METHOD, APPARATUS AND APPLICATIONS FOR COMBINING TRANSMIT WAVE FUNCTIONS TO OBTAIN SYNTHETIC WAVEFORM IN ULTRASONIC IMAGING SYSTEM

摘要

A method of operating an ultrasound imaging system having an array of transducer elements, comprising the steps of: transmitting a first transmit ultrasound waveform having a first frequency spectrum which is centered at a first frequency by exciting selected transducer elements during a first time interval, said first transmit ultrasound waveform being focused at a focal point; transmitting a second transmit ultrasound waveform having a second frequency spectrum which is centered at a second frequency by exciting selected transducer 943 ל' באב התש" ס - August 31, 2000 elements during a second time interval, said second transmit ultrasound waveform being focused at said focal point, said second frequency being different than said first frequency, and said second time interval being immediately subsequent to said first time interval; forming a first complex signal pair of a first receive ultrasound waveform derived from the portion of said first transmit ultrasound waveform reflected back to selected receiving transducer elements by scatterers in a focal zone encompassing said focal point; forming a second complex signa