Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces spatially compounded images by combining component frames acquired from different look directions. Different regions of the spatially compounded images are formed by different numbers of overlapping component frames. Seam artifacts at the boundaries of the regions are reduced by processing the component frames to maintain a common signal and noise characteristic, varying the transmit pulse amplitude or the receiver gain, spatially aligning component frames at the boundaries, or weighting scan lines less heavily at the seam boundaries.

Abstract: A transducer (10) is controlled by a beam former (20) to transmit ultrasound pulses in multiple transmit focal zones (Z1-Z3) along at least two axes (A1 and A2). The beam former (20) causes the transducer (10) to transmit a first transmit pulse along one axis (A1) and to transmit a second transmit pulse along another axis (A2) before the echo pulse from the first transmit pulse is received by the transducer in order to decrease frame rates.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling, in an ultrasound system, the loci of maximum power regions (e.g., focal points) of plural transmit lines of an ultrasound scan. Initially, a region being imaged is displayed and the user superimposes on the display a desired path to be traced by the loci of focal points of a scanned ultrasound beam. Data defining the path is then used to control an ultrasound transducer to produce a sequence of ultrasound beams that scan the region and to adjust the foci of the individual ultrasound beams so that they track the desired path. It is preferred that a graphical input device be used to trace the path of the loci on the display. The invention further enables data derived from the selected loci of maximum power regions to enable adjustment of both power and focal depth of the respective beams.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments include a diagnostic medical ultrasound system and method for object of interest extraction. Unlike some extraction techniques, the preferred embodiments do not require the user to perform the time consuming task of manually tracing the border of the object of interest. Further, unlike some automatic border detection techniques, the preferred embodiments produce an accurate border of an object of interest even if the object of interest is connected to neighboring anatomy with similar properties.

Abstract: A method to measure spatial fluid flow components and their velocity profiles in a number of locations in a cross-sectional area of a lumen or other body cavity by using ultrasound in which the cross-sectional area is interrogated by a plurality of ultrasonic beams; the estimation of the spatial flow components is obtained from a combination of estimations of axial, lateral and total flow; the estimation of one or more flow components is obtained through any combination of time-shift and decorrelation analysis of two or more beam-signals of the interrogating ultrasound transducer, and the estimation accuracy is further improved by the use of a reference decorrelation curve.

Abstract: Upon detection of systole by a detector (21), a master controller (20) adjusts a transmit level control (36) to cause a transducer array (2) to transmit ultrasound waves with a high acoustic output approaching the mechanical index FDA limit with sufficient dwell time between HAO frames to limit the temporal average below the FDA limit. The dwell time may be occupied by lower acoustic output frames (LAO) which are generated using the transmit level control (36).

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described in which the number of acquired ultrasonic images which are compounded to form a spatially compounded image is variable. The number of acquired images which is compounded is varied in response to changes in system operating parameters initiated directly or indirectly by the system user.

Abstract: Reflectors such as microbubbles in a contrast agent introduced into a blood vessel of a patient are destroyed (or otherwise acoustically altered) using focused ultrasound at a modulation point according to an input modulation sequence. This creates “gaps” in the flowing contrast agent that are sensed at a downstream sensing point. The pattern of gaps is then matched in time with the input modulation sequence to determine a transit time for the gaps, which is also the flow velocity of the blood. The input modulation sequence creates at least two gaps, but may otherwise have any of several different forms, which include, among others, square-wave, maximal sequence, random binary patterns. Edge-detection and correlation techniques are used to match the input and sensed gap patterns. By triggering the input sequence off of a heart rate monitor, a flow velocity profile may also be calculated and displayed from one heart beat to the next.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations.

Abstract: A tip of an ultrasonic endoscope has an instrument-inserting channel formed with an exit opening directed forward and opened at a distal end face of an insertion portion of the endoscope. An ultrasonic oscillator array for radial scan is provided annularly around the exit opening of the instrument-inserting channel. An optical viewing window for viewing obliquely forward is provided rearward of the ultrasonic oscillator array in such a way that its visual field covers both a distal end portion of an instrument projected from the instrument-inserting channel and a direction of ultrasonic scan with the ultrasonic oscillator array.

Abstract: A method and kit for the evaluation of wounds or ulcers (14) using ultrasound that allows an examiner to measure a wound (14) along with adjacent soft tissue structures (16) and bone (22) including tendon, ligaments, and muscle. This same method and kit contains gel (30) and an adhesive flexible film (32) which has a duo function and serves as a protective barrier preventing cross contamination between transducer (10) and ulcer (14), while allowing unimpeded conduction of ultrasound transmission to tissues (16) and subsequent echoes received from tissues (16) to be evaluated and recorded by a health care practitioner.

Abstract: The image processing method according to the invention includes a step for the acquisition, by means of an ultrasound transducer, of a digitized echographic image of a structure which is substantially not transparent to the ultrasound waves, and a step for the extraction of contour points of said structure. In order to automate the extraction of points, the method includes sub-steps for the detection, in the columns of points of the digitized echographic image, of points which locally have a maximum intensity along each column, for the chaining of points detected from one column to another in a predetermined vicinity, and for selecting chains in the digitized echographic image by determining the chain nearest to the ultrasound transducer as being the contour of said structure.

