Abstract: Under one aspect, an ultrasound system for producing a representation of an object includes: a concave transducer array configured to transmit ultrasonic pulses into the object and to receive ultrasonic pulses from the object, the ultrasonic pulses from the object containing structural information about the object, each transducer in the array generating an output signal representative of a portion of the structural information about the object; a multi-focal lens structure for focusing the transmitted ultrasonic pulses; a multiplexing structure in operable communication with the concave transducer array and including logic for coupling the output signals from at least one pair of transducers in the concave transducer array; and a beamformer in operable communication with the multiplexing structure and including logic for constructing a representation of structural information about the object based on the coupled output signals from the multiplexing structure.

Abstract: A method includes generating a single three dimensional perspective or axonometric image based on at least two two-dimensional intersecting scanplanes. A rendering engine includes a view processor that generates a single three dimensional perspective image based on at least two two-dimensional intersecting scanplanes. An ultrasound imaging system includes a transducer array, including at least two one dimensional transducer arrays, each receiving echoes corresponding to different intersecting scanplanes, a scan converter that scan converts the echoes into a format for display on a monitor, and a view processor that combines the intersecting scanplanes to form a single three dimensional perspective image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus to which a probe with transducers is connectible. The apparatus includes a controller 100 which performs transmission processing for sending out an ultrasonic wave toward a subject by driving the probe 1 and reception processing for generating a received signal based on the ultrasonic wave that has been reflected from the subject and received at the probe and which performs, if a predetermined condition based on the received signal is satisfied, automatic freeze processing for stopping at least one of the transmission processing and the reception processing. The controller 100 restricts the automatic freeze processing for a predetermined period of time after having accepted a predetermined operating event.

Abstract: Automated image interpretation is provided with transducer position and/or orientation sensing. The current position of a transducer is used to determine the anatomy being imaged. Other reference information, such as (1) the previous position of the transducer and the known anatomy being imaged at that time or (2) a reference device at a known location, is used in the determination. The anatomy is determined based on position sensing or determined based on position sensing and other anatomy features, such as image analysis.

Abstract: An imaging part scans a predetermined site of a subject to which a contrast agent has been administered, with ultrasound waves, and thereby acquires plural frames of ultrasound image data. A contrast agent inflow detector detects the inflow of the contrast agent into each region based on the signal intensity in each region represented in the plural frames of ultrasound image data. A reference time determining part determines, as a reference time, a time point when the contrast agent inflow detector detects the inflow of the contrast agent into a first region of interest. A color coding part obtains a relative time of the inflow of the contrast agent into each region with reference to the reference time, and generates image data representing the color of each region with a hue corresponding to the relative time. An image based on the image data representing the hue is displayed.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing an ultrasound image using a concave array, which includes locating a concave array having at least one ultrasound transducer on a cornea, generating an ultrasound image by using an ultrasound transmitted or received through the concave array, and displaying the generated ultrasound image, wherein a focusing point of the concave array is on a vitreous humor, thereby minimizing ultrasound refraction, minimizing a loss of ultrasound energy, and resultantly makes a posterior segment into an ultrasound image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described which produce tissue harmonic images containing both fundamental and harmonic frequency components. Such a blended image takes advantage of the performance possible with the two types of ultrasonic echo information and can advantageously reduce near field clutter while improving signal to noise performance in the far field of the image.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods and compositions for the use of ultrasound for detection of cells and nanoparticles.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus including an ultrasound probe which outputs a transmission ultrasound wave toward a subject due to a driving signal and which outputs a received signal by receiving a reflection ultrasound wave from the subject, a transmitting unit which makes the ultrasound probe generate the transmission ultrasound wave by outputting each of a first transmission signal, a second transmission signal, a third transmission signal and a fourth transmission signal as the driving signal, and a signal component extraction unit which extracts a higher harmonic component and a difference frequency component by compounding a first received signal, a second received signal, a third received signal and a fourth received signal.

Abstract: There are provided a fixed focus transducer array and an ultrasonic wave transceiving apparatus using the same. The fixed focus transducer array includes: a plurality of transducers, transducing electrical signals into ultrasonic signals to thereby focus the ultrasonic signals on a single focal point and transducing reflected ultrasonic signals from the single focal point into electrical signals to thereby output the electrical signals, wherein the plurality of transducers are disposed to be symmetrical to each other based on one transducer and simultaneously focus the ultrasonic signals on the single focal point at speeds according to the respective natural frequencies thereof. Therefore, a circuit area is reduced, whereby miniaturization may be implemented and a processing speed may be increased.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; a device for determining optimum sound speed values at a lattice point set in a shallower region than a region of interest (ROI) and in the ROI on the basis of an ultrasound detection signal outputted by the ultrasound probe; a device for arithmetically operating a received wave received from the ROI on the basis of the optimum sound speed value; a device for setting an assumed sound speed in the region of interest, obtaining a received wave received from each lattice point on the basis of the assumed sound speed and the optimum sound speed value at the lattice point, and synthesizing received waves at lattice points to obtain a resultant received wave; and a device for determining a local sound speed value in the ROI on the basis of the received wave and the resultant received wave.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for ultrasound imaging using spread spectrum, coherent, frequency- and/or phase-coded waveforms. In one aspect, a method of creating an image from an acoustic waveform in an acoustic imaging device includes setting the device into a transmit mode to transmit an acoustic waveform toward a target, in transmitting the acoustic waveform, synthesizing, in one or more waveform synthesizers, a plurality of substantially orthogonal coded waveforms that form a composite waveform as the transmitted acoustic waveform toward the target, in which each waveform corresponds to a distinct frequency band, setting the device into a receive mode to receive a returned acoustic waveform that returns from at least part of the target, converting the received returned acoustic waveform from analog format to digital format as a received composite waveform comprising information of the target, and processing the received composite waveform to produce an image of the target.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally include a method and apparatus for minimizing acoustic echo in video conference. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method for minimizing acoustic echo in video conferencing comprises determining position information wherein the position information is derivable from a video stream and processing the position information using a computer to identify at least one direction wherein the one direction minimizes acoustic echo.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic system includes a data acquiring unit, a beam forming processing unit, a processor and an output unit. The data acquiring unit is configured to acquire reception signals corresponding to ultrasonic transducers by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object using the ultrasonic transducers. The beam forming processing unit is configured to apply beam forming to the reception signals. The processor is configured to generate ultrasonic image data based on reception signals subjected to the beam forming. The output unit is configured to output the reception signals before the beam forming to an outside terminal.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating ultrasounds in a given fluid by using at least one micro-machined capacitive transducer having a membrane and exhibiting a predetermined resonant frequency defined by the membrane-fluid pair, the at least one transducer is fed with an excitation signal of lower frequency than the resonant frequency. A device is provided for generating ultrasounds implementing CMUTs, as well as a method and system for medical imaging.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: a probe that transmits and receives ultrasound; a signal analysis unit that, when the probe scans a cross section of elevation direction of a blood vessel using ultrasound, detects a center scan line echo signal having passed through a center of the blood vessel among a plurality of scan line echo signals in the cross section of elevation direction of the blood vessel received by the probe, based on a part of each of the plurality of scan line echo signals that has a relatively small amplitude that corresponds to a reflected wave from a part of the blood vessel where blood flows; and an IMT measurement unit that computes an IMT from the center scan line echo signal. With this configuration, it is possible to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of performing wide-range IMT measurements with few errors even when a blood vessel seen from a body surface is not linear.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for acquiring, processing, and presenting boundaries of a cavity-tissue interface within a region-of-interest in an ultrasound image based upon the strength of signals of ultrasound echoes returning from structures within the region-of-interest. The segmentation of boundaries of cavity shapes occupying the region-of-interest utilizes cost function analysis of pixel sets occupying the cavity-tissue interface. The segmented shapes are further image processed to determine areas and volumes of the organ or structure containing the cavity within the region-of-interest.

Abstract: A method of creating an ultrasound image includes receiving a return signal from a time delayed signal emitted from a plurality of transducer elements at a target the return signal comprising a measurement at each of the plurality of transducer elements formed from a plurality of reflections off of a plurality of volume elements forming a two dimensional slice of a target, computing a Van-Cittert Zernike (VCZ) curve for each of the plurality of volume elements based upon the measured return signals and creating an short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) image comprising a plurality of pixels each associated with one of the plurality of volume elements wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a value computed from a metric of the VCZ curve computed for each of the associated plurality of volume elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic imaging device having an improved signal-to-noise ratio. After A/D conversion, by performing filtering between channels or two-dimensional filtering between channels and along the time axis, reduction in spatial resolution is suppressed as much as possible to thereby improve the signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A system and method of ultrasound imaging includes a beamformer including a plurality of channels, a two-dimensional transducer array including a plurality of elements, and a plurality of signal pathways linking the plurality of elements to the plurality of channels. The system and method also include a plurality of switches positioned along the plurality of signal pathways. The plurality of switches being configured to actively connect a subset of the plurality of elements to the plurality of channels in order to form a receive aperture. The plurality of switches are further configured to control an aspect ratio of the receive aperture by changing which of the plurality of elements are actively connected to the plurality of channels.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device has a control unit (18) which sequentially selects transducers (2a) for supplying drive signals while shifting a predetermined number of the transducers in a disposing direction for each output of transmitted ultrasound waves. Then, an image generation unit (14) generates image data for within a subject body for each frame on the basis of received signals which have been sequentially received by a receiving unit (13). Next, the control unit (18) performs switching between selection of m units of transducers (2a) to be consecutively positioned, and selection of m+1 units of the transducers (2a) to be consecutively positioned, for each frame. In addition, the control unit (18) generates synthesized image data acquired by synthesizing image data of at least two consecutive frames each time that image data is generated for each frame.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a position detection unit detects position information of an ultrasonic probe including ultrasonic transducers, with reference to a reference position. A transmission/reception unit supplies a driving signal to each transducer and generates a reception signal based on a reception echo signal generated by the transducer. Based on the reception signal, a three-dimensional data generation unit generates first three-dimensional data, in which a region corresponding to a living body tissue is specified by a specifying unit. A setting unit sets a first viewpoint based on the position information and specified region. An image generation unit generates a rendering image by rendering processing using the first viewpoint and first three-dimensional data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system in which the scan head either includes a beamformer circuit that performs far field subarray beamforming or includes a sparse array selecting circuit that actuates selected elements. When used with second stage beamforming system, three dimensional ultrasound images can be generated.

Abstract: A method of processing ultrasound signals received from a plurality of data channels each associated with a transducer element. A sorted delay data table having sorted delay data is generated that includes a channel identifier, a fractional delay value, and integer delay value. The sorted delay data table clusters together channel groups including a first channel group having data channels with the first fractional delay value and a second channel group with data channels with the second fractional delay value. Control signals are generated based on the sorted delay data that implements data path combining by directing channel data from the first channel group for processing by a first interpolation filter that provides the first fractional delay value and channel data associated with the second channel group for processing by a second interpolation filter that provides the second fractional delay value.

Abstract: An ultrasound system and method provide a workflow to acquire 3D images of the fetal heart gated by a synthetic heart gating signal. An ROI is defined in an ultrasound image which delineates the fetal heart. The ultrasound system is controlled to automatically estimate the fetal heart rate from echo signals received from the ROI. When the system has acquired a stable synthetic heart rate signal, an indication thereof is given to the user and the user then commands the system to acquire 3D fetal heart images for a number of fetal heart cycles which are gated using the synthetic heart rate signal.

Abstract: A cardiac imaging system including an imaging module including an ultrasound emitter and one or more position markers. A tracking and control system may include a position sensing system for sensing a location and orientation of the position marker relative to a predetermined reference. The tracking and control system may be operable with the imaging module to produce at least a three dimensional image of a patient's anatomy. A method of cardiac imaging may include operatively attaching one or more position markers to an imaging module including an ultrasound emitter. The method may further include sensing a location and orientation of the position marker relative to a predetermined reference, and producing at least a three dimensional image of a patient's anatomy by evaluating one or more images obtained by the imaging module and aligning the image(s) obtained by the imaging module relative to the location and orientation of the position marker.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound assembly. The ultrasound assembly includes a garment configured to be affixed to a portion of a living body, and at least one ultrasound transducer having a fixed position on the garment and configured to provide at least one of: produce and receive, ultrasound signals that pass through the living body. The ultrasound assembly further includes an ultrasound processing unit operatively associated with the at least one ultrasound transducer and configured to process the ultrasound signals following passage through the living body, and an ultrasound-interface unit operatively associated with the ultrasound processing unit and configured to provide information with respect to the ultrasound signals following passage through the living body.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a transducer array having a plurality of transducers arranged in an array, a transmission circuit which supplies an actuation signal to each transducer of the transducer array to transmit an ultrasonic wave toward a subject, a reception circuit which corrects a reception signal output from each transducer having received an ultrasonic echo from the subject in accordance with an angle between a reflection point in the subject and an acoustic radiation surface in each transducer to produce sample data, and an image producer which produces an ultrasound image on the basis of a sound ray signal obtained through phasing addition of sample data produced by the reception circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein describe a method, a system and a computer program product for ultrasound imaging. The method in one example includes receiving a plurality of ultrasound echo signals from a plurality of transducer elements in response to ultrasound transmit beams. The method computes beam sums of ultrasound echo signals originating from a point to be imaged, for the corresponding ultrasound transmit beams. The method generates a time record comprising a plurality of beam sums, wherein the time record includes beam sums corresponding to multiple instants of time in a time window. The method filters the time record based, at least in part, on a predetermined response function. Finally, the method reconstructs the point to be imaged based on one or more of the filtered time records corresponding to one or more of the plurality of ultrasound transmit beams. The method repeats this process for each point to be imaged.

Abstract: A diagnosis image generating apparatus including a plurality of probes, the diagnosis image generating apparatus including at least one element included in each of the plurality of probes; a selecting unit which selects a probe from among the plurality of probes; and a diagnosis image generating unit which generates a diagnosis image of the object by using the selected probe.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an array transducer, a transmission driver for transmitting an ultrasonic beam from the array transducer toward a subject, a reception circuit for processing a pair of reception signals in a pair of available channels of the array transducer having received an ultrasonic echo produced by the subject, with the pair of available channels being those channels which belong to channels simultaneously made available for reception of the ultrasonic echo and are arranged symmetrically about a transmit beam axis, so as to generate reception data in one piece, and outputting the generated reception data as reception data in each of the pair of available channels, and an image generating unit for generating an ultrasound image based on the reception data outputted from the reception circuit.

Abstract: In an ultrasound diagnosis, the inventor has found a characteristic that coincidence of RF data after matching addition or amplitude image data at the small opening are different between those of an isolated point (minute structure), a continuous surface, and a speckle. On the basis of the characteristic, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method which can distinguish and extract the isolated point, the continuous surface, and the speckle and determine a tissue property are provided.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a transmission/reception unit generates a reception signal. A signal extraction unit extracts a harmonic signal and fundamental wave signal from the reception signal. A calculation unit calculates a feature amount based on values corresponding to the amplitudes of the harmonic signal and fundamental wave signal. An area determination unit determines an area in a scanned area based on the feature amount and a predetermined threshold. A change unit changes the value corresponding to the amplitude of the harmonic signal in the determined area. An image generation unit generates a corrected harmonic image based on the harmonic signal in the scanned area including the determined area having the changed value.

Abstract: A 3D ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces 3D display images at a 3D frame rate of display which is equal to the acquisition rate of a 3D image dataset. The volumetric region being imaged is sparsely sub-sampled by separated scanning beams. Spatial locations between the beams are filled in with interpolated values or interleaved with acquired data values from other 3D scanning intervals depending upon the existence of motion in the image field. A plurality of different beam scanning patterns are used, different ones of which have different spatial locations where beams are located and beams are omitted. In a preferred embodiment the determination of motion and the consequent decision to use interpolated or interleaved data for display is determined on a pixel-by pixel basis.

Abstract: A method and system are described for examining the interior material of an object from a surface of an object using ultrasound having a frequency of at least 100 kHz. The method comprises the step of transmitting at least a first ultrasound signal by a first ultrasound transmitter of a first number of ultrasound transmitters to the interior material of the object for forming a first image in order to determine, according for example to the principle of inverse wave field extrapolation, where in the interior material of the object reflections and/or diffractions occur. Reflections and/or diffractions of the first ultrasound signal from the interior material of the object are received using a second number of ultrasound receivers which are acoustically coupled to the surface of the object at positions which are distributed in at least one dimension of the surface of the object.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an operating unit which sets multistage focus positions through operation by an operator, and a multistage focus position correction unit which, when an inter-focus position distance at the multistage focus positions set through the operating unit exceeds an allowable range set in advance for each measurement depth, automatically corrects the multistage focus positions so as to be within the allowable range.

Abstract: The method of one embodiment for multi-grid tomographic inversion tissue imaging comprises receiving acoustic waveform data characterizing a volume of tissue, determining and refining models of the distributions of a first and second acoustomechanical parameter within the volume of tissue using a series of grids with progressively finer discretization levels, and generating an image based on at least one of the refined models of the first and second acoustomechanical parameters.

Abstract: A method includes accepting an analog input signal including a sequence of pulses of a given pulse shape. The analog input signal is distributed to multiple processing channels (40) operating in parallel. The analog input signal is sampled by performing, in each of the multiple processing channels, the operations of: mixing the analog input signal with a different, respective modulating waveform to produce a mixed signal; filtering the mixed signal; and digitizing the filtered mixed signal to produce a respective digital channel output.

Abstract: Transmitting an ultrasonic wave focused on a predetermined transmit focus position by driving each of the elements of the ultrasonic probe based on a predetermined transmit delay time, and determining a true focal position of the ultrasonic wave transmitted to the transmit focus position or a focal point valid region that includes the true focal position based on a receive signal received by each element according to a reflection wave reflected by the transmission of the ultrasonic wave to the transmit focus position.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; a device for determining optimum sound speed values at a lattice point set in a shallower region than a region of interest (ROI) and in the ROI on the basis of an ultrasound detection signal outputted by the ultrasound probe; a device for arithmetically operating a received wave received from the ROI on the basis of the optimum sound speed value; a device for setting an assumed sound speed in the region of interest, obtaining a received wave received from each lattice point on the basis of the assumed sound speed and the optimum sound speed value at the lattice point, and synthesizing received waves at lattice points to obtain a resultant received wave; and a device for determining a local sound speed value in the ROI on the basis of the received wave and the resultant received wave.

Abstract: A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from received echoes is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces. Since lateral resolution is determined primarily by the aperture defined by the end elements, it is not necessary to fill the entire aperture with equally spaced elements. Multiple slices using these methods can be combined to form three-dimensional images.

Abstract: For realization of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of satisfactorily narrowing a beam width while suppressing an increase in the number of focus data, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is designed to include an ultrasonic probe 10 that transmits or receives ultrasonic waves to or from a subject, a transmission unit 12 that supplies a driving signal to the ultrasonic probe 10, a reception unit 16 that handles a received signal sent from the ultrasonic probe 10, a unit 18 that reconstructs an ultrasonic image on the basis of a signal sent from the reception unit 16, and a unit 20 that displays the ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus further includes an element selection unit 22 that selects a plurality of driving oscillatory elements, which constitutes an aperture through which ultrasonic waves are transmitted or received, from among a plurality of oscillatory elements that constitutes the ultrasonic probe 10 and transforms ultrasonic waves into electric signals or vice versa.

