Ultrasound imaging enhancement methods and systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for ultrasonically imaging comprising the following steps:
- (a) generating a Doppler image signal representative of an imaged region;
(b) generating a B-mode image signal representative of the imaged region; and
(c) generating individual display indicia representative of the imaged region as a modulated, non-linear function of both the Doppler and B-mode image signals.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic imaging system generates Doppler and B-mode image signals, and then uses a modulated, non-linear mapping function to combine the Doppler and B-mode image signals into an output signal. In another mode of operation the imaging system generates fundamental and harmonic frequency intensity values and maps these intensity values to display indicia, preferably with a modulated, non-linear mapping function.
85 Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method for ultrasonically imaging comprising the following steps:
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(a) generating a Doppler image signal representative of an imaged region; (b) generating a B-mode image signal representative of the imaged region; and (c) generating individual display indicia representative of the imaged region as a modulated, non-linear function of both the Doppler and B-mode image signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ultrasonic imaging system comprising:
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a first processor operative to generate a Doppler image signal representative of an imaged region; a second processor operative to generate a B-mode image signal representative of the imaged region; and a generator responsive to the first and second processors, said generator generating individual display indicia representative of the imaged region as a modulated, non-linear function of both the Doppler image signal and the B-mode image signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 59)
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28. In a method for ultrasonically imaging a target comprising the step of transmitting ultrasonic energy into a tissue at a fundamental frequency, the improvement comprising:
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(a) generating a fundamental frequency intensity value in response to reflections from the tissue; (b) generating a harmonic frequency intensity value in response to reflections from the tissue; and (c) generating individual display indicia as a function of both the fundamental and harmonic frequency intensity values. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. In an ultrasonic imaging system for simultaneously displaying both fundamental and harmonic frequency information, said system comprising:
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a first processor operative to generate fundamental frequency intensity values; a second processor operative to generate harmonic frequency intensity values; an image plane memory operative to store said intensity values; a mapping device coupled to the image plane memory for generating individual display indicia as a function of both the fundamental and harmonic frequency intensity values; and a display responsive to the display indicia. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53)
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54. In a method for ultrasonically imaging a target comprising the step of transmitting ultrasonic energy into a tissue at a fundamental frequency, the improvement comprising:
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(a) generating a harmonic frequency information signal in response to reflections from the tissue; (b) generating a fundamental frequency information signal in response to reflections from the tissue; (c) combining the harmonic frequency information signal and the fundamental frequency information signal through a mapping function to form individual display indicia of an imaging signal for display. - View Dependent Claims (52, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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60. A method for ultrasonically imaging a target comprising the following steps:
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(a) applying energy at fundamental frequencies to a transducer; (b) acquiring harmonic signals responsive to harmonic frequencies different than the fundamental frequencies; (c) acquiring fundamental signals responsive to the fundamental frequencies; (d) combining the harmonic and fundamental signals to form individual display indicia of an output signal; and (e) generating an image responsive to step (d). - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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61. In a method for ultrasonically imaging a target comprising the step of transmitting ultrasonic energy into a tissue at a fundamental frequency, the improvement comprising:
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(a) isolating harmonic information and fundamental information from reflections from the tissue; (b) processing harmonic signals responsive to the harmonic information; (c) processing fundamental signals responsive to the fundamental information; (d) combining the harmonic and fundamental signals to form individual display indicia of an output signal; and (e) generating an image responsive to step (d).
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Specification