公开(公告)号：US06689060B2

公开(公告)日：2004-02-10

申请号：US09797213

申请日：2001-02-28

申请人： Robert N. Phelps ,  Hong Wang ,  Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Paul T. Kuhn

发明人： Robert N. Phelps ,  Hong Wang ,  Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Paul T. Kuhn

IPC分类号： A61B800

CPC分类号： G01S15/8977 ,  G01S7/52025

摘要： An image processing system according to an implementation of the invention includes a plurality of signal processing modules (210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226) inline in a data stream receiving signals. The signal processing modules include input multiplexers (234a-234i) adapted to control an order of or bypassing of processing by the signal processing modules. The signal processing modules may be implemented as hardware-based, nonlinear signal processing modules, such as log compress, decimation, compounding, blending, edge enhancement, automatic gain control, BHNS, lateral, or persistence filters.

摘要翻译： 根据本发明的实现的图像处理系统包括在接收信号的数据流中内联的多个信号处理模块（210,212,214,216,218,220,222,224,226）。 信号处理模块包括适于控制信号处理模块的处理顺序或旁路处理的输入多路复用器（234a-234i）。 信号处理模块可以被实现为基于硬件的非线性信号处理模块，例如对数压缩，抽取，复合，混合，边缘增强，自动增益控制，BHNS，横向或持续性滤波器。

公开(公告)号：US5429137A

公开(公告)日：1995-07-04

申请号：US253632

申请日：1994-06-03

申请人： Robert N. Phelps ,  Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim

发明人： Robert N. Phelps ,  Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim

IPC分类号： A61B8/06 ,  G01P5/00 ,  G01P5/24 ,  G01S7/52 ,  G01S15/50 ,  G01S15/89

CPC分类号： G01S15/8979 ,  A61B8/06 ,  A61B8/13 ,  G01P5/001 ,  G01P5/244 ,  G01S7/52071 ,  G01S15/50 ,  G01S7/52044

摘要： An ultrasound pulsed Doppler system detects Doppler-shifted acoustic pulses reflected from moving material in a body and received by a transducer, and displays the velocity field of the material on a screen in a color flow format together with the black-and-white display of the ultrasound B-mode of the body. The system detects the average velocity of the material at a plurality of localized sample regions in the body by determining the complex correlation function for pairs of reflected signals from each sample region that are received by the transducer, where the complex phase of the correlation function is proportional to the velocity of the material, projected along the ray from the sample region to the transducer. The display constitutes an array of pixels, and the system determines a value at each pixel that represents the velocity for the material at the location imaged by the pixel. These velocity values are determined by selecting, for each pixel, a plurality of sample regions having images neighboring the pixel, and interpolating separately the real and imaginary parts of the complex correlation value from these sample regions. These interpolated complex correlation function values are used to determine the velocity value for the pixel. The interpolation is carried out using a 2.times.4 kernel, with 2-point interpolation along the dimension of the ray and 4-point interpolation along the perpendicular azimuthal dimension. In a further improvement, the system also displays the flow turbulence field in a color flow format by determining the average power in the reflected signals from each sample region, interpolating these values to obtain a pixel power value, and using this value and the magnitude of the complex correlation function value to obtain a turbulence estimate value.

摘要翻译： 超声波脉冲多普勒检测系统检测体内由移动材料反射并被换能器接收的多普勒频移声波脉冲，并将该材料的速度场与彩色流动格式一起显示在屏幕上，并显示黑白显示 超声B型身体。 该系统通过确定由换能器接收的来自每个采样区域的反射信号对的复数相关函数来检测身体中多个局部采样区域处的材料的平均速度，其中相关函数的复相位为 与材料的速度成比例，沿着从样品区域到换能器的射线投影。 显示器构成像素阵列，并且系统确定每个像素处的值，其表示由像素成像的位置处的材料的速度。 通过为每个像素选择具有与像素相邻的图像的多个采样区域，并且分别从这些采样区域分别复合相关值的实部和虚部来确定这些速度值。 这些内插的复相关函数值用于确定像素的速度值。 使用2x4内核进行插值，沿着光线的尺寸进行2点插值，并沿着垂直方位角度进行4点插值。 在进一步的改进中，系统还通过确定来自每个采样区域的反射信号的平均功率，内插这些值以获得像素功率值，并且使用该值和幅度的大小来显示彩色流格式的流动湍流场 复相关函数值以获得湍流估计值。

公开(公告)号：US06824518B2

公开(公告)日：2004-11-30

申请号：US10304350

申请日：2002-11-26

申请人： Patrick L. Von Behren ,  Alampallam R. Ramachandran ,  Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Wayne J. Gueck

发明人： Patrick L. Von Behren ,  Alampallam R. Ramachandran ,  Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Wayne J. Gueck

IPC分类号： A61B800

CPC分类号： A61B8/00 ,  A61B8/467 ,  A61B8/543 ,  A61B8/546 ,  G01S7/52019 ,  G01S15/895

摘要： Methods and systems for improving an ultrasound image quality are provided. On demand transmission of unsustainably high power ultrasonic pulses are temporary or spatially interleaved with low power, zero power, or standard ultrasonic pulses. In response to a user initiated trigger, a physiological trigger, a system trigger, or external equipment trigger, the unsustainably high power pulses provide better signal-to-noise ratio and/or allow increased imaging frequencies for difficult to image patients in any of various modes, such as B-modes, harmonic B-mode responsive to tissue or contrast agent, or color flow modes. Unsustainably high power ultrasonic pulses cause an increase in the tissue temperature within the body and at the interface between the transducer and the skin. Standard imagining or standard high power pulses may increase either temperature by around 6° C., such as from a body normal 37° C. to an average of 43° C. over time. The unsustainably high power ultrasonic pulses may cause the temperature to exceed 43° C. for a limited time period. For example, the in-situ temperature may be increased to 50° C. for one second, but the temperature is not sustained at this level. Tissue damage may occur for increased temperature over a long period of time, unlike the standard 43° C. for ultrasound imaging. A thermocouple or/and software for temperature and procedure monitoring prevent operator errors in causing harm to patient and/or transducer.

摘要翻译： 提供了改善超声图像质量的方法和系统。 按需传输不可持续的高功率超声波脉冲是在低功率，零功率或标准超声波脉冲下进行临时或空间交错的。 响应于用户发起的触发，生理触发，系统触发或外部设备触发，不可持续的高功率脉冲提供更好的信噪比和/或允许增加的成像频率，用于难以映像的患者中的任何一种 模式，例如B模式，响应于组织或造影剂的谐波B模式或颜色流动模式。 不可持续的高功率超声脉冲导致体内组织温度和换能器与皮肤之间的界面增加。 标准想象或标准高功率脉冲可以将温度升高约6℃，例如从正常37℃至平均43℃随时间增加。 不可持续的高功率超声波脉冲可能导致温度超过43°C在有限的时间段内。 例如，原位温度可以增加到50℃一秒钟，但温度不能维持在该水平。 组织损伤可能发生在长时间内升高的温度，与标准43°C超声成像不同。 用于温度和程序监控的热电偶或/和软件可防止操作员对患者和/或换能器造成伤害的错误。

公开(公告)号：US5494037A

公开(公告)日：1996-02-27

申请号：US365660

申请日：1994-12-29

申请人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim ,  Chris Zobkiw ,  Steven R. Marquis

发明人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim ,  Chris Zobkiw ,  Steven R. Marquis

IPC分类号： A61B8/06 ,  G01S7/52 ,  G01S15/89 ,  A61B8/00

CPC分类号： A61B8/06 ,  G01S15/8979 ,  G01S15/8981 ,  G01S7/52071

摘要： An ultrasonic Doppler flow (i.e. blood) imaging and/or measuring system capable of adaptively suppressing stationary or slowly-moving non-flow (i.e. blood) signals having variable spectra from the recovered ultrasonic echoes. In accordance with the invention, the tissue signals are suppressed using a tissue rejection filter arrangement having an attenuation characteristic which is controlled based upon measured estimates of at least one spectral characteristic of the tissue signals to be removed, thereby maximizing the rejection of tissue movement signals and minimizing undesired attenuation of the blood flow signals. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, data representative of the tissue signal movement, e.g., the spectral estimates of the tissue signals, are spatially averaged before being used to control the tissue rejection filter arrangement. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, the spatial averaging algorithm itself is adaptively changed, for example, in response to changes in the value of the power estimate of the tissue movement signals. In accordance with an even further alternative embodiment of the invention, a plurality of parallel beamforming channels are used for developing multiple sets of color flow beamlines substantially simultaneously with one another which scan an area, and velocity estimates from at least two of the sets which are representative of movement in adjacent portions in the scanned area are averaged for developing a control signal which adaptively controls the tissue rejection filter.

摘要翻译： 超声波多普勒流（即血液）成像和/或测量系统能够自适应地抑制具有来自回收的超声回波的可变光谱的静止或缓慢移动的非流动（即，血液）信号。 根据本发明，使用具有衰减特性的组织排斥滤波器装置来抑制组织信号，所述衰减特性是基于要去除的组织信号的至少一个光谱特性的测量估计来控制的，从而最大化组织移动信号的排斥 并最小化血流信号的不期望的衰减。 根据本发明的实施例，代表组织信号移动的数据，例如组织信号的频谱估计，在被用于控制组织排斥滤波器装置之前被空间平均化。 根据本发明的替代实施例，空间平均算法本身例如根据组织移动信号的功率估计值的变化自适应地改变。 根据本发明的另一替代实施例，多个平行波束形成通道用于基本上同时扫描多个区域的彩色流束线路，并且从至少两个组合的速度估计 对扫描区域的相邻部分中的运动的代表进行平均，以开发自适应地控制组织排斥滤波器的控制信号。

公开(公告)号：US5664575A

公开(公告)日：1997-09-09

申请号：US366163

申请日：1994-12-29

申请人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim ,  Steven R. Marquis

发明人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim ,  Steven R. Marquis

IPC分类号： A61B8/06 ,  G01S7/52 ,  G01S15/89

CPC分类号： A61B8/06 ,  G01S15/8981 ,  G01S7/52071

摘要： An ultrasonic Doppler flow (i.e. blood) imaging and/or measuring system capable of adaptively suppressing stationary or slowly-moving non-flow (i.e. tissue) signals having variable spectra from recovered ultrasonic echoes. In accordance with the invention, the tissue signals are suppressed using a tissue rejection filter having an attenuation characteristic which is controllably shaped based upon measured estimates of at least one spectral characteristic of the tissue signals to be removed, thereby maximizing the rejection of tissue movement signals and minimizing undesired attenuation of the blood flow signals. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the tissue rejection filter is embodied as a complex notch filter for filtering the baseband components of the recovered ultrasonic echoes, which filter has a variable notch shape and position as adaptively determined in response to changes in estimates of the spectral components of the tissue signal portion of the recovered echoes.

摘要翻译： 超声波多普勒血流（即血液）成像和/或测量系统能够自适应地抑制具有来自恢复的超声回波的可变光谱的静止或缓慢移动的非流动（即组织）信号。 根据本发明，使用具有衰减特性的组织剔除滤波器来抑制组织信号，所述组织剔除滤波器基于被去除的组织信号的至少一个光谱特性的测量估计值而被可控地变形，从而最大化组织移动信号的排斥 并最小化血流信号的不期望的衰减。 根据本发明的一个实施例，组织排斥滤波器被实施为复杂陷波滤波器，用于对恢复的超声回波的基带分量进行滤波，该滤波器具有可变的切口形状和位置，以响应于 恢复的回波的组织信号部分的光谱分量。