Abstract: An ultrasound device for medical application has a transducer formed by a number of transducer elements. The transducer elements are carried on a flexible support that allows the transducer elements to be configured to an examination subject. A measurement device determines, for each transducer element, a distance or a rotation thereof with respect to a reference point. The reference point can be a point that is physically a part of the ultrasound device, or can be a virtual reference point.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for ultrasonic color imaging applicable in medical diagnoses and industrial inspections. Multiple color parameters calculated via evaluating a plurality of characterizing properties of the ultrasonic signal attributable to an image point are employed to specify the color of the image point. The produced color image simultaneously exhibits the interior distributions of multiple physical properties of the target under ultrasound inspection, provides much richer interior information of the target than what traditional, single imaging parameter based ultrasonic imaging can provide. The invention enables far more and easier-to-perceive information to be communicated to image viewer's brain, significantly improves the efficiency of image reading, the capability of abnormality discrimination, and the accuracy and reliability of ultrasound inspection.

Abstract: A system and method for performing an ultrasound may include generating a set of continuous tone signals for injection into an object. A corresponding set of reflected tone signals in the frequency domain may be received The set of reflected tone signals may be converted from the frequency domain to the time domain to create a set of time domain signals. At least one region of interest may be identified from the set of time domain signals. A window may be defined around the identified region of interest in the set of time domain signals. The windowed time domain signals may be converted from the time domain to the frequency domain to create a set of windowed frequency domain signals. At least one characteristic parameter may be calculated from the set of windowed frequency domain signals. Information may be output based on the calculate at least one characteristic parameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system in which the scan head either includes a beamformer circuit that performs far field subarray beamforming or includes a sparse array selecting circuit that actuates selected elements. When used with second stage beamforming system, three dimensional ultrasound images can be generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasound imaging of a body, particularly a breast of a patient, includes ultrasonic pulse-emitting and pulse-receiving units, disposed in facing relationship at a predetermined distance from each other on opposite sides of a compartment for receiving the body, ultrasonic pulses emitted by the emitting unit and received by the receiving unit after passing through the body being converted into transmit signals; and an ultrasonic pulse emitting and receiving unit disposed to define a scan plane substantially perpendicular to the coronal plane of the patient and having one or more electro-acoustic transducers, which emit ultrasonic pulses into the body and receive echoes generated by the anatomic structures of the body, the echoes being converted into reflection signals. An acoustic impedance adaptation medium, particularly a liquid, preferably water, is interposed between the emitting unit and/or the receiving unit and/or the emitting and receiving unit and the breast.

Abstract: An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object by projecting ultrasound signals with a transmit carrier frequency. The ultrasonic image scanning system includes a switching mode power supply operated with a programmable clock in synchronization with the transmit carrier frequency. The switching mode power supply further provided with circuits for generating a low voltage and a high voltage. The ultrasonic image scanning system further includes transducers for projecting ultrasound signals wherein the transducers are connected to and electrically excited by the high voltage generated by the switching mode power supply. The switching mode power supply further includes a DC-to-DC switcher having an external clock input for clock synchronization.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to create a plurality of ultrasound images of an area, each of the plurality of ultrasound images acquired using a respective beam steering angle, determine, for each of a plurality of image pixel locations in each of the plurality of ultrasound images, a value of an image pixel located at an image pixel location, identify, for each of the plurality of image pixel locations, a value among the plurality of values determined for the pixel location other than the largest value of the plurality of values determined for the pixel location, and create a first output image in which each of the plurality of image pixel locations of the output image includes an image pixel having the value identified for the image pixel location.

Abstract: The invention describes a procedure for the examination of objects by the means of ultrasound waves whereby a volume-of-interest is scanned by a 3D-ultrasound-probe by moving a transmitter/receiver beam in a scan plane within selectable limits. This B-mode scan plane is also simultaneously moved in a direction across to this scan plane. The transmitting of sound pulses and acquiring the echo-signals is done more or less continuously during the movement in B-plane and across to it The echo-signals are stored in a volume memory on addresses which correspond to the spatial position of the echo-generating structure inside the object. These stored data-sets are evaluated by a 3D-processor and are represented on at least one display unit by different algorithms with selectable parameters. Important is that the acquisition and the representation is done continuously.