Diagnostic ultrasound imaging based on rate subtraction imaging (RSI)
First Claim
1. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal produced as a radio frequency signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, the apparatus comprising:
- a scanning unit configured to transmit the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each scanning direction along the region to be scanned and receiving an echo signal generated from the object in response to each time of transmission of the ultrasound signal in each scanning direction;
a subtracting unit configured to obtain a difference signal by performing subtraction between first and second echo signals each still being the radio frequency signal, the first and second echo signals being from the plurality of echo signals received in response to the transmission of the ultrasound signal in the same scanning direction;
a producing unit configured to produce the difference signal into a first tomographic imageby a rate subtraction imaging technique using first processing conditions and to produce either the first or second echo signal into a second tomographic image using second processing conditions different from the first processing conditions; and
a displaying unit configured to display both the first and second tomographic images at the same time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, an ultrasound pulse signal is transmitted two times in each of the rasters on a region to be scanned. Subtraction between echo signals received at each time of transmission is made to obtain a difference signal. Either one of the echo signals and the difference signal are produced into individual tomographic images, independently of each other. The produced individual tomographic images are displayed with a superposed manner one on the other or parallel-arranged manner. This allows contrast echo imaging to be conducted on a rate subtraction imaging technique. Minute blood flows are depicted distinguishably from tissue surrounding those flows in a steady manner.
45 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal produced as a radio frequency signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, the apparatus comprising:
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a scanning unit configured to transmit the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each scanning direction along the region to be scanned and receiving an echo signal generated from the object in response to each time of transmission of the ultrasound signal in each scanning direction;
a subtracting unit configured to obtain a difference signal by performing subtraction between first and second echo signals each still being the radio frequency signal, the first and second echo signals being from the plurality of echo signals received in response to the transmission of the ultrasound signal in the same scanning direction;
a producing unit configured to produce the difference signal into a first tomographic imageby a rate subtraction imaging technique using first processing conditions and to produce either the first or second echo signal into a second tomographic image using second processing conditions different from the first processing conditions; and
a displaying unit configured to display both the first and second tomographic images at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
the ultrasound signal to be transmitted is formed into the radio frequency signal and the echo signal experiencing the subtraction executed by the subtraction unit is an echoed signal of the radio frequency signal which has yet to be subjected to the detection in the receiver. -
20. The diagnostic ultrasound apparatus of claim 1, wherein scanning unit is configured to successively transmit the ultrasound signal the plurality of times in each scanning direction.
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21. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal produced as a radio frequency signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, the apparatus comprising:
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a scanning unit configured to transmit the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each scanning direction along the region to be scanned and to receive an echo signal generated from the object in response to each time of transmission of the ultrasound signal in each scanning direction;
a subtracting unit configured to obtain a difference signal by performing subtraction between first and second echo signals each still being the radio frequency signal, the first and second echo signals being from the plurality of echo signals received in response to the transmission of the ultrasound signal mt he same scanning direction;
an adding unit configured to obtain an average signal by performing average between the first and second echo signals;
a producing unit configured to produce the difference signal into a first tomographic image by a rate subtraction imaging technique and to produce the average signal into a second tomographic image; and
a displaying unit configured to display both the first and second tomographic images at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
the adding unit has means for performing the addition between the first echo signal received in response to the first transmission of the plurality of times of transmission of the ultrasound signal along each scanning line and the second echo signal received in response to a transmission carried out after the first transmission of the plurality of times of transmission of the ultrasound signal along each scanning line. -
26. The diagnostic ultrasound apparatus of claim 21, wherein scanning unit is configured to successively transmit the ultrasound signal the plurality of times in each scanning direction.
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27. An ultrasound imaging method of obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal produced as a radio frequency signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each scanning direction along the region to be scanned and receiving an echo signal generated from the object in response to each time of transmission of the ultrasound signal in each scanning direction;
obtaining a difference signal by performing subtraction between first and second echo signals each still being the radio frequency signal, the first and second echo signals being from the plurality of echo signals received in response to the transmission of the ultrasound signal in the same scanning direction;
producing the difference signal into a first tomographic image by a rate subtraction imaging technique using first processing conditions and producing either the first or second echo signal into a second tomographic image using second processing conditions different from the first processing conditions; and
displaying both the first and second tomographic images at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An ultrasound imaging method of obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal produced as a radio frequency signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each scanning direction along the region to be scanned and receiving an echo signal generated from the object in response to each time of transmission of the ultrasound signal in each scanning direction;
calculating a difference signal by performing subtraction between first and second echo signals each still being the radio frequency signal and calculating an average signal by performing average between the first and second echo signals, the first and second echo signals being from the plurality of echo signals received in response to the transmission of the ultrasound signal in the same scanning direction;
producing the difference signal into a first tomographic image by a rate subtraction imaging technique and producing the average signal into a second tomographic image; and
displaying both the first and second tomographic images at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal produced as a radio frequency signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, the apparatus comprising:
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an ultrasound probe configured to transmit and receive the ultrasound signal;
a transmitter configured to excite the ultrasound probe responsively to each of a plurality of rate pulses so as to cause the ultrasound probe to output the ultrasound signal;
a receiver configured to delay and add an echo signal received by the ultrasound probe;
a controller configured to cause the transmitter to transmit the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each scanning direction along the region to be scanned and to cause the receiver to receive the echo signal generated from the object in response to each of the plurality of times of transmission of the ultrasound signal in each scanning direction;
a subtracter configured to obtain a difference signal by performing subtraction between first and second echo signals each still being the radio frequency signal, the first and second echo signals being from the plurality of echo signals received in response to the transmission of the ultrasound signal in the same scanning direction;
a producer configured to produce the difference signal into a first tomographic image by a rate subtraction imaging technique using first processing conditions and to produce either the first or second echo signal into a second tomographic image using second processing conditions different from the first processing conditions; and
a display configured to display both the first and second tomographic images at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal produced as a radio frequency signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, the apparatus comprising:
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scanning means for transmitting the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each scanning direction along the region and receiving an echo signal generated from the object in response to each time of transmission of the ultrasound signal in each scanning direction;
subtracting means for obtaining a difference signal by performing subtraction between first and second echo signals each still being the radio frequency signal, the first and second echo signals being from the plurality of echo signals received in response to the transmission of the ultrasound signal in the same scanning direction;
producing means for producing the difference signal into a first tomographic image by a rate subtraction imaging technique using first processing conditions and for producing either the first or second echo signal into a second tomographic image using second processing conditions different from the first processing conditions; and
displaying means for displaying both the first and second tomographic images at the same time.
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38. A diagnostic ultrasound apparatus for obtaining an image of a region to be scanned by scanning an object with a beam-shaped ultrasound signal produced as a radio frequency signal, an ultrasound contrast agent being injected into the object, the apparatus comprising:
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scanning means for transmitting the ultrasound signal a plurality of times in each scanning direction along the region and receiving an echo signal generated from the object in response to each time of transmission of the ultrasound signal in each scanning direction;
subtracting means for obtaining a difference signal by performing subtraction between first and second echo signals each still being the radio frequency signal, the first and second echo signals being from the plurality of echo signals received in response to the transmission of the ultrasound signal in the same scanning direction;
addition means for obtaining an average signal by performing average between the first and second echo signals;
producing mean for producing the difference signal into a first tomographic image by a rate subtraction imaging technique and producing the average signal into a second tomographic image; and
displaying means for displaying both the first and second tomographic images at the same time.
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Specification