Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for receiving beamforming of ultrasound signals to generate ultrasound images with increased resolution. In one example, a method for an ultrasound system including a plurality of ultrasound transducers each coupled to a respective receive channel includes time-delaying a set of ultrasound receive channel signals to form a plurality of time-delayed sets of ultrasound receive channel signals, each time-delayed set of ultrasound receive channel signals time-delayed based on a different beamforming sound speed, calculating a beamforming quality metric for each receive channel and for each time-delayed set of ultrasound receive channel signals, and generating an ultrasound image from ultrasound receive channel signals selected from the plurality of time-delayed sets of ultrasound receive channel signals based on each beamforming quality metric.

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: Methods and systems are provided for receiving beamforming of ultrasound signals to generate ultrasound images with increased resolution. In one example, a method for an ultrasound system including a plurality of ultrasound transducers each coupled to a respective receive channel includes time-delaying a set of ultrasound receive channel signals to form a plurality of time-delayed sets of ultrasound receive channel signals, each time-delayed set of ultrasound receive channel signals time-delayed based on a different beamforming sound speed, calculating a beamforming quality metric for each receive channel and for each time-delayed set of ultrasound receive channel signals, and generating an ultrasound image from ultrasound receive channel signals selected from the plurality of time-delayed sets of ultrasound receive channel signals based on each beamforming quality metric.

Abstract: A system and method for providing clutter suppression in vessels depicted in B-mode ultrasound images is provided. The method includes acquiring series of B-mode frames and periodically acquiring a flow image frame between each series of B-mode frames. The method includes segmenting the flow image frame and a subsequent B-mode frame in a series of B-mode frames acquired immediately after the flow image frame to extract a vessel lumen and analyzing a spatial correlation between the vessel lumen region in the flow image frame and the subsequent B-mode frame. The method includes applying clutter filtering to pixels in the vessel lumen region of the subsequent B-mode frame based on flow characteristics of corresponding pixels in the flow image frame when the spatial correlation between the vessel lumen region in the flow image frame and the subsequent B-mode frame exceeds a threshold. The method includes presenting the clutter suppressed B-mode frame.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for segmenting and/or classifying images using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). In one embodiment, a method comprises, receiving an image having a first size, downsampling the image to produce a downsampled image of a pre-determined size, wherein the pre-determined size is less than the first size, feeding the downsampled image to a CNN, wherein a first convolutional layer of the CNN comprises a first plurality of convolutional filters, each of the first plurality of convolutional filters having a receptive field size larger than a threshold receptive field size, identifying one or more anatomical structures of the downsampled image using the first plurality of convolutional filters; and mapping the one or more anatomical structures to a segmentation map or image classification using one or more subsequent layers of the CNN. In this way, a number of encoding layers of the trained CNN may be substantially reduced.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for color flow ultrasound imaging of arteries and veins are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring a color flow image, automatically identifying an artery and a vein within the color flow image, and adjusting at least one imaging parameter responsive to the automatic identification of the artery and the vein. In this way, flow velocities and volume flow in arteries and veins may be measured with minimal adjustments or input by a user, thereby increasing the accuracy and consistency of measurements and reducing the time needed for blood flow measurements.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring, with an ultrasound probe in a first position, a first image of a first plane including a longitudinal axis of a vessel and displaying the first image on a display device. The system and method includes acquiring, with the ultrasound probe in a second position, a second image of a second plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the vessel at an oblique angle, where the ultrasound probe may be moved from the first position to the second position, or from the second position to the first position, by rotating the ultrasound probe about a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe. The system and method includes calculating a volume flow rate of the vessel based on the first image and the second image, and displaying the volume flow rate on a display device.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring and displaying a first image of a first plane including a longitudinal axis of a vessel and identifying first position information of the longitudinal axis. The system and method includes acquiring and displaying a second image of a second plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the vessel at an oblique angle, where the second plane is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe, where the ultrasound probe is in the same position with respect to the vessel when acquiring both the first image of the first plane and the second image of the second plane, and identifying second position information defining the second plane with respect to the ultrasound probe. The system and method include calculating a volume flow rate based on the first image, the second image, the first position information and the second position information.