Ultrasonic imaging system and method for displaying tissue perfusion and other parameters varying with time

• US 6,692,438 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• 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: Powers, Jeffry E., Skyba, Danny M., Dolimier, Damien
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jain, Ruby
• Application Number:
  US10/025,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 600/440, 600/438, 600/458, 600/443, 600/437
• US Class Current: 600/440
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/065 to determine blood output from the heart in general A61B5/029
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0883 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• 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: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52038 involving non-linear properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target

Abstract

A method and system for displaying a parametric image showing tissue perfusion includes an ultrasonic imaging system coupled to an ECG device. The ECG device triggers the imaging system to obtain contrast image data showing tissue perfusion at a respective predetermined time during each of a plurality of heartbeats. Parametric image data for discrete locations in the area of interest such as the myocardium is determined from the temporal contrast data acquired during reperfusion of the tissue in the area of interest. The parameters are mapped to a display value such as color to produce a parametric perfusion ultrasound image. Sequences of images may be produced which depict both perfusion characteristics and dynamic wall motion of the myocardium in a common image sequence.

Claims

1. A method of providing a parametric ultrasound image of perfusion in a region of interest, comprising:

perfusing the region of interest with a contrast agent;

acquiring temporal ultrasonic echo information over a period of time as the region of interest is perfused with the contrast agent;

identifying temporal echo information corresponding to the acquired temporal ultrasonic echo information at common locations in the region of interest;

calculating a perfusion parameter from the identified temporal information at each common location; and

producing a two or three dimensional image of the region of interest in which locations in the region of interest are depicted by the calculated perfusion parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of acquiring comprises flashing the region of interest with high MI ultrasound energy, then acquiring temporal ultrasonic echo information over a period of time with low MI ultrasound energy.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of acquiring comprises acquiring ultrasonic echo information at periodically triggered intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of acquiring comprises acquiring a real time sequence of ultrasonic image information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of acquiring comprises selecting image information from the real time sequence which relates to a specific phase of bodily activity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of producing comprises mapping perfusion parameters to a range of display parameters.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the act of producing comprises mapping perfusion parameters to a range of display colors.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of producing comprises producing a sequence of two or three dimensional parametric images.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the region of interest comprises the myocardium, wherein producing comprises producing a sequence of parametric images for different phases of a heart cycle,

wherein the sequence of parametric images depicts both cardiac perfusion characteristics and wall motion.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying further comprises identifying the region of interest by automated border detection.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a perfusion parameter further comprises fitting a curve to the identified temporal information at each common location and utilizing a characteristic of the curve to calculate the perfusion parameter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of calculating a perfusion parameter comprises calculating a perfusion parameter for display from at least two other perfusion parameters.

13. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for generating a parametric ultrasonic image of perfusion of blood in tissue in a region of interest, the system comprising:

a scanhead having an array transducer for scanning a region of interest;

a beamformer coupled to selectively apply transmit signals of high and low intensity to the transducer and to receive echo signals from the transducer and to generate output signals corresponding thereto;

a contrast signal detector which acts to identify contrast echo signals;

a processor coupled to the contrast signal detector and responsive to temporal sequences of contrast echo signals from discrete locations in the region of interest, the processor being operable to develop perfusion parameters relating to the temporal sequences at the discrete locations; and

a video processor receiving the perfusion parameters and producing image data in which the perfusion parameters are spatially represented.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the temporal sequences are real time image sequences.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising a sensor which senses a cyclical bodily function, wherein the temporal sequences are triggered sequences in synchronism with the cyclical bodily function.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the temporal sequences are acquired in response to low intensity transmit signals and following an interval of high intensity transmit signals.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the video processor further comprises an automated border detection processor which acts to delineate the region of interest in an ultrasound image.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the video processor comprises an image processor responsive to the perfusion parameters which acts to map the perfusion parameter values to a display variable.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further operable to determine perfusion parameters by fitting temporal contrast echo signals to perfusion curves.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the sensor comprises a heart cycle sensor, and wherein the video processor acts to produce a sequence of perfusion parametric images relating to phases of a heart cycle.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the region of interest comprises a volumetric region, and wherein the video processor acts to produce image data for a three dimensional region.

22. A method of providing a parametric ultrasound image of perfusion in a region of interest, comprising:

perfusing the region of interest with a contrast agent;

acquiring temporal ultrasonic echo information over a period of time as the region of interest is perfused with the contrast agent;

identifying temporal echo information corresponding to common locations in the region of interest by identifying the region of interest using automated border detection;

calculating a perfusion parameter from the identified temporal information at each common location; and

producing a two or three dimensional image of the region of interest in which locations in the region of interest are depicted by the calculated perfusion parameters.

23. A method of providing a parametric ultrasound image of perfusion in a region of interest, comprising:

perfusing the region of interest with a contrast agent;

acquiring temporal ultrasonic echo information over a period of time as the region of interest is perfused with the contrast agent;

identifying temporal echo information corresponding to common locations in the region of interest;

calculating a perfusion parameter from the identified temporal information at each common location by fitting a curve to the identified temporal information at each common location and utilizing a characteristic of the curve to calculate the perfusion parameter; and

producing a two or three dimensional image of the region of interest in which locations in the region of interest are depicted by the calculated perfusion parameters.

24. An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for generating a parametric ultrasonic image of perfusion of blood in tissue in a region of interest, the system comprising:

a scanhead having an array transducer for scanning a region of interest;

a beamformer coupled to selectively apply transmit signals of high and low intensity to the transducer and to receive echo signals from the transducer and to generate output signals corresponding thereto;

a contrast signal detector which acts to identify contrast echo signals;

a processor coupled to the contrast signal detector and responsive to temporal sequences of contrast echo signals from discrete locations in the region of interest, the processor being operable to develop perfusion parameters relating to the discrete locations; and

a video processor receiving the perfusion parameters and producing image data in which the perfusion parameters are spatially represented, the video processor including an automated border detection processor which acts to delineate the region of interest in an ultrasound image.