Methods and apparatus for ultrasound image quantification
First Claim
1. A method of calculating and displaying a quantitative result, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a first frequency band into a subject during an imaging session, said subject being free of ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session;
(b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy;
(c) obtaining from said echo information a plurality of information signals associated with a second frequency band, said second frequency band comprising harmonics of said first frequency band and substantially excluding said first frequency band;
(d) calculating said quantitative result associated with said information signals;
(e) displaying said quantitative result; and
(f) generating a plurality of images during the imaging session.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations. Finally, a histogram data structure is provided to aid calculation of the various quantities.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of calculating and displaying a quantitative result, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a first frequency band into a subject during an imaging session, said subject being free of ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session; (b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy; (c) obtaining from said echo information a plurality of information signals associated with a second frequency band, said second frequency band comprising harmonics of said first frequency band and substantially excluding said first frequency band; (d) calculating said quantitative result associated with said information signals; (e) displaying said quantitative result; and (f) generating a plurality of images during the imaging session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of calculating and displaying a quantitative result, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a first frequency band into a subject, the subject including contrast agent; (b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy; (c) obtaining from said echo information a plurality of Doppler information signals associated with a second frequency band, said second frequency band comprising harmonics of said first frequency band and substantially excluding said first frequency band, said plurality of Doppler information signals associated with a respective plurality of spatial locations; and (d) calculating said quantitative result associated with at least two of said plurality of Doppler information signals; and (e) displaying said quantitative result. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification