Abstract: An ultrasound system is disclosed. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention include a transducer configured to acquire pulse-echo data at each transmit frequency bandwidth of interest. In addition, a bandpass filter is configured to receive a signal of the pulse-echo data, wherein the signal is bandpass-filtered over a plurality of frequencies. Further, a processor is configured to calculate a spatial coherence of the bandpass-filtered signal. The spatial coherence of the signal is calculated in a spatial domain or a frequency domain. The spatial coherence is used to predict target conspicuity. The processor selects a preferred frequency based on and, preferably, to realize, the target conspicuity.

Abstract: An ultrasound system that includes a transducer configured to acquire ensemble channel/echo data and a filter bank configured to receive the echo data from the transducer, wherein the echo data is passed through a plurality of clutter filters within the filter bank to realize a plurality of echo data outputs. A processor calculates a spatial coherence value from each of the plurality of echo data outputs, compares the spatial coherence values of each filter, and selects the filter that yields a best spatial coherence for subsequent velocity estimation used to generate an output image for clinical use, where the best spatial coherence value is a highest and best spatial coherence value among the set of spatial coherence values.

Abstract: An ultrasound system that includes a transducer configured to acquire ensemble channel/echo data and a filter bank configured to receive the echo data from the transducer, wherein the echo data is passed through a plurality of clutter filters within the filter bank to realize a plurality of echo data outputs. A processor calculates a spatial coherence value from each of the plurality of echo data outputs, compares the spatial coherence values of each filter, and selects the filter that yields a best spatial coherence for subsequent velocity estimation used to generate an output image for clinical use, where the best spatial coherence value is a highest and best spatial coherence value among the set of spatial coherence values.

Abstract: An ultrasound system is disclosed. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention include a transducer configured to acquire pulse-echo data at each transmit frequency bandwidth of interest. In addition, a bandpass filter is configured to receive a signal of the pulse-echo data, wherein the signal is bandpass-filtered over a plurality of frequencies. Further, a processor is configured to calculate a spatial coherence of the bandpass-filtered signal. The spatial coherence of the signal is calculated in a spatial domain or a frequency domain. The spatial coherence is used to predict target conspicuity. The processor selects a preferred frequency based on and, preferably, to realize, the target conspicuity.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region using shear wave displacement are provided. The method includes a) generating at least one shear wave with an excitation pulse in the target region at an excitation position; b) transmitting tracking pulses in a tracking region, at least a portion of which is outside the target region; c) receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the tracking region; d) repeating steps A through C for one or more additional excitation positions within the target region, wherein at least two of the excitation pulses overlap and the tracking region associated with each excitation position overlaps with the tracking region associated with at least one other excitation position; and e) determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on at least one parameter of a shear wave displacement.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region using shear wave displacement are provided. The method includes a) generating at least one shear wave with an excitation pulse in the target region at an excitation position; b) transmitting tracking pulses in a tracking region, at least a portion of which is outside the target region; c) receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the tracking region; d) repeating steps A through C for one or more additional excitation positions within the target region, wherein at least two of the excitation pulses overlap and the tracking region associated with each excitation position overlaps with the tracking region associated with at least one other excitation position; and e) determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on at least one parameter of a shear wave displacement.

Abstract: An ultrasound system for estimating tissue deformation in ultrasound elasticity imaging includes a controller configured to deliver a plurality of tracking pulses and to obtain a plurality of data sets for a region of interest from an ultrasound transducer array; a harmonic data analyzing circuit configured to receive the plurality of data sets and to extract one or more harmonic data sets including harmonic signals from the plurality of image data sets; and a displacement estimator circuit configured to estimate tissue deformation in the region of interest responsive to the one or more harmonic data sets.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for imaging fluid in a sample include acquiring a plurality of echo signals for a region of interest in the sample from a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements in an ultrasound transducer array; applying a stationary echo cancellation to the plurality of echo signals to reduce or remove echo signals that are associated with stationary and/or slower moving features to provide a corresponding plurality of filtered signals; extracting coherence information from the plurality of filtered signals; and imaging the region of interest in response to the coherence information from the plurality of filtered signals.

Abstract: A method of creating an ultrasound image includes receiving a return signal from a time delayed signal emitted from a plurality of transducer elements at a target the return signal comprising a measurement at each of the plurality of transducer elements formed from a plurality of reflections off of a plurality of volume elements forming a two dimensional slice of a target, computing a Van-Cittert Zernike (VCZ) curve for each of the plurality of volume elements based upon the measured return signals and creating an short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) image comprising a plurality of pixels each associated with one of the plurality of volume elements wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a value computed from a metric of the VCZ curve computed for each of the associated plurality of volume elements.

