Abstract: A method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging utilize tissue-centered scan conversion to compensate for transducer motion. A reference point, typically located in a region of interest, is selected. An ultrasound probe is positioned at a selected probe position and orientation relative to the region of interest. The region of interest is ultrasonically scanned, and echo signals representative of ultrasound echoes received from the region of interest are generated. The echo signals are referenced to the probe position and orientation. The probe position and orientation relative to the reference point are determined, typically by a sensing device. The echo signals and the probe position and orientation are transformed to image signals for display. The process is repeated for different probe positions and orientations to obtain a plurality of images. Each of the images is referenced to the selected reference point as the probe position and orientation changes, thereby compensating for transducer motion.

Abstract: In an image processing system for elimination of speckle a signal derived from a scan is passed to a statistical processor (21). An output characteristic of a statistical parameter of the local value of this image signal is passed to a comparator (4) and compared with a reference characteristic of speckle to derive a control signal for a variable bandwidth filter (6) used to enhance the image.