Abstract: A device and method for determining the hydration and water content status of soft biological tissue is disclosed and includes a couple of ultrasonic transducers located at a known distance therebetween and held against the tissue of interest as well as an adjustable support system with angle measuring means necessary for evaluation of ultrasound velocity in this tissue. Based on the time-of-flight results of the ultrasound velocity measurement, the water content in the tested tissue is evaluated and the hydration status is determined. One embodiment of the invention is a wearable device attached to human calf measuring water content in muscle.

Abstract: Three or four-dimensional ultrasound data acquisition for extended field of view imaging is provided. Multiple volumes are registered with respect to each other and spliced together to form an extended volume. The extended volume is a contiguous volume larger than a volumetric region that a multi-dimensional or wobbler transducer array is capable of imaging without movement. Information representing different volumes is registered with respect to each other by sensing the transducer position associated with each of the different volumes. The position is sensed using a position sensing mechanism, such as magnetic optical or gyroscope measurements. Acoustic data may be used to determine decorrelation of speckle or correlation of features to sense position. After the volumes are registered, any overlapping regions are compounded. The resulting extended field of view volume is displayed and manipulated for viewing by the user.

Abstract: A method for non-invasive detection of vascular endothelial dysfunction using ultrasonic imaging is provided.

Abstract: With respect to a scanning plane of a subject having been injected with a contrast agent, an ultrasound transmission section 6 transmits for a plurality of times an ultrasonic pulse of such an intensity capable of collapsing the contrast agent. An ultrasound reception section 5 receives an echo signal cluster from the subject based on the ultrasonic pulses, and generates a plurality of RF data items through addition of the echo signal cluster using an adder 5C. Based on the plurality of RF data items, a TIC/MTT measurement section 25 measures a time intensity curve (TIC), and then measures a mean transit time (MTT) of the blood flow based on the time intensity curve for display on a display section 21.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating ultrasound pulses comprises producing a multi-level pulse sequence including a series of pulses. The series of pulses includes at least three pulses having three different amplitudes, respectively. The amplitudes are at least one of a positive non-zero voltage, a negative non-zero voltage, and an intermediate level voltage. The multi-level pulse sequence may be produced by a switch network having at least three different input voltage levels. The switch network outputs the multi-level pulse sequence at an output node to a transducer within a probe. Echo signals based on the series of pulses are received, and an ultrasound image is produced based on the received echo signals.

Abstract: Highly specific measurements of flow in vessels, such as the coronary artery, can be obtained by processing cubic fundamental information. By showing flow in vessels with a high degree of contrast-to-tissue specificity, ultrasound based 3D contrast agent based coronary artery angiograms may be possible. Measurement and display of the velocity of agent from the cubic fundamental signal is provided simultaneously with display of cubic fundamental energy, such as providing a display map indexed by both energy and velocity. High pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for cubic fundamental detection in conjunction with long velocity measurement intervals may increase low velocity sensitivity and measurement precision. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler may be improved by using a cubic fundamental sensitive pulse sequence.

Abstract: The method of the invention controls an ultrasound system to identify a boundary between a tissue region and a blood-filled region that lies within an ROI. The method initially administers a contrast agent to the region of interest and then transmits first and second ultrasound beams at a different power levels into the ROI. Signal returns from the first and second beams are processed to derive first and second digital values, respectively. It has been determined that, under certain circumstances, a phase change of echo returns occurs at the boundary between tissue and blood-containing contrast agent. Detection of the phase change enables precise identification of the boundary, based upon the time segment in which the phase change is detected. Accordingly, time segment values of the first and second stored digital values are then phase-compared to enable determination of a boundary location between the tissue region and the blood-filled region by detection of the phase change.

Abstract: A system and method for ultrasound clutter filtering is provided. A processor is configured to iteratively select an optimal high pass filter for the progressive, ordered filtering of clutter from ultrasound color flow imaging data. The high pass filter input for each iterative selection and ordered set of high pass filters is the same original ultrasound color flow imaging data. The high pass filters have different cutoff frequencies whereby each high pass filter can be implemented using different structures. The system and method allow for filtering of clutter from ultrasound color flow imaging data until the clutter is substantially removed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for assessing tissue motion and deformation is provided. Sequential frames of data representative of tissue are accessed. A region of interest is defined on a current frame of data, and first locations of a set of features within the region of interest is identified. Each feature in the set of features identifies a location within the tissue. Second locations of the set of features are located on a consecutive frame of data. Velocity vectors are calculated based on the first and second locations of the set of features, and a continuous spatial and temporal velocity distribution is reconstructed by fitting the velocity vectors. The region of interest is modified on the consecutive frame based on the velocity distribution to follow motion and deformation of the tissue.

