Perfusion Imaging of a Volume in Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound
First Claim
1. A method for perfusion imaging of a volume in medical diagnostic ultrasound, the method comprising:
- first scanning a volume of a patient with single pulses for each transmit scan line;
receiving first ultrasound data in response to the single pulses;
repeating the first scanning and receiving a plurality of times during a first physiological cycle;
determining a region of interest of the patient within the volume from the first ultrasound data of at least one of the first scans;
tracking the region of interest between the repeated first scans with the first ultrasound data from the repeated first scans;
predicting a first next location of the region of interest as a function of the tracking;
second scanning a sub-volume of the volume, the sub-volume corresponding to the region of interest at the first next location, beamforming parameters being set for the first next location to perform the second scanning of the sub-volume and not laterally outside the sub-volume, the second scanning comprising acoustic energy for destroying contrast agents;
predicting a second next location of the region of interest as a function of the tracking;
third scanning the sub-volume, the beamforming parameters being set for the second next location for the third scan of the sub-volume, the third scanning comprising acoustic energy for detecting the contrast agents;
detecting the contrast agents in response to multiple pulses from the third scanning;
repeating the third scanning and detecting a plurality of times during a second physiological cycle; and
generating an image representing perfusion over time of the contrast agents in the sub-volume, the image responsive to the detected contrast agents of the repetitions of the third scanning.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A volume is scanned with ultrasound for determining perfusion. A volume is scanned with a more rapid technique for tracking a sub-volume, and the tracked sub-volume is scanned for contrast agent detection with a less rapid technique. For example, a single pulse technique or B-mode scanning is used to track a region over one or more cycles, the location of the tracked region is predicted, and multiple pulse contrast agent detection is performed for the sub-volume at the predicted location. The combinations of scanning provide for real-time or higher temporal resolution reperfusion information at the appropriate tissue. Using a separate scan for motion tracking may provide a more robust prediction of the sub-volume location and a better visualization of the results (e.g., orientation within the organ). In other embodiments, tracking is based on a B mode image derived from the multi-pulse data.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for perfusion imaging of a volume in medical diagnostic ultrasound, the method comprising:
-
first scanning a volume of a patient with single pulses for each transmit scan line; receiving first ultrasound data in response to the single pulses; repeating the first scanning and receiving a plurality of times during a first physiological cycle; determining a region of interest of the patient within the volume from the first ultrasound data of at least one of the first scans; tracking the region of interest between the repeated first scans with the first ultrasound data from the repeated first scans; predicting a first next location of the region of interest as a function of the tracking; second scanning a sub-volume of the volume, the sub-volume corresponding to the region of interest at the first next location, beamforming parameters being set for the first next location to perform the second scanning of the sub-volume and not laterally outside the sub-volume, the second scanning comprising acoustic energy for destroying contrast agents; predicting a second next location of the region of interest as a function of the tracking; third scanning the sub-volume, the beamforming parameters being set for the second next location for the third scan of the sub-volume, the third scanning comprising acoustic energy for detecting the contrast agents; detecting the contrast agents in response to multiple pulses from the third scanning; repeating the third scanning and detecting a plurality of times during a second physiological cycle; and generating an image representing perfusion over time of the contrast agents in the sub-volume, the image responsive to the detected contrast agents of the repetitions of the third scanning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A system for perfusion imaging of a volume in medical diagnostic ultrasound, the system comprising:
-
a transducer and beamformer configured to scan a volume and a sub-volume, the volume larger than the sub-volume, a first scan of the sub-volume configured to destroy contrast agents in the sub-volume; a detector configured to detect response to the scan of the volume; a processor configured to track a moving region of tissue as a function of time within the volume using the response to the scan of the volume; wherein the beamformer is configured, as a function of the tracking, to perform second scans of the sub-volume at different locations at different times such that the sub-volume includes the moving region of tissue; a contrast agent detector configured to detect contrast agents in response to the second scans of the sub-volume; and a display configured to display an image, the image being a function of the detected contrast agents. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. In a computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for perfusion imaging of a volume in medical diagnostic ultrasound, the storage medium comprising instructions for:
-
tracking tissue motion in three-dimensions of a first volume; adjusting, as a function of the tracking, beam steering to account for the tissue motion, the adjusting being ongoing throughout a physiological cycle; transmitting acoustic energy destructive of contrast agents with the adjusted beam steering; and detecting, after the transmitting of the acoustic energy destructive of the contrasts agents, reperfusion in a second volume over time, the detecting performed with the adjusted beam steering, the second volume being a same volume as the first volume or being based on the tracking of the first volume. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification