Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging with steered image plane
First Claim
1. A method of ultrasonically imaging with a two-dimensional array transducer a region of interest of a body which may be obstructed from the view of an image plane extending normal to the face of a transducer comprising:
- placing the probe in contact with the body to create an acceptable acoustic window for the probe; and
tilting the image plane from its initial orientation to the face of the transducer to image a region of interest while maintaining the probe stationary with respect to the acoustic window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-dimensional array transducer probe is used to image regions of the body that are acoustically obstructed from conventional view by objects such as the lungs or ribs. The probe is located against the body at an acoustic window which provides acceptable ultrasonic transmissivity between the transducer array and the body. While maintaining the probe at its acoustic window, an image plane location is manipulated by adjusting the beam steering directions. The image plane can be tilted in the elevation direction, moved laterally, and/or rotated about a center axis to position the image plane so that the obstructed anatomy is effectively imaged for diagnosis.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of ultrasonically imaging with a two-dimensional array transducer a region of interest of a body which may be obstructed from the view of an image plane extending normal to the face of a transducer comprising:
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placing the probe in contact with the body to create an acceptable acoustic window for the probe; and
tilting the image plane from its initial orientation to the face of the transducer to image a region of interest while maintaining the probe stationary with respect to the acoustic window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of ultrasonically imaging with a two-dimensional array transducer probe a region of interest of a body which may be obstructed from the view of an image plane which is fixed in a normal orientation to the face of a transducer comprising:
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placing the probe in contact with the body to create an acceptable acoustic window for the probe; and
manipulating the image plane from its initial orientation to the face of the transducer by two or more of the actions of rotating the image plane about an axis, moving the image plane laterally from a center axis, and tilting the image plane in the elevation direction to image the region of interest, wherein manipulating is performed while maintaining the array transducer in a substantially stationary position with respect to the body. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification