公开(公告)号：US20070083109A1

公开(公告)日：2007-04-12

申请号：US11238889

申请日：2005-09-28

申请人： Kutay Ustuner ,  D-L Liu ,  Lewis Thomas ,  Charles Bradley ,  Anming Cai ,  Robert Phelps ,  John Lazenby

发明人： Kutay Ustuner ,  D-L Liu ,  Lewis Thomas ,  Charles Bradley ,  Anming Cai ,  Robert Phelps ,  John Lazenby

IPC分类号： A61B8/00

CPC分类号： G01S7/52046 ,  G01S7/5209 ,  G01S7/52095 ,  G01S15/8959

摘要： Adaptive line synthesis is provided. Line synthesis of collinear receive beams responsive to spatially distinct transmit beams is a function of many parameters, such as spatial or temporal frequency response of one or more of the receive beams, synthesis function, number of receive beams synthesized, or acquisition sequence. One or more of these parameters is set or adapts as a function of processor estimated or user provided information. By adapting the line synthesis, the performance and image quality is optimized as appropriate for the received data or desired imaging, such as detail resolution, contrast resolution, temporal resolution, shift-invariance and penetration.

摘要翻译： 提供自适应线合成。 响应于空间不同的发射波束的共线接收波束的线路合成是许多参数的函数，例如接收波束中的一个或多个的合成函数，合成函数，接收波束的数量或采集序列的空间或时间频率响应。 这些参数中的一个或多个被设置或根据处理器估计或用户提供的信息进行调整。 通过适应线路合成，根据接收到的数据或所需的成像（如细节分辨率，对比度分辨率，时间分辨率，偏移不变性和穿透），性能和图像质量得到优化。

公开(公告)号：US20060173313A1

公开(公告)日：2006-08-03

申请号：US11046347

申请日：2005-01-27

申请人： D-L Liu ,  Lewis Thomas ,  Kutay Ustuner ,  Charles Bradley ,  John Lazenby

发明人： D-L Liu ,  Lewis Thomas ,  Kutay Ustuner ,  Charles Bradley ,  John Lazenby

IPC分类号： A61B8/00

CPC分类号： G01S7/52046 ,  G01S15/8993

摘要： A set of N×M signals are acquired from an object, where N is the number of array elements and M corresponds to variations in data acquisition and/or processing parameters. The parameters include transmit aperture functions, transmit waveforms, receive aperture functions, and receive filtering functions in space and/or time. A coherence factor is computed as a ratio of the energy of the coherent sum to the energy of the at-least-partially incoherent sum of channel or image signals acquired with at least one different parameter. Partial beamformed data may be used for channel coherence calculation. For image domain coherence, a component image is formed for each different transmit beam or receive aperture function, and a coherence factor image is computed using the set of component images. The coherence factor image is displayed or used to modify or blend other images formed of the same region.

摘要翻译： 从对象获取一组NxM信号，其中N是数组元素的数量，M对应于数据采集和/或处理参数中的变化。 这些参数包括发射孔径功能，发射波形，接收孔径功能，以及在空间和/或时间中接收滤波功能。 相干因子被计算为用至少一个不同参数获取的信道或图像信号的至少部分非相干和的相干和的能量与能量的比率。 部分波束形成数据可用于通道相干计算。 对于图像域相干性，为每个不同的发射波束或接收孔径函数形成分量图像，并且使用该组分量图像来计算相干因子图像。 相干因子图像被显示或用于修改或混合由相同区域形成的其他图像。

公开(公告)号：US20050267369A1

公开(公告)日：2005-12-01

申请号：US10854585

申请日：2004-05-26

申请人： John Lazenby ,  Robert Phelps

发明人： John Lazenby ,  Robert Phelps

IPC分类号： A61B8/00 ,  G10K11/34

CPC分类号： G10K11/346 ,  G01S7/5202 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S15/8963

摘要： Unipolar, bipolar or sinusoidal transmitters may leave the transmitter in any of various states at the end of one pulse. Undesired acoustic energy may be generated to change states prior to beginning another transmit sequence or pulse. For example, phase inversion for tissue harmonic imaging is performed where two sequential pulses are transmitted with different phases. The first waveform starts at a low state and ends at the low state of a unipolar transmitter. The next waveform starts at the high state. Transmit apodization or spectrum control techniques may require a pattern of waveform starting states different than a current state. Acoustic disruption due to a change of state of the transmitter between transmissions for imaging is minimized. The acoustic disruption is minimized by focusing the acoustic energy generated by the switch of states away from a scan line or scan lines being used for imaging or by defocusing the energy within the scan region generated due to the switching of states of the transmitter between acquisition cycles.

摘要翻译： 单极，双极或正弦发射机可能在一个脉冲结束时使发射机处于各种状态的任何状态。 可能产生不期望的声能以在开始另一个发射序列或脉冲之前改变状态。 例如，进行组织谐波成像的相位转换，其中两个顺序脉冲以不同的相位传输。 第一个波形从低电平开始，并在单极发射器的低电平状态下结束。 下一个波形从高电平开始。 发射变迹或频谱控制技术可能需要与当前状态不同的波形起始状态的模式。 由于用于成像的传输之间的发射机的状态的变化引起的声学破坏被最小化。 通过将由状态开关产生的声能量聚焦在远离扫描线或用于成像的扫描线或通过使由于在采集周期之间的发射器的状态的切换而产生的扫描区域内的能量的散焦而将声学破坏最小化 。

公开(公告)号：US20050043619A1

公开(公告)日：2005-02-24

申请号：US10644363

申请日：2003-08-20

申请人： Thilaka Sumanaweera ,  Robert Phelps ,  John Lazenby

发明人： Thilaka Sumanaweera ,  Robert Phelps ,  John Lazenby

IPC分类号： A61B8/00 ,  G06T11/00

CPC分类号： G06T15/08 ,  G06T2210/41 ,  Y10S128/916

摘要： Spatial derivatives are computed. In one method, gradients are determined from data in an acoustic domain rather than a Cartesian or display coordinate domain. The gradients determined from data in the acoustic domain are then transformed to the Cartesian coordinate or display screen domain. For example, a matrix function representing the spatial relationship between the acoustic domain and the Cartesian coordinate domain transforms the coordinates. As a result, spatial gradients in the Cartesian system are provided where acoustic domain data is being processed. In another method for volume rendering or three-dimensional imaging, a gradient is calculated from data in the display or screen domain. Data from a reconstructed 3D Cartesian coordinate grid or data in an acoustic domain is resampled to ray lines. The ray lines correspond to the display domain as compared to an arbitrary Cartesian coordinate format. The gradients are calculated from the resampled data in the screen domain. When resampling on data in an acoustic domain, gradient computation prior to the resampling may require transformation as discussed above. To avoid the transformation, the gradients are determined after resampling. By calculating the gradients after resampling, interpolation of gradient information as part of the resampling is avoided or minimized. The gradient calculation is then performed using data in the display coordinate space (i.e., screen domain) without requiring further random memory accesses. In yet another method, the number of computation and interpolations for gradient calculation is reduced by performing shading prior to resampling along ray lines to the screen domain. The gradients are calculated and the voxel data in the acoustic or 3D grid Cartesian coordinate formats are altered or weighted as a function of the shading. The shaded data is then resampled to the ray lines. For example, the shading values are computed from data in an acoustic domain and applied to the data in the acoustic domain. The data is then ray cast or interpolated to ray lines without prior scan conversion.

公开(公告)号：US20050148873A1

公开(公告)日：2005-07-07

申请号：US10741538

申请日：2003-12-19

申请人： David Petersen ,  Robert Phelps ,  John Lazenby

发明人： David Petersen ,  Robert Phelps ,  John Lazenby

IPC分类号： G01S7/52 ,  G01S15/89 ,  A61B8/02

CPC分类号： A61B8/4438 ,  A61B8/4472 ,  G01S7/52034 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S15/8925 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G01S15/8993

摘要： Methods and systems are provided for adapting signals from an ultrasound transducer for an ultrasound system. Where the signal processing in a transducer assembly outputs data incompatible with the ultrasound system, circuitry provided within the transducer assembly converts the data to be compatible with the ultrasound systems. For example, sub-array mixing is provided to partially beamform signals from a plurality of transducer elements. The resulting output signals from a plurality sub-arrays are provided through a cable to a connector housing of the transducer probe assembly. Since the mixers alter the data, such as shifting the data to an intermediate frequency, the output data may be at a frequency different than the frequencies for operation of the receive beamformer. Additional mixers are then provided to convert the intermediate frequency signals to radio frequency signals that may be processed by the ultrasound systems received beamformer. As another example, signals from a plurality of transducer elements are multiplexed together. Where the receive beamformer is not operable to de-multiplex such signals, circuitry within the transducer probe assembly converts the signals by de-multiplexing the data for beamforming. Ultrasound systems have a limited number of received beamformer channels. By providing signal processing, conversion, and/or partial beamforming within the transducer probe assembly, the number of elements used may be different than the number of received beamformer channels provided by the system.

摘要翻译： 提供了用于适应来自用于超声系统的超声换能器的信号的方法和系统。 在传感器组件中的信号处理输出与超声系统不兼容的数据的情况下，提供在换能器组件内的电路将数据转换为与超声系统兼容。 例如，提供子阵列混合以部分地波束来自多个换能器元件的信号。 来自多个子阵列的所得到的输出信号通过电缆提供到换能器探头组件的连接器壳体。 由于混频器将数据改变为中频，所以输出数据可能处于与接收波束形成器的操作频率不同的频率。 然后提供额外的混频器以将中频信号转换成可由超声系统接收波束形成器处理的射频信号。 作为另一示例，来自多个换能器元件的信号被多路复用在一起。 在接收波束形成器不可操作以解复用这种信号的地方，换能器探头组件内的电路通过对波束成形的数据进行解复用来转换信号。 超声系统具有有限数量的接收波束形成器通道。 通过在换能器探头组件内提供信号处理，转换和/或部分波束成形，所使用的元件的数量可以不同于由系统提供的接收波束形成器通道的数量。

公开(公告)号：US20070016023A1

公开(公告)日：2007-01-18

申请号：US11169357

申请日：2005-06-28

申请人： Robert Phelps ,  David Petersen ,  John Lazenby

发明人： Robert Phelps ,  David Petersen ,  John Lazenby

IPC分类号： A61B8/00

CPC分类号： G01S7/52023 ,  A61B8/4427 ,  G01S7/52046 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S7/52096 ,  G10K11/341 ,  Y10T29/49005 ,  Y10T29/4902 ,  Y10T29/4908 ,  Y10T29/49172 ,  Y10T29/49194

摘要： A plurality of application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips with different functions is provided. Each of the ASICs performs one or more functions along an ultrasound data path. The chips include communications protocols or processes for allowing scaling. For example, ASICs for backend processing include data exchange ports for communicating between other ASICs of the same type. As another example, receive beamformer ASICs cascade for beamformation. By providing ASICs implementing many or most of the ultrasound data path functions, with scalability, the same ASICs may be used for different system designs. A family of systems from high end to low-end using the same types of ASICs, but in different configurations, is provided.

摘要翻译： 提供了具有不同功能的多个专用集成电路（ASIC）芯片。 每个ASIC沿着超声数据路径执行一个或多个功能。 这些芯片包括用于允许缩放的通信协议或过程。 例如，用于后端处理的ASIC包括用于在相同类型的其它ASIC之间进行通信的数据交换端口。 作为另一示例，接收波束形成器ASIC级联用于波束形成。 通过提供实现多个或大多数超声数据路径功能的ASIC，具有可扩展性，相同的ASIC可用于不同的系统设计。 提供了使用相同类型的ASIC，但在不同配置中的从高端到低端的系统系列。

公开(公告)号：US20050148878A1

公开(公告)日：2005-07-07

申请号：US10741827

申请日：2003-12-19

申请人： Robert Phelps ,  John Lazenby ,  David Petersen

发明人： Robert Phelps ,  John Lazenby ,  David Petersen

IPC分类号： G01S15/89 ,  A61B8/14

CPC分类号： G01S15/8925 ,  A61B8/44 ,  A61B8/546 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S15/8927

摘要： Methods, systems and probes communicate signals from a transducer for imaging or connection with an imaging system. Beamforming-related electronics are positioned in the connector housing of the transducer probe assembly. For example, analog-to-digital converters are positioned in the connector housing. Power is provided through connection with the ultrasound imaging system. Fans or other heat-dissipating structures are also positioned within the connector housing. Other beamformer electronics, such as delays and sums, are positioned in the imaging system, partly in the connector housing or entirely in the connector housing. Since the analog-to-digital converters are provided in the connector housing, partial digital beam forming may be provided in the transducer probe assembly. The length of the transducer cables is held constant to avoid interference and transmission line effects due to line-length variation. The number of cables and other interconnections from the transducer array to the analog-to-digital converters is unconstrained by the number of connectors or channels provided by the imaging system. Data compression provided by the electronics of the transducer probe assembly provides independence of the number of system channels from transducer channels.

摘要翻译： 方法，系统和探针传送来自传感器的信号，以便与成像系统进行成像或连接。 波束形成相关电子器件位于换能器探头组件的连接器壳体中。 例如，模拟 - 数字转换器位于连接器外壳中。 通过与超声成像系统的连接来提供功率。 风扇或其他散热结构也位于连接器壳体内。 诸如延迟和总和的其它波束形成器电子器件位于成像系统中，部分位于连接器壳体中或完全位于连接器壳体中。 由于模数转换器设置在连接器壳体中，部分数字波束形成可以设置在换能器探头组件中。 传感器电缆的长度保持恒定，以避免由于线长变化引起的干扰和传输线影响。 通过由成像系统提供的连接器或通道的数量，从传感器阵列到模拟 - 数字转换器的电缆和其它互连的数量是不受约束的。 由换能器探头组件的电子设备提供的数据压缩提供了与换能器通道的系统通道数量的独立性。

