Abstract: The method of the invention enhances echo responses from contrast agent in relation to echo responses from tissue, where the echo responses from tissue exhibit a relationship that conforms to a polynomial model while the echo responses from the contrast agent do not conform thereto. The method causes transmission of plural ultrasound signals into a body including the contrast agent, each of the plural ultrasound signals transmitted with a predetermined transmit gain factor. The echo signals resulting from the plural ultrasound signals are received and each thereof is received with a predetermined receive gain factor. The transmit gain factor and receive gain factor for each corresponding transmitted ultrasound signal and echo signal are set to render the polynomial model equal to zero. The received echo signals are then combined in a manner to eliminate a fundamental and at least one harmonic component that conform to the polynomial model so as to leave signal components that do not conform (i.e.

Abstract: The method of the invention controls an ultrasound system to produce one or more images that indicate a rate of perfusion of a region of interest (ROI) of an area of anatomy. The method initially introduces a contrast agent into the ROI and derives, at a first time, an ultrasound image of the ROI. That image is processed to identify regions of the ROI that include the contrast agent. Thereafter, a first attribute, such as a color, is assigned to the region of the ROI that is identified as including the contrast agent. The ROI is again imaged after a discrete time interval and a second attribute (i.e., a second color) is assigned to identified regions of the ROI that include the contrast agent but have not previously had an attribute assigned thereto. This process is repeated a number of times, with each successive region of the ROI that manifests contrast agent being assigned a still different attribute.

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: Speckle artifact is reduced in medical ultrasound images by the use of orthogonal pulse sequences. Ultrasound energy is transmitted into a region of interest in a patient's body, and the transmitted ultrasound energy produces ultrasound echoes from the region of interest. In response to the ultrasound echoes, first and second coherent signals are acquired. The first and second coherent signals correspond to first and second pulse sequences, respectively, which are orthogonal or nearly orthogonal. The first and second coherent signals are combined to provide a composite image signal that is representative of the region of interest. The first and second coherent signals are preferably acquired by first and second matched filters, respectively. The transmitted ultrasound energy may include first and second sequences of ultrasound pulses that correspond to the first and second pulse sequences, respectively.

Abstract: Improved ultrasound images of a patient's tissue region of interest (ROI) are achieved through the use of a contrast agent. The method includes the steps of: administering the contrast agent to the patient's circulatory system; providing a user interface which enables a user to select a target region within the tissue ROI to be irradiated and to operate an ultrasound transducer to irradiate the selected target region with sufficient ultrasound energy to substantially reduce a backscatter effect of contrast agent that is present therein; and operating an ultrasound transducer to image the tissue ROI. It is preferred that the contrast agent be encapsulated into microbubbles The method is further applicable to selective destruction of encapsulated therapeutics which arrive at a tissue ROI to which the therapeutic is to be administered.

Abstract: The focal length of an acoustic ultrasound transducer is made variable by shaping the focusing element positioned over the transducer. The focusing means consists of a non-uniform focusing element whereby the transducer can be manipulated either electronically or mechanically to optimize the depth of focus for the area of interest.

Abstract: An image with increased sensitivity to non-linear responses, particularly second harmonic responses, can be achieved by measuring the ultrasound response under multiple excitation levels. The responses gathered from the multiple excitation levels are gain corrected in an amount corresponding to the difference in excitation levels, then subtracted. Because of this subtraction, most of the linear response will be removed, and what remains corresponds to the non-linear response.

Abstract: This invention provides an ultrasonic transducer system which utilizes a reconfigurable delay line to perform a variety of processing functions. In particular, for a preferred embodiment, the delay line utilized to sum the outputs of transducer elements is reconfigurable to provide serial processing of image scan lines while providing parallel processing of Doppler color flow scan lines. More particularly, the echo signals generated in response to the packet of color flow lines utilized to generate color flow information are applied in a predetermined way to two separate portions of the delay line, the portions of the delay line having different delay profiles, the resulting outputs being focussed to slightly different points in the image and thus providing color flow packets for two separate points in response to the transmission of a single packet of color flow lines. This results in a substantial enhancement of the system frame rate.