公开(公告)号：US5454372A

公开(公告)日：1995-10-03

申请号：US261506

申请日：1994-06-17

申请人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Varaz Shahmirian

发明人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Varaz Shahmirian

IPC分类号： G01P5/00 ,  A61B8/06 ,  G01P13/00 ,  G01S7/524 ,  G01S15/58 ,  G01S15/89 ,  G06T1/00 ,  A61B8/00

CPC分类号： G01S15/8927 ,  G01S15/582 ,  G01S15/8984 ,  G01S15/8918 ,  G01S15/8979

摘要： Method for providing a blood flow velocity display of blood flow in a blood vessel in an ultrasound imaging system by converting spectral Doppler mode data using estimates of blood flow angle and blood flow velocity. In particular, an embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention is a method which includes the steps of: (a) transmitting an acoustic beam to a region of interest in the blood vessel from a first sub-aperture array in a transducer array; (b) receiving a first echo beam from the region of interest at the first sub-aperture array, which first echo beam is generated by the acoustic beam, and a second echo beam from the region of interest at a second sub-aperture array, which second echo beam is generated by the acoustic beam; (c) estimating a first mean Doppler frequency from the first echo beam substantially in parallel with the step of estimating a second mean Doppler frequency from the second echo beam, both steps of estimating utilizing an auto-correlation algorithm; (d) estimating the angle of blood flow and blood flow velocity in the region of interest in the blood vessel from the first and second mean Doppler frequencies; (e) obtaining data to provide a spectral Doppler mode display; (f) converting the dam to provide a blood flow velocity distribution; and (g) displaying the blood flow velocity distribution along with the estimated blood flow angle.

摘要翻译： 用于通过使用血流角度和血流速度的估计转换频谱多普勒模式数据来在超声成像系统中提供血流在血流中的血流速度显示的方法。 特别地，本发明的第一方面的实施例是一种方法，其包括以下步骤：（a）从换能器阵列中的第一子孔阵列将声束传输到血管中的感兴趣区域; （b）从所述第一子孔径阵列处的所述感兴趣区域接收第一回波束，所述第一回波束由所述声波束产生，以及来自所述感兴趣区域的第二回波束在第二子孔径阵列处， 第二回波束由声束产生; （c）基本上与从第二回波束估计第二平均多普勒频率的步骤估计来自第一回波束的第一平均多普勒频率，两个步骤使用自相关算法进行估计; （d）从第一和第二平均多普勒频率估计血管中感兴趣区域中的血流角度和血流速度; （e）获得数据以提供频谱多普勒模式显示; （f）转换大坝以提供血流速度分布; 和（g）显示血流速度分布以及估计的血流角度。

公开(公告)号：US5544659A

公开(公告)日：1996-08-13

申请号：US366206

申请日：1994-12-29

申请人： Zoran B. Banjanin

发明人： Zoran B. Banjanin

IPC分类号： A61B8/06 ,  G01S7/52 ,  G01S15/89 ,  A61B8/00

CPC分类号： G01S15/8981 ,  A61B8/06 ,  G01S7/52071 ,  G01S15/8911 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  G01S7/52034

摘要： An ultrasonic Doppler flow (e.g. blood) imaging and/or measuring system capable of adaptively suppressing stationary or slowly-moving non-flow (e.g. tissue) signals having variable spectra from the recovered ultrasonic echoes. In accordance with the invention, the tissue signals are suppressed using a tissue rejection filter arrangement having an attenuation characteristic which is controlled based upon measured estimates of at least one spectral characteristic of the tissue signals to be removed, thereby maximizing the rejection of tissue movement signals and minimizing undesired attenuation of the blood flow signals. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, signal routing out of the corner-turning buffer memory component in prior art systems is advantageously modified, so as to provide during a first mode of operation, the echo signal data to a Doppler velocity processor, for forming estimates of tissue signal motion. These estimates are then used for developing a control signal for application to a tissue motion rejection filter arrangement. During a second mode of operation, the echo signal data are provided to the same Doppler velocity processor, however, this time via the tissue motion rejection filter arrangement. Thus, the estimates of tissue signal motion are developed in a simplified hardware arrangement, by using the same corner turning memory and Doppler velocity processing circuitry as is used for developing the blood flow velocity signals.

摘要翻译： 超声多普勒血流（例如血液）成像和/或测量系统能够自适应地抑制来自回收的超声回波的具有可变光谱的静止或缓慢移动的非流动（例如组织）信号。 根据本发明，使用具有衰减特性的组织排斥滤波器装置来抑制组织信号，所述衰减特性是基于要去除的组织信号的至少一个光谱特性的测量估计来控制的，从而最大化组织移动信号的排斥 并最小化血流信号的不期望的衰减。 根据本发明的实施例，有利地修改现有技术系统中的拐角转弯缓冲存储器组件中的信号路由，以便在第一操作模式期间将回波信号数据提供给多普勒速度处理器，用于 形成组织信号运动的估计。 然后将这些估计用于开发用于组织运动抑制滤波器装置的控制信号。 在第二操作模式期间，将回波信号数据提供给相同的多普勒速度处理器，然而，这次经由组织运动抑制滤波器装置。 因此，通过使用与用于开发血流速度信号的相同的拐角转动存储器和多普勒速度处理电路，以简化的硬件布置来发展组织信号运动的估计。

