Automated ultrasound system for performing imaging studies utilizing ultrasound contrast agents

• US 6,503,203 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Rafter, Patrick G., Beckermann, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/681,129
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/442-458, 600/420, 600/408, 600/431, 736/25, 736/26, 367/7, 367/11, 367/130, 367/138, 324/306
• US Class Current: 600/458
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/585 Automatic set-up of the device
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52038 involving non-linear properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing

Abstract

An ultrasound system that has transmit and receive circuitry that, pursuant to a plurality of image settings, transmits ultrasound signals into a patient, receives echoes from a patient and outputs a signal representative of the echo. Control circuitry is provided that sequentially adjusts the image settings so as to cause the transmit and receive circuitry to have a sequence of imaging configurations during an ultrasound imaging study. A memory may be provided that stores a plurality of state diagrams, each defining a sequence of imaging configurations for a particular imaging study, which are accessible by the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry accesses a selected state diagram to conduct an imaging study. Such a system is particularly useful for imaging studies that utilize contrast agents.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system comprising:

transmit and receive circuitry that, pursuant to a plurality of image settings, transmits ultrasound signals into a patient, receives echoes from a patient and outputs a signal representative of the echo; and

control circuitry that sequentially adjusts the image settings based on a sequence of stored image settings so as to cause the transmit and receive circuitry to have a sequence of imaging configurations during an ultrasound imaging study using contrast agents.

2. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an ECG unit that provide ECG data to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry triggers the obtaining of images based on ECG data.

3. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an IV controller that, under the control of the control circuitry delivers contrast agent to the patient.

4. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the control circuitry controls the IV controller based on the ECG data or the intensity of contrast agent.

5. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory that stores a plurality of state diagrams, each defining a sequence of imaging configurations for a particular imaging study,

accessible by the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry access a selected state diagram to conduct an imaging study.

6. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the control circuitry, responsive to a selected state diagram, sequentially re-configures the transmit and receive circuitry to obtain a sequence of images in accordance with a stress study state diagram.

7. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the control circuitry, responsive to a selected state diagram, sequentially re-configures the transmit and receive circuitry to obtain a sequence of images in accordance with a perfusion study state diagram.

8. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the control circuitry, responsive to a selected state diagram, sequentially re-configures the transmit and receive circuitry to obtain a sequence of images in accordance with a blood flow/volume curve state diagram.

9. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the control circuitry, responsive to a selected state diagram, sequentially re-configures the transmit and receive circuitry to obtain a sequence of images in accordance with a coronary flow reserve study state diagram.

10. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the control circuitry enables a user to adjust certain image settings prior to conducting the ultrasound imaging study and modifies the values provided in the selected state diagram based on the image settings adjusted by the user.

11. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the control circuitry enables a user to adjust an order of the sequence of configurations.

12. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one, but not all, of the imaging configurations are adapted for imaging without contrast agent.

13. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the imaging configurations requires a mode change.

14. A method for conducting an ultrasound imaging study with contrast agent, the method comprising:

allowing the user to select a type of study;

creating state diagrams describing the various image settings for each of a plurality of imaging configurations that the ultrasound system will enter into during different types of studies;

based on the selection of the type of study, retrieving one of the state diagrams that most closely resembles the selected type of study; and

based on the retrieved state diagram, conducting the selected type of study in conjunction with the use of a contrast agent.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

prior to conducting the study, injecting a first bolus of the contrast agent;

subsequent to injecting the first bolus of the contrast agent and prior to conducting the study, allowing the user to adjust image settings of an ultrasound system to produce a satisfactory image; and

adjusting image settings in the retrieved state diagram based on the image settings adjusted by the user.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

prior to conducting the study, allowing the user to adjust the order of the imaging configurations used during the imaging study.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

automatically controlling the injection of contrast agent during the study.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring the patient with an ECG unit; and

controlling the injection of contrast agent based o the output of the ECG unit.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the user further selects a desired output.

20. An ultrasound system comprising:

transmit and receive circuitry that, pursuant to a plurality of image settings, transmits ultrasound signals into a patient, receives echoes from a patient and outputs a signal representative of the echo; and

control means for sequentially adjusting the image settings based on a sequence of stored image settings so as to cause the transmit and receive circuitry to have a sequence of imaging configurations during an ultrasound imaging study using contrast agents.

21. An ultrasound system comprising:

transmit and receive circuitry that, pursuant to a plurality of image settings, transmits ultrasound signals into a patient, receives echoes from a patient and outputs a signal representative of the echo; and

a controller responsive to a hierarchical data structure that sequentially adjusts the image settings based on a sequence of stored image settings so as to cause the transmit and receive circuitry to have a sequence of imaging configurations during an ultrasound imaging study using contrast agents.

22. The ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 21, wherein the hierarchical data structure is organized by a study having at least two stages, each stage having at least one view, wherein each view has at least one state with an associated imaging configuration.

23. The ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the controller permits a user to adjust the order of stages, the order of views within each stage and at least some of the image settings for the states associated with each view.

24. A data structure for an ultrasound system for controlling the ultrasound system during a study utilizing contrast agents, the data structure describing a plurality of stages for the study, each stage having associated views and each view having associated states describing image settings for the ultrasound system that configure the ultrasound system for a specific portion of the study.

25. An ultrasound system comprising:

transmit and receive circuitry that, pursuant to a plurality of image settings, transmits ultrasound signals into a patient, receives echoes from a patient and outputs a signal representative of the echo;

control circuitry that sequentially adjusts the image settings so as to cause said transmit and receive circuitry to have a sequence of imaging configurations during an ultrasound imaging study using contrast agents; and

a memory that stores a plurality of state diagrams, each of said state diagrams defining a sequence of imaging configurations for a particular imaging study, accessible by said control circuitry, wherein said control circuitry accesses a selected state diagram to conduct the imaging study;

said control circuitry being arranged to enable a user to adjust certain image settings prior to conducting the imaging study and to modify the values provided in the selected state diagram based on the image settings adjusted by the user.

26. A method for conducting an ultrasound imaging study with contrast agent, the method comprising:

allowing the user to select a type of study;

based on the selection of the type of study, retrieving a state diagram that most closely resembles the selected type of study, the state diagram describing the various image settings for each of a plurality of imaging configurations that the ultrasound system will enter into during the imaging study;

based on the retrieved state diagram, conducting the selected type of study in conjunction with the use of a contrast agent;

prior to conducting the study, injecting a first bolus of the contrast agent;

subsequent to injecting the first bolus of the contrast agent and prior to conducting the study, allowing the user to adjust image settings of an ultrasound system to produce a satisfactory image; and

adjusting image settings in the retrieved state diagram based on the image settings adjusted by the user.

27. An ultrasound system comprising:

transmit and receive circuitry that, pursuant to a plurality of image settings, transmits ultrasound signals into a patient, receives echoes from a patient and outputs a signal representative of the echo; and

a controller responsive to a hierarchical data structure that sequentially adjusts the image settings so as to cause said transmit and receive circuitry to have a sequence of imaging configurations during an ultrasound imaging study using contrast agents;

said hierarchical data structure being organized by a study having at least two stages, each stage having at least one view, each view having at least one state with an associated imaging configuration;

said controller being arranged to permit a user to adjust the order of stages, the order of views within each stage and at least some of the image settings for the states associated with each view.