Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a two dimensional matrix array transducer and a digital microbeamformer. The microbeamformer comprises a plurality of transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array transducer, a plurality of low power analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the amplifiers, a microbeamformer controller, a power supply and a USB controller which cumulatively consume three watts or less.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe contains an array transducer and a microbeamformer coupled to elements of the array. The microbeamformer comprises analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry for at least thirty-two digital channels in the microbeamformer. Preferably the analog to digital converters are low power ADCs for reduced power consumption in the probe. Integrated circuits of thirty-two channels can be cascaded to produce 64-channel and 128-channel digital microbeamformers for an ultrasound array probe.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe is provided for multi-faceted exams, such as for triage and emergency. The probe can include different transducer arrays, such as a linear, a curved linear, and a sector array that are combined into a single hand held unit with a wireless display. Related methods are provided, such as a method for automatically selecting the appropriate array for the user to scan with based on the intended exam and/or location of the probe on the body of a patient.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system (50) includes analog and/or digital components which are configurable by firmware data. An ultrasound probe (10) contains firmware data for configuring the programmable devices of an ultrasound system for operation with the probe. The firmware data is uploaded from the probe and used to configure the analog and/or digital components for operation with the probe at runtime.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system comprising an ultrasound image acquisition station (46) and a mobile display device (18). When disconnected from the ultrasound image acquisition station (46), the mobile display device (18) may be operated by its own operating system providing general purpose applications to a user. When connected to the ultrasound image acquisition station (46), the hardware of the mobile display device (18) is operated by an ultrasound application dedicated operating system stored on the ultrasound image acquisition station (46). By this, a low weight and flexible to use ultra sound imaging system may be provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system (10) comprising an ultrasound image acquisition device (46) and a mobile console (18), which are both connected in a wireless manner. In particular, the ultrasound acquisition device has a battery powered probe (14) having a probe housing (20), and the transducer array (32) and an image acquisition hardware assembly (37) comprising at least a beam former (34) and a signal processor (36) are located within the probe housing (16). By this, a low weight flexible, three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system (10) may be provided.

Abstract: A 2D ultrasound imaging system has a number of different probes for different clinical applications. Each 2D imaging probe has a one dimensional array transducer and one or more microbeamformers coupled to the individual elements of the array. Preferably the microbeamformers are the same, and serve as a standard component of the system. The microbeamformers combine signals from the elements of their transducers and every probe has from four to sixteen outputs of partially beamformed signals. The mainframe system has a beamformer with four to sixteen channels, which completes the beamformation process for each probe.

Abstract: Ultrasonic image guidance of a transcutaneous invasive procedure such as a needle biopsy is conducted by placing an imaging probe above but laterally to one side of a mass to be biopsied. The image region of the probe is then laterally steered in the elevation direction to image the site of the mass to the side of the probe. The mass can then be accessed by needle insertion from immediately above the mass and away from interference with the probe. Preferably the probe has a 2D array transducer so that the image guidance can be viewed in real time three dimensional imaging.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described in which two planes of a volumetric region which are in different elevation planes are scanned in real time. In one embodiment the two planes are scanned with less than the maximum number of scanlines which the transducer can transmit in a single plane. A user control enables the two planes to be moved laterally without moving the transducer probe. In another embodiment each image plane contains a color box depicting flow or motion in the same respective position in the image. The color boxes of the two images can be sized and positioned in tandem so that both are in the same corresponding area of the two images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system (50) includes analog and/or digital components which are configurable by firmware data. An ultrasound probe (10) contains firmware data for configuring the programmable devices of an ultrasound system for operation with the probe. The firmware data is uploaded from the probe and used to configure the analog and/or digital components for operation with the probe at runtime.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which is operable in the docked mode or in the portable mode. In the docked mode a portable ultrasound system (60) is docked with a docking station (50). The portable ultrasound system (60) is controlled by hard key controls on a control panel of the docking station (50) and ultrasound images are displayed on a docking station display (28). In the portable mode the portable ultrasound system is operated separate from the docking station (50). Functions of a plurality of the hard keys of the control panel (44) are mapped to graphically displayed soft keys displayed on a flat panel display of the portable ultrasound system. The ultrasound system is controlled by clicking on these displayed soft keys or touching the displayed soft keys when the flat panel display is a touchscreen display.

