Abstract: A system and method for converting 2-D ultrasound data into a 2-D display image. The system and method input a 2-D ultrasound data set, transform the 2-D ultrasound data set into a mathematical 3-D data set, and transform the mathematical 3-D data set into an altered 2-D data set. Another preferred embodiment of the invention involves generating a mathematical surface, such that the height of the mathematical surface is based on a first component of an ultrasound signal in a 2-D ultrasound data set; mapping the mathematical surface to points on a 2-D plane; assigning a color value to each point based on a second component of the ultrasound signal; and displaying the mapped mathematical surface with the assigned color values on a 2-D display device.

Abstract: A method and system for mapping surface data onto a geometrical representation of a structure for 3D imaging is provided. A boundary of a structure is determined from one type of data, such as Doppler energy data. Another type of data, such as B-mode data, representing the boundary or an area adjacent the boundary is extracted or identified. The B-mode data is then rendered as a function of the boundary, such as by texture mapping the B-mode data onto or adjacent the boundary. As the user examines the structure representation, the texture mapped data may provide texture details based on an optimally determined representation. The boundary may alternatively be used to select data for volume rendering.

Abstract: Multiple layer elements for a transducer array are provided. Each element comprises two or more layers of transducer material. Various of the elements include one or more of: (1) multiple-layer, multiple-dimensional arrays where the layers are electrically connected through asperity contact, (2) multiple layer array of elements where air or gas separates at least two elements, (3) an even number of layers where each layer is electrically connected through asperity contact, (4) multiple-layers where each layer comprises transducer material and electrodes in a substantially same configuration, and (5) electrically isolating electrodes on layers by kerfing or cutting after bonding the layers together.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system aligns substantially co-planar two-dimensional images to form an extended field of view using improved compounding methods. Compounding with a finite impulse response is used for more versatile compositing. The compounding is adaptive, such as through adapting the image regions, weighting, or type of compounding as a function of correlation, location within the image, estimated motion or combinations thereof. A user warning is provided as a function of the correlation between images.

Abstract: A transducer with and method for layering composite materials are provided. A plurality of indentations are provided on one layer, such as associated with etching away ceramic posts relative to a polymer in a composite material. A respective plurality of protrusions is provided on a second layer, such as by etching away a polymer relative to ceramic posts in a composite material. The protrusions insert into the indentations, aligning the two layers.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein provide a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system and method for transferring ultrasound examination data to a portable computing device. In one preferred embodiment, ultrasound examination data is transferred from a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system to a portable computing device, such as a personal digital assistant. The ultrasound examination data can be viewed on the portable computing device or further transferred to a review station or another portable computing device for review. In some preferred embodiments, the examination data is converted from a form readable by the ultrasound system to a form readable by the portable computing device or review station. The ultrasound examination data can be transferred using a wired connection or using wireless technology, such an infrared communications link. The preferred embodiments can also be used with other medical acquisition devices and medical examination data.

Abstract: Multiple layer elements for a transducer array are provided. Each element comprises two or more layers of transducer material. Various of the elements include one or more of: (1) multiple-layer, multiple-dimensional arrays where the layers are polymericly bonded and electrically connected through asperity contact, (2) multiple layer array of elements where air or gas separates at least two elements, (3) an even number of layers where each layer is electrically connected through asperity contact, (4) multiple-layers where each layer comprises transducer material and electrodes in a substantially same configuration, and (5) electrically isolating electrodes on layers by kerfing or cutting after bonding the layers together.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasonic imaging system acquires receive beams from spatially distinct transmit beams. The receive beams alternate in type between at least first and second types across the region being imaged. The first and second types of receive beams differ in at least one scan parameter other than transmit and receive line geometry, and can for example differ in transmit phase, transmit or receive aperture, system frequency, transmit focus, complex phase angle, transmit code or transmit gain. Receive beams associated with spatially distinct ones of the transmit beams (including at least one beam of the first type and at least one beam of the second type) are then combined. In this way, many two-pulse techniques, including, for example, phase inversion techniques, synthetic aperture techniques, synthetic frequency techniques, and synthetic focus techniques, can be used while substantially reducing the frame rate penalty normally associated with such techniques.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining ultrasound data is provided. Different aperture techniques are used for transmit than on receive. The various techniques include synthetic aperture, shorting elements, skipping elements, sliding apertures and combinations thereof. The techniques used may also vary as a function of the depth of field.

Abstract: An improved method for suppressing fundamental or desired harmonic orders in an ultrasonic medical imaging system transmits at least one reverberation-suppression pulse prior to the transmission of a multiple-pulse sequence. Receive signals associated with the pulses of the multiple-pulse sequence are acquired and combined using receive weights selected to suppress energy at either the fundamental or a desired harmonic of the fundamental.

