Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system acquires 3D data sets of the fetal heart by use of a gating signal synthesized from detected motion of the fetal heart. A sequence of temporally different echo signals are acquired from a location in the anatomy where motion representative of the heart cycle is to be estimated, such as a sample volume in the fetal carotid artery or an M line through the fetal myocardium. A heart cycle signal is synthesized from the detected motion and used to gate the acquisition of fetal heart image data at one or more desired phases of the fetal heart cycle. In an illustrated embodiment 3D data sets are acquired from multiple subvolumes, each over the full fetal heart cycle, then combined to produce a live 3D loop of the beating fetal heart.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an extended field of view (EFOV) image. A 3D imaging probe is moved along the skin of a patient above the anatomy which is to be included in the EFOV image. As the probe is moved, images are acquired from a plurality of differently oriented image planes such as a sagittal plane and a transverse plane. As the probe is moved the image data of successive planes of one of the orientations is compared to estimate the motion of the probe. These motion estimates are used to position a succession of images acquired in one of the orientations accurately with respect to each other in an EFOV display format. The motion estimates are also used to display a graphic on the display screen which indicates the progress of the scan to the user as the probe is being moved. The progress may be indicated in terms of probe velocity, distance traveled, or the path traversed by the moving probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an extended field of view (EFOV) image. A 3D imaging probe is moved along the skin of a patient above the anatomy which is to be included in the EFOV image. As the probe is moved, images are acquired from a plurality of differently oriented image planes such as a sagittal plane and a transverse plane. As the probe is moved the image data of successive planes of one of the orientations is compared to estimate the motion of the probe. These motion estimates are used to position a succession of images acquired in one of the orientations accurately with respect to each other in an EFOV display format. The display format may be either a 2D EFOV image or a 3D EFOV image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which records expert review of a 3D image data set, including image plane and view manipulation, annotation, and measurements, for the purpose of generating automated review protocols for 3D ultrasound image acquisitions. The ability to provide a standardized 3D review protocol has benefits such as guiding reviewers of all experience levels through the required steps to extract key images and measurements from 3D image data, enabling automation to improve 3D review workflow and reduce review time, monitoring growth or therapy, and standardizing review presentations for easy comparison with prior examination results.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system acquires 3D data sets of the fetal heart by use of a gating signal synthesized from detected motion of the fetal heart. A sequence of temporally different echo signals are acquired from a location in the anatomy where motion representative of the heart cycle is to be estimated, such as a sample volume in the fetal carotid artery or an M line through the fetal myocardium. A heart cycle signal is synthesized from the detected motion and used to gate the acquisition of fetal heart image data at one or more desired phases of the fetal heart cycle. In an illustrated embodiment 3D data sets are acquired from multiple subvolumes, each over the full fetal heart cycle, then combined to produce a live 3D loop of the beating fetal heart.

Abstract: In an ultrasound imaging system (UIS), an ultrasound scanning assembly (USC) provides volume data (VD) resulting from a three-dimensional scan of a body (BDY). A feature extractor (FEX) searches for a best match between the volume data (VD) and a geometrical model (GM) of an anatomical entity. The geometrical model (GM) comprises respective segments representing respective anatomic features. Accordingly, the feature extractor (FEX) provides an anatomy-related description (ARD) of the volume data (VD), which identifies respective geometrical locations of respective anatomic features in the volume data (VD). In a preferred embodiment, a slice generator (SLG) generates slices (SX) from the volume data (VD) based on the anatomy-related description (ARD) of the volume data (VD).

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system (10) is described which records expert, review of a 3D image data set, including image plane and view manipulation (36), annotation, and measurements, for the purpose of generating automated review protocols for 3D ultrasound image acquisitions. The ability to provide a standardised 3D review protocol has benefits such as guiding reviewers of all experience levels through the required steps to extract, key images and measurements from 3D image data, enabling automation to improve 3D review workflow and reduce review time, monitoring growth or therapy, and standardizing review presentations for easy comparison with prior examination results.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an extended field of view (EFOV) image. A 3D imaging probe is moved along the skin of a patient above the anatomy which is to be included in the EFOV image. As the probe is moved, images are acquired from a plurality of differently oriented image planes such as a sagittal plane and a transverse plane. As the probe is moved the image data of successive planes of one of the orientations is compared to estimate the motion of the probe. These motion estimates are used to position a succession of images acquired in one of the orientations accurately with respect to each other in an EFOV display format. The motion estimates are also used to display a graphic on the display screen which indicates the progress of the scan to the user as the probe is being moved. The progress may be indicated in terms of probe velocity, distance traveled, or the path traversed by the moving probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an extended field of view (EFOV) image. A 3D imaging probe is moved along the skin of a patient above the anatomy which is to be included in the EFOV image. As the probe is moved, images are acquired from a plurality of differently oriented image planes such as a sagittal plane and a transverse plane. As the probe is moved the image data of successive planes of one of the orientations is compared to estimate the motion of the probe. These motion estimates are used to position a succession of images acquired in one of the orientations accurately with respect to each other in an EFOV display format. The display format may be either a 2D EFOV image or a 3D EFOV image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described in which spatially compounded images are produced by transmitting ultrasound beams in different directions during a common transmit-receive interval. Echoes are received from the different beam directions and are beamformed by a multiline beamformer to produce differently steered beams of coherent echo signals. The echoes are combined on a spatial basis with echoes from different look directions which correspond to the same spatial location being combined. The resulting spatially compounded image is displayed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for automatically initiating user control automation by one of either beginning a Protocol stage for imaging or changing dependent controls. This invention eliminates the need for user intervention for hitting a button such as the I-Scan button for the Philips I-Scan system, which is one of the systems on which the invention can be implemented.

