Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

King Yuen Wong

Chi Hyung Seo

Liexiang Fan

Paul Donald Freiburger

Wayne J Gueck

Helene C Houle

Qinglin Ma

Mervin Mencias Smith-Casem

Rodney L Boleyn

Matthew Holladay

Sparkle in color flow imaging is detected. Color flow data is estimated with different pulse repetition frequency (PRF). By correlating the color flow data estimated with different PRFs, sparkle is identified. Color flow images may be filtered to reduce motion while maintaining the sparkle region (e.g., kidney stone imaging) or reduce the sparkle region while maintaining motion (e.g., remove sparkle as system noise).

Sparkle artifact detection in ultrasound color flow

Flash suppression is provided in motion imaging. Separate regions of motion in a same frame or image are tested for flash independently. The size, shape, spatial variance, and/or location of a given region are used to categorize a level or likelihood of flash artifact for that region. Based on the level or likelihood, the motion information is altered to reduce flash.

Segment-based flash suppression in ultrasound color flow

In spectral pulsed wave Doppler imaging, spatial variance in signal and/or noise are reduced by combination of multiple spectra with at least partially decorrelated noise. Rather than requiring oversampling in time, the multiple spectra for one Doppler gate are created from different spatial signals. The Doppler gate is divided into sub-gates, the beamformed sample locations in the Doppler gate are grouped into two or more groups using any selection criterion, and/or different receive apertures are used to simultaneously sample the Doppler gate. Spectra for the gate are estimated from the samples with the different spatial content and then combined.

Spectral doppler detection

For Doppler imaging in ultrasound, a single parameter is formed from both power and velocity. In any combination function, a derivative of velocity and/or velocity are combined with power. The resulting value is used to look-up a color from a one-dimensional color map.

Dynamic power doppler imaging in ultrasound

Velocities are volume rendered in ultrasound. Early ray termination is used to avoid compositing velocities of different signs together. As long as the velocities are of the same sign, compositing continues from the viewer to a back of the volume being rendered. Once the velocity changes sign, compositing is reduced or terminated to avoid compositing velocities of different directions. The velocity rendering emphasizes the velocities of one direction closest to the viewer.

Velocity volume rendering with sign-based termination in ultrasound

In spectral Doppler imaging, a high PRF is used independent of the velocity scale. The adjustment is then of the velocity scale. By optimizing the velocity scale independent of the high PRF in an on-going or automated basis, user activation may be avoided and/or interruption to reconfigure for an altered PRF may be avoided. The acquired data may be stored, allowing for past data to be processed again when a new velocity scale or other setting is selected. The resulting spectral Doppler image may continue to display spectra over time without a gap or without premature loss of spectra due to reconfiguring.

Spectral doppler imaging with interruption avoidance

Responsive power saving is provided for ultrasound imaging, such as in portable ultrasound systems. By reducing scan line density in response to removal of a transducer from a patient, power usage may be reduced while still monitoring for return of the transducer to the patient. By disabling the display, power usage may be reduced while still monitoring for return of the transducer to the patient. All or most electronics not associated with monitoring for the return of the transducer to the patient may be disabled or not used to conserve power.

Responsive power saving in ultrasound

Motion artifacts are suppressed for motion imaging in medical diagnostic ultrasound. Spatial correlation is used to detect motion, including any lateral motion. Some aspect of clutter filtering may be set based on the amount of spatial correlation or detected motion. The shift for frequency mixing, wall filter cutoff frequency, and/or velocity threshold may be set.

Motion artifact suppression in ultrasound diagnostic imaging

Twinkle artifacts are suppressed in color flow. The color flow data itself, such as temporal decorrelation and spatial variance of the velocity and/or power, is used to identify the twinkle artifact. The aliased or high velocities caused by the twinkle artifact are suppressed, such as by reducing the velocity or by spatial filtering that adapts to the locations of the artifact. The powers caused by the twinkle artifact are suppressed.

Twinkle artifact suppression in ultrasound color flow

Flow information (e.g., velocity and acceleration) and/or pressure gradient information are determined with ultrasound. Both velocity and acceleration are simultaneously estimated using a model and least squares analysis. Anti-aliasing of velocity information may be provided using the model and least squares analysis. Pressure gradient is calculated from velocity information automatically, more likely providing consistent measurements. Consistency may be increased further by automatically positioning a region of interest in either a multidimensional spatial image or a spatial-temporal image. A parametric image of pressure gradient for each spatial location within the image is generated as well as a delta pressure curve. Any single one or combinations of two or more of the features described above may be used.

Medical ultrasound pressure gradient measurement

Flow is represented by a synthesized or artificial pattern. Motion is visualized by apparent displacement of pixels from one frame to the next. An artificial pattern is introduced in order to present the flow. A changing parameter, such as velocity, is viewed as a function of multiple images or over time. The rate of change of the parameter is proportional to the perceived or actual motion. Humans perceive flow as a live stream, such as tap water pouring from a faucet or a stream in a creek. Flow associated with medical imaging is presented in a similar way, such that a pattern or other flow information persists over multiple images. The flow is synthesized by generating patterns and moving the generated patterns in the field of view. The direction and rate of motion of the pattern are a function of the direction and rate of the flow.

Flow representation method and system for medical imaging

Elevation fold-in artifact is reduced by combining Doppler and B-mode image signals. The B-mode image signals and Doppler image signals are combined using a modulated, non-linear function. Portions of the B-mode image signal associated with stationary tissue are intact while portions of the B-mode image signal associated with flow are substantially suppressed. The suppression is gradual rather than binary to avoid flash artifacts, such as providing an adaptive modulated, non-linear combination function. Doppler or flow image signals are less sensitive than tissue or B-mode signals to elevation beam width. Suppressing the B-mode image signal where flow exists better identifies small vessels that would otherwise be characterized as tissue. Small vessel or other small structure information associated with moving fluid is inserted within the gray-scale or B-mode image. Clutter within large vessels is more likely mapped to black or removed. The pathology is kept intact by not removing stationary tissue information. The enhanced large vessel presentation and added visibility of small vessels provides more detail about tissue morphology for radiology applications. The resulting gray-scale image appears as if fine or narrow beams had been used in both the azimuth as well as the elevation directions. Unlike a true narrowing of the elevation beam at a focal point, the enhanced imaging is provided over an entire field of view, and is not probe dependent. The enhanced imaging could be a software solution.

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Issaquah, WA, United States of America

King Yuen Wong