Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring and displaying a first image of a first plane including a longitudinal axis of a vessel and identifying first position information of the longitudinal axis. The system and method includes acquiring and displaying a second image of a second plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the vessel at an oblique angle, where the second plane is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe, where the ultrasound probe is in the same position with respect to the vessel when acquiring both the first image of the first plane and the second image of the second plane, and identifying second position information defining the second plane with respect to the ultrasound probe. The system and method include calculating a volume flow rate based on the first image, the second image, the first position information and the second position information.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring, with an ultrasound probe in a first position, a first image of a first plane including a longitudinal axis of a vessel and displaying the first image on a display device. The system and method includes acquiring, with the ultrasound probe in a second position, a second image of a second plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the vessel at an oblique angle, where the ultrasound probe may be moved from the first position to the second position, or from the second position to the first position, by rotating the ultrasound probe about a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe. The system and method includes calculating a volume flow rate of the vessel based on the first image and the second image, and displaying the volume flow rate on a display device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically adjusting a parameter used in the display of a Doppler spectral image comprises acquiring a plurality of spectral lines of Doppler data. A subset of Doppler data is determined from the plurality of spectral lines of Doppler data. A noise characteristic of the subset of Doppler data is calculated, and a signal characteristic of the subset of Doppler data is identified. The noise and signal characteristics are compared, and a system parameter is adjusted based on a result of the comparing step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing motion adaptive frame averaging for ultrasound color flow images used to overcome lag and smearing alias of color due to motion. One embodiment of the present invention comprises an ultrasound machine for generating an color flow imaging responsive to moving tissue. The ultrasound system comprises a front end and at least one processor. The front-end is arranged to transmit ultrasound waves into the moving tissue, generating received signals in response to the ultrasound waves backscattered from the moving tissue. The processor is responsive to the received signals, calculating a motion factor by comparing at least one current b-mode frame with at least one previous b-mode frame, determining motion using at least the motion factor, increasing a level of frame averaging if the motion factor is below a first predetermined threshold, and decreasing the level of frame averaging if the motion factor is above a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to ultrasound. In particular, the present invention relates to data dependent color wall filters (used in ultrasound imaging devices for example). Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a color wall filter that provides flash reduction and clutter suppression. One embodiment of the color wall filter comprises an impulse response filter stage (either a finite or infinite impulse response filter) and a bi-quad filter stage that is data dependent. It is contemplated that the bi-quad filter stage may comprise a series of bi-quad filters, wherein the impulse response filter stage is cascaded into at least one bi-quad filter of the series of bi-quad filters.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to ultrasound. In particular, the present invention relates to data dependent color wall filters (used in ultrasound imaging devices for example). Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a color wall filter that provides flash reduction and clutter suppression. One embodiment of the color wall filter comprises an impulse response filter stage (either a finite or infinite impulse response filter) and a bi-quad filter stage that is data dependent. It is contemplated that the bi-quad filter stage may comprise a series of bi-quad filters, wherein the impulse response filter stage is cascaded into at least one bi-quad filter of the series of bi-quad filters.

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: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing motion adaptive frame averaging for ultrasound color flow images used to overcome lag and smearing alias of color due to motion. One embodiment of the present invention comprises an ultrasound machine for generating an color flow imaging responsive to moving tissue. The ultrasound system comprises a front end and at least one processor. The front-end is arranged to transmit ultrasound waves into the moving tissue, generating received signals in response to the ultrasound waves backscattered from the moving tissue. The processor is responsive to the received signals, calculating a motion factor by comparing at least one current b-mode frame with at least one previous b-mode frame, determining motion using at least the motion factor, increasing a level of frame averaging if the motion factor is below a first predetermined threshold, and decreasing the level of frame averaging if the motion factor is above a second predetermined threshold.