Ultrasonic system and method for harmonic imaging in three dimensions

• US 5,924,991 A
• Filed: 08/20/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Hossack, John A., Maslak, Samuel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US09/137,070
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/441, 600/443, 600/447, 600/458, 367/70, 367/126
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8979 Combined Doppler and pulse-echo imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5202 for pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52038 involving non-linear properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52071 Multicolour displays; using colour coding; Optimising colour or information content in displays, e.g. parametric imaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/916 Ultrasound 3-D imaging

Abstract

An ultrasound method and system are provided for producing three dimensional images. During an imaging session, a transducer, in response to a transmit beamformer, transmits ultrasonic energy at a first frequency band into a subject. The subject may be kept free of added ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session. A receive beamformer receives ultrasonic echo information associated with the transmitted ultrasonic energy. Information signals associated with a second frequency band, such as a harmonic frequency band, are obtained from the echo information. A three-dimensional reconstruction is formed or a volume quantity is calculated in response to the information signals. The transmission of ultrasonic energy may also include energy focused along an elongated high power region or a line focus.

Claims

1. A method for calculating a volume quantity with a medical ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a first frequency band into a subject during said imaging session, said subject being free of added ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session;

(b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy;

(c) isolating from said echo information a plurality of information signals associated a second frequency band and a three-dimensional region of the subject, said second frequency band comprising a harmonic band of said fundamental frequency band;

(d) calculating a volume quantity as a function of said information signals; and

(e) displaying the volume quantity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) comprises the steps of (f) determining a region of interest of said image and (g) summing volumes of each volumetric element within said region of interest.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step (f) comprises using automatic border detection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (e) comprises displaying said volume quantity during said imaging session.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (e) comprises displaying said volume quantity after said imaging session.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) comprises determining a time sequence of said volume.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step (d) comprises determining a ratio related to volume change over a heart cycle to a maximum volume over said heart cycle.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step (d) further comprises determining a mean of said ratio as a function of a plurality of heart cycles.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) comprises calculating said quantity from said information signals, said information signals comprising line data.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (d) comprises calculating said quantity from said information signals, said information signals comprising three-dimensional grid data.