Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided in which the scanhead connectors are elevated and tilted upward. This is provided by a tilted card cage with a backplane mount for the scanhead connectors which extends above the top of the card cage. The elevated and tilted scanhead connectors provide a comfortable position and orientation for the system operator when inserting and removing probe connectors, and the elevated position keeps the probe cables well above the floor and entanglement with the wheels.

Abstract: Three dimensional ultrasonic images are formed by volume rendering using a 3D ultrasonic image data set. The data set may be acquired by rocking, sweeping, fanning or rotating a 2D image plane through the volume being scanned, or by steering beams in different angular directions from a two dimensional array of transducer elements. The polar data is volume rendered to form a 3D image by means of projected raylines which are warped to account for the angular geometry of the acquisition.

Abstract: Valvular regurgitation is assessed by identifying a characteristic regurgitation jet in a colorflow image. An M-line is placed over the region of regurgitation and Doppler M-mode information is acquired from the flow convergence region adjacent the regurgitant orifice. The Doppler M-mode information, acquired at a higher acquisition rate than the colorflow frame rate, is used to produce a measure of the regurgitant flow rate and volume through the orifice. The flow rate can be used with velocity data acquired during the regurgitation event to produce a dynamic estimate of the size of the regurgitant valve orifice.

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: The control panel of an ultrasound system can be moved laterally from one side of the ultrasound system to the other, enabling an operator to more comfortably operate the ultrasound system while scanning a patient located to the side of the ultrasound system. The control panel locks in its central home position and can be moved linearly to either side of the home position. Detents serve to retain the control panel at different lateral locations. Preferably the control panel can swivel independently of its lateral articulation.

Abstract: A control panel for a diagnostic ultrasound system includes a keyboard with a wrist pad that stows beneath the control panel, and extends from the control panel when needed. The keyboard wrist pad integrates smoothly into the front of the control panel when the keyboard is in the stowed position. The keyboard wrist pad can also be integrated into the top surface of the edge of the control panel and can serve as a wrist pad for either the control panel or the keyboard when the keyboard is extended.

Abstract: A digital multiline beamformer is provided which produces multiple receive beams in response to a single transmit event. An embodiment of the present invention includes a bulk delay which provides a common steering delay applicable to all of the beams received at one time. The bulk delay is succeeded by parallel filter processing paths which produce finely focused multiple beams simultaneously. In one embodiment a multiphase filter produces the samples for multiple beams, which is advantageous when the number of simultaneously produced beams is greater than the number of phases produced by the fine focus filter.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which enables the system operator to change the language of the graphical user interface without the need to restart the system. The software build for text, dialog boxes, symbols, icons, and other language-specific information contains this display information in multiple languages. By accessing a setup menu or other selection screen the user can change to one of the other languages stored on the system, preferably including all language-specific features. In the describe embodiments this change many be implemented without the need to reboot the system. In one embodiment the user has the ability to select multiple languages for different functions such as one language for system operation and another language for diagnostic reports.

Abstract: A breast imaging system is described which includes compression plates for retaining a breast during an examination. One of compression plates is formed by a polymeric membrane stretched under tension to provide a rigid but compliant retention surface which is substantially acoustically transparent for the conduct of a sonographic examination. The polymeric membrane may also be substantially radiographically transparent for the conduct of a mammographic examination. The thickness of the membrane is chosen to be a function of one-half of the wavelength of the ultrasonic frequency used for the sonographic examination so as to be substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy at that frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are provided in which aberration corrections are computed by comparing harmonic and non-harmonic images to derive aberration correction estimates. In a preferred embodiment the harmonic image provides a reference image against which aberrations in the non-harmonic image are compared. A preferred acquisition technique is to transmit at a frequency f and receive at a frequency n*f to acquire the harmonic image and to transmit at a frequency n*f and receive at a frequency n*f to acquire the non-harmonic image. In a preferred embodiment the aberration correction estimates are produced by back-propagating the image data to find the aperture correction data for the two images.

Abstract: A semi-invasive ultrasound imaging system for imaging biological tissue includes a transesophageal probe or a transnasal, transesophageal probe connected to a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array, a transmit beamformer, a receive beamformer, and an image generator. The two-dimensional transducer array is disposed on a distal portion of the probe's elongated body. The transmit beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to transmit several ultrasound beams over a selected pattern defined by azimuthal and elevation orientations. The receive beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to acquire ultrasound data from the echoes reflected over a selected tissue volume. The tissue volume is defined by the azimuthal and elevation orientations and a selected scan range. The receive beamformer is constructed to synthesize image data from the acquired ultrasound data.

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: A method and apparatus are described for ultrasonically imaging tiny blood vessels with the aid of a contrast agent. The locations of microbubbles of the contrast agent are detected in a series of images as the microbubbles move through the blood vessels. These images are temporally processed to identify the moving microbubbles, and persistence processed to depict images which show the tracks followed by the microbubbles through the blood vessels. A maximum intensity persistence can be used to show the steady buildup of microbubble tracks through the vasculature, or a slow decay employed so that the tracks will fade to black over time.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system cart is provided with an articulation mechanism for the image display. The articulation mechanism is pivotally mounted to the cart and to the display and includes an intermediate pivot elbow which allows the display to be moved laterally and forward and back from its nominal home position. One arm of the articulating mechanism is inclined to allow the display to clear other components of the cart when articulated and to prevent the development of pinch points. One of the joints of the articulating mechanism includes a locking device which selectively locks the joint to alter the articulation characteristic of the mechanism.

Abstract: A cart-borne ultrasound system is described which includes a portable cart holding the electronic circuitry of the ultrasound system, a control panel for controlling the ultrasound system, and a display. The control panel is supported by an articulating mechanism which enables the control panel to be raised and lowered to accommodate operators of different height, and enables the control panel to move toward and away from the user to accommodate users in the sitting or standing positions. In a preferred embodiment the articulating mechanism comprises a parallelogram-shaped linkage which also maintains a constant angle of inclination of the control panel as it is raised and lowered.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus and method are described for imaging nonlinear response objects such as contrast agents at greater depths. Transmit pulses include two fundamental frequency components, one of which is to produce harmonic components at the fundamental frequency of the other component. In the presence of a contrast agent these harmonic components are used for imaging the contrast agent. When the contrast agent is not present imaging is performed using the fundamental echoes of the other echo frequency. Preferably the harmonic frequency of the first fundamental component is aligned with the second fundamental frequency. The technique is especially useful when imaging contrast agents at low MI and at significant depths in the body.

Abstract: The control panel of an ultrasound system can swivel about the operator location. In one embodiment this capability is provided by pivoting the control panel about a pivot axis located forward of the center of the control panel, preferably within a few inches of the operator position. In another embodiment the control panel can be moved along a track which is curved about the operator position, and in a further embodiment the control panel is moved by a linkage which simultaneously moves the control panel from side to side and forward.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is formed by a plurality of cMUT cells, each comprising a charged diaphragm plate capacitively opposing an oppositely charged base plate. The cMUT cells can be fabricated by conventional semiconductor processes and hence integrated with ancillary transducer circuitry such as a bias charge regulator. The cMUT cells can also be fabricated by micro-stereolithography whereby the cells can be formed using a variety of polymers and other materials.

Abstract: A cart-borne ultrasound system has a control panel at the front of the cart for operating the ultrasound system and a handle at the front of the cart by which a user can push or pull the cart to a different location. The handle has an opening through which a probe cable can be slipped to hang the cable over the handle during transport, storage, or use. The handle also serves to raise and lower the system control panel. The handle can also be articulated to move it out of the way of a user in front of the control panel.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.