Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus using a method for combining CMB images of the same object including a step of seeking representative contours CNT of an interface on the images to be combined IM,[I], IM[J] is disclosed. The step is intended to define interest areas IA[I], IA[J] in the vicinity of the representative contours. The method also includes analyzing the interest areas IA[I], IA[J] being intended to allocate weights W[I], W[J] to the points on the interest areas IA[I], IA[J] and to the points corresponding to the interest areas IA[I], IA[J] on the various images. The method also includes constructing a combination image IMC, a point on the combination image IMC corresponding to a point on at least one interest area IA being obtained from a weighting of the corresponding points on the images to be combined IM[I], IM[J] according to the weights W[I], W[J] allocated in the analysis step ANA.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence or absence of malignant features in medical images, wherein a plurality of base comparison or training images of various types of lesions taken of actual patient is examined by one or more image reading experts to create a first database array. Low-level features of each of the lesions in the same plurality of base comparisons or training images are determined using one or more image processing algorithms to obtain a second database array set. The first and second database array set are combined to create a training database array set which is input to a learning system that discovers/learns a classifier that maps from a subset of the low-level features to the expert's evaluation in the first database array set. The classifier is used to determine the presence of a particular mid-level feature in an image of lesion in a patient based solely on the image.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a graphical user interface (501) and a corresponding method for rapid and consistent input, modification and display of annotation text to be linked with and displayed in at least one image visualized on a monitor screen or display (102) of a medical or other kind of imaging system (100) without needing to type this text information (e.g. by activating or deactivating softkeys on a touch screen (502) or by rotary knob selection). Additionally, said user interface (501) allows to automatically link graphical annotation information, such as e.g. body markers and graphical transducer orientation information, to the annotated text.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system for forming an echographic image of a medium, which system includes a set [REC] of transducer elements [EL] which are operative in a transmission mode and in a reception mode for ultrasound waves, construction means [REB] for constructing echographic signals on the basis of signals [S[1] . . . S[N]] received on the transducer elements [EL], display means [DIS] which are coupled to the construction means [REB] in order to display an image of the medium formed by means of the echographic signals. The construction means [REB] are such that in so-called exclusion zones, in which a coherent reflector is detected and which are determined by determination means [DET], the reception delays [D] are estimated in a manner [INT] other than that [CORR] used for the other zones. The calculation [CAL] of echographic signals is then carried out on the basis of the estimated delays [D[Z],Di[Z}}.

Abstract: A breast imaging system is described which includes compression plates for retaining a breast during an examination. One of compression plates is formed by a polymeric membrane stretched under tension to provide a rigid but compliant retention surface which is substantially acoustically transparent for the conduct of a sonographic examination. The polymeric membrane may also be substantially radiographically transparent for the conduct of a mammographic examination. The thickness of the membrane is chosen to be a function of one-half of the wavelength of the ultrasonic frequency used for the sonographic examination so as to be substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy at that frequency.

Abstract: A breast imaging system is described which includes compression plates for retaining a breast during an examination. One of compression plates is formed by a polymeric membrane stretched under tension to provide a rigid but compliant retention surface which is substantially acoustically transparent for the conduct of a sonographic examination. The polymeric membrane may also be substantially radiographically transparent for the conduct of a mammographic examination. The thickness of the membrane is chosen to be a function of one-half of the wavelength of the ultrasonic frequency used for the sonographic examination so as to be substantially transparent to ultrasonic energy at that frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe is moved to scan a volumetric region of the body. As it is moved, targets within the region are interrogated from multiple look directions. The echo data from the multiple look directions are compounded to form spatially compounded image data, which is processed for display in a three dimensional display format.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is are described in which the component ultrasonic images which are to be spatially compounded are corrected for misregistration prior to compounding. The component images may be registered to a reference image or registered to form intermediate compound images which are then registered and compounded. The misregistration may be sensed by calculating a similarity or difference metric for a region of interest of the image frames being registered, or on the basis of reference lines acquired for the purpose of registering images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces spatially compounded images by combining component frames acquired from different look directions. Different regions of the spatially compounded images are formed by different numbers of overlapping component frames. Seam artifacts at the boundaries of the regions are reduced by processing the component frames to maintain a common signal and noise characteristic, varying the transmit pulse amplitude or the receiver gain, spatially aligning component frames at the boundaries, or weighting scan lines less heavily at the seam boundaries.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described in which the number of acquired ultrasonic images which are compounded to form a spatially compounded image is variable. The number of acquired images which is compounded is varied in response to changes in system operating parameters initiated directly or indirectly by the system user.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces spatially compounded images by combining component frames acquired from different look directions. The component frames are acquired in estimate space, converted to sampled data in a common coordinate system and compounded. Conversion to the common coordinate system is performed by modulating the sampling to the desired coordinate system or by resampling of the image data. The estimate data of the spatially compounded image is then scan converted to a display data format for display of the spatially compounded image.

Abstract: An adaptive ultrasonic spatial compounding method is described in which the number of component ultrasonic images which are to be spatially compounded is varied in response to the type of scanning procedure. In a survey mode, when the transducer is rapidly scanning a patient and there is a low degree of correlation from frame to frame, the number of component ultrasonic images which are compounded is reduced. In a study mode, when the transducer is held relatively stationary to study a particular region of the body and the frame-to-frame spatial correspondence is relatively high, the number of component images is increased.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method is described in which component ultrasonic images which are to be spatially compounded are corrected for misregistration prior to compounding. The component images may be registered to a reference image or registered to form intermediate compound images which are then registered and compounded. The misregistration may be sensed by calculating a similarity or difference metric for a region of interest of the image frames being registered, or on the basis of reference lines acquired for the purpose of registering images.