Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein provide a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system and method in which a non-real-time operating system is used to transfer image data. In one preferred embodiment, a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) located outside of the received signal path to transfer image data. The non-real-time operating system can be used, for example, to transfer image data from a hard disk to system memory for display, to transfer image data from system memory to the hard disk for storage, or to scroll image data to view a loop of image data.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein relate to a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system with at least one reprogrammable logic device, such as, for example, a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”). In one presently preferred embodiment, at least one reprogrammable logic device in the ultrasound system is reconfigured for probe changes (e.g., phased-array, curved array), for operator control changes (such as system mode changes, e.g., B-Mode, color Doppler), and/or dynamically as part of system operation (such as between ultrasonic pulse firings and/or between frames). By utilizing at least one reprogrammable logic device, the preferred embodiments reduce the size and cost of the ultrasound system without compromising the performance characteristics of the system.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasound receive beamformer includes an upsampler upstream of a time delay device and a summer, and a smoothing filter downstream of the time delay device and the summer. The receive beamformer is automatically programmed into a gate array as a single-beam, dynamic-focus receive beamformer when the user selects B-mode and as a dual-beam, fixed-focus receive beamformer when the user selects color flow mode.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasound system is provided which is portable and capable of being carried by a built in handle from location to location by single person. The system is provided in a package which is both light and compact. Further, a medical diagnostic ultrasound system is provide in which the circuitry of the ultrasound system is distributed among several circuit boards which are interconnected directly with one another without the use of a backplane or motherboard.

Abstract: A scan converter using a re-programmable logic device provides flexibility for converting data from an acoustic grid to a display format. A set of instruction codes is provided for implementing the flexibility. By changing the instruction codes, the scan conversion process changes. A single memory stores the incoming data where read and write operations are performed sequentially. The same memory may be used for storing the scan converted data. A field programmable gate array is preferably used to scan convert the data and is programmed differently for different modes of operation.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein provide a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system and method in which at least two image components of an image are separately stored in the ultrasound system. Because the image components are separately stored, a composite image can be constructed from selected image components. Unlike conventional ultrasound systems that use a frame grabber to perform a what-you-see-is-what-you-get technique of image capture, this preferred embodiment provides selective construction of a composite image, thereby facilitating image presentation, image review, and post-processing functions.

Abstract: A scheme is provided for locating the time of occurrence of a predetermined event in a physiologic cycle associated with an anatomical object of a subject's body. Echoes produced from transmission of ultrasound energy into the anatomical object are processed by an image frame acquisition device to produce a series of image frames. Each image frame includes data representing an image of at least a portion of the anatomical object at a given time. Then, the difference is determined between the current image frame and at least one preceding image frame. A frame correlation coefficient is output based upon the difference. The time of occurrence is located at the instance of time when the frame correlation coefficient falls below a predetermined value, or when the rate of change of the frame correlation coefficient exceeds a predetermined value. The physiologic cycle may be the heart cycle and the predetermined event may be the QRS trigger of an electrocardiogram.

Abstract: Speckle is reduced in full motion ultrasound image data representing anatomic structures which have periodic physiological motion. Echoes produced from transmission of ultrasound energy into a subject's body are processed by an image frame acquisition device to produce a series of image frames for each physiologic cycle. Each image frame comprises data representing an image of a portion of the subject's body at a given time within the cycle. Successive image frames obtained at the same point in time within each physiologic cycle are filtered. The filtering is applied to each image frame within the entire current physiologic cycle, thereby deriving full motion speckle-reduced image data.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging data is collected at an adjustable collection image frame rate. Echoes produced from transmission of ultrasound energy into a subject's body are processed by an image frame acquisition device to produce a series of image frames. Each image frame comprises data representing an image of a portion of the subject's body at a given time. The image frames include collection image frames and interrogation image frames. The interrogation image frames are for sampling the subject's body between collection of at least some collection image frames. The difference between the current image frame and at least one preceding image frame is determined and a frame correlation coefficient is output based upon the difference. The collection image frame rate of the image frame acquisition device is adjusted in inverse proportion to the most recent frame correlation coefficient.

Abstract: A difference image processing scheme and contrast-only difference image processing scheme is provided for imaging anatomic structures or vessels which have periodic physiological motion that define physiologic cycles. Image data is acquired using ultrasound imaging equipment. In the scheme, a template image is captured at a first time period. The template image comprises image data of a portion of the subject's body acquired at a selected time period during the physiologic cycle. The captured template image is stored. Next, a real-time image is taken at a second time period subsequent to the first time period. The real-time image includes image data of the portion of the subject's body acquired at the same selected time period during the physiologic cycle as the template image. The stored template image and the real-time image are simultaneously displayed on an image display.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging data obtained from anatomic structures which have periodic physiologic motion that define successive physiologic cycles is packaged into image loops. Each image loop includes frame data representing a plurality of image frames acquired at spaced time intervals within a physiologic cycle. The image loops may be transmitted to a remote location for playback in real-time or pseudo real-time. Also provided is a scheme for increasing the effective acquisition frame rate in a medical ultrasound imaging system which acquires imaging data of an anatomic structure having periodic physiologic motion that defines successive physiologic cycles.