Abstract: A system and method are provided for simplifying off-line quantification of ultrasound images by displaying a graphical user interface showing a real-time ultrasound image for enabling a user to freeze the real-time ultrasound image to display an image sequence capable of being modified and played back by the user. The graphical user interface displays graphs or curves providing data related to the ultrasound images. Each data point on the curves represents one ultrasound image of the ultrasound images. When the user selects a particular data point on a curve of a graph, the corresponding ultrasound image is displayed by the graphical user interface. The user can then select another data point on the same curve or another curve to display another corresponding ultrasound image. The two ultrasound image framescan then be compared.

Abstract: A method is described for automatically and accurately defining tissue borders within ultrasound imaging. A preferred embodiment described provides for accurately delineating endocardial and epicardial tissue borders during ultrasound imaging of the heart using contrast agents. The inventive method requires first defining a set of threshold values corresponding to various imaging depths and correlated within the image. The invention further uses the set of threshold values and a maximization function to accurately identify the tissue boundaries.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for simplifying off-line quantification of ultrasound images by displaying a graphical user interface showing a real-time ultrasound image for enabling a user to freeze the real-time ultrasound image to display an image sequence capable of being modified, i.e., by removing and/or trimming images thereof, and played back by the user. The system and method of the present invention are further capable of simplifying off-line quantification of ultrasound images by accessing and displaying via the graphical user interface a tagging system having a corresponding identification tag for each ultrasound image of the image sequence for selecting and bookmarking at least one image of the image sequence for easily accessing the image in the future. The system and method of the present invention are embodied by software modules each having a series of programmable instructions capable of being executed by a processor for performing their respective functions.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for simplifying off-line quantification of ultrasound images by displaying a graphical user interface showing a real-time ultrasound image for enabling a user to freeze the real-time ultrasound image to display an image sequence capable of being modified and played back by the user. The graphical user interface displays graphs or curves providing data related to the ultrasound images. Each data point on the curves represents one ultrasound image of the ultrasound images. When the user selects a particular data point on a curve of a graph, the corresponding ultrasound image is displayed by the graphical user interface. The user can then select another data point on the same curve or another curve to display another corresponding ultrasound image. The two ultrasound image framescan then be compared.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for simplifying off-line quantification of ultrasound images by displaying a graphical user interface showing a real-time ultrasound image for enabling a user to freeze the real-time ultrasound image to display an image sequence capable of being modified and played back by the user. Upon freezing the real-time image, the graphical user interface displays a tagging system having a corresponding identification tag for each ultrasound image of the image sequence. Each tag of the tagging system records the exact point in a physiologic periodic waveform represented by the image identified by the tag using a timing reference. In order for a user to generate a modified image sequence having only ultrasound image frames representing a particular point over a plurality of physiologic periodic waveforms, the user indicates which point of the physiologic periodic waveform is desired.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying a parametric image showing tissue perfusion includes an ultrasonic imaging system coupled to an ECG device. The ECG device triggers the imaging system to obtain contrast image data showing tissue perfusion at a respective predetermined time during each of a plurality of heartbeats. Parametric image data for discrete locations in the area of interest such as the myocardium is determined from the temporal contrast data acquired during reperfusion of the tissue in the area of interest. The parameters are mapped to a display value such as color to produce a parametric perfusion ultrasound image. Sequences of images may be produced which depict both perfusion characteristics and dynamic wall motion of the myocardium in a common image sequence.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for simplifying off-line quantification of ultrasound images by displaying a graphical user interface showing a real-time ultrasound image for enabling a user to freeze the real-time ultrasound image to display an image sequence capable of being modified and played back by the user. Upon freezing the real-time image, the graphical user interface displays a tagging system having a corresponding identification tag for each ultrasound image of the image sequence. The graphical user interface further displays time intensity curves each corresponding to an ROI in the frozen image. When the user selects a particular ROI in the frozen image, the curve corresponding to the selected ROI is brightened and the other curves are dimmed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying a parametric image showing tissue perfusion includes an ultrasonic imaging system coupled to an ECG device. The ECG device triggers the imaging system to obtain contrast image data showing tissue perfusion at a respective predetermined time during each of a plurality of heartbeats. Parametric image data for discrete locations in the area of interest such as the myocardium is determined from the temporal contrast data acquired during reperfusion of the tissue in the area of interest. The parameters are mapped to a display value such as color to produce a parametric perfusion ultrasound image. Sequences of images may be produced which depict both perfusion characteristics and dynamic wall motion of the myocardium in a common image sequence.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: Perfusion of tissue such as the myocardium by a microbubble contrast agent is imaged in realtime by a multiple pulse technique which uses low power transmit pulses which are sufficient to elicit a harmonic response from the microbubbles but are not high enough in power to cause substantial destruction to the microbubbles. In a preferred embodiment the realtime microbubble image sequence is displayed in color, overlaid with a grayscale image of the surrounding tissue in the region being imaged.