Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging with contrast agents
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic diagnostic system for the coherent detection of ultrasonic contrast agents comprising:
- an ultrasonic transducer probe for transmitting ultrasonic pulses into a body infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent and receiving ultrasonic echo signals following a pulse transmission;
a beamformer for forming coherent echo signals;
means for differentiating coherent echo signals received from two pulse transmissions;
means for detecting differentiated coherent echo signals; and
a display for displaying detected differentiated signals emanating from said ultrasonic contrast agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for the detection and imaging of ultrasonic contrast agents. Ultrasonic apparatus is provided for coherent imaging of ultrasonic contrast agents, and for detecting harmonic contrast agents. The inventive apparatus includes a dual display for simultaneously viewing a real time image which displays the location of the contrast agent and a triggered contrast image. Methods of contrast agent detection and imaging include the measurement of perfusion rate characteristics, multizone contrast imaging, multifrequency contrast imaging, tissue perfusion display, and high PRF contrast image artifact elimination.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic diagnostic system for the coherent detection of ultrasonic contrast agents comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer probe for transmitting ultrasonic pulses into a body infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent and receiving ultrasonic echo signals following a pulse transmission; a beamformer for forming coherent echo signals; means for differentiating coherent echo signals received from two pulse transmissions; means for detecting differentiated coherent echo signals; and a display for displaying detected differentiated signals emanating from said ultrasonic contrast agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An ultrasonic diagnostic system for the detection of a harmonic response of material inside the body comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer probe for transmitting ultrasonic pulses at a first frequency into the body and receiving harmonic ultrasonic echo signals following a pulse transmission; a receiver for receiving harmonic signals emanating from material inside the body; a programmable filter which filters said received harmonic signals with a passband excluding said first frequency and including a harmonic of said first frequency; and a harmonic signal detector for detecting said received harmonic signals; and a display for displaying received harmonic signals. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 31, 32)
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13. A method for ultrasonically detecting the perfusion rate of tissue by ultrasonic contrast agents comprising the steps of:
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introducing an ultrasonic contrast agent of microbubbles into the tissue so as to perfuse said tissue; transmitting an ultrasonic pulse which destroys microbubbles in said tissue; and following the destruction of said microbubbles by a time interval, ultrasonically measuring the rate of microbubble reperfusion of said tissue during said time interval. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of ultrasonically imaging tissue whose perfusion has been enhanced with an ultrasonic contrast agent in the presence of a blood pool containing contrast agent comprising the steps of:
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insonifying said perfused tissue and blood pool; receiving echoes returned from ultrasonic contrast agent in said perfused tissue and blood pool; processing said received echoes for display by displaying greater intensity echoes with a lesser brightness or color intensity than echoes of lesser intensity, whereby said perfused tissue is highlighted in the display relative to said blood pool.
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20. A method of ultrasonically detecting a microbubble contrast agent in the presence of undesired tissue echoes comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first ultrasonic pulse into the body which causes a first response from said microbubbles; receiving a desired microbubble response to said first ultrasonic pulse; transmitting a second ultrasonic pulse into the body which causes a second response from said microbubbles receiving a desired microbubble response to said second ultrasonic response and an undesired tissue echo response to said first ultrasonic pulse; processing said received microbubble responses by incoherent detection, whereby said desired microbubble echoes and said undesired tissue echo exhibit different response characteristics; and eliminating said undesired tissue echo by means of said different response characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An ultrasonic diagnostic system for the detection and display of ultrasonic contrast agents within the body comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer probe for transmitting ultrasonic pulses into a body infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent and receiving ultrasonic echo signals following a pulse transmission, including means for transmitting high and low energy ultrasonic pulses; a trigger circuit responsive to a physiological function for triggering high energy ultrasonic pulse transmission; a contrast signal processor for processing echoes received in response to high energy pulse transmission; a B mode signal processor for processing echoes received in response to low energy pulse transmission; and a display for displaying simultaneous real time B mode images and triggered contrast agent images. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. An ultrasonic diagnostic system for the detection and display of ultrasonic contrast agents within the body comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer probe for transmitting ultrasonic pulses into a body infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent and receiving ultrasonic echo signals following a pulse transmission, including means for transmitting high and low energy ultrasonic pulses; a trigger circuit for periodically triggering high energy ultrasonic pulse transmission; a contrast signal processor for processing echoes received in response to high energy pulse transmission; a Doppler processor for processing Doppler echoes received by said transducer probe; a B mode signal processor for processing echoes received in response to low energy pulse transmission; and a display for displaying real time B mode images containing color Doppler image information and periodically containing contrast agent image information. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification