Kretztechnik Ag

Ge Medical Systems Kretztechnik Gmbh & Co Ohg

Josef Steininger

Arthur Gritzky

Helmut Brandl

Franz Steinbacher

Methods and apparatus for achieving a compound ultrasound imaging mode are disclosed. The methods include a step of firing a plurality of ultrasound beams at a single location, receiving first and second echoes, and combining the first and second echoes to form a composite scan line. The following beam parameters may be varied: transmission focus depth, transmission aperture, transmission frequency, and transmission burst length. Echoes may vary in one or both of receive bandwidth and receive center frequency. In one embodiment, transmission focus depth, transmission aperture, and receive center frequency all differ between the beams. A weighting step may be performed before or after the summing step. The apparatus may include vector memory, a compound logic processor for weighting and summing the vectors, and memory for storing the summed vectors.

Methods and apparatus for ultrasonic compound imaging

With a method for determination of the direction of introduction ( ) and for controlling the introduction path of biopsy needles, probes and similar in organisms ( ) by using an ultrasound imaging machine, a scanning unit ( ) of the ultrasound is placed onto the introduction range of the organism ( ) in order to display an image ( ) according to a sectional plane ( ) in which or along which the directional axis ( ) of the introduction path runs and the biopsy needle or similar is controlled during its actual introduction in the corresponding image display ( ). For improvement of the accuracy of introduction and for an easier procedure a larger volume range ( ) of the organism ( ) is scanned by using a 3D-imaging and with a contingent interim storage of the derived signals by a volume storage the sectional plane ( ) to be displayed is selected according to predeterminable criteria from the volume ( ), after which selection the intended introduction path ( ) is virtually displayed in this image and an e.g. prismatic or cylindrical part of the total volume is selected especially within predeterminable limits ( ) being parallel to the axis of the introduction path within that image ( ), the partial volume being displayed in a 3D-image ( ), in which the biopsy needle or similar can be observed during its later actual introduction.

Method for determination of the direction of introduction and for controlling the introduction path of biopsy needles

A method and systems for obtaining 2D ultrasound images. The methods may comprise the steps of receiving ultrasonic information from a volumetric region of a body, volume scan converting the ultrasonic information from the volumetric region for processing a rendering box, and volume rendering the rendering box for projecting the rendering box onto a 2D slice by using volume rendering techniques. The systems may comprise an ultrasonic transducer for receiving ultrasonic information from a volumetric region of a body, a volume scan converter for processing a rendering box obtained from the volumetric region, and a volume rendering processor for projecting the rendering box onto a 2D slice by using volume rendering techniques for contrast enhancement.

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Vocklamarkt, Austria

Josef Steininger