公开(公告)号：US5487389A

公开(公告)日：1996-01-30

申请号：US366067

申请日：1994-12-29

申请人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim

发明人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim

IPC分类号： A61B8/06 ,  G01S15/89 ,  A61B8/00

CPC分类号： A61B8/06 ,  A61B8/13 ,  G01S15/8981 ,  G01S7/5205

摘要： An ultrasonic Doppler flow (i.e. blood) imaging and/or measuring system capable of adaptively suppressing stationary or slowly-moving non-flow (i.e. tissue) signals having variable spectra from recovered ultrasonic echoes. In accordance with the invention, the tissue signals are suppressed using a tissue rejection filter having an attenuation characteristic which is controllably shaped based upon measured estimates of at least one spectral characteristic of the tissue signals to be removed, thereby maximizing the rejection of tissue movement signals and minimizing undesired attenuation of the blood flow signals. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the tissue rejection filter is embodied as a complex notch filter for filtering the baseband components of the recovered ultrasonic echoes, which filter has a variable notch shape and position as adaptively determined in response to changes in estimates of the spectral components of the tissue signal portion of the recovered echoes.

摘要翻译： 超声波多普勒血流（即血液）成像和/或测量系统能够自适应地抑制具有来自恢复的超声回波的可变光谱的静止或缓慢移动的非流动（即组织）信号。 根据本发明，使用具有衰减特性的组织剔除滤波器来抑制组织信号，所述组织剔除滤波器基于被去除的组织信号的至少一个光谱特性的测量估计值而被可控地变形，从而最大化组织移动信号的排斥 并最小化血流信号的不期望的衰减。 根据本发明的一个实施例，组织排斥滤波器被实施为复杂陷波滤波器，用于对恢复的超声回波的基带分量进行滤波，该滤波器具有可变的切口形状和位置，以响应于 恢复的回波的组织信号部分的光谱分量。

公开(公告)号：US5443071A

公开(公告)日：1995-08-22

申请号：US322113

申请日：1994-10-11

申请人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim

发明人： Zoran B. Banjanin ,  Jin Kim

IPC分类号： A61B8/06 ,  G01S15/58 ,  G01S15/89 ,  A61B8/00

CPC分类号： G01S15/8927 ,  A61B8/06 ,  A61B8/13 ,  A61B8/488 ,  G01S15/8984

摘要： Method for providing a quantitative color flow display of moving matter using an ultrasound imaging system, the display being formed of pixels on a display device, which method includes the steps of: (a) transmitting acoustic beams to a region of interest in the body, which region of interest includes the moving matter; (b) receiving echo beams from the region of interest; (c) obtaining, at each portion of the region of interest, which portion is referred to as a pixel, a measure of velocity of moving matter in the pixel and a measure of direction of the velocity of the moving matter in the pixel; (d) determining a maximum of the measure of velocity at each pixel in the region of interest over a predetermined period of time and the measure of direction of the maximum velocity; and (e) displaying the measures of velocity of the pixels for the predetermined period of time wherein the measures of velocity and the measure of direction of the velocity are displayed using a color indicator which is relative to the maximum measure of velocity at each pixel and to the measure of direction of the maximum velocity.

摘要翻译： 一种使用超声波成像系统提供运动物质的定量颜色流动显示的方法，所述显示器由显示装置上的像素形成，所述方法包括以下步骤：（a）将声束传播到身体中的感兴趣区域， 哪个感兴趣的区域包括移动物体; （b）从感兴趣区域接收回波束; （c）在所述感兴趣区域的每个部分处获得哪个部分被称为像素，所述像素中的运动物质的速度的度量和所述像素中的所述运动物质的速度的方向的测量; （d）确定预定时间段内感兴趣区域中每个像素处的速度测量的最大值以及最大速度方向的测量值; 并且（e）在预定时间段内显示像素的速度测量值，其中使用相对于每个像素处的速度的最大测量值的颜色指示器来显示速度的测量和速度方向的测量，以及 到最大速度方向的测量。