Abstract: A method for ultrasonic imaging comprises: emitting Doppler pulses to a target to be detected; performing a Doppler scan with Doppler pulses; receiving echo signals from the target, wherein the echo signals include Doppler pulse echo signals; processing the echo signals, wherein processing comprises an imaging step, the imaging step comprising parallel processing steps including a 2D image processing step, a flow image processing step, and a spectrum image processing step, wherein the 2D image processing step is configured for processing the echo signals to obtain 2D image signals, the flow image processing step is configured for processing the echo signals to obtain flow image signals, and the spectrum image processing step is configured for processing the echo signals to obtain spectrum image signals; and displaying the processed echo signals.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonic imaging comprises: emitting Doppler pulses to a target to be detected; performing a Doppler scan with Doppler pulses; receiving echo signals from the target, wherein the echo signals include Doppler pulse echo signals; processing the echo signals, wherein processing comprises an imaging step, the imaging step comprising parallel processing steps including a 2D image processing step, a flow image processing step, and a spectrum image processing step, wherein the 2D image processing step is configured for processing the echo signals to obtain 2D image signals, the flow image processing step is configured for processing the echo signals to obtain flow image signals, and the spectrum image processing step is configured for processing the echo signals to obtain spectrum image signals; and displaying the processed echo signals.

Abstract: Elements in an ultrasound array are activated according to a transmit beamformer to create a series of transmit beams. For each transmit beam, the first stage of a receive beamformer determines a plurality of primary receive beams. A second beamformer stage then computes secondary receive beams as a function of the primary receive beams that correspond to return signals from different transmit beams to a common receive beam origin. For example, each secondary receive beam may be calculated as a function of the weighted, time-delayed sum of the primary receive beams. At least one of the secondary receive beams is then output from the beamformer to be used in creating a displayed image.

Abstract: A method displays ultrasound color flow image data in a plurality of output frames by continuously acquiring color flow image data. Each output frame includes a plurality of scan lines that collectively represent a field of view for an ultrasound image. The method includes sequentially transmitting a plurality of ultrasound beams. For each of the transmitted beams, multiple receive beams are formed along respective parallel scan lines. As the sequence progresses, sets of co-linear receive beams are formed along each of the respective scan lines at a predetermined rate both within a particular frame and between successive frames. The method also includes processing the sets of co-linear receive beams along each of the respective scan lines to generate color flow image data corresponding to the respective scan lines, and displaying a color flow image representing the generated color flow image data.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonic imaging comprises: emitting Doppler pulses to a target to be detected; performing a Doppler scan with Doppler pulses; receiving echo signals from the target, wherein the echo signals include Doppler pulse echo signals; processing the echo signals, wherein processing comprises an imaging step, the imaging step comprising parallel processing steps including a 2D image processing step, a flow image processing step, and a spectrum image processing step, wherein the 2D image processing step is configured for processing the echo signals to obtain 2D image signals, the flow image processing step is configured for processing the echo signals to obtain flow image signals, and the spectrum image processing step is configured for processing the echo signals to obtain spectrum image signals; and displaying the processed echo signals.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system provides dynamic control of a shear wave front used to image viscoelasticity in a biological tissue. The system receives an indication of a region of interest and selects a shear wave front shape. The system also selects, based on the selected shear wave front shape, focus locations for a plurality of push pulses and a sequence for moving a shear wave source among the focus locations. The system transmits a series of push pulses according to the selected sequence, and determines a speed of the shear wave front as it passes through the region of interest. Changes in the speed of the shear wave front are related to changes in stiffness within the tissue.

Abstract: A method displays ultrasound color flow image data in a plurality of output frames by continuously acquiring color flow image data. Each output frame includes a plurality of scan lines that collectively represent a field of view for an ultrasound image. The method includes sequentially transmitting a plurality of ultrasound beams. For each of the transmitted beams, multiple receive beams are formed along respective parallel scan lines. As the sequence progresses, sets of co-linear receive beams are formed along each of the respective scan lines at a predetermined rate both within a particular frame and between successive frames. The method also includes processing the sets of co-linear receive beams along each of the respective scan lines to generate color flow image data corresponding to the respective scan lines, and displaying a color flow image representing the generated color flow image data.

Abstract: Elements in an ultrasound array are activated according to a transmit beamformer to create a series of transmit beams. For each transmit beam, the first stage of a receive beamformer determines a plurality of primary receive beams. A second beamformer stage then computes secondary receive beams as a function of the primary receive beams that correspond to return signals from different transmit beams to a common receive beam origin. For example, each secondary receive beam may be calculated as a function of the weighted, time-delayed sum of the primary receive beams. At least one of the secondary receive beams is then output from the beamformer to be used in creating a displayed image.

Abstract: Sidelobe levels of bipolar and unipolar waveforms are suppressed. Bipolar and unipolar transmit waveforms are generated with a coded excitation, such as a chirp coding, and pulse width modulation. For harmonic, such as second harmonic, imaging, the fundamental transmit frequency of the transmit waveform is centered at a lower end of the bandwidth of the transducer. The transducer filters higher frequency components of the transmit waveform differently than lower frequency components. To generate the desired acoustic waveform, the transmit waveform generated for application to the transducer is adjusted to account for the frequency response of the transducer. For example, higher frequency parts of a chirp waveform has more pulse width modulation or narrower pulse widths to account for lesser magnitude reductions. Multiple transmit waveforms may be combined to reduce sidelobes for fundamental or second harmonic imaging. Two coded excitation waveforms are generated.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and probes are provided for medical ultrasound imaging. By using larger segments for transmit than receive or by using a sparse sampling of elements on transmit than used for receive, the number of transmit beamformer channels relative to receive beamformer channels is reduced. Where the transmit waveformed generators of the transmit beamformer channels are positioned within an ultrasound probe, the space and power requirements of the transmit beamformer channels are reduced based on the reduction in number of transmit segments. Different approaches may be used for reducing the number of transmit channels relative to receive segments. For example, a flexible circuit is connected to one side of a multi-dimensional array and defines transmit segments as groups of two or more elements. A different flexible circuit connects on an opposite side of the elements. The different flexible circuit defines receive segments as individual elements or a fewer number of elements than the transmit segments.

Abstract: Sidelobe levels of bipolar and unipolar waveforms are suppressed. Bipolar and unipolar transmit waveforms are generated with a coded excitation, such as a chirp coding, and pulse width modulation. For harmonic, such as second harmonic, imaging, the fundamental transmit frequency of the transmit waveform is centered at a lower end of the bandwidth of the transducer. The transducer filters higher frequency components of the transmit waveform differently than lower frequency components. To generate the desired acoustic waveform, the transmit waveform generated for application to the transducer is adjusted to account for the frequency response of the transducer. For example, higher frequency parts of a chirp waveform has more pulse width modulation or narrower pulse widths to account for lesser magnitude reductions. Multiple transmit waveforms may be combined to reduce sidelobes for fundamental or second harmonic imaging. Two coded excitation waveforms are generated.