Elevation beam pattern variation for ultrasound imaging

• US 7,097,619 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Freiburger, Paul D., Von Behren, Patrick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US10/403,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20040044284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/440, 600/441, 600/443, 600/447, 600/458, 128/916
• US Class Current: 600/447
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8925 the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8995 Combining images from different aspect angles, e.g. spatial compounding
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52046 Techniques for image enhancement involving transmitter or receiver image enhancement by image data processing G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52077 with means for elimination of unwanted signals, e.g. noise or interference

Abstract

Methods and systems vary the elevation beam pattern during an imaging session. A user based or automatic search mode is provided where one or more elevation beam thicknesses are used, and then a diagnosis mode is provided where an optimal or narrow elevation beam thickness is used for continued imaging. 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2D arrays are used to obtain frames of data responsive to the varied elevation beam pattern.

Claims

1. A method for ultrasound imaging with a multi-dimensional transducer array, the method comprising:

(a) scanning along at least a first scan line relative to the multi-dimensional transducer array in response to a first elevation beam pattern, the scanning with the first elevation beam being at a first elevation focal region;

(b) scanning along at least the first scan line in response to a second elevation beam pattern, the second elevation beam pattern different than the first elevation beam pattern, and the scanning with the second elevation beam being at the first elevation focal region;

wherein (a) and (b) occur during a same scanning session; and

(c) generating images responsive to the first and second elevation beam patterns, the images being generated without compounding of data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) and (b) comprises varying an elevation beam thickness during the scanning session.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein (a) and (b) comprise scanning with a wider elevation beam thickness at a focal region in (a) than in (b), (a) occurring prior to (b).

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) varying between the first and second elevation beam patterns in response to user input.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) and (b) comprise varying between at least three elevation beam thicknesses;

further comprising;

(c) subsequently imaging during the scanning session in response to user selection of one of the at least three elevation beam thicknesses.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first elevation beam pattern has a wider thickness at a focal region than the second elevation ben pattern.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) and (b) both comprise scanning with a different elevation aperture.

8. A method for ultrasound imaging with a multi-dimensional transducer array, the method comprising:

(a) scanning along at least a first scan line relative to the multi-dimensional transducer array in response to a first elevation beam pattern; and

(b) scanning along at least the first scan line in response to a second elevation beam pattern, the second elevation beam pattern different than the first elevation beam pattern;

wherein (a) and (b) occur during a same scanning session;

wherein (a) and (b) both comprise scanning with a same elevation aperture.

9. A method for ultrasound imaging with a multi-dimensional transducer array, the method comprising:

(a) scanning along at least a first scan line relative to the multi-dimensional transducer array in response to a first elevation beam pattern; and

(b) scanning along at least the first scan line in response to a second elevation beam pattern, the second elevation beam pattern different than the first elevation beam pattern;

wherein (a) and (b) occur during a same scanning session;

wherein (a) comprises scanning in a search mode and (b) comprises scanning in a diagnosis mode; and

wherein (a) comprises scanning while moving an aperture and (b) comprises scanning while maintaining a scan position relative to the patient.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the search mode and the diagnosis modes are associated with different thicknesses.

11. A method for ultrasound imaging with a multi-dimensional transducer array, the method comprising:

(a) scanning along at least a first scan line relative to the multi-dimensional transducer array in response to a first elevation beam pattern; and

(b) scanning along at least the first scan line in response to a second elevation beam pattern, the second elevation beam pattern different than the first elevation beam pattern;

wherein (a) and (b) occur during a same scanning session and first and second images are generated from the scans of (a) and (b), respectively;

wherein the first elevation beam pattern has a wider thickness at a focal region than the second elevation beam pattern, (a) comprises destroying contrast agents within a first region and (b) comprises scanning for reperfusion of contrast agents within a second region within the first region.

12. A method for ultrasound imaging with a multi-dimensional transducer array, the method comprising:

(a) scanning along at least a first scan line relative to the multi-dimensional transducer array in response to a first elevation beam pattern;

(b) scanning along at least the first scan line in response to a second elevation beam pattern, the second elevation beam pattern different than the first elevation beam pattern;

wherein (a) and (b) occur during a same scanning session;

(c) calculating first and second parameter values responsive to the first and second elevation beam patterns, respectively;

(d) selecting one of the first and second elevation beam patterns as a function of the first and second parameter values; and

(e) imaging in response to the selected one of the first and second elevation beam patterns.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein (a) and (b) comprise scanning in response to automatic variation between the first and second elevation beam patterns.

