Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for ultrasonically imaging tiny blood vessels with the aid of a contrast agent. The locations of microbubbles of the contrast agent are detected in a series of images as the microbubbles move through the blood vessels. These images are temporally processed to identify the moving microbubbles, and persistence processed to depict images which show the tracks followed by the microbubbles through the blood vessels. A maximum intensity persistence can be used to show the steady buildup of microbubble tracks through the vasculature, or a slow decay employed so that the tracks will fade to black over time.

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: The method of the invention comprises a phase of ultra-sound analysis for creating a sequence of ultra-sound images of a muscle under examination. The sequence of images is directly memorised in an electronic processor which carries out a processing phase of data relating to the sequence of ultra-sound images. The apparatus of the invention uses an ultra-sound apparatus, which collects a sequence of ultra-sound images of the muscle under examination, and an electronic processor which comprises a video card that directly memorises the sequence of ultra-sound images of the muscle under examination obtained by the ultra-sound apparatus. The electronic processor comprises an electronic processing system which directly processes the sequence of images memorised in the processor.

Abstract: In an IVUS system, units are located outside or remote from the patient except for the display monitor (12), the catheter interface module (4) and the catheter (3) which are located adjacent the patient together with a control arrangement (13) to enable the said units to be remotely controlled from a position adjacent the patient.

Abstract: A transducer system and method for harmonic imaging is provided. At least one transducer element is provided. The transducer element comprises two or more stacked piezoelectric layers. Information from each of the layers is independently processed during one of a transmit event, a receive event, and both transmit and receive events. Information from the transducer element is provided to a filter. The filter isolates harmonic information for imaging. By providing a multi-layer transducer element with independent processing for each layer, a wide bandwidth transducer for harmonic imaging is provided. The null associated with most transducers at the second harmonic of a fundamental frequency is removed or lessened.

Abstract: Two or more temporal indicators are used for interleaving frames from a plurality of physiological cycles. For example, frames of one cycle are separated from the frames of another cycle based on an ECG signal. Data representing an imaged region for each of the frames is then used for temporally aligning the frames. For example, average velocity waveforms calculated from the frames of each of the cycles are fitted together. The temporal position of each of the frames within a base physiological cycle is determined based on the fitting. The interleaved frames provide a higher effective frame rate with improved temporal resolution which is based on the accurate interleaving of the data from the plurality of physiological cycles. Course alignment is provided using one event or temporal indicator. A more refined temporal alignment is provided in response to a second temporal indicator.

Abstract: For the purpose of removing an effect of window processing in window-processing time-domain Doppler signals, translating them to a frequency domain, and then translating them back to the time domain, when cutting signals of a predetermined length from a time-domain Doppler signal; performing window processing on the cut signals; transforming the window-processed signals into frequency-domain signals by Fourier transformation; inversely transforming the frequency-domain signals by inverse Fourier transformation into a time-domain signal after performing predefined processing on the signals; and outputting the time-domain signal as an acoustic signal, the window processing is performed using a window having a profile with a flat top; and the cutting from the Doppler signal is performed such that a former cut signal and a latter cut signal overlap in a portion corresponding to the flat portion of the window.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for internal examination of human and other subjects employing special catheters and biopsy wires, in combination with sonographic or fluoroscopic transducers, to provide unprecedented accuracy, economy, and efficiency in internal examination, diagnosis, biopsy, and surgical removal of lesions, tumors, polyps, etc. from bodies. In one aspect the invention provides an apparatus for use in combination with a sonographic transducer for examination and performing biopsies within a vaginal and uterine chamber of a human female and other bodies, whereby the apparatus is comprised of a substantially tubular catheter and any of a wide variety of biopsy devices adapted for disposition on or within the catheter. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of using sonographic or fluoroscopic imaging in combination with the apparatus to examine the cavities under study and to guide the apparatus during a biopsy procedure.

Abstract: A micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) substrate that reduces or eliminates the lateral propagation of acoustic energy includes holes, commonly referred to as vias, formed in the substrate and proximate to a MUT element. The vias in the MUT substrate reduce or eliminate the propagation of acoustic energy traveling laterally in the MUT substrate. The vias can be doped to provide an electrical connection between the MUT element and circuitry present on the surface of an integrated circuit substrate over which the MUT substrate is attached.

Abstract: A surgical instrument navigation system comprises an ultrasound machine and a computer coupled to the ultrasound machine. A memory is coupled to the computer and includes computer instructions that when executed by the computer cause the computer to generate an icon representing the surgical instrument with a tip and the surgical instrument's trajectory and to overlay the icon on a real-time ultrasound image having an image plane, such that when the surgical instrument crosses the ultrasound image plane the format of the surgical instrument's trajectory is changed to represent the surgical instrument's crossing of the ultrasound image's plane. The system also comprises a localizer coupled to the ultrasound machine, and a display coupled to the computer for displaying the generated icon superimposed on the real-time image.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention control the temperature of the transducer face by changing the imaging modes of the system. In a preferred embodiment, feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer is used to determine when to switch from a higher power imaging mode to a lower power imaging mode. In another preferred embodiment, the system switches from a higher power imaging mode to a lower power imaging mode after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. In yet another preferred embodiment, the system switches to a “mixed” imaging mode, where the system cycles rapidly between a higher power imaging mode and a lower power imaging mode, and the resulting data is combined to form a single image.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasonic imaging system includes a transmit waveform generator that uses stored parameters to completely define an arbitrarily complex transmit waveform. Preferably, the stored parameters define an envelope function and a modulation function in a piecewise fashion using a number of sets of quadratic parameters. These quadratic parameters are used to calculate the desired envelope function and modulation function in the log domain, and the envelope and modulation functions are combined in the log domain and then converted to the linear domain. Multiple separate transmit waveforms may be combined in a single channel, and individual channels may be combined prior to application to the transducer elements.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system processes echo information signals by means of detecting, for different regions of the patient's anatomy, the actual noise present for that particular examination, under existing environmental conditions, and in imaging system itself. The noise detected is used to create an actual noise signature for the actual noise present in that particular examination under existing environmental conditions and in the imaging system itself, and the noise signature is used to maximize available dynamic range to create the highest resolution scan images possible while rejecting noise. In a preferred embodiment the dynamic range and noise rejection level are varied for different regions of a patient's anatomy as a function of all scanning coordinates being used, including varying depths, steering angles, and linear positions for both sector-type and linear-type scans.

Abstract: Methods are described for parallel beamforming with beam combination of formed beams from different transmit beams in an ultrasound imaging system. The methods provide advantages because the combination of receive beams that are produced from different transmit beams enables the production of an ultrasonic image at faster frame rates that does not suffer from the image quality degradation normally associated with parallel beamforming, and does not require process intensive interpolation.

Abstract: Ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus capable of displaying on a screen not only the shapes of internal organs but also the differences in properties thereof. The ultrasonic imaging method includes the steps of (a) obtaining plural kinds of image data by transmitting plural kinds of ultrasonic waves at different transmission power and receiving the plural kinds of ultrasonic waves reflected from an object to be inspected; and (b) performing arithmetic by using the plural kinds of image data obtained at step (a) to thereby figure out new image data.

Abstract: The present invention is a guide wire imaging device for vascular or non-vascular imaging utilizing optic acoustical methods, which device has a profile of less than 1 mm in diameter. The ultrasound imaging device of the invention comprises a single mode optical fiber with at least one Bragg grating (8), and a piezoelectric or piezo-ceramic jacket (31), which device may achieve omnidirectional (360°) imaging. The imaging guide wire of the invention can function as the guide wire for vascular interventions, can enable real time imaging during balloon inflation, and stent deployment, thus will provide clinical information that is not available when catheter based imaging systems are used. The device of the invention may enable shortened total procedure times, including the fluoroscopy time, will also reduce radiation exposure to the patient, and the operator.

Abstract: In order to inhibit blooming and prevent degradation in the capability of projecting thin blood vessels, the luminance basically increases as power P becomes high. However, when there are two sampling points identical in power P but different in variance V in a region low in power P (P≦P1), the luminance of a pixel corresponding to the sampling point relatively large in variance is set higher than that of a pixel corresponding to the sampling point relatively small in variance V.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus and method are described for imaging nonlinear response objects such as contrast agents at greater depths. Transmit pulses include two fundamental frequency components, one of which is to produce harmonic components at the fundamental frequency of the other component. In the presence of a contrast agent these harmonic components are used for imaging the contrast agent. When the contrast agent is not present imaging is performed using the fundamental echoes of the other echo frequency. Preferably the harmonic frequency of the first fundamental component is aligned with the second fundamental frequency. The technique is especially useful when imaging contrast agents at low MI and at significant depths in the body.

Abstract: Ultrasound-based imaging device and software operated method are presented for monitoring a body part generating data indicative of a three-dimensional image of an internal structure of the body part. The device is portable and comprises a substantially elastic cover for covering the body part, wherein the cover is coupled to a control unit and is connectable to a computer device. The cover carries an array of ultrasonic transceivers, each of a kind emitting a beam of ultrasonic waves for irradiating an area within a region covered by the cover, and detecting signal response of the irradiated area. The transceivers are arranged in at least two spaced parallel groups. The transceivers of each group are arranged in a spaced-apart relationship, the space between each two adjacent transceivers in the group being such that an overlap exists between the areas irradiated by the adjacent transceivers.

Abstract: An ultrasound machine is disclosed that displays a color representation of moving structure, such as a cardiac wall tissue, within a region of interest on a monitor. The color representation is generated by displaying color hues corresponding to a movement parameter of the structure, such as velocity or strain rate in such a manner as to provide for quantitative visualization of movement parameter gradients. The movement parameter is mapped to the color hues by apparatus comprising a user interface that allows the user to input color band resolution and a local range of relative parameter values. A front-end generates received signals in response to ultrasound waves. A Doppler processor generates a set of parameter signals representing absolute values of the movement parameter within the structure. A set of color characteristic signals is generated by a display processor in response to the set of parameter signals and to a user-defined local range of relative parameter values.