Abstract: A method for anatomical imaging includes acquiring image data representative of three-dimensional volume segments of an image volume of interest in a subject. The image data are acquired in synchronism with corresponding physiological cycles of the subject. Each volume segment contains image data distributed in three dimensions. Acquiring image data includes selecting a sequence of scan lines for each respective volume segment configured to minimize an occurrence of motion artifacts throughout the image volume. The image data representative of the volume segments is combined to produce a representation of a three-dimensional anatomical image of the image volume.

Abstract: A two-dimensional array transducer probe is used to image regions of the body that are acoustically obstructed from conventional view by objects such as the lungs or ribs. The probe is located against the body at an acoustic window which provides acceptable ultrasonic transmissivity between the transducer array and the body. While maintaining the probe at its acoustic window, an image plane location is manipulated by adjusting the beam steering directions. The image plane can be tilted in the elevation direction, moved laterally, and/or rotated about a center axis to position the image plane so that the obstructed anatomy is effectively imaged for diagnosis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhanced color-flow imaging of contrast-agent perfused blood vessels and other tissues within a patient's body are disclosed. The method generally comprises, introducing one or more contrast agents into the body, power-modulating transmit pulses into the body, receiving echoes from the body, processing the received echoes to reduce tissue-generated echoes and echoes from stationary contrast agent, using a color-flow processor to generate a color-encoded display responsive to contrast-agent motion. The method may be implemented by a system with a an excitation-signal source, a transducer, an ultrasound-processing system having multiple image processors including a color-flow processor, as well as, a clutter filter, and an arbiter, and a display-processing system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method are described in which a volumetric region of the body is imaged by biplane images. One biplane image has a fixed planar orientation to the transducer, and the plane of the other biplane image can be varied in relation to the fixed reference image. In a preferred embodiment one image can be rotated relative to the other, and can be tilted relative to the other. An image orientation icon is shown on the display screen together with the two biplane images depicting the relative orientation of the two planar images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described in which two planes of a volumetric region which are in different elevation planes are scanned in real time. In one embodiment the two planes are scanned in the sector format with a common apex, causing corresponding depths of the two images to be separated by the same distance in elevation. In another embodiment one image plane has a fixed orientation with respect to the imaging probe and the location of the other image plane can be adjusted by the user.

Abstract: A plurality of planes are scanned in real time to provide a display of images in the scanned planes in real time. The displayed images are accompanied by an orientation icon which depicts the relative inclination of the displayed planes. The icon includes a perspective view of the outline of one of the images as seen from the scanning transducer, with the aspect ratio of the outline varying to provide a visual depiction of the instantaneous inclination of the image planes. The icon may also include a numerical indication of the relative inclination and an indication of the left-right orientation of the images relative to the scanning transducer.

Abstract: A method for anatomical imaging includes acquiring image data representative of three-dimensional volume segments of an image volume of interest in a subject. The image data are acquired in synchronism with corresponding physiological cycles of the subject. Each volume segment contains image data distributed in three dimensions. Acquiring image data includes selecting a sequence of scan lines for each respective volume segment configured to minimize an occurrence of motion artifacts throughout the image volume. The image data representative of the volume segments is combined to produce a representation of a three-dimensional anatomical image of the image volume.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method are described in which a volumetric region of the body is imaged by biplane images. One biplane image has a fixed planar orientation to the transducer, and the plane of the other biplane image can be varied in relation to the fixed reference image. In a preferred embodiment one image can be rotated relative to the other, and can be tilted relative to the other. An image orientation icon is shown on the display screen together with the two biplane images depicting the relative orientation of the two planar images.

Abstract: A phased array ultrasound scanning apparatus includes a one-dimensional (1-D) array of ultrasound transducer elements having transmit and receive elements. The 1-D array is responsive to a transmitter configured to energize the transmit elements for generating a transmit acoustic beam directed into a region of interest. A receive beamformer, operatively connected to the 1-D array, synthesizes receive beams, in response to echoes of the transmit acoustic beam received from the region of interest. The receive beamformer includes analog random access memory (ARAM) delay elements configured to delay signals received from the receive elements and provide the delayed signals on an output of the receive beamformer as a beamformed RF output. The beamformed RF output is suitable for use in forming an image of the region of interest.