Diagnostic ultrasound imaging based on rate subtraction imaging (RSI)
First Claim
1. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, comprising:
- scanning means for transmitting the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each direction composing the region to be scanned and receiving an echo signal in response to each transmission;
subtracting means for obtaining a difference signal by performing subtraction between the echo signals received with two times of transmission among the plurality of times of transmission;
producing mean for independently producing both of the echo signal received with any time of transmission of the plurality of times of transmission and the difference signal into individual tomographic images; and
displaying means for displaying the individual tomographic images at the same time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, an ultrasound pulse signal is transmitted two times in each of the rasters on a region to be scanned. Subtraction between echo signals received at each time of transmission is made to obtain a difference signal. Either one of the echo signals and the difference signal are produced into individual tomographic images, independently of each other. The produced individual tomographic images are displayed with a superposed manner one on the other or parallel-arranged manner. This allows contrast echo imaging to be conducted on a rate subtraction imaging technique. Minute blood flows are depicted distinguishably from tissue surrounding those flows in a steady manner.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, comprising:
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scanning means for transmitting the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each direction composing the region to be scanned and receiving an echo signal in response to each transmission;
subtracting means for obtaining a difference signal by performing subtraction between the echo signals received with two times of transmission among the plurality of times of transmission;
producing mean for independently producing both of the echo signal received with any time of transmission of the plurality of times of transmission and the difference signal into individual tomographic images; and
displaying means for displaying the individual tomographic images at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal, an ultrasound medium being injected into the object:
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scanning means for transmitting the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each direction composing the region to be scanned and receiving an echo signal in response to each transmission;
subtracting means for obtaining a difference signal by performing subtraction between the echo signals received with two times of transmission among the plurality of times of transmission;
addition means for obtaining an average signal by performing average between the echo signals received with two times of transmission among the plurality of times of transmission;
producing mean for independently producing both of the difference signal and the average signal into individual tomographic images; and
displaying means for displaying the individual tomographic images at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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26. An ultrasound imaging method for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each direction composing the region to be scanned and receiving an echo signal in response to each transmission;
obtaining a difference signal by performing subtraction of the echo signals received with two times of transmission among the plurality of times of transmission;
independently producing both of the echo signal received with any time of transmission of the plurality of times of transmission and the difference signal into individual tomographic images; and
displaying the individual tomographic images at the same time.
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27. An ultrasound imaging method for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each direction composing the region to be scanned and receiving an echo signal in response to each transmission;
calculating a difference signal by performing subtraction of the echo signals received with two times of transmission among the plurality of times of transmission;
calculating an average signal by performing average between the echo signals received with two times of transmission among the plurality of times of transmission;
independently producing both of the difference signal and the average signal into individual tomographic images; and
displaying the individual tomographic images at the same time.
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28. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object:
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an ultrasound probe for transmitting and receiving the ultrasound signal;
a transmitter for exciting the ultrasound probe responsively to each rate pulse so as to cause the ultrasound probe to output the ultrasound signal;
a receiver for delaying and adding an echo signal received by the ultrasound probe;
a controller for causing the transmitter to transmit the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each direction composing the region to be scanned and causing the receiver to receive the echo signal in response to each transmission;
a subtracter for obtaining a difference signal by performing subtraction between the echo signals received with two times of transmission among the plurality of times of transmission;
a producer for independently producing both of the echo signal received with any time of transmission of the plurality of times of transmission and the difference signal into individual tomographic images; and
a display for displaying the individual tomographic images at the same time.
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Specification