Abstract: Classification preprocessing is provided for medical ultrasound shear wave imaging. In response to stress, the displacement at one or more locations in a patient is measured. The displacement over time is a curve representing a shift in location. One or more characteristics of the curve, such as signal-to-noise ratio and maximum displacement, are used to classify the location. The location is classified as fluid or fluid tissue, solid tissue, or non-determinative. Subsequent shear imaging may provide shear information for locations of solid tissue and not at other locations.

Abstract: Tissue density is quantified using shear wave information in medical ultrasound scanning. Measurements of the tissue reaction to shear waves indicate tissue density. For example, shear wave velocity is linked with density using clinical study information. The shear wave velocity in a region, over the entire tissue, or at various locations is used to determine a corresponding density or densities. The tissue density information is used for categorization, estimation of disease risk, imaging, diagnosis, or other uses. The tissue may be breast tissue or other tissue.

Abstract: Spatially distinct Spectral Doppler information is acquired. Spatially distinct transmit beams are formed at a same time or in parallel. One or more receive beams are formed in response to each transmit beam, providing samples for a plurality of laterally spaced locations. A spectrum is determined for each of a plurality of spatial locations. In another approach, samples are acquired for different regions at different times. The scanning for each region is interleaved based on the anatomic operation. Since spectral estimation relies on a time-continuous series of transmission and reception, the scanning for a region occurs over a sufficient period for spectral estimation before the scanning for a different region occurs. By using anatomic operation, sufficient time is provided for spectral estimation. Due to anatomic operation, different regions are associated with flow at different times.

Abstract: Classification preprocessing is provided for medical ultrasound shear wave imaging. In response to stress, the displacement at one or more locations in a patient is measured. The displacement over time is a curve representing a shift in location. One or more characteristics of the curve, such as signal-to-noise ratio and maximum displacement, are used to classify the location. The location is classified as fluid or fluid tissue, solid tissue, or non-determinative. Subsequent shear imaging may provide shear information for locations of solid tissue and not at other locations.

Abstract: Spatially distinct Spectral Doppler information is acquired. Spatially distinct transmit beams are formed at a same time or in parallel. One or more receive beams are formed in response to each transmit beam, providing samples for a plurality of laterally spaced locations. A spectrum is determined for each of a plurality of spatial locations. In another approach, samples are acquired for different regions at different times. The scanning for each region is interleaved based on the anatomic operation. Since spectral estimation relies on a time-continuous series of transmission and reception, the scanning for a region occurs over a sufficient period for spectral estimation before the scanning for a different region occurs. By using anatomic operation, sufficient time is provided for spectral estimation. Due to anatomic operation, different regions are associated with flow at different times.

Abstract: The shear modulus information is measured for sparse locations in a scanning field of view. For other locations, the shear modulus information is calculated as a function of the sparsely measured values and strain information. For example, shear modulus values are provided for every grid point in a field of view based on strain values for every grid point and on sparsely measured shear modulus values.

Abstract: Shear wave imaging is provided in medical diagnostic ultrasound. A region is imaged to determine a location in which to calculate shear velocity. The shear velocity is estimated for the location. The imaging may guide the identification of the location, reducing the time to determine useful shear information. The estimate of shear may be validated, such as using cross-validation, to indicate the confidence level of the shear value. The shear velocity may be displayed relative to a scale of shear velocities associated with a type of tissue, such as tissue for an organ. The location on a scale may be more intuitive for a user.

Abstract: Tissue density is quantified using shear wave information in medical ultrasound scanning. Measurements of the tissue reaction to shear waves indicate tissue density. For example, shear wave velocity is linked with density using clinical study information. The shear wave velocity in a region, over the entire tissue, or at various locations is used to determine a corresponding density or densities. The tissue density information is used for categorization, estimation of disease risk, imaging, diagnosis, or other uses. The tissue may be breast tissue or other tissue.

Abstract: Complex response of tissue is calculated as function of a convolution relationship associated with measured strain with applied stress. In the Fourier or frequency domain, the convolution is a simple algebraic computation, such as multiplication. The complex response provides elasticity and viscosity information, assisting diagnosis. Complex compliance may be directly calculated from the strain and stress. Complex fluidity may be directly calculated from strain rate and stress.

Abstract: Acoustic output power is adaptively regulated in medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging. Given transmit settings, the acoustic power and/or another setting may be altered to avoid violating a limit set by regulation. The limit is based, at least in part, on an assumed attenuation. By measuring the attenuation, such as by identifying a type of tissue, the power and/or limit may be altered or adapt. By accounting for the attenuation in the region to be scanned, a greater output power may be possible while still providing the same level of safety.

