High transmit power diagnostic ultrasound imaging

Abstract

Methods and systems for improving an ultrasound image quality are provided. On demand transmission of unsustainably high power ultrasonic pulses are temporary or spatially interleaved with low power, zero power, or standard ultrasonic pulses. In response to a user initiated trigger, a physiological trigger, a system trigger, or external equipment trigger, the unsustainably high power pulses provide better signal-to-noise ratio and/or allow increased imaging frequencies for difficult to image patients in any of various modes, such as B-modes, harmonic B-mode responsive to tissue or contrast agent, or color flow modes. Unsustainably high power ultrasonic pulses cause an increase in the tissue temperature within the body and at the interface between the transducer and the skin. Standard imagining or standard high power pulses may increase either temperature by around 6° C., such as from a body normal 37° C. to an average of 43° C. over time. The unsustainably high power ultrasonic pulses may cause the temperature to exceed 43° C. for a limited time period. For example, the in-situ temperature may be increased to 50° C. for one second, but the temperature is not sustained at this level. Tissue damage may occur for increased temperature over a long period of time, unlike the standard 43° C. for ultrasound imaging. A thermocouple or/and software for temperature and procedure monitoring prevent operator errors in causing harm to patient and/or transducer.