Abstract: An ultrasound system for estimating tissue deformation in ultrasound elasticity imaging includes a controller configured to deliver a plurality of tracking pulses and to obtain a plurality of data sets for a region of interest from an ultrasound transducer array; a harmonic data analyzing circuit configured to receive the plurality of data sets and to extract one or more harmonic data sets including harmonic signals from the plurality of image data sets; and a displacement estimator circuit configured to estimate tissue deformation in the region of interest responsive to the one or more harmonic data sets.

Abstract: A method of creating an ultrasound image includes receiving a return signal from a time delayed signal emitted from a plurality of transducer elements at a target the return signal comprising a measurement at each of the plurality of transducer elements formed from a plurality of reflections off of a plurality of volume elements forming a two dimensional slice of a target, computing a Van-Cittert Zernike (VCZ) curve for each of the plurality of volume elements based upon the measured return signals and creating an short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) image comprising a plurality of pixels each associated with one of the plurality of volume elements wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a value computed from a metric of the VCZ curve computed for each of the associated plurality of volume elements.

Abstract: Methods for determining a mechanical parameter of a sample include detecting shear waves that have been generated in the sample by an applied shear wave source. A time of peak displacement of the shear waves for a plurality of sample positions is determined. At least one mechanical parameter of the sample based on the time of peak displacement for the plurality of sample positions is determined.

Abstract: Methods for determining a mechanical parameter of a sample include detecting shear waves that have been generated in the sample by an applied shear wave source. A time of peak displacement of the shear waves for a plurality of sample positions is determined. At least one mechanical parameter of the sample based on the time of peak displacement for the plurality of sample positions is determined.

Abstract: A pushing pulse is delivered from an ultrasound transducer array having a plurality of elements to a target region within a medium to displace the target region to a displaced position. A tracking pulse is delivered from the ultrasound transducer array to the target region, and a plurality of tracking signals are received from locations in the target region, each tracking signal being responsive to the tracking pulse.

Abstract: A remote palpation technique in breast imaging involves the use of multiple applications of radiation force in rapid succession throughout a two-dimensional plane in the target tissue medium (10), and combination of the small, two-dimensional displacement maps from each force location into a single, larger remote palpation image (block 43). Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pushing pulse is delivered from an ultrasound transducer array having a plurality of elements to a target region within a medium to displace the target region to a displaced position. A tracking pulse is delivered from the ultrasound transducer array to the target region, and a plurality of tracking signals are received from locations in the target region, each tracking signal being responsive to the tracking pulse.

Abstract: Ultrasound energy is transmitted into tissue in a first direction to provide a virtual extended shear wave source. The virtual extended shear wave source generates an extended shear wave that propagates in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction to cause movement in the first direction of tissue that is offset from the virtual extended shear wave source in the second direction. Related ultrasound imaging systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Ultrasound energy is transmitted into tissue in a first direction to provide a virtual extended shear wave source. The virtual extended shear wave source generates an extended shear wave that propagates in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction to cause movement in the first direction of tissue that is offset from the virtual extended shear wave source in the second direction. Related ultrasound imaging systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for both enhancing drug uptake by application of therapeutic transmissions of acoustic energy and imaging a region for applied therapy with a same transducer and ultrasound system. An ultrasonic image of a field of view is generated while localized delivery of a drug is enhanced with ultrasound energy. Using the same transducer and ultrasound system reduces costs and increases system availability for a broader range of medical practitioners. For example, a single linear array of transducer elements is used for application of both imaging and therapeutic ultrasound. As another example, a transmitter is provided that transmits therapeutic transmissions having substantially equal positive and negative peaks at the face of the transducer and also is operable to transmit imaging acoustic energy. As yet another example, therapeutic pulses of acoustic energy are transmitted to have greater power for heating than imaging, but a mechanical index or pressure comparable to imaging transmissions.

Abstract: The angular imaging system, and related method utilizes translating apertures to acquire data at a number of angles of interrogation. For omnidirectional scatterers, that is scatterers which emit a uniform sound field in all directions when insonified, the translating apertures should theoretically yield identical speckle patterns at all angles of interrogation. The result is in strong contrast to previously applied convention angular scatter measurement methods which produced rapidly varying speckle patterns with interrogation angle. Thus by using the translating apertures, using the transmit aperture translator (62), and the receive aperture translator (72), it is possible to acquire data for which the only variation in received signal with angle is due to the intrinsic scattering of the target.