Molecular Biosystems, Inc.

Harold B Levene

Kenneth J Widder

James L Barnhart

Howard Dittrich

Eric Mjolsness

Bob Webster

Elaine Villapando

Gary L Bales

A method and apparatus for directly identifying and characterizing input data derived from regions of interest in ultrasound images of organs in the presence of attenuation from interposed contrast agent, for the purpose of diagnosing abnormalities. The input data is classified into one of a number of classes depending upon the characteristics of that data, in order to distinguish normal conditions from abnormal conditions. The invention is based on the recognition that significant information relating to the health of tissue exists in regions of interest in ultrasound images in the presence of attenuation from interposed contrast agent. This information is in the form of backscatter speckle patterns that have 'texture' characteristics that are distinguishable in healthy versus diseased tissue. The invention classifies such patterns as probably normal or abnormal by means of an analysis system that may include a neural network system. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: (1) a data acquisition system for acquiring ultrasound image data indicative of a region of interest in the presence of attenuation from interposed contrast agent; (2) an optional signal conditioning stage to remove signals (e.g., noise) from the input data; and (3) an analysis system designed to detect 'texture' characteristics that distinguish healthy tissue from diseased tissue even in the presence of the contrast agent. The output classifies the input data in a uniform, unambiguous manner. The invention is preferably implemented as a computer program executing on a programmable computer.

Analysis of ultrasound images in the presence of contrast agent

The present invention is a novel method for producing real-time colorized, contrast enhanced images from a sequence of grey-scale video images obtained during diagnostic ultrasound. The particular colorizing scheme varies according to which information parameter is desired to be displayed in real-time. The information parameters used to colorize a segment of video images include: time-to-arrival, duration of brightening, and absolute brightening. Time-to-arrival colorization depicts the time that a given pixel achieves a given intensity threshold. Duration of brightening depicts the time that a given pixel's intensity stays above a given threshold. Absolute brightening depicts various threshold values obtained by the region's pixels.

Method for processing real-time contrast enhanced ultrasonic images

Myocardial perfusion is assessed quantitatively by an ultrasonic echocardiographic procedure in which: the myocardium is ultrasonically imaged; an ultrasonic contrast agent consisting of a suspension of pressure-stable, water-insoluble gas-containing microspheres sized to pass through the pulmonary capillaries is injected intravenously; imaging is continued through the first transit of the microspheres through the myocardium; the videodensity versus time relationship is determined from the images; and blood flow through the myocardium is calculated from that relationship.

Method of ultrasonically quantitating myocardial perfusion using as

Abdominal ultrasound imaging is carried out by oral or rectal administration of an aqueous imaging agent containing micron size clay particles together with a sufficient amount of a solubilized hydrocolloid to maintain the particles in suspension. The walls of the stomach, duodenum and colon become coated with the clay particles and are thereby more clearly delineated by the ultrasonic imaging beam. At the same time, ultrasonic waves partially pass through the walls and delineate structures outside thereof. Wall delineation and wall transparency can thereby be simultaneously achieved.

Method of abdominal ultrasound imaging

A method is provided for enhanced ultrasonic imaging of the gastrointestinal tract by employing an imaging agent comprising an aqueous particulate dispersion of edible substances, such as insoluble brans and mineral particles. Hydrocolloid particles can also be used, preferably in combination with insoluble non-swelling edible particles.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Harold B Levene