Method and apparatus for automatic muting of Doppler noise induced by ultrasound probe motion

摘要

A method and an apparatus for monitoring the wall signal input to the wall filter of a spectral Doppler processor to check for probe-motion-induced clutter. This clutter is typically of higher frequency and amplitude than that due to normal vessel wall motion. Some additional threshold logic is used to check for energy within a frequency band greater than the normal wall signal frequencies. If significant energy above some “rattle” threshold is detected for a predefined time interval, the Doppler audio is automatically muted. This can be effected at one or more points within the normal Doppler audio signal path in a conventional scanner. If the rattling clutter is no longer detected, the Doppler audio is re-activated or ramped up smoothly.