Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method uses harmonic imaging to acquire a plurality of images at a variety of look angles. The number of acquired ultrasonic images that are compounded to form a spatially compounded image is varied in response to changes in system operating parameters initiated directly or indirectly by the system user.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe is moved to scan a volumetric region of the body. As it is moved, targets within the region are interrogated from multiple look directions. The echo data from the multiple look directions are compounded to form spatially compounded image data, which is processed for display in a three dimensional display format.

Abstract: A diagnostic ultrasound imaging system includes a display monitor having a viewing screen with an aspect ratio substantially wider than 4:3. The wide aspect ratio screen is able to display horizontally elongated images typically obtained in ultrasound imaging using a greater percentage of the viewing screen compared to display monitors used in prior art ultrasound imaging systems. As a result, the images can be seen with greater size and resolution without cutting off portions of the images. The display monitor is preferably rotatable 90 degrees to provide a viewing screen having an aspect ratio substantially narrower than display monitors used in prior art ultrasound imaging systems, thereby providing a viewing screen that is better able to show deep images.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a data entry device that reads storage media that is assigned to each patient on which the system is to be used or the operator of the system to obtain ultrasound images. The storage media, which may be a bar code, smartcard, personal digital assistant, for example, contains patient identifying information. The patient or procedure identifying information may be used to access a digital requisition that is referenced by the patient identifying information. The digital requisition may be stored in a disk drive included in the ultrasound imaging system or in a clinical information system accessed through a communication link included in the ultrasound imaging system. The digital requisition may include information pertaining to an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the patient, which can be used to automatically set up the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described for more uniformly scanning a volumetric region for 3D ultrasonic imaging. An image plane of steered scanning beams is rotated about an axis extending through the volumetric region with beams in the vicinity of the axis more widely separated than beams more remotely located from the axis. The nonuniform spacing of the scanning beams results in relatively less disparate sampling densities across the scanned volumetric region. The inventive method may be performed with both 1D and 2D array transducers.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided which produces scanlines with synthesized transmit foci at a high frame rate of display. Beams are transmitted and received which have different beam steering and focal characteristics. At least one of the received beams is weighted and the steering and focal characteristics of the weighted received beams are interpolated to form scanlines for display which exhibit the focal properties of both beams.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described which perform spatial compounding of tissue motion or flow information. The resultant images not only reduce speckle artifacts, but also reduce dropout caused by the angular dependence of Doppler information. Compound images may be formed using both B mode and Doppler information acquired in a time interleaved manner, either one or both of which may be spatially compounded. The techniques of the present invention may be employed to reduce multiline artifacts and to produce real time compound images at high frame rates of display.

Abstract: A two dimensional ultrasonic transducer array suitable for three dimensional phased array scanning is formed of hexagonally close packed transducer elements. In a preferred embodiment the transducer elements have a rectilinear shape, allowing the array to be fabricated with conventional dicing saw processes.

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.

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. A feedback controlled bias charge regulator controls the bias charge of the capacitive plates. The cMUT cells can be fabricated by conventional semiconductor processes and hence integrated with ancillary transducer circuitry such as the bias charge regulator.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is formed by a plurality of cMUT cells, each has a charged diaphragm plate capacitively opposing an oppositely charged base plate. The diaphragm plate is distended toward the base plate by a bias charge. The base plate includes a central portion elevated toward the center of the diaphragm plate to cause the charge of the cell to be of maximum density at the moving center of the diaphragm plate.

Abstract: Nonlinear tissue or contrast agent effects are detected by combining echoes from multiple, differently modulated transmit pulses below the second harmonic band. The received echoes may even overlap the fundamental transmit frequency band. The modulation may be amplitude modulation or phase or polarity modulation, and is preferably both amplitude and phase or modulation. The present invention affords the ability to utilize a majority of the transducer passband for both transmission and reception, and to transmit pulses which are less destructive to microbubble contrast agents.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with synthesized transmit focus. Several beams are transmitted, each with a different transmit focus. Echoes received from the differently focused beams are combined to form a scanline with an extended focus. The echoes are preferably weighted and/or phase adjusted prior to being combined. Combining is performed in the r.f. domain before nonlinear processing of the signals such as amplitude detection. The resultant extended focus scanline exhibits the property of dynamic transmit focusing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with an analysis package by which measurements and calculations can be made using ultrasonic image data. The analysis package includes the ability for a user to define custom exam protocols, custom measurements or custom calculations.

Abstract: An extended field of view ultrasonic imaging system allows the direction of scanhead motion to be reversed to reacquire the desired image plane or patient anatomy when the movement of the scanhead departs from the desired path of travel.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer array element operating in the k31 mode is formed by two piezoelectric subelements joined to form a 2—2 composite by a conductive filler material. An energizing potential is applied to the conductive filler material, and a return potential is applied to the outer opposing faces of the subelements. Preferably the conductive filler material comprises a conductive epoxy. Arrays of such elements in one and two dimensions are formed with the conductive epoxy in alternating kerfs in a row being connected to the opposing polarities of an energizing potential.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is are described in which the component ultrasonic images which are to be spatially compounded are corrected for misregistration prior to compounding. The component images may be registered to a reference image or registered to form intermediate compound images which are then registered and compounded. The misregistration may be sensed by calculating a similarity or difference metric for a region of interest of the image frames being registered, or on the basis of reference lines acquired for the purpose of registering images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described which produce tissue harmonic images containing both fundamental and harmonic frequency components. Such a blended image takes advantage of the performance possible with the two types of ultrasonic echo information and can advantageously reduce near field clutter while improving signal to noise performance in the far field of the image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and methods are described which produce tissue harmonic ultrasonic images from harmonic echo components of a transmitted fundamental frequency. Fundamental frequency waves are transmitted by an array transducer to focus at a focal depth. As the transmitted waves penetrate the body, the harmonic effect develops as the wave components begin to focus. The harmonic response from the tissue is detected and displayed, while clutter from the fundamental response is reduced by excluding fundamental frequencies. The technique is especially useful for imaging the endocardial tissue of the heart.

Abstract: An extended field of view image memory has x-y coordinates corresponding to the sight area of an extended field of view image, and a depth corresponding to the maximum number of elemental image pixels that can be compounded to form a pixel of the extended field of view image. Each elemental image is entered into the memory in registration with a previously acquired elemental image, and pushes down any previously entered images it overlaps. The finite depth of the memory thus forms a FIFO register at each pixel location, which eliminates the oldest pixel data when a newly entered image causes the maximum pixel depth at a location to be exceeded.