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Abstract

Embodiments are described for a system and method to improve image clarity in ultrasound images that utilize an ultrasound transceiver receiving ultrasound energy returning from a targeted region of interest and producing a plurality of echoic signals. The region-of-interest may include an organ, an organ cavity, for example a bladder, or a portion of an organ or organ cavity. The echoic signals then receive signal processing via an executable algorithm configured to image the targeted region-of-interest from the echoic signals using at least one of a first harmonic, a second harmonic, and a fundamental frequency of the ultrasound energy. The algorithm generates a harmonic value that may then be plotted on a grid or render a map presentable on a computer display or other visual means. Alternate embodiments provide that the executable algorithm may be non-parametric and include a Harmonic Analysis Kernel (HAK). The HAK includes a window process, a Fast Fourier Transform process, an average process, a normalization of intensity process, a compensation by depth process, and a harmonic smoothing process to generate the harmonic values. A map of the harmonic values then may be coded, for example, by color-coding according to the magnitude of the harmonic value, to present an image of the region-of-interest.

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First Claim