Contrast agent destruction effectiveness determination for medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging
First Claim
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1. A method for indicating effectiveness of contrast agent destruction, the method comprising:
- destroying, with acoustic energy, contrast agents within a region;
detecting locations within the region of incomplete destruction of the contrast agents; and
indicating the locations within the region.
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Abstract
The effectiveness of contrast agent destruction is determined. Locations of ineffectively destroyed contrast agents are identified. The response from undestroyed contrast agents may be distinguished from response from tissue due to saturation or from rapid perfusion. The locations may be highlighted on resulting images, indicating to the user locations not associated with perfusion. The user may make a diagnosis on perfusion rather than a lack of destruction of contrast agents.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for indicating effectiveness of contrast agent destruction, the method comprising:
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destroying, with acoustic energy, contrast agents within a region; detecting locations within the region of incomplete destruction of the contrast agents; and indicating the locations within the region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for determining effectiveness of contrast agent destruction, the storage medium comprising instructions for:
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acquiring a baseline frame of data of contrast agent response after transmission of destruction pulses; and distinguishing, as a function of the baseline frame of data, between thermal noise, non-linear response of tissue signals, or both and contrast agent response associated with the incomplete destruction of contrast agents. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for determining effectiveness of contrast agent destruction, the system comprising:
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a transmit beamformer operable to transmit first pulses for destruction of contrast agents and operable to transmit second pulses for imaging contrast agents with minimal destruction; and a receive beamformer operable to form contrast agent signals responsive to the second pulses; wherein timing for the first and second pulses is operable to distinguish between contrast agent response associated with rapid perfusion and contrast agent response associated with incomplete destruction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification