapeutic ultrasound frequency F3_T and the fourth therapeutic ultrasound frequency F4_T. In this case, the noise components CP_N may be located between the third ultrasonic treatment frequency F3_T and the fourth treatment ultrasonic frequency F4_T. Also, the size of the noise components CP_N may be greater than or equal to the reference size A_REF. For example, the reference size A_REF may be -30dB. When the reference size A_REF is -30dB, noise components CP_N having a size of the components CMP larger than the reference size A_REF may be distributed in the second area RG2. In this case, the distributed noise components CP_N in the second region RG2 may be removed by the singular value decomposition filter 200.

In the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 according to the present invention, noise components CP_N among components CMP generated based on a singular value decomposition (SVD) are selectively removed to improve the quality of an ultrasound image. can do.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention.

1 and 7, the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 includes a data providing unit 100, a singular value decomposition filter 200, and an image processing unit 300. In the operating method of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the data providing unit 100 beamforms the received ultrasound signal RX_US reflected from the object to provide scanline data SC_D for each scan line. It can be done (S100). The singular value decomposition filter 200 configures the scanline data SC_D into components (CMP) based on the singular value decomposition (SVD), and components classified by size according to frequency (CMP) The noise components CP_N may be selectively removed (S110). The image processing unit 300 may configure an ultrasound image based on image components CP_I excluding noise components CP_N among the components CMP (S120).

8 is a diagram illustrating an ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a singular value decomposition filter included in the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is an ultrasonic wave of FIG. A diagram for explaining the operation of the singular value decomposition filter included in the imaging apparatus.

8 to 10, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a data providing unit 100, a singular value decomposition filter 200, and an image processing unit 300. The data providing unit 100 may provide scanline data SC_D for each scan line by beamforming the received ultrasound signal RX_US reflected from the object. The singular value decomposition filter 200 may configure the scanline data SC_D into components CMP based on a singular value decomposition (SVD). The singular value decomposition method is a concept used in linear algebra and may be a method of expressing a matrix by separating it by the product of a plurality of matrices.

The singular value decomposition filter 200 may provide harmonic components CP_H corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components CMP classified by size according to frequency. The singular value decomposition filter 200 may include a component construction unit 210 and a harmonic providing unit 250. The component configuration unit 210 may configure the components CMP for each size according to the frequency of the scanline data SC_D based on the singular value decomposition method. The harmonic providing unit 250 may provide harmonic components CP_H corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components CMP.

In one embodiment, the harmonic frequency may correspond to twice the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal. For example, the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal may be the first frequency (FO). When the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal is the first frequency (FO), the harmonic frequency may be the second frequency (2FO). In this case, the harmonic frequency may correspond to twice the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal.

In an embodiment, the harmonic components CP_H may be components CMP disposed between the third frequency interval FR_D3 around the harmonic frequency. For example, when the harmonic frequency is the second frequency 2FO, the third frequency interval FR_D3 may be a frequency interval between the sixth frequency F6 and the seventh frequency F7. When the components CMP are disposed on the frequency and magnitude plane, the harmonic components CP_H may be components CMP included in the third region RG3. In this case, the harmonic components CP_H distributed in the third region RG3 may be provided by the singular value decomposition filter 200.

The image processing unit 300 may generate an ultrasound image based on the harmonic components CP_H. For example, when the harmonic components CP_H distributed in the third region RG3 are provided by the singular value decomposition filter 200, an ultrasound image that is superior to when the harmonic component is removed using an existing filter is obtained. Can be obtained.

The ultrasonic imaging apparatus 20 according to the present invention provides harmonic components CP_H corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components (CMP) generated based on the singular value decomposition method. Can be improved.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of operating the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of FIG. 11.

11 and 12, in the method of operating the ultrasound imaging apparatus 20 according to the present invention, the data providing unit 100 beamforms a received ultrasound signal RX_US reflected from an object to generate scanline data for each scan line. (SC_D) can be provided (S200). The singular value decomposition filter 200 configures the scanline data SC_D into components (CMP) based on the singular value decomposition (SVD), and components classified by size according to frequency (CMP) Harmonic components CP_H corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal may be provided (S210). The image processing unit 300 may generate an ultrasound image based on the harmonic components (S220).

In an embodiment, in the method of operating the ultrasound imaging apparatus 20, the component configuration unit 210 configures the scanline data SC_D by size according to the frequency based on the singular value decomposition method. It can be done (S211). The harmonic providing unit 250 may provide harmonic components CP_H corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components CMP (S212).

The ultrasonic imaging apparatus 20 according to the present invention provides harmonic components CP_H corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components (CMP) generated based on the singular value decomposition method. Can be improved.

10: ultrasonic imaging device 100: data providing unit
200: singular value decomposition filter 300: image processing unit
210: component configuration unit 230: removal unit
250: harmonic provider

Claims (14)

A data provider configured to provide scan line data for each scan line by beamforming the received ultrasound signal reflected from the object;
A singular value decomposition filter configured to configure the scanline data into components based on a singular value decomposition (SVD), and selectively remove noise components among the components classified by size according to frequency; And
An ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising an image processing unit that generates an ultrasound image based on image components other than the noise components among the components. The method of claim 1,
The singular value decomposition filter,
A component construction unit configured to configure the components according to the size of the scanline data according to the frequency based on the singular value decomposition method; And
And a removal unit selectively removing the noise components among the components. The method of claim 2,
When the components are placed in the frequency and the magnitude plane,
The noise components are ultrasonic imaging apparatus, characterized in that the size of the components is larger than a reference size. The method of claim 3,
The ultrasonic imaging device,
An ultrasound imaging apparatus, characterized in that simultaneously transmitting a therapeutic ultrasound signal and an image ultrasound signal to the object. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the noise components include the components corresponding to the therapeutic ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic imaging apparatus by reflecting the therapeutic ultrasonic signal from an object. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the noise components are disposed between a first frequency interval centered on a center frequency of the therapeutic ultrasound signal, and include the components having the size equal to or greater than the reference size. The method of claim 6,
Wherein the noise components are disposed between second frequency intervals centered on harmonics of a center frequency of the therapeutic ultrasound signal, and include the components having the size equal to or greater than the reference size. Providing, by a data provider, beamforming the received ultrasound signal reflected from the object to provide scanline data for each scan line;
Configuring, by a singular value decomposition filter, the scanline data into components based on a singular value decomposition (SVD) method, and selectively removing noise components from among the components classified by size according to frequency; And
An operation method of an ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising the step of constructing an ultrasound image based on image components other than the noise components among the components. A data provider configured to provide scan line data for each scan line by beamforming the received ultrasound signal reflected from the object;
The scanline data is composed of components based on a singular value decomposition (SVD), and among the components classified by size according to frequency, harmonic components corresponding to the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal are selected. A singular value decomposition filter provided; And
An ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising an image processing unit that generates an ultrasound image based on the harmonic components. The method of claim 9,
The singular value decomposition filter,
A component construction unit configured to configure the components according to the size of the scanline data according to the frequency based on the singular value decomposition method; And
And a harmonic providing unit for providing harmonic components corresponding to a harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components. The method of claim 10,
The ultrasonic imaging apparatus, characterized in that the harmonic frequency corresponds to twice the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal. The method of claim 11,
The harmonic components are components disposed between a third frequency interval around the harmonic frequency. Providing, by a data provider, beamforming the received ultrasound signal reflected from the object to provide scanline data for each scan line;
A singular value decomposition filter configures the scanline data into components based on a singular value decomposition (SVD), and the harmonic of the center frequency of the ultrasonic signal among the components classified by size according to frequency Providing corresponding harmonic components; And
And generating, by an image processor, an ultrasound image based on the harmonic components. The method of claim 13,
The method of operating the ultrasonic imaging device,
Configuring the components for each size according to the frequency of the scanline data based on the singular value decomposition method by a component construction unit; And
The method of operating an ultrasonic imaging apparatus further comprising providing, by a harmonic providing unit, harmonic components corresponding to a harmonic of the ultrasonic signal center frequency among the components.

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