Medical diagnostic ultrasound system and method for automated triggered intervals

• US 6,210,333 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Sponheim, Nils, Krishnan, Sriram, Gardner, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/416,041
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 600/440, 600/437, 600/441, 600/443, 600/447, 600/449, 600/450, 600/458, 606/194
• US Class Current: 600/450
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/481 involving the use of contrast agent, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream analysis of echo signal exploiting properties of a contrast enhancer in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52039
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal

Abstract

A region of interest in the body is imaged using at least two different trigger intervals between images. Imaging automatically switches from one trigger interval to another in response to a user command, such as depressing a button. This automation avoids cumbersome manual changes of the trigger intervals. Perfusion is measured in a shorter time in this way, reducing the effects of breathing and transducer movement. Variation of the trigger intervals allows for a convenient determination of perfusion. For example, the trigger intervals are varied from one heart cycle to two heart cycles and then to other integer numbers of heart cycles.

Claims

1. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system for triggering to determine perfusion in a body, the system comprises:

a periodic signal source generator;

a triggering device responsive to the periodic signal source generator and being operable to provide trigger signals;

a transmitter for transmitting pulses in response to the trigger signals; and

a user interface operable to receive triggering input and operable to receive input for pre-programming first and second pre-determined intervals, the second pre-determined interval different than the first pre-determined interval;

wherein the triggering device automatically switches from the first pre-determined interval between trigger signals to the second pre-determined interval in response to the triggering input.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the periodic signal source generator is an ECG signal generator.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first and second pre-determined intervals are respective functions of integer numbers of heart cycles.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the first and second pre-determined intervals vary by increasing the number of heart cycles between the trigger signals.

5. The system of claim 4 comprising at least a third pre-determined interval different than the first and second pre-determined intervals.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the triggering device is operable to provide trigger signals separated by the first pre-determined interval during a first sequence, automatically switch to provide trigger signals separated by the second pre-determined interval during a second sequence, and automatically switch to provide trigger signals separated by the third pre-determined interval during a third sequence, wherein the first, second and third sequences comprise a single imaging session.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the triggering device switches between the first, second and third sequences in response to user input.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the first, second and third predetermined intervals comprise one, two and four heart cycles, respectively.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the periodic signal source generator is a system clock or timer.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least two of the first and second pre-determined intervals vary by a positive increment.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to transmit pulses for location imaging in addition to the pulses responsive to the trigger signals.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the triggering input comprises a signal generated in response to depression of a button.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a processor operable to estimate perfusion.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a receive beamformer for receiving echo signals in response to the transmitted pulses.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for storing acoustic data responsive to the echo signals.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for comparing stored acoustic data obtained in response to different pre-determined triggering intervals.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a display of comparison results.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising a simultaneous display of at least first and second images based on scan converted stored acoustic data and each responsive to a different one of the first and second pre-determined intervals.

19. A method for triggering transmission to determine perfusion in a body during an imaging session with a medical diagnostic ultrasound system, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) providing a periodic signal;

(b) generating trigger signals responsive to the periodic signal;

(c) transmitting acoustic pulses in response to the trigger signals;

(d) inputting triggering control information from a user interface during the imaging session;

(e) automatically switching from a first pre-determined interval between trigger signals to a second different, pre-determined interval in response to the triggering control information; and

(f) pre-programming the first and second intervals in response to user input.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein act (a) comprises inputting an ECG signal.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first and second pre-determined intervals are respective functions of integer numbers of heart cycles.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the second pre-determined intervals differs from the first pre-determined interval by an increase in the number of heart cycles between the trigger signals.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein act (a) comprises providing a system clock or timer.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the first and second pre-determined intervals vary by a positive increment.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

(g) automatically switching from the second pre-determined interval to a third pre-determined interval different than the first and second pre-determined intervals.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein act (b) comprises generating trigger signals separated by the first pre-determined interval during a first sequence, separated by the second pre-determined interval during a second sequence, and separated by the third pre-determined interval during a third sequence, wherein the first, second and third sequences comprise a single imaging session.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein act (e) comprises automatically switching between the second and third sequences in response to user control information.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the first, second and third predetermined intervals comprise one, two and four heart cycles, respectively.

29. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

(g) transmitting pulses for location imaging in addition to (c).

30. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

(g) estimating a perfusion parameter.

31. The method of claim 19 wherein act (d) comprises depressing a button.

32. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

(g) storing acoustic data responsive to the transmitted pulses; and

(h) comparing stored acoustic data obtained in response to different pre-determined triggering intervals.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising a display of comparison results.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein act (h) comprises simultaneously displaying at least first and second images based on scan converted stored acoustic data and each responsive to a different one of the first and second pre-determined intervals.

35. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system for transmitting pulses to determine perfusion in a body during an imaging session, the system comprising:

an ECG signal source;

a triggering device responsive to the ECG signal source and being operable to provide trigger signals; and

a transmitter for transmitting pulses in response to the trigger signals;

wherein, during the imaging session, the triggering device automatically switches from a first pre-determined integer heart cycle interval between trigger signals to a second pre-determined integer heart cycle interval, one of the first and second pre-determined integer heart cycle intervals corresponding to a greater number of heart cycles than the other of the first and second pre-determined integer heart cycle interval.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising at least a third pre-determined integer heart cycle interval different than the first and second pre-determined intervals.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the triggering device is operable to provide trigger signals separated by the first pre-determined interval during a first sequence, automatically switch to provide trigger signals separated by the second pre-determined interval during a second sequence, and automatically switch to provide trigger signals separated by the third pre-determined interval during a third sequence, wherein the first, second and third sequences comprise a single imaging session.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the triggering device switches between the first, second and third sequences in response to user triggering control input.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the triggering control input comprises a signal generated in response to depression of a button.

40. The system of claim 36 wherein the first, second and third predetermined intervals comprise one, two and four heart cycles, respectively.

41. The system of claim 35 wherein the first and second pre-determined intervals are pre-programmed.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein a user-interface is operable to receive input for pre-programming the first and second pre-determined intervals.

43. The system of claim 35 further comprising:

a receive beamformer for receiving echo signals in response to the transmitted pulses;

a means for storing acoustic data responsive to the echo signals; and

a means for comparing stored acoustic data obtained in response to different pre-determined triggering intervals.

44. The system of claim 43 further comprising a display of comparison results.

45. The system of claim 43 further comprising a simultaneous display of at least first and second images based on scan converted stored acoustic data and each responsive to a different one of the first and second pre-determined intervals.

46. The system of claim 35 wherein the transmitter is operable to transmit pulses adapted to minimize destruction of contrast agent between the trigger signals.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the adaptation comprises transmitting pulses with a lower power than the pulses responsive to the trigger signals.

48. A method for transmitting pulses to determine perfusion in a body during an imaging session with a medical diagnostic ultrasound system, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) providing an ECG signal;

(b) generating trigger signals in responsive to the ECG signal;

(c) transmitting pulses in response to the trigger signals; and

(d) during the imaging session, automatically switching from a first pre-determined integer heart cycle interval between trigger signals to a second pre-determined integer heart cycle interval, one of the first and second pre-determined integer heart cycle intervals being a greater number of heart cycles than the other of the first and second pre-determined integer heart cycle interval.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

(e) automatically switching from the second pre-determined interval to a third pre-determined integer heart cycle interval different than the first and second pre-determined intervals.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein act (b) comprises generating trigger signals separated by the first pre-determined interval during a first sequence, separated by the second pre-determined interval during a second sequence, and separated by the third pre-determined interval during a third sequence, wherein the first, second and third sequences comprise a single imaging session.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein act (d) comprises switching between the first, second and third sequences in response to user triggering control input.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising:

(e) depressing a button, wherein the user triggering control input is response to the depression of the button.

53. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

(e) receiving echo signals in response to the transmitted pulses;

(f) storing acoustic data responsive to the echo signals; and

(g) comparing stored acoustic data obtained in response to different pre-determined triggering intervals.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein act (g) comprises displaying the comparison results.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein act (g) comprises simultaneously displaying at least first and second images based on scan converted stored acoustic data and each responsive to a different one of the first and second pre-determined intervals.

56. The method of claim 49 wherein the first, second and third predetermined intervals comprise one, two and four heart cycles, respectively.

57. The method of claim 48 wherein the first and second pre-determined intervals are pre-programmed.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

(e) pre-programming the first and second pre-determined intervals with a user interface.

59. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

(e) transmitting pulses adapted to minimize destruction of contrast agent.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein (e) comprises transmitting pulses with a lower power than the pulses of (c).