Diagnostic ultrasound imaging using contrast medium
First Claim
1. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus using an ultrasound pulse signal transmitted into a subject to be diagnosed in a transmitting condition, the apparatus comprising:
- means for transmitting an ultrasound pulse signal, a plurality of times, into the subject as the transmitting condition is controlled to have different amounts of transmission power;
means for receiving, at each time of the transmission, from the subject, an echoed component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal to produce a reception signal; and
means for determining an optimum amount of the transmission power defined by the transmitting condition based on the reception signal produced at each time of the transmission.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound contrast medium which substantially consist of microbubbles is injected into a patient and contrast echo imaging is performed by a diagnostic ultrasound apparatus. In the apparatus, an ultrasound pulse signal is transmitted toward the patient'"'"'s diagnostic region on the basis of a changeable transmitted sound pressure, an echoed component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal is received to produce a corresponding reception signal, a tomographic image using the reception signal is produced, and the transmitted sound pressure is optimized so as to maximize a value of the reception signal. The transmitted sound pressure is a representative of the transmission power condition. For example, the transmitted sound pressure optimized is displayed. The transmitted sound pressure is, by way of example, optimized based on the reception signal corresponding to the echoed component emanating from an overall region of interest in a cross section scanned by the ultrasound pulse signal.
51 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus using an ultrasound pulse signal transmitted into a subject to be diagnosed in a transmitting condition, the apparatus comprising:
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means for transmitting an ultrasound pulse signal, a plurality of times, into the subject as the transmitting condition is controlled to have different amounts of transmission power; means for receiving, at each time of the transmission, from the subject, an echoed component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal to produce a reception signal; and means for determining an optimum amount of the transmission power defined by the transmitting condition based on the reception signal produced at each time of the transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus using an ultrasound pulse signal transmitted into a subject to be diagnosed in a transmitting condition, an ultrasound contrast medium being injected into the subject, the apparatus comprising:
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means for transmitting the ultrasound pulse signal a plurality of times, into the subject as the transmitting condition is controlled to have different amounts of transmission power; means for receiving, at each time of the transmission, from the subject, an echoed component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal to produce a reception signal; means for determining an optimum amount of the transmission power based on the reception signal produced at each time of the transmission; means for controlling the transmitting condition so as to raise an amount of the transmission power from the optimum amount and then to restore the raised amount to the optimum amount; and means for measuring data indicative of a time intensity curve (TIC) of the reception signal after the amount of the transmission power has been restored to the optimum amount. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus using an ultrasound pulse signal transmitted into a subject to be diagnosed, comprising:
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means for transmitting the ultrasound pulse signal into a same portion of the subject at a transmission frame rate; means for changing the transmission frame rate time-sequentially in a same imaging mode; means for receiving, from the subject, an echoed component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal to produce a reception signal; and means for producing a plurality of frames of tomographic images for the same portion of the subject using the reception signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of diagnosing a subject using an ultrasound pulse signal transmitted into the subject under a transmitting condition, wherein an echo component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal is received to produce a reception signal, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining the reception signal as the transmitting condition is controlled to have different amounts of transmission power; and determining an optimum amount of the transmission power defined by the transmitting condition on the obtained reception signal.
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23. A method of diagnosing a subject using an ultrasound pulse signal transmitted into the subject under a transmitting condition, an ultrasound contrast medium being injected into the subject, wherein an echo component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal is received to produce a reception signal, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining the reception signal as the transmitting condition is controlled to have different amounts of transmission power; determining an optimum amount of the transmission power defined by the transmitting condition on the obtained reception signal; controlling the transmitting condition so as to raise an amount of the transmission power from the optimum amount and then restore the raised amount to the optimum amount; obtaining the reception signal after the restoration of the transmission power to the optimum amount; and measuring data indicative of a time intensity curve (TIC) on the reception signal obtained after the restoration of the transmission power to the optimum amount.
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24. A method of diagnosing a subject using an ultrasound pulse, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the ultrasound pulse signal into a same portion of the subject at a transmission frame rate changed time-sequentially in a same imaging mode; receiving, from the subject, an echoed component of the transmitted ultrasound pulse signal to produce a reception signal; and producing a plurality of frames of tomographic images at the same portion of the subject using the reception signal.
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Specification