Ultrasonic scatterer, ultrasonic imaging method and ultrasonic imaging apparatus

• US 20050004469A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsuzuki, Hirohiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,338,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/458
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/481 involving the use of contrast agent, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream analysis of echo signal exploiting properties of a contrast enhancer in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52039
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0227 using imaging; using holography
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0272 with screening; with classification by filtering B01D takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0046 in gas, e.g. smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/019 Biological contaminants; Fouling
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52022 using a sequence of pulses, at least one pulse manipulating the transmissivity or reflexivity of the medium
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52038 involving non-linear properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target

Abstract

The ultrasonic scatterer of the invention comprises gas-containing particles having an average particle size of 0.01 μm to 10 μm, the ultrasonic imaging method of the invention comprises transmitting an ultrasonic wave continuing for ten cycles or more; transmitting an ultrasonic wave continuing for four cycles or more and less than ten cycles after a predetermined period passes, and the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the invention comprises transmitting means for sending a driving signal to the ultrasonic probe so as to transmit, to a subject, an ultrasonic wave continuing for four cycles or more and less than ten cycles after a predetermined period passes subsequently to transmitting, to the subject, of an ultrasonic wave continuing for ten cycles or more.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic imaging method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting, to a subject, an ultrasonic wave continuing for ten cycles or more;

(b) transmitting, to the subject, an ultrasonic wave continuing for four cycles or more and less than ten cycles after a predetermined period passes subsequently to the step (a);

(c) receiving an ultrasonic echo generated by reflecting the ultrasonic wave transmitted at the step (b) from the subject, thereby acquiring a detection signal; and

(d) extracting a sub-harmonic component from the ultrasonic echo based on the detection signal.

2. The ultrasonic imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is 1 msec or more and 1 sec or less.

3. The ultrasonic imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitted at the steps (a) and (b) each has a sound pressure of 10 kPa or more and 200 kPa or less.

4. The ultrasonic imaging method according to claim 1, which further comprises injecting a micro bubble contrast agent into the subject before the step (a).

5. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of arranged ultrasonic transducers;

transmitting means for sending a driving signal to the ultrasonic probe so as to transmit, to a subject, an ultrasonic wave continuing for four cycles or more and less than ten cycles after a predetermined period passes subsequently to transmitting, to the subject, of an ultrasonic wave continuing for ten cycles or more;

receiving means for receiving, by the ultrasonic probe, an echo generated by reflecting, from the subject, the ultrasonic wave continuing for four cycles or more and less than ten cycles, thereby acquiring a detection signal; and

signal processing means for extracting a sub-harmonic component from an ultrasonic echo based on the detection signal.

6. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined period is 1 msec or more and 1 sec or less.

7. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic probe has a sound pressure of 10 kPa or more and 200 kPa or less.