Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer assembly (12, 42) for diagnostic imaging is provided. The ultrasonic transducer assembly (12, 42) includes a housing (24, 54), a plurality of image data acquisition transducer arrays (30, 32, 60, 62), a transducer controller assembly (36, 66), selection means (34, 64) for indicating a selected one of the plurality of ultrasonic image data acquisition transducer arrays (30, 32, 60, 62) to the transducer controller assembly (36, 66), and a communications assembly (16, 70) for sending ultrasound image data and for receiving transmit waveforms and/or control data. The ultrasonic transducer assembly (12, 42) could also include a multiplexer assembly (38) and/or a microbeamformer assembly (68). The ultrasonic image data acquisition transducer arrays (30, 32, 60, 62) could be of different types, have different operating characteristics, and/or have different modes of operation.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system applies multi-line artifact mitigation during scanning and determines relative motion between the subject being scanned and a transducer array (12) of the ultrasound imaging system. A further jail-bar artifact mitigation is applied only when the relative motion exceeds an excessive motion limit.

Abstract: A synthetic focus ultrasound system is described which is operated in a hybrid fashion. System operation alternates between synthetic focus acquisition and conventional focused beam acquisition. This makes possible, for example, the acquisition and display of harmonic images. Speckle artifacts in the synthetic focused ultrasound images may be reduced by combining signals from different sub-apertures which view the image field from different look directions. In a described embodiment, sets of motion maps are be produced for different sub-apertures of the array transducer, then compounded to reduce speckle. One or more identified regions of interest within a synthetic focused ultrasound image may be processed differently from other regions of the image to highlight or better define particular motional characteristics within the regions of interest, such as turbulent flow or different velocities of flow or motion.

Abstract: A synthetic focus ultrasound system is described which is operated in a hybrid fashion. System operation alternates between synthetic focus acquisition and conventional focused beam acquisition. This makes possible, for example, the acquisition and display of harmonic images. Speckle artifacts in the synthetic focused ultrasound images may be reduced by combining signals from different sub-apertures which view the image field from different look directions. In a described embodiment, sets of motion maps are be produced for different sub-apertures of the array transducer, then compounded to reduce speckle. One or more identified regions of interest within a synthetic focused ultrasound image may be processed differently from other regions of the image to highlight or better define particular motional characteristics within the regions of interest, such as turbulent flow or different velocities of flow or motion.

Abstract: A synthetic focus ultrasound system is described which is operated in a hybrid fashion. System operation alternates between synthetic focus acquisition and conventional focused beam acquisition. This makes possible, for example, the acquisition and display of harmonic images. Speckle artifacts in the synthetic focused ultrasound images may be reduced by combining signals from different sub-apertures which view the image field from different look directions. In a described embodiment, sets of motion maps are be produced for different sub-apertures of the array transducer, then compounded to reduce speckle. One or more identified regions of interest within a synthetic focused ultrasound image may be processed differently from other regions of the image to highlight or better define particular motional characteristics within the regions of interest, such as turbulent flow or different velocities of flow or motion.

Abstract: A synthetic focus ultrasound system is described in which individual transducer elements are activated to insonify the image field and the resultant echoes are received by a plurality of elements of the array. The echo signals are stored and the complete echo set is used to produce motion maps for different velocity vectors over the image field. Various ones of the motion maps are used to produce a wide variety of ultrasound image modes, including grey-scale images, colorflow images, and spectral flow displays.

Abstract: An adaptive ultrasonic spatial compounding method is described in which the number of component ultrasonic images which are to be spatially compounded is varied in response to the type of scanning procedure. In a survey mode, when the transducer is rapidly scanning a patient and there is a low degree of correlation from frame to frame, the number of component ultrasonic images which are compounded is reduced. In a study mode, when the transducer is held relatively stationary to study a particular region of the body and the frame-to-frame spatial correspondence is relatively high, the number of component images is increased.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided which scans an image region to receive a plurality of spatially arranged lines of ultrasonic image information signals. These ultrasonic line information signals are used in an interpolater to interpolate one or more lines which are spatially interlineated between each pair of spatially adjoining received lines. These interpolated lines are produced using either the received RF or demodulated IF ultrasonic image information signals. The interpolated lines are produced prior to scan conversion, and preferably prior to nonlinear processing such as detection or log compression to reduce spatial aliasing artifacts. In one preferred embodiment the interpolater comprises a transversal filter of four taps which is responsive to received line information signals from a common range or depth.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is provided for producing two-dimensional projection images of the interior of the body. The transducer may comprise an array of elements, acuated to produce scanning beams which are focused in the azimuthal direction and divergent in the elevation direction. The elements will, when actuated, emit fan-shaped beams which will insonify a volumetric region in front of the transducer. Echoes returning from structures within the volumetric region are acoustically integrated and projected onto a plane within the region. An image display of this plane will represent a two-dimensional projection of the volumetric region.