Abstract: A sparse array that uses a small fraction of a fully populated array but yields a radiation pattern that is suitable for high quality medical imaging. The sparse array consists of two or more separate zones for transmitting and receiving as opposed to the overlapping arrays of the prior art. More specifically, a preferred embodiment sets forth an inner array of transmit elements with a narrow effective aperture and a separate non-overlapping outer array of receive elements with a wide effective aperture. The combination of asymmetric apertures is particularly useful for parallel processing applications. This abstract is provided as a tool for those searching for patents, and not as a limitation on the scope of the claims.

Abstract: A sparse array that uses a small fraction of a fully populated array but yields a radiation pattern that is suitable for high quality medical imaging. The sparse array consists of two or more separate zones for transmitting and receiving as opposed to the overlapping arrays of the prior art. More specifically, a preferred embodiment sets forth an inner array of transmit elements with a narrow effective aperture and a separate non-overlapping outer array of receive elements with a wide effective aperture. The combination of asymmetric apertures is particularly useful for parallel processing applications. This abstract is provided as a tool for those searching for patents, and not as a limitation on the scope of the claims.

Abstract: An ultrasound scanner may display volume renderings of objects in real time. In particular, the system can scan an object at a first time using the ultrasound scanner to provide a first 3D ultrasound dataset that represents the object and of an instrument at a first position. A volume rendering of at least a portion of the object and instrument can be displayed. The first position of the instrument can be adjusted relative to the object based on the displayed volume rendering to provide a second position of the instrument. The object is scanned at a second time using the ultrasound scanner to provide a second 3D ultrasound dataset that represents at least a portion of the object and the instrument at the second position.

Abstract: A first ultrasound dataset that represents an object in a first coordinate system can be acquired at a first time. Three landmarks of the object can be located in the first ultrasound dataset to define a second coordinate system. A first transform from the first to the second coordinate system can be determined for the first ultrasound dataset. A second ultrasound dataset that represents the object in the first coordinate system can be acquired at a second time. The same three landmarks in the second ultrasound dataset can be located to define a third coordinate system. A second transform from the first to the third coordinate systems can be determined for the second ultrasound dataset.

Abstract: A volumetric ultrasound system is used to determine the velocity of tissue using 3D echo data. In particular, the velocity of tissue in a 3D volume is determined by steering ultrasound beams to the tissue in the 3D volume and forming 3D echo data from receive ultrasound beams formed from reflections of the steered ultrasound beams from the tissue in the 3D volume. The velocity of the tissue associated with the 3D echo data can be determined using velocity determination techniques. The velocity of the tissue can be displayed in real-time. For example, in one embodiment, a sub-volume of the 3D volume can be scanned and the determined velocity of the tissue displayed in about 50 milliseconds (ms).