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 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 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: 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: A digital video recorder is provided which provides digital storage of realtime ultrasonic image sequences, replacing the conventional VCR with a recorder which does not degrade digital ultrasound images by analog conversion and recording. The digital video recorder is operated by softkey controls in a displayed toolbar which are familiar to a VCR user. The virtual controls of the toolbar are selected by a video pointing device to stop, start, control replay speed, and skip to various points in a realtime ultrasonic image sequence which was stored by the digital video recorder.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscopic probe is provided with an articulating distal tip at which and ultrasonic transducer is located. The articulating section of the probe can be locked in an articulated position by a lock control located at a control section of the probe. The locking force is variably selectable by the user, so that the articulating section will be locked in position by a desired force. The articulating section is controlled by cables, which include cable tension adjustments that also serve to delimit the range of articulation. The articulating section is formed of alternating pivot rings with intervening polymeric pivot beads, which provide repetitively smooth articulation. The ultrasonic transducer is rotatable to steer the acoustic scan plane during use, and a sliding membrane between the transducer and its acoustic window allows the transducer to rotate smoothly without sticking.

Abstract: A needle guide is provided for quick, easy, and consistent insertion of a needle, such as a biopsy needle, into the scan plane of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system probe at multiple angles. The needle guide of the present invention is preferably a one piece needle guide that provides the user with the ability to maneuver a needle into and within the tissue of a body being examined at various angles. The ability to maneuver a needle at multiple angles is obtained by insertion of a needle into a slot created within the body of the needle guide. The needle guide is configured to attach to a probe such that the needle will always be inserted into the scan plane of the probe regardless of the selected angle.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with cordless scanheads which wirelessly transmit ultrasonic image signals to the imaging system. The transmitted image signals are received by a receiver in the mainframe ultrasound system where they undergo further image processing and are displayed. In a preferred embodiment the scanhead image signals are at least partially beamformed in the scanhead before being transmitted to the ultrasound system, thereby reducing the required transmission bandwidth. The cordless scanheads are battery powered, and are recharged by the ultrasound system when the scanheads are not being used for scanning.

Abstract: Multi-mode ultrasonic images are formed by processing the ultrasonic echoes from a single transmit pulse in parallel to display both tissue and motion. In a preferred embodiment short transmit bursts are employed to produce echo ensembles for tissue motion imaging. At least one sequence of echoes of the ensemble is also B mode processed for display of tissue structure. Preferably both the B mode and motion processing are performed in parallel. A substantially constant pulse repetition frequency reduces artifact development when imaging in the two modes from the same transmit pulse.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces spatially compounded images by combining component frames acquired from different look directions. The component frames are acquired in estimate space, converted to sampled data in a common coordinate system and compounded. Conversion to the common coordinate system is performed by modulating the sampling to the desired coordinate system or by resampling of the image data. The estimate data of the spatially compounded image is then scan converted to a display data format for display of the spatially compounded image.

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 produces spatially compounded images by combining component frames acquired from different look directions. In a first embodiment, the oldest component frame used to form a spatially compounded image is subtracted from the spatially compounded image to produce a partially summed image, and a newly acquired frame is added to the partially summed image to form a new spatially compounded image. In a second embodiment, different groups of component frames are concurrently summed to form multiple spatially compounded images simultaneously. The display alternates between the display of the simultaneously produced spatially compounded images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method is described in which 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 is provided with cordless scanheads which wirelessly transmit ultrasonic image signals to the imaging system. The cordless scanheads are battery powered by rechargeable batteries which are recharged by the ultrasound system when the scanheads are not in use. In preferred embodiments the charging system is protected from contaminants such as ultrasonic gel.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe enclosure is provided that has a liquid tight seal for sealing an ultrasonic probe connector and a portion of an ultrasonic probe cable. The enclosure of the present invention provides liquid tight sealing in a simple and reliable manner such that the connector may be completely submersed in a sterilization liquid without causing damage to the sensitive components of the connector.