U-systems, Inc.

Sonowise, Inc.

Shengtz Lin

Zengpin Yu

Tony Wu

Shih-Ping Wang

Donald Chin

Danhua Zhao

Anthony W Wu

Ali Alex Moayer

Thomas Neff

Feng Yin

Xiangyong Cheng

Hue Phung

Karen D Maroc

Eddy Ye

Pin Yu

Siqing Zhang

In one aspect, the invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system that includes an ultrasound receiver configured to receive ultrasound signals scattered from a sample in real time; an acoustic beam former; and an ultrasound data demodulation system. In one embodiment, the ultrasound imaging system further includes a processing system configured to process demodulated scan data and perform ultrasound image generation and flow processing and a display configured to show ultrasound image data and blood flow velocity data relative to such image data. Signals that include positive flow information and negative flow information are separated from received signals using phase-filters and analytic signal transforms such that a first and a second autocorrelation signal processing stage is used to generate mean positive flow, mean negative flow, and variance data for such flows.

Systems and methods for processing ultrasound color flow mapping

In one aspect the invention relates to a shear wave generator. The shear wave generator includes a first piezoelectric element having a first polarity in electrical communication with a first electrode; a second piezoelectric element having a second polarity in electrical communication with a second electrode, wherein the second polarity is an inverse of the first polarity; a boundary layer disposed behind both the first piezoelectric element and the second piezoelectric element; and an excitation signal generator in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first piezoelectric element vibrates in a first direction and the second piezoelectric element vibrates in a second direction in response to an excitation signal. In one embodiment, the piezoelectric elements are disposed within an ultrasound imaging probe.

Shear wave generation system and methods for ultrasound imaging

An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object includes a container for containing a coupling medium for transmitting an ultrasonic signal to the organic object disposed therein whereby a simultaneous multiple direction scanning process may be carried out without physically contacting the organic object. The ultrasonic image scanning system further includes ultrasound transducers for transmitting the ultrasonic signal to the organic object through the coupling medium without asserting an image deforming pressure to the organic object. These transducers distributed substantially around a two-dimensional perimeter of the container and substantially at symmetrical angular positions at approximately equal divisions of 360 degrees over a two-dimensional perimeter of the container. The transducers are further movable over a vertical direction alone sidewalls of the container for a real time three dimensional (3D) image data acquisition. The container further includes sidewalls covered with a baffle layer for reducing an acoustic reverberation.

Apparatus and method for real time 3D body object scanning without touching or applying pressure to the body object

In one embodiment of the invention, there is an ultrasound processing system that communicates images over a single asynchronous serial channel according to a scheme that does not require an isochronous serial channel and that switches among ultrasound imaging modes robustly. For example, the system is configured to packetize ultrasound image data of at least one ultrasound imaging mode into a stream of data frames and to convey the stream of data frames via the asynchronous channel. Each data frame includes indication of the ultrasound imaging mode and includes ultrasound-imaging-mode-specific imaging parameters. Other embodiments exist.

System and method for medical imaging with robust mode switching via serial channel

An ultrasound information processing system comprises a plurality of ultrasound devices coupled to a high-speed serial ultrasound information bus, wherein each ultrasound device comprises a program for communicating with other ultrasound devices according to an ultrasound information exchange protocol (UIEP). The UIEP is a lightweight, connection-oriented protocol adapted to efficiently transfer ultrasound information among different devices on the ultrasound information bus. Each ultrasound device comprises an application layer program for performing an ultrasound function, as well as a lower protocol layer program for receiving and sending data across the ultrasound information bus according to a high-speed serial bus standard that provides both isochronous and asynchronous data delivery. The ultrasound information exchange protocol (UIEP) program is adapted to receive a communication request from the application layer, open a connection-oriented communication session with the requested ultrasound device, and transfer ultrasound information through the lower protocol layer and across the ultrasound information bus to the requested device. Advantageously, any ultrasound device manufacturer provided with the UIEP program may readily generate application layer code capable of communicating with other manufacturers' ultrasound devices across the ultrasound information bus, without requiring specific knowledge of the internal structure of the other manufacturers' devices or of the specific frame/packet structure of the UIEP/lower layer protocols themselves.

Ultrasound information processing system and ultrasound information exchange protocol therefor

An ultrasound information processing system is disclosed in which ultrasound image data is packetized into ultrasound information packets and routed to one or more of a plurality of processors for performing image processing operations on the ultrasound image data, the ultrasound information packets being routed according to entries in a host-programmable routing table. A common distribution bus is coupled between packetizing circuitry and dedicated input buffers corresponding to each processor for distributing the ultrasound information packets, and a common output bus to is used to transfer processed image data from the processors to an output device. The disclosed ultrasound information processing system architecture allows for a high throughput rate for accommodating real-time image processing operations, while also allowing for ready programmability and upgradability. Advantageously, the disclosed ultrasound information processing system may be readily upgraded by coupling additional processors to the common distribution bus and the common output bus and by reprogramming the routing table to include the additional processors as destinations for the ultrasound information packets. The disclosed ultrasound information processing system architecture also provides for added field reliability by providing for an optional spare processor coupled to the common distribution bus and the common output bus, wherein upon detection of a failure of one of the existing processors, the optional spare processor may be loaded with a copy of a program being run by the failing processor and the routing table may by automatically modified to redirect ultrasound data packets from the failing processor to the spare processor.

Scalable real-time ultrasound information processing system

An instrument guide is described for mounting an invasive instrument such as a biopsy needle to an imaging probe, controlling its position, monitoring its position, and/or predictively displaying its position on a user display of the medical imaging system. A plurality of substantially rigid segments are hingeably connected to the probe, to an instrument handle, and to each other such that movement of the biopsy needle is restricted to within the imaged plane. However, substantial freedom of movement within the imaged plane is provided such that the instrument may be inserted into the patient over a wide range of angles. In one preferred embodiment, angle detectors are provided at each segment intersection and measurements provided for computing and displaying the instrument position and orientation on the user display. The instrument guide/position monitor is preferably made with low-cost components such that it is disposable after a single use. A predictive user display is provided in which the throw of a spring-loaded instrument is shown on the user display, the throw corresponding to the space that the instrument will occupy after a spring trigger is activated.

Guide and position monitor for invasive medical instrument

An architecture and protocol are provided for allowing flexible, low cost, and upgradable ultrasound information processing systems. Ultrasound information processing functions are performed by a plurality of ultrasound modules coupled to a high-speed, multiple-drop serial ultrasound information bus. The ultrasound information bus is used for packetized data transfer among the ultrasound modules in accordance with an ultrasound information exchange protocol. Additional or upgraded ultrasound modules are designed to connect to the ultrasound information bus and to communicate using the ultrasound information exchange protocol. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, as improvements in hardware technology or software algorithms are made, additional or upgraded ultrasound modules are simply &ldquo;plugged in&rdquo; to the ultrasound information bus, hereby reducing costs and increasing system versatility and upgradability.

Ultrasound information processing system

An extended view ultrasound imaging system in which a position sensor is used to detect the location and orientation of a ultrasound transducer for each scan frame as the ultrasound transducer is swept across the surface of a target. The contents of the successive scan frames, together with their location and orientation information, are processed to generate an extended view ultrasound image of the target region. An output array representing the extended view image is first initialized, and then successively updated as each scan frame is received. In a preferred embodiment, an alpha-blending algorithm is used to combine the information in the current scan frame with previous output array values to generate the current output array values. Because the content of the successive image frames is not relied upon to piece them together, system processing requirements are substantially reduced and the output image is robust against increased transducer speed, bumps in the transducer path, and departures of the transducer from a common plane. In an additional preferred embodiment, the alpha-blending weighting factor can be user-adjustable and/or can be dynamically adjusted on a per-location basis based on acoustic reflectivity, edge motion, or other factors. Also in an additional preferred embodiment, the amount of departure from a common plane during the movement of the transducer across the target can be displayed to the user for assistance in interpreting the extended view image.

Extended view ultrasound imaging system

An ultrasound system that generates compound images from component frames having decorrelated speckle patterns. Successive sets of distinct, speckle-affecting parameters are used to generate successive component frames for compounding, and are selected such that the successive component frames have decorrelated speckle patterns. The speckle-affecting parameters that are changed from frame to frame may be selected from a wide variety of parameters, including transmit beamformer parameters, receive beamformer parameters, and demodulator parameters. According to a preferred embodiment, the successive sets of speckle-affecting parameters differ from each other by at least two speckle-affecting parameters. According to another preferred embodiment, the amount by which each of the multiple speckle-affecting parameters is changed is less than a decorrelation threshold for that parameter, that is, by less that the amount that speckle-affecting parameter alone would be required to change in order to yield decorrelated speckle patterns if no other parameters were changed. When more speckle-affecting parameters are changed, each speckle-affecting parameter can be changed by an amount less than its decorrelation threshold, and yet decorrelated speckle patterns can still be obtained. Moreover, because two different types of speckle-affecting parameters tend to alter the spatial resolution of the component frames in different ways, the spatial resolution of the compounded image can be better as compared to the scenario in which only one speckle-affecting parameter is altered by its decorrelation threshold.

Method and system for generating ultrasound frames with decorrelated speckle patterns and generating a compound ultrasound image therefrom

An ultrasound imaging system capable of generating a flow image from B-mode echo frames. For each location in a target region, phase information is derived from the B-mode echo frames, and frame-to-frame changes in the phase information are processed to detect the presence of fluid flow at that location. A demodulator receives the B-mode echo frames and demodulates them into baseband signal components from which the phase information is derived. Preferably, the demodulator is highly accurate and robust, such that frame-to-frame changes in the phase information are reliably measured. From the reliably measured phase information, a phase shift metric is then computed and thresholded by a user-adjustable threshold value. Flow is present if the phase shift metric is greater than the threshold value and is absent otherwise. The user may adjust the threshold value in real time through an input device, such as a knob or keyboard, to increase or decrease the flow sensitivity as desired and/or to eliminate the slow-moving clutter. Together with a B-mode image, the flow image is provided to an ultrasound display. For further clutter removal, the flow image may be suppressed for those locations having B-mode intensities below a predetermined lower threshold or above a predetermined upper threshold. The provided system provides a real-time flow image having the same high frame rate, spatial resolution, and coverage area as the B-mode image.

Ultrasound imaging system with intrinsic doppler capability

A demodulator for use in an ultrasound information processing system is described, where in a preferred embodiment the demodulator uses a half-band filter to perform mirror-cancellation during the demodulation process. The demodulator comprises a mirror canceling quadrature mixer that mixes the input signal with quarter-sampling-frequency sinusoids and then low-pass-filters the mixed signals with half-band filters having a cutoff frequency of one-fourth the sampling frequency. In an ultrasound demodulator in accordance with a preferred embodiment, a significantly sharper mirror cancellation on the wideband input signal is achieved. Additionally, the number and complexity of mirror canceling filter operations significantly reduced, allowing for easier hardware implementation using less expensive, off-the-shelf components. Furthermore, simplified hardware for digitally providing harmonic imaging applications is achieved.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Shengtz Lin