M-mode ultrasound imaging of arbitrary paths

• US 10,617,384 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2016
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
• Inventors: Brewer, Kenneth D., Smith, David M., Lorenzato, Rozalin M., Ritzi, Bruce R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cwern, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US15/005,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20160135783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/145 characterised by scanning multiple planes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4477 using several separate ultrasound transducers or probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/466 adapted to display 3D data 3D imaging and stereoscopic displays in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S15/8993 and G01S7/52068, respectively; 3D image rendering G06T15/00; manipulating 3D models for computer graphics G06T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/486 involving arbitrary m-mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5207 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image reconstruction G06T11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8913 using separate transducers for transmission and reception
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8927 using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures

Abstract

Systems and methods of M-mode ultrasound imaging allows for M-mode imaging along user-defined paths. In various embodiments, the user-defined path can be a non-linear path or a curved path. In some embodiments, a system for M-mode ultrasound imaging can comprise a multi-aperture probe with at least a first transmitting aperture and a second receiving aperture. The receiving aperture can be separate from the transmitting aperture. In some embodiments, the transmitting aperture can be configured to transmit an unfocused, spherical, ultrasound ping signal into a region of interest. The user-defined path can define a structure of interest within the region of interest.

Claims

1. A method of defining and displaying an m-mode path for display in an ultrasound imaging system, the method comprising:

transmitting a first unfocused ultrasound signal from a single transmitting transducer element into a region of interest including a structure of interest;

receiving first echoes of the first unfocused ultrasound signal with a first group of receiving transducer elements;

receiving second echoes of the first unfocused ultrasound signal with a second group of receiving transducer elements;

retrieving position data describing an acoustic position of the single transmitting transducer element, each element of the first group of receiving transducer elements, and each element of the second group of receiving transducer elements;

forming three-dimensional volumetric data from the first received echoes, the second received echoes, and the position data;

displaying a volumetric image representing the three-dimensional volumetric data;

selecting a first plane through the three-dimensional volumetric data and intersecting the structure of interest, and simultaneously displaying the selected first plane;

defining an arbitrary M-mode path through the structure of interest within the selected first plane; and

simultaneously displaying a graph of a magnitude of pixels along the selected M-mode path over time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the arbitrary M-mode path is non-linear.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the arbitrary M-mode path has at least one curved segment.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the arbitrary M-mode path has at least two linear segments that intersect at an angle other than 180 degrees.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the arbitrary M-mode path has at least one linear segment and at least one curved segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the arbitrary M-mode path has at least two dis-continuous segments.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating the three-dimensional volumetric image prior to selecting the first plane.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a second plane through the three dimensional volume and displaying the selected second plane.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a path through the structure of interest is performed substantially concurrently with transmitting first unfocused ultrasound signal, receiving first echoes, and receiving second echoes.