Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Wilko Gerwin Wilkening

Lex J Garbini

Ricardo Espinosa

Paul Donald Freiburger

Liang Zhai

Saurabh Datta

Chi-Yin Lee

Tobias Heimann

Kristof Ralovich

A volume of interest is ultrasonically imaged. An object of interest is automatically located from a volume scan. In one approach, a geometric bounding box surrounding the object is found by a classifier. In another approach, an option for zooming to the object is indicated to the user. A scan region is defined around the object or the bounding box automatically, whether in response to user selection of the option or not. The scan region is shaped based on the ultrasound scan format, but is smaller than the volume. The volume of interest defined by the scan region is used to generate images with a greater temporal and/or spatial resolution than scanning of the entire original volume.

Three-dimensional volume of interest in ultrasound imaging

A heart rate monitor provides a pulse or heartbeat, but without the on-going or continuous phase signal of ECG and/or with a delay relative to the actual heartbeat. For phase determination in echocardiography, the heartbeat from the heart rate monitor is used to assist in identification of phase from acquired ultrasound data. Rather than relying on just ECG or just image processing, the worn or handheld heart rate monitor is used to simplify the image process-based identification of phase.

Heart rate assistance for phase determination in echocardiography

Registration is provided for imaging with an intra-patient probe. The intra-patient probe is used for imaging or the imaging is, at least in part, of the intra-patient probe. Either approach for imaging with an intra-patient probe uses active transitions for registration. In one embodiment, one or more markers in the intra-patient probe are moveable relative to the intra-patient probe, allowing avoidance of occlusions and providing more reliable marker detection for registration. In another embodiment, a value of a parameter for imaging with at least one modality is changed so that acceptable or better registration with an image of another modality may be made. The imaging is repeated with differences, such as field-of-view or scale, allowing for registration for different types of modalities.

Active system and method for imaging with an intra-patient probe

A catheter is provided for medical ultrasound imaging that can be effectively used in combination with other imaging modalities to detect medical structures of interest as well as the catheter. Markers are added to the catheter with precision, which provides a means to merge the images from different modalities. Using a template, apertures for marker placement are formed in the catheter after creating the catheter housing. The ultrasound array may be used for accurate positioning of the template. Alternatively or additionally, a rigid insert with markers connects with the array. The insert holds the markers in place and may reduce artifacts in ultrasound scanning due to flexing of the array.

Markers for a medical ultrasound imaging catheter

Spatially distinct Spectral Doppler information is acquired. Spatially distinct transmit beams are formed at a same time or in parallel. One or more receive beams are formed in response to each transmit beam, providing samples for a plurality of laterally spaced locations. A spectrum is determined for each of a plurality of spatial locations. In another approach, samples are acquired for different regions at different times. The scanning for each region is interleaved based on the anatomic operation. Since spectral estimation relies on a time-continuous series of transmission and reception, the scanning for a region occurs over a sufficient period for spectral estimation before the scanning for a different region occurs. By using anatomic operation, sufficient time is provided for spectral estimation. Due to anatomic operation, different regions are associated with flow at different times.

Multiple beam spectral doppler in medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging

Adaptive acoustic pressure estimation is provided in medical ultrasound. The responses of tissue of a specific patient at different frequencies (e.g., linear and non-linear responses) are measured. The responses are used to determine the acoustic pressure. The measurement in a specific patient adapts the estimate to the patient. The acoustic pressure for the desired locations is determined in order to set the transmit power to the desired level, such as for contrast agent imaging with high SNR but with limited destruction of the contrast agents or to provide the desired thermal dose the acoustic therapy.

Adaptive acoustic pressure estimation in medical ultrasound

A catheter is provided for medical ultrasound imaging that can be effectively used in combination with other imaging modalities to detect medical structures of interest as well as the catheter. Markers are added to the catheter which allow more precise location identification of the catheter in the merging of the images from different modalities. Using a template, apertures for marker placement are formed in the catheter after creating the catheter housing. The ultrasound array may be used for accurate positioning of the template. Alternatively or additionally, a rigid insert with markers connects with the array. The insert holds the markers in place and may reduce artifacts in ultrasound scanning due to flexing of the array.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Wilko Gerwin Wilkening