Abstract: A Graphical User Interface (GUI) for an ultrasound system. The ultrasound system has operational modes and the GUI has corresponding icons, tabs, and menu items image and information fields. The User Interface (UI) provides several types of graphical elements with intelligent behavior, such as being context sensitive and adaptive, called active objects, for example, tabs, menus, icons, windows of user interaction and data display and an alphanumeric keyboard. In addition the UI may also be voice activated. The UI further provides for a touchscreen for direct selection of displayed active objects. In an embodiment, the UI is for a medical ultrasound handheld imaging instrument. The UI provides a limited set of hard and soft keys with adaptive functionality that can be used with only one hand and potentially with only one thumb.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the iterative selection of an optimal high pass filter for progressive, ordered filtering of clutter from ultrasound color flow imaging data wherein a criterion for selecting the optimal high pass filter is if a mean frequency of filtered signal data is less than a clutter frequency threshold wherein if the mean frequency is less than the clutter frequency threshold is determined by whether an absolute value of an imaginary part of a first order autocorrelation of the filtered signal data is less than a constant times a real part of the autocorrelation, where the constant is determined by the clutter frequency threshold, wherein a high pass filter input for each iterative selection is the original ultrasound color flow imaging data.

Abstract: An ultrasound scanner is equipped with one or more fuzzy control units that can perform adaptive system parameter optimization anywhere in the system. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises a plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems configured to generate an ultrasound image, the plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems including a transmitter subsystem, a receiver subsystem, and an image processing subsystem; and a fuzzy logic controller communicatively coupled with at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems.

Abstract: A portable ultrasound unit and docking cart for the unit are provided. When the portable unit is mounted to the docking cart, the docking cart transforms the portable unit into a cart-based system with enhanced features and functionality such as improved ergonomics, ease of use, a larger display format, external communications connectivity, multiple transducer connections, and increased data processing capabilities. A clinician display and patient display may be provided on the cart. Communications circuitry in the docking cart may be used to support communications between the docking cart's processor and external networks and devices. The docking cart may receive physiological signals such as cardiac signals and may use this information to synchronize ultrasound imaging operations with a patient's physiological condition. Adjustable user interface controls, data handling features, security features, power control functions, and thermal management capabilities may be provided in the docking cart.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging device comprising a two-dimensional array of ultrasound transducers cablelessly coupled to a signal generating and receiving unit such as a motherboard. The coupling includes an acoustically attenuating and electrically conductive structure, which can include posts that are electrically conductive or electrically insulative having a conductor embedded or mounted on the outer surface. There can also be a high density connector allowing coupling and de-coupling the two dimensional array to and from the motherboard.

Abstract: A portable ultrasound unit and docking cart for the unit are provided. When the portable unit is mounted to the docking cart, the docking cart transforms the portable unit into a cart-based system with enhanced features and functionality such as improved ergonomics, ease of use, a larger display format, external communications connectivity, multiple transducer connections, and increased data processing capabilities. A clinician display and patient display may be provided on the cart. Communications circuitry in the docking cart may be used to support communications between the docking cart's processor and external networks and devices. The docking cart may receive physiological signals such as cardiac signals and may use this information to synchronize ultrasound imaging operations with a patient's physiological condition. Adjustable user interface controls, data handling features, security features, power control functions, and thermal management capabilities may be provided in the docking cart.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging device having a cableless coupling for coupling a two-dimensional array of ultrasound transducers to a signal generating and receiving unit such as a motherboard. The coupling includes an acoustically attenuating and electrically conductive structure, which can include posts that are electrically conductive or electrically insulative having a conductor embedded or mounted on the outer surface. There can also be a high density connector allowing coupling and de-coupling the two dimensional array to and from the motherboard.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system configured to simultaneously acquire and process multi-mode and multi-band echo information from a single set of pulse firings is provided. Raw ultrasound signals are digitized and stored in an I/Q data buffer. The stored data are then parallel preprocessed as a function of frequency band or alternative encoding. Parallel preprocessing optionally includes manipulating the data in respect to different imaging modes. Outputs of the parallel preprocessors are coupled to separate area formers used to simultaneously reconstruct various desired echo information to form a multi-mode or multi-band image. The echo formation process is optionally performed in parallel.

Abstract: Methods for processing ultrasound signals are provided. Processing of ultrasound signals comprises identifying qualified reconstruction channels in a receive aperture, grouping qualified reconstruction channels in the aperture, and preprocessing of selected echo signals using the grouped qualified reconstruction channels to produce reconstruction signals. Additional methodologies comprise comparing a number of channels in a receive aperture with a number of reconstruction channels to determine a number of reconstruction signals and grouping qualified channels in the receive aperture such that the number of reconstruction data signals is not less than the number of reconstruction channels. An ultrasound reconstruction unit comprising a receive aperture control engine configured to use selected echo signals to adaptively determine a set of reconstruction signals is also provided.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging method and system configured to simultaneously acquire and process multi-mode and multi-band echo information from a single set of pulse firings is provided. Raw ultrasound signals are digitized and stored in an I/Q data buffer. The stored data are then parallel preprocessed as a function of frequency band or alternative encoding. Parallel preprocessing optionally includes manipulating the data in respect to different imaging modes. Outputs of the parallel preprocessors are coupled to separate echo formers used to simultaneously reconstruct various desired echo information to form a multi-mode or multi-band image. The echo formation process is optionally performed in parallel.

