The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 10, 1998
Filed:
May. 09, 1997
Yunqiu Wu, Cherry Hill, NJ (US);
Flemming Forsberg, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Barry Goldberg, Conshohocken, PA (US);
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to an ultrasound system and method, and more particularly to an excitation enhanced ultrasound system and method. The system employs at least one excitation signal as a 'flashlight' for exciting ultrasonic microbubbles contained in an ultrasound contrast agent. The system further employs at least one ultrasound imaging signal for imaging structures and blood flow within an object. The excitation signal excites and expands the microbubbles which increase the amount of returned ultrasound imaging signals scattered and returned by an object. This process increases the signal to noise ratio of the returning imaging signal sufficiently to provide exciter weighted imaging, blood pool imaging, and harmonic imaging, facilitating improved diagnostic ultrasound and therapeutic ultrasound.