公开(公告)号：US20050192499A1

公开(公告)日：2005-09-01

申请号：US10788103

申请日：2004-02-26

申请人： John Lazenby ,  David Petersen

发明人： John Lazenby ,  David Petersen

IPC分类号： A61B8/14 ,  G01S15/89 ,  H01Q19/06

CPC分类号： G01S15/8925 ,  G01S15/8927

摘要： Different subarray combinations are provided for ultrasound imaging. A basic building block component supports different subarray sizes. Rather than providing a switching network for all possible combinations, a transducer array is divided into super arrays. Each super array is associated with a plurality of possible subarrays. For example, a 3×12 block of elements is divisible into four 3×3 or three 3×4 subarrays. As another example, a 4×12 block of elements is divisible into four 4×3 and three 4×4 subarrays. For each super array, the block of elements is divided into slices, such as three slices along one dimension for 3×12 block or four slices along that dimension for the 4×12 block. The number of elements along one division in each slice represents a least common multiple of the varying extent of the subarray sizes. Twelve is the least common multiple of three and four. By using small building blocks, the slice inputs are combined into partial subarrays. By summing combined outputs from different slices or other subdivisions of the super array, subarray signals are provided regardless of a selected possible subarray size.

摘要翻译： 提供不同的子阵列组合用于超声成像。 基本构件块组件支持不同的子阵列大小。 换能器阵列不是为所有可能的组合提供切换网络，而是分为超级阵列。 每个超级阵列与多个可能的子阵列相关联。 例如，3×12个元素块可以分为四个3x3或三个3x4子阵列。 作为另一个例子，4×12块元素可以分为四个4x3和三个4x4子阵列。 对于每个超级阵列，元素块被划分成切片，例如沿着一个维度的三个切片，用于3×12块，或者对于4×12块，沿着该维度的四个切片。 每个切片中沿着一个划分的元素的数量表示子阵列大小的变化范围的最小公倍数。 十二是三和四的最不常见的倍数。 通过使用小的构建块，切片输入被组合成部分子阵列。 通过对来自超级阵列的不同切片或其他细分的组合输出相加，提供子阵列信号，而不管选择的可能的子阵列大小。

公开(公告)号：US06171245B2

公开(公告)日：2001-01-09

申请号：US09267892

申请日：1999-03-11

申请人： Wilko Wilkening ,  John Lazenby

发明人： Wilko Wilkening ,  John Lazenby

IPC分类号： A61B800

CPC分类号： A61B8/4281 ,  A61B8/06 ,  G01S7/52038

摘要： A method of imaging blood with the use of contrast agents. A sequence or ensemble of imaging pulses is transmitted into a patient. Echo signals received in response to each of the imaging pulses are received and analyzed to determine if the echoes are produced by tissue or by the contrast agent. Echoes produced by the contrast agent are detected by an echo signal that changes in amplitude or a centroid frequency that changes with each imaging pulse. Once the location of the contrast agent has been determined, an image is created whereby the contrast agent is highlighted for view by a physician or sonographer.

摘要翻译： 使用造影剂对血液成像的方法。 成像脉冲的序列或整体被传送到患者体内。 接收并分析响应于每个成像脉冲接收的回波信号，以确定回波是否由组织或造影剂产生。 由造影剂产生的回波通过随每个成像脉冲变化的振幅变化或质心频率的回波信号来检测。 一旦确定了造影剂的位置，就创建一个图像，由此医生或超声医师可以将造影剂突出显示以供观察。

公开(公告)号：US20050267364A1

公开(公告)日：2005-12-01

申请号：US10854002

申请日：2004-05-25

申请人： Wayne Gueck ,  John Lazenby

发明人： Wayne Gueck ,  John Lazenby

IPC分类号： A61B5/107 ,  A61B8/00

CPC分类号： A61B8/483 ,  A61B5/1075 ,  A61B8/00 ,  Y10S128/916

摘要： A location within a volume is determined from medical images. A region of interest or other location is examined from two different viewing directions. The user or processor indicates the region or point of interest in each of the different images. The desired point or region within the three-dimensional volume is determined from the intersection of two lines, each line parallel to the viewing direction of a respective image and passing through the selected point or region of each image. The identified location within the volume is used for any of various purposes, such as for measurements associated with a distance between two points or selection of a region of interest including the selected point as part of a border or within the region.

摘要翻译： 从医学图像确定体积内的位置。 从两个不同的观察方向检查感兴趣的区域或其他位置。 用户或处理器指示每个不同图像中的区域或兴趣点。 从三条线的交点确定三维体积内的期望点或区域，每条线平行于相应图像的观察方向并通过每个图像的选定点或区域。 卷内的识别位置用于各种目的中的任何一个，例如用于与两点之间的距离相关联的测量或者选择感兴趣区域，包括所选择的点作为边界的一部分或在区域内。