Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the SNR in medical ultrasound imaging utilize Golay-coded excitation of the transducer array. A Golay pair is a pair of binary (+1,-1) sequences with the property that the sum of the autocorrelations of the two sequences is a Kronecker delta function. This translates into two important advantages over codes in general: (1) Golay codes have no range sidelobes, and (2) Golay codes can be transmitted using only a bipolar pulser versus a more expensive digital-to-analog converter. Degradation of the Golay code is avoided by employing multiple focal zones, where the Golay code is used only in the deepest focal zones in order to minimize dynamic focusing effects, and by employing two consecutive transmits on each beam to minimize tissue motion between the two code sequences.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic wave emitter and an ultrasonic wave sensor. The probe is movable along a skin surface of a patient in pressure-wave transmitting contact with that skin surface. An ultrasonic frequency generator is operatively connected to the wave emitter, while an ultrasonic-wave preprocessor is operatively connected to the sensor for periodically processing reflected ultrasonic pressure waves detected by the sensor. The wave preprocessor is programmed to derive preliminary structural data pertaining to the internal tissues of the patient, where the data consists essentially of separate sets of data, each set corresponding to a respective location of the probe relative to the patient. A memory is operatively connected to the preprocessor for storing the sets of data.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging data is collected at an adjustable collection image frame rate. Echoes produced from transmission of ultrasound energy into a subject's body are processed by an image frame acquisition device to produce a series of image frames. Each image frame comprises data representing an image of a portion of the subject's body at a given time. The image frames include collection image frames and interrogation image frames. The interrogation image frames are for sampling the subject's body between collection of at least some collection image frames. The difference between the current image frame and at least one preceding image frame is determined and a frame correlation coefficient is output based upon the difference. The collection image frame rate of the image frame acquisition device is adjusted in inverse proportion to the most recent frame correlation coefficient.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that combines radiography equipment with an ultrasonic transducer to generate ultrasonic images of the internal structure of biological tissue that are in registration with an X-ray image. The apparatus includes an examination table having a radiolucent and sonolucent window for imaging the biological tissue with an ultrasound and X-ray subsystems without moving the patient. In alternative embodiments, the ultrasound transducer may be an annular array transducer mounted on a moveable or a linear array of ultrasonic transducing elements. The X-ray images are preferably generated digitally using a line X-ray source and detector.

Abstract: The equipment in this invention provides an ultrasound diagnostic equipment with a matrix switch checking means configured in a combined use with means commonly furnished to said device heaving a built-in test sequencer, whereby taps on the delay line is selected in due order from one end of said taps for each channel of the matrix switch to input a checking signal to that channel from a transducer circuit every time these taps are selected; as a result a signal obtained from the delay-line output terminals is shown on a display screen of a display device as a mimic echo signal to determine the presence or absence of any fault of switching elements in the relevant channel of the matrix switch based on a mimic echo image pattern shown on the display screen.