Method and apparatus for automatic control of spectral doppler imaging

Abstract

An ultrasound system is disclosed that includes a method and apparatus to automatically adjust certain parameters that affect visualization of a Doppler spectral image. The ultrasound system acquires spectral lines of Doppler data generated by the ultrasound system. A data processor within the ultrasound system determines the presence of aliasing and estimates noise levels from the spectral lines of Doppler data. The data processor then automatically adjusts system parameters such as pulse repetition frequency (PRF), baseline shift, and spectrum orientation in response to aliasing and noise levels. The data processor of the ultrasound system also determines positive and negative signal boundaries for each spectral line of Doppler data and a display architecture processes the signal boundary data to display a spectral trace corresponding to the edges of the spectral lines.