Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for ultrasound imaging, and in particular, for controlling a position of an ultrasound probe. In one example, a probe guide comprises a body shaped to receive an ultrasound probe and including a first detent shaped to maintain the ultrasound probe in a first rotational position along an axis of the body and a second detent shaped to maintain the ultrasound probe in a second rotational position along the axis of the body.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing ultrasound images acquired at a low acoustic power to simulate an acquisition at a high acoustic power is provided. The method may include acquiring, by an ultrasound system, a first ultrasound image at a first acoustic power. The method may include processing, by at least one processor, the first ultrasound image to generate a second ultrasound image simulating a second acoustic power that is greater than the first acoustic power. The method may include presenting the second ultrasound image simulating the second acoustic power at a display system.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method for ultrasound imaging. The ultrasound imaging system includes a probe, a display device and a processing unit in electronic communication with the probe and the display device. The processing unit is configured to identify and display an image of an endometrium. The method includes acquiring ultrasound data, selecting a range of depths, acquiring 3D ultrasound data from within the range of depths, calculating an average image, identifying an image that is the closest fit to the average image, and displaying the image.

Abstract: A method and ultrasound imaging system for image-guided procedures includes collecting first position data of an anatomical surface with a 3D position sensor. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes generating a 3D graphical model of the anatomical surface based on the first position data. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes acquiring ultrasound data with a probe in position relative to the anatomical surface. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes using the 3D position sensor to collect second position data of the probe in the position relative to the anatomical surface. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes generating an image based on the ultrasound data and identifying a structure in the image. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes registering the location of the structure to the 3D graphical model based on the first position data and the second position data.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention relates to a method and system for simultaneously generating spatially compounded and non-compounded images. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for generating images using an ultrasound apparatus. This method comprises storing at least one frame and generating at least one image output from the at least one frame. The method further comprises displaying at least the generated image output.

Abstract: An ultrasound transmitter generates ultrasound signals at an adjustable pulse repetition rate. A Doppler unit generates Doppler signals from ultrasound backscattered signals and stores them in a memory. A logic unit performs an algorithm which automatically adjusts the polarity and position of the velocity scale of a display and automatically adjusts the pule repetition rate of the transmitter based on analysis of the signals.

Abstract: A method for displaying a region of interest graphic on an imaging system includes: (a) establishing a communication connection over a network between the imaging system and a remote facility; (b) displaying an image frame, the image frame having a reference point; (c) displaying a region of interest graphic on the image frame at a depth determined relative to the reference point, the region of interest graphic having a bottom width, a top width, a height, and an angle between a projection of a first edge line and a projection of a second edge line; (d) changing the depth of the region of interest; and (e) changing the top width and the angle of the region of interest graphic as a function of the change in depth, while maintaining the height and the bottom width of the region of interest graphic substantially unchanged. At least one of steps (b) through (e) is done remotely over the communication connection.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically maintaining the range gate inside a moving blood vessel during ultrasound imaging. The range gate can be maintained at the vessel center, or at a certain distance from one of the vessel boundaries, or at a certain ratio of the respective distances from the two boundaries. The user first places the range gate on the blood flow being examined. An algorithm processes each successive image frame and automatically updates the information about vessel boundary positions and the vessel orientation angle in the vicinity of the range gate. If the range gate position relative to the vessel boundaries is different than that in the previous frame by more than a predetermined amount, the position of the range gate graphic and the orientation of the vessel slope cursor (and the Doppler angle) are automatically adjusted to the new values.

Abstract: An ultrasound scanning system (10) includes a plurality of range gates (71-74) responsive to ultrasound waves for generating a plurality of Doppler signal samples representing different depth increments within a subject (S) being studied. A logic unit (30) generates Doppler frequency signals and generates B-mode data. A display (60) generates a B-mode image and a Doppler image which may be superimposed on the B-mode image. The Doppler image (DI) is arranged to illustrate depth increments within the subject being studied versus Doppler velocity or frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasound transmitter generates ultrasound signals at an adjustable pulse repetition rate. A Doppler unit generates Doppler signals from ultrasound backscattered signals and stores them in a memory. A logic unit performs an algorithm which automatically adjusts the polarity and position of the velocity scale of a display and automatically adjusts the pule repetition rate of the transmitter based on analysis of the signals.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system generating color flow signals in response to ultrasound signals backscattered from a subject under study includes an apparatus for displaying images in response to the color flow signals. The apparatus includes a memory connected to store first memory values in response to the color flow signals; a logic unit connected to determine a dynamic range compression scheme based on an analysis of the first memory values and to generate second memory values based on the dynamic range compression scheme; a display connected to display a color flow image in response to the second memory values; and a network connectivity module coupled to the system to provide communication with a remote facility over a network, the remote facility providing remote services.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatically initializing and adjusting the Doppler sample gate position and size settings based on actual vessel image data. A vessel segment search method employs an object search technique based solely on geometric and morphological information in a binarized vessel image obtained from either B-mode or color flow image data. The morphologically best or nearest vessel segment within a target search region in the two-dimensional image is found. The sample gate is placed at or near the center of the targeted vessel segment. The sample gate size is adjusted in relation to the vessel size. Then the best available steering angle that minimizes the Doppler angle is selected.

Abstract: An ultrasound color flow imaging system is programmed to optimize display images of power and velocity by automatically adjusting thresholds and data compression by using histograms and samplings of color flow data.

Abstract: A Doppler unit generates a Doppler signal from ultrasound backscattered signals. A logic unit performs a Fourier transform and compresses the resulting signals according to a compression curve determined in part by the noise level in the system. The peak values of the compressed signals also may be used to adjust the video gray mapping of the compressed signals in order to improve the appearance of a Doppler image on a display.

Abstract: An ultrasound color flow imaging system is programmed to optimize display images of power and velocity by automatically adjusting thresholds and data compression by using histograms and samplings of color flow data.

Abstract: An ultrasound color flow imaging system is programmed to optimize display images of power and velocity by automatically adjusting thresholds by using histograms.

Abstract: An ultrasound color flow imaging system is programmed to optimize display images of power and velocity by automatically adjusting thresholds by using histograms and samplings of color flow data.

Abstract: A method for automatic Doppler angle estimation based on the B-mode and color flow (if available) image. The method uses an algorithm for automatic vessel slope measurement which first finds an optimal initial point within the sample volume or range gate, and then searches for the most reliable pixel points (near or far walls) based on a combination of intensity-only and intensity-difference thresholds, before performing a slope estimation. B-mode intensity data and, optionally, color flow velocity or power data (before gray/color mapping) are used. The algorithm may also be applied to methods for automatic tracking of vessel diameter and flow rate calculations, although the primary objective is to achieve automatic Doppler angle estimation in an ultrasound scanner.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for improving the contrast of the displayed image data in a B-mode ultrasound imaging system. An adaptive gray mapping is based on the actual raw imaging data instead of assumptions about that raw data. The user specifies a region of the image (or the entire image) with a graphical region-of-interest (ROI) marker. When prompted by the user, a software program in the master controller analyzes the raw data within the ROI and constructs a new gray map based upon the analyzed data. This mapping can be created by transforming an old gray map or by generating a new gray map. This new gray map is then used by the ultrasound system during imaging. Optimum contrast is achieved by automatically adjusting the brightness and contrast levels of the image based on the values of the raw data.

Abstract: An ultrasound color flow imaging system is programmed to optimize display images of power and velocity by automatically adjusting thresholds and a color map by using histograms of color flow data.