Abstract: The present invention provides for generating ultrasound volume images at a higher rate by generating rendered images at the same rate as that of the acquired frames.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic imaging system and method are described in which ultrasound image frames are generated by receiving ultrasound echo signals in response to respective ultrasound transmissions, sampling the echo signals, and then averaging the samples over a number of ultrasound transmissions. In one embodiment, the system allows a minimum image frame rate to be set, either directly by a user or indirectly from the rate of movement of physiological structures being imaged. The rate of movement of the structures is either estimated by the user or determined by the system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described in which spatially compounded images are produced by transmitting ultrasound beams in different directions during a common transmit-receive interval. Echoes are received from the different beam directions and are beamformed by a multiline beamformer to produce differently steered beams of coherent echo signals. The echoes are combined on a spatial basis with echoes from different look directions which correspond to the same spatial location being combined. The resulting spatially compounded image is displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for ultrasonic harmonic imaging. The ultrasonic harmonic imaging system comprises a wideband phased-array transducer, a transmitter for transmitting waves into the tissue, a portion of which is at a fundamental frequency and a portion of which is at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency, a receiver for receiving ultrasonic responses from the tissue, a control system electrically coupled to the transmitter and the receiver for controlling operation of the transmitter and receiver, a video processor, and a monitor.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic imaging system and method produces spatially compounded images by combining component image frames acquired from different look directions. Different regions of the spatially compounded images are formed by different numbers of overlapping component frames. As a result, the degree of spatial compounding varies in these regions. The image frames in the regions are spatially filtered, temporally filtered or frequency compounded in a pattern that offsets the spatial variation in spatial compounding due to the different number of overlapping component frames in various regions of the image. As a result, the variations in spatial compounding are compensated for to provide an ultrasound image with more uniform speckle, noise, and temporal characteristics.

Abstract: A diagnostic ultrasonic imaging system includes a scanhead having a plurality of transducer elements. A signal combiner, such a time-division multiplexer or a frequency-division multiplexer, is coupled to each of the transducer elements. The signal combiner combines the signals from the transducer elements into a composite signal and couples the composite signal to an ultrasonic processor through a wire or other communication link. A signal separator, such as a time-division demultiplexer or a frequency-division demultiplexer, is coupled to the link and recovers from the composite signal each of the signals from the transducer elements.

Abstract: A process for setting a focus in a ultrasonic imaging system includes receiving a point of interest and range of interest by a user input. A system controller of the system sets a focus zone on the point of interest and adjusts the aperture and apodization for the range of interest. If the range of interest can not be covered by one focal zone, further focal zones are added.

Abstract: A diagnostic ultrasonic imaging system includes a scanhead having a plurality of transducer elements. A signal combiner, such a time-division multiplexer or a frequency-division multiplexer, is coupled to each of the transducer elements. The signal combiner combines the signals from the transducer elements into a composite signal and couples the composite signal to an ultrasonic processor through a wire or other communication link. A signal separator, such as a time-division demultiplexer or a frequency-division demultiplexer, is coupled to the link and recovers from the composite signal each of the signals from the transducer elements.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe is provided for imaging and diagnosing areas of interest that are in immediate contact with the probe. The probe provides an integrated standoff comprised of a rubber material having optimal acoustic characteristics. The lens is directly applied to the transducer and the standoff is applied to the lens such that the focal zone is placed at the area immediately below the patient contact surface of the probe. The lens material also encapsulates the transducer and provides reliable protection against electrical shock. The standoff is also separated from the surface being examined by a cap comprised of a biocompatible elastomer having high chemical and abrasive resistance that enables the probe to be easily sterilized and disinfected and provides further protection against electrical shock. The use of a standoff with optimal acoustic properties in, combination with the arrangement of the lens, standoff and cap provides a probe with a focal zone placed at the area immediately below the probe.