Abstract: A system and method for ultrasonic imaging utilizing multiple sets of transmit pulses differing in amplitude, frequency, phase, and/or pulse width. One embodiment has phase differences between the k transmit signal as 360 k degrees providing for constructive interference of the kth order harmonic pulse, while an amplitude modulation of each transmit profile is constant between sets. These sets of pulses are transmitted into media of interest and received echoes from these pulses are combined to form an averaged signal. The averaged pulses represent the net common mode signal received from each of the transmit sets. This combined signal set is used to reconstruct an ultrasound image based on broad beam reconstruction methodology.

Abstract: Systems of generating and manipulating an ultrasound beam are disclosed. The system uses selective sets of ultrasound elements to generate an ultrasound beam, scanning the beam over a series of ultrasound elements in order to collected echo data covering an area, and generating an image from the resulting data. The scanning process includes shifting the set of ultrasound elements used to form the ultrasound beam by more then one ultrasound element (block-switching) between each step in the scanning process. This is accomplished without loss of image resolution by using area-forming techniques. The block-switching technique enables use of cross-correlation methods during image construction.

Abstract: A portable ultrasound unit and docking cart for the unit are provided. When the portable unit is mounted to the docking cart, the docking cart transforms the portable unit into a cart-based system with enhanced features and functionality such as improved ergonomics, ease of use, a larger display format, external communications connectivity, multiple transducer connections, and increased data processing capabilities. A clinician display and patient display may be provided on the cart. Communications circuitry in the docking cart may be used to support communications between the docking cart's processor and external networks and devices. The docking cart may receive physiological signals such as cardiac signals and may use this information to synchronize ultrasound imaging operations with a patient's physiological condition. Adjustable user interface controls, data handling features, security features, power control functions, and thermal management capabilities may be provided in the docking cart.

Abstract: A system for ultrasonic imaging utilizing multiple sets of transmit pulses differing in amplitude, frequency, phase, and/or pulse width.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating and manipulating an ultrasound beam are disclosed. The methods include using selective sets of ultrasound elements to generate an ultrasound beam, scanning the beam over a series of ultrasound elements in order to collected echo data covering an area, and generating an image from the resulting data. The scanning process includes shifting the set of ultrasound elements used to form the ultrasound beam by more then one ultrasound element (block-switching) between each step in the scanning process. This is accomplished without loss of image resolution by using area-forming techniques. The block-switching technique enables use of cross-correlation methods during image construction.

Abstract: Methods of probing a material under investigation using an ultrasound beam. Echolocation data is generated using a multi-dimensional transform capable of using phase and magnitude information to distinguish echoes resulting from ultrasound beam components produced using different ultrasound transducers. Since the multi-dimensional transform does not depend on using receive or transmit beam lines, a multi-dimensional area can be imaged using a single ultrasound transmission. In some embodiments, this ability increases image frame rate and reduces the amount of ultrasound energy required to generate an image.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating and manipulating an ultrasound beam are disclosed. The methods include using selective sets of ultrasound elements to generate an ultrasound beam, scanning the beam over a series of ultrasound elements in order to collected echo data covering an area, and generating an image from the resulting data. The scanning process includes shifting the set of ultrasound elements used to form the ultrasound beam by more then one ultrasound element (block-switching) between each step in the scanning process. This is accomplished without loss of image resolution by using area-forming techniques. The block-switching technique enables use of cross-correlation methods during image construction.

Abstract: Systems and methods of probing a material under investigation using an ultrasound beam. Echolocation data is generated using a multi-dimensional transform capable of using phase and magnitude information to distinguish echoes resulting from ultrasound beam components produced using different ultrasound transducers. Since the multi-dimensional transform does not depend on using receive or transmit beam lines, a multi-dimensional area can be imaged using a single ultrasound transmission. In some embodiments, this ability increases image frame rate and reduces the amount of ultrasound energy required to generate an image.

Abstract: A system for ultrasonic imaging that includes a comparator for comparing at least one Doppler parameter input to a threshold value and generating a first mask. The comparator has a threshold value associated with each Doppler parameter input. A spatial filter is coupled to the comparator and produces a second mask, and a classification operator is coupled to the spatial filter and generates a third mask. The classification operator can effectively compare a value of a given pixel to the value of any nearby neighboring pixels and reclassify any given non-majority pixel to a majority value of the nearby neighboring pixels. An embodiment of the invention further includes a multi-parameter generator that outputs at least one Doppler parameter. The multi-parameter generator has a functional relationship based on at least one Doppler parameter input and at least one of any of the masks. A second spatial filter is coupled to receive the Doppler parameter input.

Abstract: A system for ultrasonic imaging that includes a comparator for comparing at least one Doppler parameter input to a threshold value and generating a first mask. The comparator has a threshold value associated with each Doppler parameter input. A spatial filter is coupled to the comparator and produces a second mask, and a classification operator is coupled to the spatial filter and generates a third mask. The classification operator can effectively compare a value of a given pixel to the value of any nearby neighboring pixels and reclassify any given non-majority pixel to a majority value of the nearby neighboring pixels. An embodiment of the invention further includes a multi-parameter generator that outputs at least one Doppler parameter. The multi-parameter generator has a functional relationship based on at least one Doppler parameter input and at least one of any of the masks. A second spatial filter is coupled to receive the Doppler parameter input.