Abstract: An improved medical imaging system preferably includes an imaging device having a housing, an imaging transducer, and a position marker coupled near the imaging transducer. The system further includes a motor capable of driving the imaging transducer in a generally longitudinal direction relative to the housing. Data obtained from tracking the position marker may be cross-correlated with data obtained from the imaging transducer. In one aspect, the position marker may be a sensor capable of communicating with a medical positioning system.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein relate to three-dimensional pictograms and indicators for use with medical images. In one embodiment, a three-dimensional pictogram representing anatomy shown in a medical image is displayed along with a marker that represents a medical instrument used to create the medical image. A user can adjust an orientation of the marker with respect to the three-dimensional pictogram. In another embodiment, a set of three-dimensional pictograms of anatomy is displayed. A user can select one of the three-dimensional pictograms for display near a medical image and rotate the three-dimensional pictogram. In another embodiment, a saved three-dimensional pictogram is retrieved, and a user can rotate the three-dimensional pictogram starting from the orientation shown in the retrieved pictogram. In yet another embodiment, a three-dimensional pictogram is used as an indicator for a three-dimensional medical image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a three-dimensional ultrasound image method and apparatus for reducing distortions of ultrasound images by precisely estimating a distance between consecutive two-dimensional frames obtained by a manual scanning. The apparatus comprises a transducer array for transmitting ultrasound signals to a target object and receiving echo signals reflected from the target object; a receive-focusing unit for receive-focusing the echo signals to generate a plurality of consecutive two-dimensional ultrasound image frames; a converter for converting the consecutive two-dimensional ultrasound image frames into a three-dimensional ultrasound image; and a display for displaying the three-dimensional ultrasound image.

Abstract: A three-dimensional observation apparatus is provided which includes an optical reflection member which reflects a light beam and converges the light beam after the reflection, and image projectors for right and left eyes which project a medical image for the right and left eyes on the optical reflection member and forms an exit pupil for the right and left eyes at a position apart from the optical reflection member by a predetermined distance. The apparatus also includes a holding member which keeps a positional relationship of the image projector for the right eye to the optical reflection member and a positional relationship of the image projector for the left eye to the optical reflection member.

Abstract: A method for indirectly assessing the gesture, posture or movement of a body part of a person includes transmitting an ultrasound signal into the soft tissue, particularly the muscle, of body part and manipulating the reflected ultrasound signal to obtain parameter data. The parameter data is compared to reference information to obtain gesture, posture or movement information for the body part. Apparatus includes an ultrasound transmitter and receiver for transmitting, a signal processor, and a processor for storing reference information and determining gesture, posture or movement information for the body part.

Abstract: A method of determining a property of a desired region in an object includes transmitting first and second energy beams from first and second sources into the object such that the beams intersect at the desired region to induce vibration of the desired region, transmitting energy from a third source into the desired region, receiving signals from the desired region due to the energy from the third source, and analyzing at least one of amplitude, phase and frequency of the vibration of the desired region indicated by the received signals to determine the property of the desired region.

Abstract: A halo surrounding the ultrasonic image of a liver tumor is automatically evaluated by detecting the boundary of the tumor and defining two annular regions around that boundary. The brightness of pixels in the two annular regions are compared to determine if a halo of darker pixels surround the tumor. Presence of this halo is indicative of a malignant tumor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for acquiring and processing a volumetric scan of a periodically moving object having uneven periods of time are included. A volumetric scan is performed of a periodically moving object. A time interval of a periodic movement of the periodically moving object is identified within the volumetric scan. The volumetric scan is divided into volume subsets based on the time interval. The periodic movement is analyzed to determine a correction between adjacent volume subsets, and the time interval is adjusted based on the correction.

Abstract: A system for automatically adjusting color gain of an ultrasound image. Image data passes through a wall filter and is processed into a time-gain compensation curve. Values of the time-gain compensation curve are multiplied with corresponding image data values to compensate for attenuation of image data values with increasing depth in a patient. The values used to generate the time-gain compensation curve may be averaged to reduce localized gain variations and produce an image with smoother intensity transitions. To reduce the effect of a time-gain compensation curve on overall system gain, values of the time-gain compensation curve may be scaled to produce equalized values for the time-gain compensation curve. Values of the time-gain compensation curve may be used to adjust front end gain of an ultrasound system to bring the front end gain within a few decibels of noise floor.

Abstract: Improved focusing of waves is accomplished by compensation for attenuation effects in a medium. The invention is a combination of a method of attenuation leveling to allow operation over uneven surfaces and a method of signal compensation for attenuation that varies with frequency. This combination allows effective focusing of wide band wave signals that operate through irregular surfaces that cause uneven attenuation effects. Apparatus is provided to implement this method in clinical applications and research applications. Spatial attenuation leveling is accomplished with material that attenuates like the body part to be imaged. Compensation for attenuation that varies with frequency is provided by electronic modification of signal waveforms. Applications in the field of ultrasonic imaging in human tissue are specifically discussed. The apparatus includes conformal surfaces that are in contact with a patient's body that serve to prevent direct contact of the body with the attenuating material.

Abstract: According to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, a cross section of an examining human body having bubbles implanted as ultrasonic shadowing agent is scanned by an ultrasound so as to obtain an echo signal. Image data is repeatedly generated based on the echo signal. Then, image data is displayed as a motion image. Power of the ultrasound to be transmitted is changed from first power to second power, which is stronger than first power. The ultrasound of first power breaks a first amount of bubbles. The ultrasound of second power, which is stronger than first power, breaks a second amount of bubbles, which is larger than the first amount of bubbles. Though the image generated by use of first power is unclear, the amount of breakage of bubbles can be extremely retrained. Since the image is used to examine the state of the bubble flow to the region of interest, unclearness can be allowed.