Abstract: Methods and apparatus for achieving a compound ultrasound imaging mode are disclosed. The methods include a step of firing a plurality of ultrasound beams at a single location, receiving first and second echoes, and combining the first and second echoes to form a composite scan line. The following beam parameters may be varied: transmission focus depth, transmission aperture, transmission frequency, and transmission burst length. Echoes may vary in one or both of receive bandwidth and receive center frequency. In one embodiment, transmission focus depth, transmission aperture, and receive center frequency all differ between the beams. A weighting step may be performed before or after the summing step. The apparatus may include vector memory, a compound logic processor for weighting and summing the vectors, and memory for storing the summed vectors.

Abstract: An ultrasound system is disclosed for imaging structure within a subject by generating a compounded image frame having reduced motion artifacts. Ultrasound waves are transmitted into the structure and, for at least one sample volume location within an image plane of the structure, a set of received beams is formed in response to ultrasound waves backscattered from the structure such that the set of received beams intersect at the sample volume location. A compounded data value is generated corresponding to the at least one sample volume location within the image plane based on the corresponding set of received beams. A compounded image frame is formed from at least one compounded data value. Reduced-artifact, compounded imaging at frame rates that are acceptable for abdominal scanning in real-time is also achieved.

Abstract: A method and systems for obtaining 2D ultrasound images. The methods may comprise the steps of receiving ultrasonic information from a volumetric region of a body, volume scan converting the ultrasonic information from the volumetric region for processing a rendering box, and volume rendering the rendering box for projecting the rendering box onto a 2D slice by using volume rendering techniques. The systems may comprise an ultrasonic transducer for receiving ultrasonic information from a volumetric region of a body, a volume scan converter for processing a rendering box obtained from the volumetric region, and a volume rendering processor for projecting the rendering box onto a 2D slice by using volume rendering techniques for contrast enhancement.

Abstract: With a method for determination of the direction of introduction (4) and for controlling the introduction path of biopsy needles, probes and similar in organisms (2) by using an ultrasound imaging machine, a scanning unit (1) of the ultrasound is placed onto the introduction range of the organism (2) in order to display an image (3a) according to a sectional plane (3) in which or along which the directional axis (4) of the introduction path runs and the biopsy needle or similar is controlled during its actual introduction in the corresponding image display (3a, 6).

Abstract: In a method for examining objects using ultrasound according to the reflection process, in particular 3D scanning, the object is scanned with a sound head unit (1) with associated send/receive unit (2, 4) appropriate for volume scanning and the obtained echo data are stored in a volume memory (5) in clear assignation to the local coordinates of the reflection points. During scanning the spatial line density and/or the temporal repetition frequency, in which certain volume areas are scanned, is deflected by the contents of the information obtained or obtainable from these areas in such a form that areas having less information content are scanned more seldom and/or with less scanning density than areas having a higher information content.

Abstract: In a method for representing movements when examining animated objects with ultrasound, the object is scanned with an ultrasound split-field unit (1) adjusted to one cutting plane only. The signals obtained from successive split image scannings are converted in a memory (3) into a virtual three-dimensional data block, in which the third dimension results from a preset or selectable time interval between successively recorded split images. From the stored data block data are called up by way of one or more console inquiry stations (4, 5) and according to adjustable criteria, namely interfaces or cutting axes by way of this data block or according to signal criteria, and images are displayed on at least one display unit (7) in the form of split images (8), motion curves (11, 12), and height-adjusted or depth-adjusted or axonometrically displayed groups of curves (13) giving a spatial impression, or as a three-dimensional impression.