System for producing an ultrasound image using line-based image reconstruction

• US 20040236219A1
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: VisualSonics Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Foster, Stuart, Liu, Godwin, Hendriks, Randy, Little, Tom, White, Chris Aleksandr
• Granted Patent: US 7,052,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5284 involving retrospective matching to a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/894 by rotation about a single axis
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8956 using frequencies at or above 20 MHz
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52034 Data rate converters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52079 Constructional features constructional features of transducers B06B; mounting transducers G10K11/00; constructional features of ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52085 Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52088 involving retrospective scan line rearrangements medical diagnostic ultrasound devices involving retrospective matching to a physiological signal A61B8/5284

Abstract

A system for developing an ultrasound image, comprises a scan head having a transducer capable of generating ultrasound energy at a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz), and a processor for receiving ultrasound energy and for generating an ultrasound image at an effective frame rate of at least 200 frames per second (fps) using scan line based image reconstruction.

Claims

1. A method for producing an ultrasound image, comprising:

generating ultrasound at a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz);

transmitting ultrasound at a frequency of at least 20 MHz into a subject;

receiving ultrasound from the subject;

processing the received ultrasound to provide an image having an effective frame rate of at least 200 frames per second (fps) using scan line based image reconstruction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating ultrasound in a frequency range of about 20 MHz to 60 MHz.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the ultrasound on a small animal to image rapidly moving anatomy.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the small animal is a mouse.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the ultrasound on a small animal to image blood flow.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the small animal is a mouse.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a plurality of scan lines, each scan line generated at a specific location and offset in time from a reference point of an ECG rhythm.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

assembling the plurality of scan lines based on the location and the point in time offset from the reference point.

9. A system for developing an ultrasound image, comprising:

a scan head having a transducer capable of generating ultrasound energy at a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz); and

a processor for receiving ultrasound energy and for generating an ultrasound image at an effective frame rate of at least 200 frames per second (fps) using scan line based image reconstruction.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the ultrasound occurs at a frequency range of about 20 MHz to 60 MHz.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the ultrasound is performed on a small animal to image rapidly moving anatomy.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the ultrasound is performed on a small animal to image blood flow.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a transmit subsystem configured to generate a plurality of scan lines, each scan line generated at a specific location and offset in time from a reference point of an ECG rhythm.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

an image reconstruction subsystem configured to assemble the plurality of scan lines based on the location and the point in time offset from the reference point.

15. A system for producing an ultrasound image, comprising:

means for generating ultrasound at a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz);

means for transmitting ultrasound at a frequency of at least 20 MHz into a subject;

means for receiving ultrasound from the subject; and

means for processing the received ultrasound to provide an image having an effective frame rate of at least 200 frames per second (fps) using scan line based image reconstruction.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for generating ultrasound in a frequency range of about 20 MHz to 60 MHz.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for generating a plurality of scan lines, each scan line generated at a specific location and offset in time from a reference point of an ECG rhythm.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for assembling the plurality of scan lines based on the location and the point in time offset from the reference point.

19. A method for producing an ultrasound image, comprising:

generating ultrasound in a frequency range of 20-60 megahertz (MHz);

transmitting the ultrasound into a small animal;

receiving the ultrasound from the small animal;

processing the received ultrasound to provide an image having an effective frame rate of at least 200 frames per second (fps) using scan line based image reconstruction to image rapidly moving anatomy, wherein the processing further comprises;

generating a plurality of scan lines, each scan line generated at a specific location and offset in time from a reference point of an ECG rhythm; and

assembling the plurality of scan lines based on the location and the point in time offset from the reference point.

20. A method for producing an ultrasound image, comprising:

generating ultrasound in a frequency range of 20-60 megahertz (MHz);

transmitting the ultrasound into a small animal;

receiving the ultrasound from the small animal;

processing the received ultrasound to provide an image having an effective frame rate of at least 200 frames per second (fps) using scan line based image reconstruction to image blood flow, wherein the processing further comprises;

generating a plurality of scan lines, each scan line generated at a specific location and offset in time from a reference point of an ECG rhythm; and

assembling the plurality of scan lines based on the location and the point in time offset from the reference point.

21. A system for developing an ultrasound image, comprising:

a scan head having a transducer capable of generating ultrasound energy in a frequency range of 20-60 megahertz (MHz);

a processor for receiving ultrasound energy and for generating an ultrasound image at an effective frame rate of at least 200 frames per second (fps) using scan line based image reconstruction;

a transmit subsystem configured to generate a plurality of scan lines, each scan line generated at a specific location and offset in time from a reference point of an ECG rhythm; and

an image reconstruction subsystem configured to assemble the plurality of scan lines based on the location and the point in time offset from the reference point.

22. A system for producing an ultrasound image, comprising:

means for generating ultrasound in a frequency range of 20-60 megahertz (MHz);

means for transmitting the ultrasound into a subject;

means for receiving ultrasound from the subject;

means for processing the received ultrasound to provide an image having an effective frame rate of at least 200 frames per second (fps) using scan line based image reconstruction, wherein the means for processing comprises;

means for generating a plurality of scan lines, each scan line generated at a specific location and offset in time from a reference point of an ECG rhythm; and

means for assembling the plurality of scan lines based on the location and the point in time offset from the reference point.