14. A system for ultrasound imaging with different elevation beam patterns, the system comprising:

a multi-dimensional transducer array; and

a beamformer connected with the multi-dimensional transducer array, the beamformer operable to form a first beam in response to a first elevation beam pattern, the first beam emanating from the multi-dimensional transducer array at a first location and first angle within a plane and operable to form a second beam in response to a second elevation beam pattern, the second beam emanating from the multi-dimensional transducer array at the first location and first angle in the plane, the first and second beams formed during a single imaging session, the first elevation beam pattern different than the second elevation beam pattern and having a same elevation focal region; and

a processor operable to calculate first and second parameter values responsive to the first and second elevation beam patterns, respectively, select one of the first and second elevation beam patterns as a function of the first and second parameter values, and form subsequent beams in response to the selected one of the first and second elevation beam patterns.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the first beam pattern has a different elevation beam thickness at a focal region than the second beam pattern.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the beamformer is operable to automatically vary between the first and second elevation beam patterns.

17. A system for ultrasound imaging with different elevation beam patterns, the system comprising:

a multi-dimensional transducer array; and

a beamformer connected with the multi-dimensional transducer array, the beamformer operable to form a first beam in response to a first elevation beam pattern, the first beam emanating from the multi-dimensional transducer array at a first location and first angle within a plane and operable to form a second beam in response to a second elevation beam pattern, the second beam emanating from the multi-dimensional transducer array at the first location and first angle in the plane, the first and second beams formed during a single imaging session, the first elevation beam pattern different than the second elevation beam pattern and having a same elevation focal region; and

wherein the beamformer is responsive to a search mode, the first elevation beam pattern corresponding to the search mode and the second elevation beam pattern corresponding to a diagnosis mode, the search mode initiated in response to user input; and

generating images responsive to the first and second elevation bean patterns without compounding of data.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a user input device, use of the first and second elevation beam patterns by the beamformer responsive to user input from the user input device.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the search mode and the diagnosis modes are associated with different elevation beam thicknesses.

20. A method for ultrasound imaging with a multi-dimensional transducer array, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the multi-dimensional transducer array adjacent to a target area;

(b) transmitting acoustic energy with the multi-dimensional transducer array during (a);

(c) varying an elevation beam pattern during (b) for sequential transmissions; and

(d) using a first elevation beam pattern during a search mode and subsequently using a second elevation beam pattern in a diagnosis mode, both the search and diagnosis modes being free of compounding data associated with different elevation beam patterns.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein (c) comprises varying a scan plane thickness for sequential scans of the planar area, the scan plane thickness being relative to a focal region.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the elevation beam pattern varies in response to user input.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the elevation beam pattern varies automatically.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(e) selecting the first elevation beam pattern as a function of data responsive to the second elevation beam pattern, the second elevation beam pattern different than the first elevation beam pattern.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein (e) comprises user selection of the second elevation beam pattern as a function of images responsive to the first and second elevation beam patterns.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein (e) comprises calculating first and second values from data responsive to the first and second elevation bean patterns.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(e) generating images responsive to the first and second elevation beam patterns, the images being generated without compounding of data.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein the search mode and the diagnosis modes are associated with different elevation beam thicknesses.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein (a) comprises scanning while moving an aperture in the search mode and scanning while maintaining a scan position relative to the patient in the diagnosis mode.

30. A method for ultrasound imaging with a multi-dimensional transducer array, the method comprising:

(a) scanning along at least a first scan line relative to the multi-dimensional transducer array in response to a first elevation beam pattern; and

(b) scanning along at least the first scan line in response to a second elevation beam pattern, the second elevation beam pattern different than the first elevation beam pattern;

wherein (a) and (b) occur during a same scanning session;

(c) selecting the second elevation beam pattern as a function of data responsive to (a).

31. The method of claim 30 wherein (c) comprises user selection of the second elevation beam pattern as a function of images responsive to the first elevation beam pattern.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein (c) comprises calculating first and second values from data responsive to the first and second elevation beam patterns.

33. A system for ultrasound imaging with different elevation beam patterns, the system comprising:

a multi-dimensional transducer array; and

a beamformer connected with the multi-dimensional transducer array, the beamformer operable to form a first beam in response to a first elevation beam pattern, the first beam emanating from the multi-dimensional transducer array at a first location and first angle within a plane and operable to form a second beam in response to a second elevation beam pattern, the second beam emanating from the multi-dimensional transducer array at the first location and first angle in the plane, the first and second beams formed during a single imaging session, the first elevation beam pattern different than the second elevation beam pattern and having a same elevation focal region; and

a processor operable to select the second elevation beam pattern as a function of data responsive to the first elevation beam pattern.