Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.

An imaging system (IS), comprising an image acquisition unit (AQ) for acquisition of image data (I1) of an object (OB). The image acquisition is based on an imaging signal imitable by the unit (AQ) to interact with the object. The image acquisition unit (AQ) is adjustable to operate at different acquisition parameters that determine a property of the imaging signal. A predictor component (PC) predicts, based at least on the acquired image data (I1), one or more properties of the object. An acquisition parameter adjuster (PA) adjusts, based on the predicted object properties, the acquisition parameter at which the image acquisition unit (AQ) is to acquire follow-up image data (I2).

Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.

An Oblique Backscatter Ultrasound imaging system includes a transceiver that has an US source and a plurality of US detectors configured in receive signals off axis from the US source. While the system is arranged in a reflective configuration, the device produces transmissive contrast signals to yield improved images. The transceiver can be mounted to a movable stage or robotic arm to enable it to scan the surface of a target. Alternatively, scanning can be performed by 1D or 2D phased-array transmission or detection.

An ultrasound signal processing device including: a transmitter performing transmission events while varying ultrasound beam travel direction; a reception processor generating an acoustic line signal for each transmission event that is performed by generating reception signal sequences and performing delay-and-summing; a combiner generating an intermediate combined acoustic line signal by combining acoustic line signals corresponding to the first to latest transmission events performed for a current frame; an evaluator judging whether a subsequent transmission event is to be performed for the current frame by calculating an evaluation value from an energy value of the intermediate combined acoustic line signal and judging whether the evaluation value satisfies a predetermined condition; and an outputter outputting the intermediate combined acoustic line signal as a combined acoustic line signal once the evaluator judges that a subsequent transmission event is not to be performed for the current frame.

The invention relates to an ultrasound imaging method for imaging a part (1), characterized by the implementation of the following steps: selecting a first sub-region ({tilde over (Z)}) of the part from a first image (I.sup.A(Z)) of a region (Z) of the part (1), determining, for each point of the first selected sub-region ({tilde over (Z)}), the times of flight (T.sub.ij.sup.A({tilde over (Z)})) corresponding to the paths according to a first reconstruction mode (A) going through the point from a transmitter i to a receiver j for a set of M*N transmitter-receiver couples of an ultrasound signal; determining a second sub-region of the part, a point (P) of the region belonging to the second sub-region when a time of flight (T.sub.ij.sup.B(P)) of the path according to a second reconstruction mode (B) going through the point (P) from a transmitter i to a receiver j of said set of M*N transmitter-receiver couples coincides with a time of flight (T.sup.A({tilde over (Z)})) of a path according to the first reconstruction mode from a transmitter to a receiver from the transmitter i to the receiver j going through one of the points of the first selected sub-region.

There are provided methods and systems for producing a wave-beam having substantially constant lateral extent over a desired range of distances, and interrogation and response system and methods utilizing the same. The method for producing a wave-beam having substantially constant lateral extent includes generating a plurality of at least partially incoherent constituent wave-beams having different divergences and directing the plurality constituent wave-beams to propagate along substantially parallel propagation axes such that the constituent wave-beams at least partially overlap and superpose to form a combined wave-beam. The divergences and intensities of the constituent wave-beams are selected such that the combined wave-beam has a desired substantially constant extent over a desired range of distances along said propagation axes.

A multiple aperture ultrasound imaging system may be configured to store raw, un-beamformed echo data. Stored echo data may be retrieved and re-beamformed using modified parameters in order to enhance the image or to reveal information that was not visible or not discernible in an original image. Raw echo data may also be transmitted over a network and beamformed by a remote device that is not physically proximate to the probe performing imaging. Such systems may allow physicians or other practitioners to manipulate echo data as though they were imaging the patient directly, even without the patient being present. Many unique diagnostic opportunities are made possible by such systems and methods.

Examples relate to a method for processing beamformed data of a medium. The beamformed data includes a first set of beamformed data associated with a first spatial region and a second set of beamformed data associated with a second spatial region, and the method includes estimating the clutter caused by the second spatial region at the first set.

An ultrasound imaging device includes an assembly of ultrasound transducers. The ultrasound transducers are divided into a plurality of sub-assemblies each having P ultrasound transducers. The ultrasound imaging device further includes, for each sub-assembly, K transceiver circuits and a configurable routing circuit coupling the P ultrasound transducers of the sub-assembly to the K transceiver circuits where P and K are integers greater than or equal to 2, with K smaller than P. Each sub-assembly further includes at least one mobile transducer capable of being, via the routing circuit, disconnected or connected to any one of a plurality of predefined transceiver circuits among the K transceiver circuits of the sub-assembly.