Butterfly Network. has been granted a patent for beamforming circuitry in ultrasound devices that calculates the position of incoming ultrasound data samples based on time-of-flight, without the need for initial buffering. This innovation allows for efficient data processing and memory utilization in ultrasound imaging. GlobalData’s report on Butterfly Network gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Butterfly Network, Doppler ultrasound imaging was a key innovation area identified from patents. Butterfly Network's grant share as of June 2024 was 44%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Ultrasound beamforming circuitry without data buffering
The patent US12023201B2 describes an innovative apparatus designed for processing ultrasound data. Central to this apparatus is a memory system that includes multiple memory addresses, alongside beamforming circuitry. This circuitry is tasked with calculating the position in receive line space for each ultrasound data sample based on the time-of-flight of the samples. Notably, the beamforming circuitry operates without buffering the ultrasound data samples prior to position calculation. It generates integer interpolated ultrasound data values by interpolating non-integer samples from surrounding positions, which do not correspond to actual memory addresses. The system is configured to store these interpolated values at designated memory addresses, which are allocated based on spatial positions.
Additionally, the apparatus features a receive datapath that includes components such as an ultrasound transducer, a transimpedance amplifier, analog processing circuitry, and an analog-to-digital converter. The time-of-flight measurement encompasses the duration from the transmission of an ultrasound wave to the reception of its reflection. The memory addresses are structured to represent spatial positions at specific intervals, facilitating efficient data storage and retrieval. The beamforming circuitry is also designed to accumulate interpolated values at memory addresses, allowing for coherent data integration from various ultrasonic transducer elements. Overall, this patent outlines a sophisticated approach to ultrasound data processing, emphasizing real-time calculations and efficient memory management.
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