Abstract: Shear wave imaging is provided in medical diagnostic ultrasound. A region is imaged to determine a location in which to calculate shear velocity. The shear velocity is estimated for the location. The imaging may guide the identification of the location, reducing the time to determine useful shear information. The estimate of shear may be validated, such as using cross-validation, to indicate the confidence level of the shear value. The shear velocity may be displayed relative to a scale of shear velocities associated with a type of tissue, such as tissue for an organ. The location on a scale may be more intuitive for a user.

Abstract: The shear modulus information is measured for sparse locations in a scanning field of view. For other locations, the shear modulus information is calculated as a function of the sparsely measured values and strain information. For example, shear modulus values are provided for every grid point in a field of view based on strain values for every grid point and on sparsely measured shear modulus values.

Abstract: Complex response of tissue is calculated as function of a convolution relationship associated with measured strain with applied stress. In the Fourier or frequency domain, the convolution is a simple algebraic computation, such as multiplication. The complex response provides elasticity and viscosity information, assisting diagnosis. Complex compliance may be directly calculated from the strain and stress. Complex fluidity may be directly calculated from strain rate and stress.

Abstract: Methods and systems for acquiring spectral and velocity information with a multi-dimensional array are provided. For example, a dedicated receive aperture is formed at a multi-dimensional array for steered continuous wave imaging. Other elements not within the dedicated receive aperture are used for transmitting continuous waves or transmitting and receiving pulsed waveforms in other modes of imaging. As another example, switches or other structures are provided for selecting between a plurality of possible apertures for a steered continuous wave aperture. The selection is performed in response to a configuration of an ultrasound system, such as selection of a focal location or steer direction. The aperture is then used for either transmit or receive operations of steered continuous wave imaging. As yet another example, at least part of the steered continuous wave beamformer is provided within a transducer assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for acquiring spectral and velocity information with a multi-dimensional array are provided. For example, a dedicated receive aperture is formed at a multi-dimensional array for steered continuous wave imaging. Other elements not within the dedicated receive aperture are used for transmitting continuous waves or transmitting and receiving pulsed waveforms in other modes of imaging. As another example, switches or other structures are provided for selecting between a plurality of possible apertures for a steered continuous wave aperture. The selection is performed in response to a configuration of an ultrasound system, such as selection of a focal location or steer direction. The aperture is then used for either transmit or receive operations of steered continuous wave imaging. As yet another example, at least part of the steered continuous wave beamformer is provided within a transducer assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring transducer movement are provided. For example, free-hand scanning for three-dimensional imaging is provided. An optical sensor within the transducer measures motion along the skin surface similar to measuring movement of a personal computer mouse with an optical sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the transducer is tilted at an angle other than perpendicular to the skin surface generally towards or away from the direction in which the transducer is translated. The transducer is then translated while maintaining the angle. Motion to or from the transducer is measured, and a component of the motion measured while the transducer is maintained at an angle is parallel to the direction of translation. The component of motion is angle corrected and used to determine a distance of travel.

Abstract: Methods and systems for acquiring spectral and velocity information with a multi-dimensional array are provided. For example, a dedicated receive aperture is formed at a multi-dimensional array for steered continuous wave imaging. Other elements not within the dedicated receive aperture are used for transmitting continuous waves or transmitting and receiving pulsed waveforms in other modes of imaging. As another example, switches or other structures are provided for selecting between a plurality of possible apertures for a steered continuous wave aperture. The selection is performed in response to a configuration of an ultrasound system, such as selection of a focal location or steer direction. The aperture is then used for either transmit or receive operations of steered continuous wave imaging. As yet another example, at least part of the steered continuous wave beamformer is provided within a transducer assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatic optimization in spectral Doppler ultrasound imaging are provided. The value for one or more spectral Doppler parameter is optimized using numerical optimization rather than predefined sampling. Various spectral Doppler parameters are set, such as a position of the gate, gate size, transmit frequency, filter settings, Doppler gain, beamline orientation or angle of intersection between the gate position and the scan line, aperture size, or other spectral Doppler transmit or receive parameters effecting the spectral Doppler imaging. A processor automatically calculates a setting or value for one or more of the spectral Doppler parameters, resulting in more objective optimization than provided by a user setting.