Abstract: Power is conserved in a portable, ultrasound imaging device (102) by powering off circuits while they are not being utilized and by reducing the power mode of multi-power-mode circuitry when feasible (S420). Power conservation is triggered by a low battery condition (S412), changed device operation mode (S416) or manual user override (S404). The battery supplements power incoming from a peripheral during a low power consumption mode of the device (S530), and is trickle charged at other times (S520).

Abstract: User interface for providing user control over device functions of an ultrasound imaging system (10) includes a touchscreen (18) and activation areas (22, 24, 26) defined thereon simultaneous images. Each activation area (22, 24, 26) has a unique assigned function relating to processing of the ultrasound images with an indication of the function being displayed on the activation area (22, 24, 26). A processor (16) is coupled to the touchscreen (18) for detecting a touch on the activation areas (22, 24, 26) and performing the function associated with each activation area (22, 24, 26) upon being touched. In this manner, all UI controls can be implemented as virtual controls by assigning the function of each control to an activation area (22, 24, 26) so that the user can simply touch the activation area and effect the desired control.

Abstract: A portable 3D ultrasound device having an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer includes a transducer array with a plurality of transducer elements arranged in a plurality of dimensions, the transducer array including an emitter to emit ultrasound energy, a receiver to receive responses generated in accordance with the ultrasound energy, a plurality of sub-array beamformers, a signal processor to convert the generated responses into a 3D ultrasound image and a display unit to display the 3D ultrasound image.

Abstract: A system and method for visualizing scene shift over successive ultrasound scan frames is disclosed. In one embodiment the invention is a system for real-time visualization of scene shift in an ultrasound scan, comprising an ultrasound receiver for developing a first ultrasound image and a second ultrasound image, border formation software for determining a first border corresponding to the first ultrasound image and a second border corresponding to the second ultrasound image, and image misalignment detection software for overlaying the first border on the second border to determine whether the first border aligns with the second border. Corresponding systems, methods and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for anatomical imaging includes configuring a sequence of scan lines for scanning of three-dimensional volume segments of an image volume in a subject. The sequence of scan lines is configured in a zig-zag order for minimizing an occurrence of motion artifacts between slices of the volume segments and throughout the image volume. Image data is acquired as a function of the sequence of scan lines and in synchronism with physiological cycles of the subject. The image data is representative of the volume segments of the image volume, wherein each volume segment contains image data distributed in three dimensions. The image data representative of the volume segments is combined to produce a representation of a three-dimensional anatomical image of the image volume. Furthermore, the method includes 3D color flow imaging wherein N slices per subvolume are scanned using zig-zag scanning across the N slices and along a width dimension of the subvolume.

Abstract: A system and method for visualizing scene shift over successive ultrasound scan frames is disclosed. In one embodiment the invention is a system for real-time visualization of scene shift in an ultrasound scan, comprising an ultrasound receiver for developing a first ultrasound image and a second ultrasound image, border formation software for determining a first border corresponding to the first ultrasound image and a second border corresponding to the second ultrasound image, and image misalignment detection software for overlaying the first border on the second border to determine whether the first border aligns with the second border. Corresponding systems, methods and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and selecting a volume of interest within a volume rendered image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention collects acoustic data, develops a three dimensional (3D) ultrasound image from the collected acoustic data, renders the ultrasound image on a display, modifies selected portions of the acoustic data, and displays the modified acoustic data in the form of a highlighted region on the rendered ultrasound image, wherein the highlighted region defines an included volume.

Abstract: An apparatus including a portable ultrasound device having an emitter to emit ultrasound energy, a receiver to receive responses generated in accordance with the ultrasound energy, a signal processor to convert the generated responses into a 3D ultrasound image and a display unit to display the 3D ultrasound image.

Abstract: An ultrasound system that utilizes a probe in conjunction with little or no specialized 3-D software/hardware to produce images having depth cues. A control unit uses the probe to produce multiple slices of data, wherein each slice has a plurality of lines of data points. The control unit oversees the combination of data points from matched lines across the slices so as to create an image on the display giving the illusion of depth.

Abstract: An ultrasound system that utilized a transducer assembly having elements distributed in two dimensions in conjunction with a beamformer that, for each beam to be formed, samples the output of each utilized element based on a preset delay value selected for each element utilized to form the beam to form a c-scan like set of data.

Abstract: Variable multi-dimensional apodization control for an ultrasonic transducer array is disclosed. The variable multi-dimensional apodization control is applicable to both piezoelectric based transducers and to MUT based transducers and allows control of the apodization profile of an ultrasonic transducer array having elements arranged in more than one dimension.

Abstract: An ultrasound system that utilizes a probe in conjunction with little or no specialized 3-D software/hardware to produce images having depth cues. A control unit uses the probe to produce multiple slices of data, wherein each slice has a plurality of lines of data points. The control unit oversees the combination of data points from matched lines across the slices so as to create an image on the display giving the illusion of depth.

Abstract: Variable multi-dimensional apodization control for an ultrasonic transducer array is disclosed. The variable multi-dimensional apodization control is applicable to both piezoelectric based transducers and to MUT based transducers and allows control of the apodization profile of an ultrasonic transducer array having elements arranged in more than one dimension.

Abstract: An ultrasound system that utilized a transducer assembly having elements distributed in two dimensions in conjunction with a beamformer that, for each beam to be formed, samples the output of each utilized element based on a preset delay value selected for each element utilized to form the beam to form a c-scan like set of data.

Abstract: An ultrasound system with a transducer that transmits ultrasound signals based on a plurality of parameters in response to a control device that, upon activation in a first imaging mode, adjusts at least one of the parameters to cause the transducer to output a modified waveform based on the first imaging mode, for example, to output a signal adapted to disrupt contrast agent while in a lower power imaging mode or to output a signal adapted for continuous low power viewing when in a triggered mode. Subsequently, the control device readjusts the parameters so as to cause the transducer to output a waveform adapted to the first imaging mode.

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: Methods for use of contrast agents with an acoustic echographic imaging system, including controlling the concentration of contrast agent in a region of interest by adjusting the acoustic imaging signal to increase or decrease depletion of the contrast agent to the linear range of response. Adjustment of the signal includes dividing the received signal level by a power reduction ratio to re-normalize the signal level and compensating the signal power level. A spectral processor detects the concentration of the contrast agent in a gate marker window as the averaged ratio of energy around the second harmonic of the return signal versus energy around the fundamental frequency of the return signal, and includes a boundary detector for detecting a point of greatest change in value of the averaged ratios as a boundary between regions of interest.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of contrast agent in the body of the patient initially transmits ultrasound pulses along respective acoustic scan lines, which pulses exhibit a fundamental transmission frequency. A set of returned signals are received along a respective scan line after each pulse transmission. The frequency content of each set of return signals is segregated into first and second groups, the first group positioned about the fundamental transmission frequency and the second group positioned about a harmonic frequency thereof. Thereafter, a relationship is determined as between the energy characteristics of the first group and the second group, for each set of return signals. The determined relationship for a scan line indicates a proportion of the return signal that is returned from contrast agent versus a proportion which is returned from tissue.

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.