Abstract: A two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array and the method of manufacturing thereof is provided in which the transducer array is formed by a plurality of transducer elements sequentially arranged in the azimuth direction and each transducer element has a non-uniform thickness and each transducer is divided into a left and a right half which can be independently excited.

Abstract: A three-state, pulse width modulated, bipolar waveform is constructed by summing a first component with an inverted, time-shifted version of the first component. By properly selecting the time interval for the time shift of the second component, frequency filtering benefits can be obtained. The three-state waveform is generated by a switched voltage source that provides a low, constant source impedance for all three voltage states.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic imaging system generates a compounded beam signal C by combining first and second beam signals B1, B2 subsequent to detection and a synthesized beam signal S by combining the first and second beam signals B1, B2 prior to detection. The compounded signal C and the synthesized signal S are then adaptively weighted in response to a selection signal and combined to form an image signal. In this way, the compounded signal C is made to dominate in regions of the image that benefit from increased contrast resolution and the synthesized signal S is made to dominate in regions of the same image that benefit from increased detail resolution.

Abstract: A system for editing a 3-D medical diagnostic ultrasound image dataset displays both a 3-D reconstruction of the dataset and an editing object. A user moves the editing object relative to the 3-D reconstruction with a six degrees of freedom input device that allows the user to control both the position and the orientation of the editing object. The 3-D reconstruction and the associated 3-D dataset are edited to reduce opacity of a portion of a 3-D reconstruction on a selected side of the editing object. The disclosed editing system is fast, efficient and intuitive, and it allows the user to designate the portions of the 3-D dataset to be removed simply and reliably.

Abstract: Multiple layer elements for a transducer array are provided. Each element comprises two or more layers of transducer material. Various of the elements include one or more of: (1) multiple-layer, multiple-dimensional arrays where the layers are poymericly electrically connected through asperity contact, (2) multiple layer array of elements where air or gas separates at least two elements, (3) an even number of layers where each layer is electrically connected through asperity contact, (4) multiple-layers where each layer comprises transducer material and electrodes in a substantially same configuration, and (5) electrically isolating electrodes on layers by kerfing or cutting after bonding the layers together.

Abstract: A system, method and probe for diagnostic ultrasound imaging with at least two, and preferably three transducer arrays. The first transducer array provides a primary image. The second transducer array comprises an array of transducer elements positioned near one end of the first transducer array for providing an image in a different plane. An optional third transducer array comprises an array of transducer elements positioned near the other end of the first transducer array for providing an additional image in a different plane. One application of the invention is to collect tissue for medical procedures, wherein at least one surgical tool is attached to the probe near the imaging arrays and moves together with at least one imaging array. As the primary imaging array is drawn across tissue for collection, the operator observes a cross-section of the tissue prior to actually cutting the tissue.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system includes a processor that varies the receive signal path parameters as a function of the signal to noise ratio of the echo signal. Background noise information is either acquired by imaging with the transmitters turned off, or estimated by using the known differences in bandwidth and correlation lengths of the signal and noise, or computed based on a system noise model using currently prevailing system parameters. Acquired receive signals are then processed as a nonlinear function of the comparison between the acquired receive signal and the background noise values. The family of SNR adaptive processors includes the SNR adaptive filtering in at least one of the azimuth, elevation and time dimensions, SNR adaptive high pass, band pass, and whitening filtering, SNR adaptive synthesis, and SNR adaptive compounding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing ultrasound data is provided. The apparatus includes an interface operatively connected to a memory, a programmable single instruction multiple data processor (or two symmetric processors), a source of acoustic data (such as a data bus) and a system bus. The memory stores data from the processor, ultrasound data from the source, and data from the system bus. The processor has direct access to the memory. Alternatively, the system bus has direct access to the memory. The interface device translates logically addressed ultrasound data to physically addressed ultrasound data for storage in a memory. The translation is the same for data from both the processor and the source for at least a portion of a range of addresses. The memory stores both ultrasound data and various of: beamformer control data, instruction data for the processor display text plane information, control plane data and a table of memory addresses. One peripheral connects to the ultrasound apparatus.

Abstract: A two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array and the method of manufacturing thereof is provided in which the transducer array is formed by a plurality of transducer elements sequentially arranged in the azimuth direction and each transducer element has a non-uniform thickness and each transducer is divided into a left and a right half which can be independently excited.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer that allows transmission of pressure waves at a first frequency and reception of pressure waves at a second frequency. Each transducer element is formed by multiple layers of transducer material. A transceiver provides an excitation signal to the transducer and receives energy from the transducer. All of the layers are coupled to the transceiver during transmission so that all of the layers are activated. Some of the layers are decoupled from the transceiver during reception so that not all of the layers contribute to the received signal. A filter circuit is also responsive to the coupling, providing additional low, high or band pass filtering appropriate for one of transmit or receive. The pressure waves at the second frequency are responsive to tissue and/or contrast agents.