Method for Imaging Intracavitary Blood Flow Patterns
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for in vivo imaging of flow pattern of blood in a cavity of a subject, the method comprising:
- a) administering particles configured to mix with blood flowing in the cavity of the subject to produce a differentiatable acoustic signature;
b) acquiring images of the cavity with an ultrasound imaging system at a substantially high frame rate;
c) tracking the particles flowing in the cavity in successive ones of the ultrasound image frames; and
d) producing images of the cavity indicating the flow characteristics therein based on the tracking of the particles.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Heart diseases are detected by producing a series of ultrasound images that depict the blood flow pattern in the left ventricle at successive phases of the cardiac cycle. The blood flow pattern images are produced by injecting a diluted contrast agent and tracking the contrast agent particles as they flow through the left ventricle by acquiring ultrasound images at a high frame rate.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for in vivo imaging of flow pattern of blood in a cavity of a subject, the method comprising:
-
a) administering particles configured to mix with blood flowing in the cavity of the subject to produce a differentiatable acoustic signature; b) acquiring images of the cavity with an ultrasound imaging system at a substantially high frame rate; c) tracking the particles flowing in the cavity in successive ones of the ultrasound image frames; and d) producing images of the cavity indicating the flow characteristics therein based on the tracking of the particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for diagnosing heart disease, the method comprising:
-
a) acquiring a series of ultrasound images of a left ventricle of a heart at a substantially high frame rate during a succession of cardiac phases of a cardiac cycle; b) producing a series of flow pattern images from the acquired ultrasound images depicting the flow of particles in blood flowing in the left ventricle at successive cardiac phases; and c) examining flow pattern images during each cardiac phase to detect flow characteristics indicative of a disease. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification