Sonosite, Inc.

Atl Ultrasound, Inc.

Advanced Technology Laboratories, Inc.

Verasonics, Inc.

Fujifilm Sonosite, Inc.

Visualsonics Inc.

Sunnybrook Health Science Centre

Atlantis Diagnostics International, LLC

Sonosight, Inc.

Lauren S Pflugrath

Juin-Jet Hwang

Geoffrey Hugh Jones

Jacques Souquet

Leo R Catallo

Terrance R Doherty

John J Flynn

Blake W Little

Desmond Hirson

Ronald Elvin Daigle

F Stuart Foster

James Mehi

Justin M Coughlin

Pascal Roncalez

Michael A Wood

William R Ogle

Kai Wen Liu

Steven G Danielson

Laurence C Brasfield

Terrence R Doherty

Brian Starkoski

Larry Greisel

Jerrold Wen

Ronald E Daigle

Stuart F Foster

Peter John Kaczkowski

Steven M Bunce

Ramachandra Pailoor

Juin- Jet Hwang

William C Picatti

Brian J Pflugrath

John A Flynn

Peter J Kaczkowski

A method that includes transmitting coded waveforms simultaneously on multiple elements for several frames, constructing a first multi-input, single output (MISO) system from the codes to model transmit-receive paths, solving system and RF data observation by linear model theory, giving an IR set for the medium, and applying the estimates to a secondary MISO system, constructed by analogy to the first, but with pulses convenient for beamforming in the form of a focused set of single-cycle pulses for ideal focused reconstruction.

Method and system for coded excitation imaging by impulse response estimation and retrospective acquisition

A method and system for generating arbitrary ultrasonic waveforms using a tri-state transmitter. Three variants of the device are described to provide functionality in three usage scenarios.

Method and system for arbitrary waveform generation using a tri-state transmit pulser

A system for acquiring an ultrasound signal comprises a signal processing unit adapted for acquiring a received ultrasound signal from an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of elements. The system is adapted to receive ultrasound signals having a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz) with a transducer having a field of view of at least 5.0 millimeters (mm) at a frame rate of at least 20 frames per second (fps). The signal processing can further produce an ultrasound image from the acquired ultrasound signal. The transducer can be a linear array transducer, a phased array transducer, a two-dimensional (2-D) array transducer, or a curved array transducer.

High frequency array ultrasound system

A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.

Ultrasonic signal processor for a hand held ultrasonic diagnostic instrument

A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering including wall filtering matrix and Hartley transform matrix functions, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging. The advent of color flow imaging based on Doppler frequency estimation in medical ultrasound addresses a need for rapid assessment of overall flow characteristics in cardiac care. Typical prior art implementation utilize a high degree of temporal filtering in order to enhance the flow signal, but makes the image slow to respond to changes in flow. This is true of both directional and non-directional implementations, and is necessitated by the instability of traditional estimation techniques that are derived from older color flow techniques. A significant advantage of the present invention is excellent stability of both power and direction estimates.

Ultrasonic signal processor for power doppler imaging in a hand held ultrasonic diagnostic instrument

A hand held ultrasonic imaging device is provided as an integral unit with all components and circuitry necessary for both image acquisition and image display included in a single enclosure. Usually, the device will also include an on-board battery so that it can be used without any power cords or other cables. Preferably, the device is provided as part of a system including a recharging base unit having a receptacle for removably receiving and storing the hand held device.

Ultrasonic imaging device with integral display

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with cordless scanheads which wirelessly transmit ultrasonic image signals to the imaging system. The transmitted image signals are received by a receiver in the mainframe ultrasound system where they undergo further image processing and are displayed. In a preferred embodiment the scanhead image signals are at least partially beamformed in the scanhead before being transmitted to the ultrasound system, thereby reducing the required transmission bandwidth. The cordless scanheads are battery powered, and are recharged by the ultrasound system when the scanheads are not being used for scanning.

Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with cordless scanheads

Ultrasonic signal processor for a hand held ultrasonic diagnostic

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with cordless scanheads which wirelessly transmit ultrasonic image signals to the imaging system. The cordless scanheads are battery powered by rechargeable batteries which are recharged by the ultrasound system when the scanheads are not in use. In preferred embodiments the charging system is protected from contaminants such as ultrasonic gel.

Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with cordless scanhead charger

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with cordless scanheads which wirelessly transmit ultrasonic image signals to the imaging system. The transmitted image signals are accompanied by header and trailer information which identify display characteristics of the image signals for accurate processing and display by the ultrasound system, and also delineates discrete units of information such as data for a complete scanline or image frame. Communication protocol headers and trailers are described which define the communication and coding protocols for the transmitted ultrasound information.

Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging with cordless scanhead transmission system

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with scanheads having a reduced size cable by virtue of the performance of at least some of the beamforming in the scanhead. The need to individually couple signals from all of the elements of the transducer array of the scanhead is eliminated, and the size of the scanhead cable correspondingly reduced, by the coupling of combined, beamformed signals through the cable to an ultrasound system.

Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with thin cable ultrasonic probes

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Lauren S Pflugrath