Ultrasound imaging systems and methods of increasing the effective acquisition frame rate

• US 5,976,088 A
• Filed: 03/04/1999
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecton, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Ecton, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Randall, Kevin S., Urbano, Joseph A., Knell, Christopher B., Wood, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/262,568
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/440, 600/442, 600/443, 600/447, 600/450, 600/454, 600/458
• 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 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• 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 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52034 Data rate converters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52063 Sector scan display
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52066 Time-position or time-motion displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52085 Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52088 involving retrospective scan line rearrangements medical diagnostic ultrasound devices involving retrospective matching to a physiological signal A61B8/5284

Abstract

Ultrasound imaging data obtained from anatomic structures which have periodic physiologic motion that define successive physiologic cycles is packaged into image loops. Each image loop includes frame data representing a plurality of image frames acquired at spaced time intervals within a physiologic cycle. The image loops may be transmitted to a remote location for playback in real-time or pseudo real-time. Also provided is a scheme for increasing the effective acquisition frame rate in a medical ultrasound imaging system which acquires imaging data of an anatomic structure having periodic physiologic motion that defines successive physiologic cycles.

Claims

1. An image frame memory for storing ultrasound image frame data obtained from an anatomic structure having periodic physiological motion, the motion defining successive physiologic cycles, the memory storing the image frame data as a plurality of image loops, each image loop including frame data representing a plurality of image frames acquired at spaced time intervals within a physiologic cycle.

2. An image frame memory for storing ultrasound image frame data obtained from an anatomic structure having periodic physiological motion, the motion defining successive physiologic cycles, the memory storing the image frame data as a plurality of image loops, each image loop comprising:

(a) a loop header including a loop identification number; and

(b) a plurality of frame packets, each frame packet including a frame header including a frame number within the image loop, and frame data representing one image frame acquired at a spaced interval within the physiologic cycle.

3. A method of communicating ultrasound imaging data acquired by medical ultrasound imaging equipment from a first location to a second location, the imaging data being acquired from an anatomic structure having periodic physiological motion, the motion defining successive physiologic cycles, the method comprising:

(a) formatting the imaging data as a plurality of image loops, each image loop including image frame data representing a plurality of image frames acquired at spaced time intervals within a physiologic cycle; and

(b) communicating the image loops from the first location to the second location via a transmission medium.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first location includes a memory having (i) a first buffer, and (ii) a second buffer, the first and second buffers of the first location alternately functioning as a capture buffer and a transmit buffer in an opposite manner with respect to each other, and the second location includes a memory having (i) a third buffer, and (ii) a fourth buffer, the third and fourth buffers of the second location alternately functioning as a receive buffer and a display buffer in an opposite manner with respect to each other, wherein steps (a) and (b) further comprise:

(i) storing the image loop data in the first buffer as it is being acquired, the first buffer repeatedly overwriting its stored image loop data with new image loop data for each successive physiologic cycle,

(iii) communicating the image loop in the first buffer to the third buffer via the transmission medium when a new image loop is collected in the first buffer and when the second buffer completes the communication of its currently stored image loop, the first and second buffers thereby switching functions upon completion of the communication by the first buffer,

(iv) outputting the image loop in the third buffer to an image display at the second location when the third buffer receives the entire image loop from the first buffer, the image loop currently in the fourth buffer being repeatedly displayed until it is overwritten with the next complete image loop received from the first or the second buffer, the third and the fourth buffers thereby switching functions upon receipt of a new image loop from the first or second memory,

the imaging data thereby being displayed in real-time whenever the bandwidth of the transmission medium is sufficient to allow step (iv) to always be completed in a time period which does not exceed one physiologic cycle, the imaging data being displayed in pseudo real-time whenever the bandwidth of the transmission medium is insufficient to allow step (iv) to be completed in a time period which does not exceed one physiologic cycle.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the first location includes a memory having (i) a capture buffer, and (ii) a transmit buffer, and the second location includes a memory having (i) a receive buffer, and (ii) a display buffer, wherein steps (a) and (b) further comprise:

(i) storing the imaging data in the capture buffer as it is being acquired, the capture buffer repeatedly overwriting its stored imaging data with new imaging data for each successive physiologic cycle,

(ii) transferring the imaging data in the capture buffer to the transmit buffer when a complete image loop of imaging data is collected in the capture buffer and when the transmit buffer becomes ready to receive a new image loop,

(iii) communicating the image loop in the transmit buffer to the receive buffer via the transmission medium, the transmit buffer becoming ready to receive its new image loop from the capture buffer upon completion of the communication,

(iv) transferring the image loop in the receive buffer to the display buffer when a complete image loop of imaging data is collected in the receive buffer; and

(v) outputting the image loop in the display buffer to an image display at the second location for viewing the acquired imaging data, the image loop currently in the display buffer being repeatedly displayed until it is overwritten with the next complete image loop transferred from the receive buffer,

the imaging data thereby being displayed in real-time whenever the bandwidth of the transmission medium is sufficient to allow step (iv) to always be completed in a time period which does not exceed one physiologic cycle, the imaging data being displayed in pseudo real-time whenever the bandwidth of the transmission medium is insufficient to allow step (iv) to be completed in a time period which does not exceed one physiologic cycle.

6. A method of increasing the effective acquisition frame rate in a medical ultrasound imaging system which acquires imaging data of an anatomic structure having periodic physiological motion, the motion defining successive physiologic cycles, the method comprising:

(a) monitoring a cyclical physiological parameter associated with the physiologic cycle, and obtaining a signal upon the occurrence of a predetermined event in the physiologic cycle;

(b) using an image frame acquisition device to acquire imaging data at a fixed acquisition frame rate, the acquisition device processing echoes produced from transmission of ultrasound energy into a subject'"'"'s body, the acquisition device producing at least a first and a second series of image frames for each physiologic cycle, each image frame comprising data representing an image of a portion of the subject'"'"'s body taken at a known time with respect to the predetermined event;

(c) acquiring the second series of image frames at times between the acquisition of the first series of image frames in an alternating manner by using the signal obtained upon the occurrence of a predetermined event in the physiologic cycle to time the image data acquisition; and

(d) filtering successive image frames obtained at the same point in time within each physiologic cycle using a filter, the filter being applied to each image frame within the current physiologic cycle, thereby deriving full motion image data, wherein the filter treats the second series of image frames as being located at the same points in time as their respective adjacent first series of image frames, the resultant full motion image data having a higher effective acquisition frame rate than the fixed acquisition frame rate of the acquisition device.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the physiologic cycle is the heart cycle, and the predetermined event in the physiologic cycle is the QRS trigger, the first and second series of image frames thereby being taken at different known times with respect to the QRS trigger.

8. An apparatus for increasing the effective acquisition frame rate in a medical ultrasound imaging system which acquires imaging data of an anatomic structure having periodic physiological motion, the motion defining successive physiologic cycles, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a physiological monitor for monitoring a cyclical physiological parameter associated with the physiologic cycle, and for outputting a signal upon the occurrence of a predetermined event in the physiologic cycle;

(b) an image frame acquisition device which acquires imaging data at a fixed acquisition frame rate, the acquisition device having a processor for processing echoes produced from transmission of ultrasound energy into a subject'"'"'s body, the acquisition device producing at least a first and a second series of image frames for each physiologic cycle, each image frame comprising data representing an image of a portion of the subject'"'"'s body taken at a known time with respect to the predetermined event;

(c) a controller for the image frame acquisition device connected to the physiological monitor for causing the second series of image frames to be acquired at times between the acquisition of the first series of image frames in an alternating manner; and

(d) a filter for filtering successive image frames obtained at the same point in time within each physiologic cycle, the filter being applied to each image frame within the current physiologic cycle, thereby deriving full motion image data, wherein the filter treats the second series of image frames as being located at the same points in time as their respective adjacent first series of image frames, the resultant full motion image data having a higher effective acquisition frame rate than the fixed acquisition frame rate of the acquisition device.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the physiologic cycle is the heart cycle, and the predetermined event in the physiologic cycle is the QRS trigger, the first and second series of image frames thereby being taken at different known times with respect to the QRS trigger.