AUTOMATED QUALITATIVE IMAGE QUALITY FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGES

An automated qualitative image quality method is used for an ultrasound imaging system. Initially, an impulse response of the system is determined. The impulse response is used with a cystic filling determination to achieve automated qualitative image quality for the ultrasound imaging system. The impulse response of the system is determined using a wire-in-water test. That is, a wire target is put in a water tank. Next, a transducer is set to be perpendicular to the axis of the wire, to get a cross-section of the wire. Sound waves are transmitted and reflected echoes are received at different gain settings. Curve fitting techniques are then used to form a system beam profile. Finally, acoustic peak to noise and detail resolution qualitative image quality measurements are made using the system beam profile. The cystic filling of the system is determined by defining a first region of interest in a darkened region of an image and a second region of interest in a surrounding region of the image. Collected data is then used to calculate a cystic filling measurement.