More... System description | hardware | Software | Optical link Board | RF Signal Processing
 
Fast Echographic Multi parameters Multi Image Novel Apparatus
 
In this section a novel apparatus for experimenting new ultrasonic investigation techniques for diagnostic purposes is described. The apparatus can transform commercial echographs into an experimental system capable of working with the radiofrequency echographic signal in order to design and realize new processing procedures. Currently, the apparatus is in its final prototype phase while several pre-prototypes operate in clinical environments for "in-vivo" experimentation. It will be available at the end of the year 2002 for all those research groups interested in enlarging the research and experimental activities. The power of the apparatus is its real-time operation mode, which makes it suitable for the clinical environment where data production rate is essential. Real-time operation mode is achieved when all operations preserve the signal temporal correlation.
The basic idea of this platform is the complete integration of a real-time processing hardware section with the architecture of a Personal Computer (PC). This allows optimization of the processing load distribution between hardware and software in order to obtain the continuous production of on-line images even when heavy processing is required. The software running on the PC is responsible for controlling and configuring the hardware processing real-time section, performing further processing on the acquired echographic signals, displaying the resulting echographic frames, and acting as an interactive user interface for the whole system. By merging hardware and software, different ultrasonic parameters can be evaluated in the same signal processing step.
 
The system architecture is designed to be modular, expandable and aimed at embracing different ultrasonic investigation techniques. It is completely programmable and, for a specific application, it can be on-line reconfigured depending on the signal and/or image processing to implement from time to time. The modularity and expandability, achieved both in hardware and software, make it possible to replace or add new digital boards and software modules for different investigation methods. The two latter features, in conjunction with the platform programmability, allow the implementation and straightforward experimentation of new signal processing algorithms.
 
The platform also provides an interactive imaging tool with a high production rate. The high interaction efficiency, assured by the high speed response, was achieved by combining real-time signal processing with fast visualization procedures for managing multiple images representing a multitude of parameters derived from the ultrasonic radiofrequency (RF) processing sequences. The operator interacts with the platform first by setting the configuration of the platform through the selection of the sequence of hardware and software modules for a specific signal and image processing procedure depending on the chosen investigation method, and second through the fruition of data, and interaction and management of the data visualization tool for the most suitable representation.
 
The platform was designed in order to provide simultaneous presentation of a multitude of images. These images can be either the simultaneous representation of the intermediate results produced by the selected processing algorithm, or a multitude of final images. The simultaneous availability of processing intermediate results, while the platform is running, makes it possible to control and to drive the processing procedure depending on the observed modifications induced by tissue response.