Automatic gain compensation in an ultrasound imaging system

Abstract

The invention includes a method and system for automatic gain compensation in an ultrasound imaging system. The method and system may be used in place of, or in addition to, gain compensation selected by an operator. Gain compensation may be in response to range, in response to cross-range, or in response to both. Ultrasound imaging data is partitioned into relatively small zones (such as regions selected in response to range and cross-range), and a zone intensity value representative of each zone is used to determine information, such as an average image intensity, about ultrasound signals reflected from objects being imaged in each zone. The zone intensity value can be determined during real-time image acquisition by special-purpose averaging hardware, so that a commercial programmable microprocessor may operate on the zone intensity values to generate a gain compensation curve, also in real-time. Only those zones whose intensity is determined to be from tissue reflection are used to determine gain variations with range. A set of row mean values and a set of attenuation estimates for each row of zones having like range is determined, allowing for lateral gain rolloff at image edges, and from which a global gain to be applied, and a gain curve to be applied, are determined.