Abstract: A device and method for the detection of smooth surface lesions such as caries and tooth crown surface cracks on a tooth crown surface, the device having an ultrasonic surface wave transmitter/receiver comprising a focused ultrasonic surface waves along a tooth crown surface. Surface lesions encountered by the ultrasonic surface waves produce ultrasonic surface wave reflections which are receivable at the generator/receiver, thus enabling the presence of the lesion, and particularly small lesions, to be detected. The ultrasonic surface wave generator/receiver may comprise a focused transducer, having a focusing element integral therewith or separate therefrom, operatively connected to a wedge-like coupler. Longitudinal ultrasonic waves generated by the transducers are at least partially focused by the focusing element and then imparted onto the tooth surface by the coupler which has a contact surface in contact with the tooth surface being tested.

Abstract: A sector scanning, intracavitary ultrasonic probe has an ultrasonic oscillator array (20) provided at the tip (12) of a cavity insertion portion (11) for scanning a sectorial area lateral to the tip (12). Individual ultrasonic oscillators (21) of the array (20) are inclined to be perpendicular to respective radial lines converging to a point located opposite from the sectorial area with respect to the ultrasonic oscillators, and are aligned straight in equidistant positions from the longitudinal axis of the tip (12) of the insertion portion (11).

Abstract: Pulse inversion harmonic separation is performed utilizing echoes from three or more pulses of alternating phase or polarity. Temporally different echoes of opposite phase or polarity are combined in pairs, which are in turn combined to form partial sums and a final sum in which fundamental frequency signal components are substantially eliminated. Preferably the signals are normalized to a common reference level. The inventive technique can be performed by a filter structure using weighting coefficients exhibiting a Gaussian variation.

Abstract: An MR tomograph, the magnet system (2) and gradient system of which permit access to the investigation volume along at least two essentially orthogonal axes, comprises a positioning system for the exact determination of the position of a manually guided manipulator (12) relative to the measuring object (6) which is investigated by means of imaging MR measurement and located in the investigation volume (3) of the MR tomograph (1); with a mounting frame (11) with which the manipulator (12) is connected via movable mechanics comprising a measuring means through which the respective spatial position of the manipulator (12) relative to the mounting frame (11) can be determined, wherein the measuring means of the movable mechanics does not utilize any MR signals and wherein the measured position of the manipulator (12) is displayed on the MR image. In this way, minimum-invasive operations, e.g.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasound real-time 3-D transmitting and imaging system generates multiple transmit beam sets using a 2-D transducer array. Each transmit beam set includes multiple simultaneous ultrasound transmit beams. The system acquires multiple receive beam sets in response to the transmit beams, and each receive beam set includes multiple simultaneous receive beams. A real-time, three-dimensional medical diagnostic ultrasound image is formed in response to these receive beams. Several techniques for reducing cross talk in such a system are discussed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for color mapping of flow power data in which the flow states containing information of most interest to the user are enhanced, while flow states not containing information of interest are suppressed. This is accomplished using a color mapping having three segments which are connected at upper and lower knee points, the latter being settable either automatically or via operator inputs. In the automatic mode, the host computer determines the positions of the knee points based on analysis of a single or a mean image frame of power Doppler data or based on system parameters (e.g., dynamic range) set by the operator. The host computer then constructs a color mapping having the determined knee points and loads that color mapping into the video processor.

Abstract: A method of initializing a spectral Doppler mode of operation for an ultrasonic system includes acquiring ultrasound-based data during a two-dimensional mode of operation for a particular examination session and includes automatically establishing settings for the Doppler mode operation parameters based upon the ultrasound-based data. That is, the ultrasound-based data is processed during the session to select spectral Doppler mode settings that are specific to the ongoing session. The session-specific settings are invoked when the system is switched to the spectral Doppler mode. If the two-dimensional mode is a colorflow mode, the Doppler sample volume can be based upon detecting the location of maximum velocity in the colorflow image, the angle correct setting can be based upon maximum velocities in colorflow vectors, the pulse repetition frequency setting can be based upon the maximum frequency shift detected in the colorflow data, and the gain setting can be based upon the amplitude of colorflow data.

Abstract: A method of detecting elasticity variations in a soft tissue which is subjected to an external compression in a predetermined axial direction includes the steps of: estimating a field of axial displacements in the tissue, determining an elasticity modulus estimator, including an operation for minimizing a distance between an image of a distribution of elementary elasticity moduli, by a Finite Element Model, and the axial displacement field, and regularizing the solution of the estimator by means of a diagonal matrix (R) whose coefficients &agr;ii are functions of the axial displacements (di) and are applied to the respective values of the elementary elasticity moduli (ei) in order to ensure that these elementary elasticity modulus values remain within an uniform interval which is centered around a mean value of each elementary modulus.