Patent classifications
G01S7/52098
ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM
Provided are an ultrasound imaging apparatus and a control method thereof, the ultrasound imaging apparatus including: an input/output interface; a storage; and at least one processor configured to: display, via the input/output interface, at least one resulting value calculated based on a plurality of medical images; when one of the at least one resulting value is selected by an input via the input/output interface, retrieve, from the storage, a plurality of measurement values and a plurality of medical images used to calculate the selected resulting value; and output, via the input/output interface, the retrieved plurality of measurement values and the retrieved plurality of medical images on a single display.
ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD
A system for generating ultrasound data in respect of an anatomical body being scanned makes use of a predetermined scan protocol, which specifies a sequence of types of ultrasound scan of structures of interest. These types may for example be different imaging modalities (static, dynamic, 2D, 3D etc.) which are most appropriate for viewing different structures within the anatomical body. From received ultrasound images, a model is used to identify the structures of interest within the ultrasound images. The best images for creating the types of scan of the protocol are then identified and a sequence is compiled of those best images. In this way, a sequence is created which combines different types of scan, in a structured way according to a predetermined protocol. This makes the analysis of the sequence most intuitive for a user, and simplifies comparison between different sequences.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM WITH IMAGING PARAMETER VALUES
Aspects of the technology described herein relate to configuring an ultrasound system with imaging parameter values. Certain aspects relate to configuring an ultrasound system to produce sets of ultrasound images, each respective set of ultrasound images being produced with a different respective set of imaging parameter values; obtaining, from the ultrasound system, the sets of ultrasound images; determining a set of ultrasound images from among the sets of ultrasound images that has a highest quality; and based on determining the set of ultrasound images that has the highest quality, providing a prompt as to whether to configure the ultrasound system to produce ultrasound images using a set of imaging parameter values with which the set of ultrasound images that has the highest quality was produced.
Ultrasound system and method
A method for ultrasound imaging detects a region of interest from ultrasound signals of a first imaging mode received along sensing elements of a transducer probe. The sensed data is analyzed and the system responds to the region of interest detection by switching to a secondary imaging mode with the transducer probe at the same position. The transducer probe indexes to a next scan position and sensing and analysis are repeated at each of a number of indexed scan positions.
ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM INCLUDING WIRELESS PROBE TRACKING
Ultrasound imaging systems including transducer probes having wireless tags, and associated systems and methods, are described herein. For example, the wireless tags can store supplemental data about the transducer probes, and the ultrasound system can include a base unit configured to wirelessly communicate with nearby ones of the wireless tags to receive the supplemental data. The base unit can be further configured to display the transducer probes that are nearby. In some embodiments, the operator can filter or sort the displayed nearby transducer probes based on the supplemental data to identify a particular one of the nearby transducer devices that has one or more desired attributes.
SYSTEM FOR CHARACTERIZING TISSUE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
A system for characterizing tissue includes a probe that delivers a continuous and periodic mechanical vibration to a tissue of a subject; an ultrasound emitter that emits a sequence of ultrasound shots and an ultrasound receiver that receives corresponding echo signals to track how the tissue is moved by the periodic mechanical vibration delivered to the tissue; and a control module programmed to provide homogeneity information to an operator of the system, the homogeneity information being determined from at least some of the echo signals and being representative of the ability of the tissue to transmit elastic waves and of the homogeneity of the tissue with respect to the propagation of elastic waves.
WORKFLOW ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICAL DOPPLER ULTRASOUND EVALUATION
Systems, devices, and methods are provided to provide workflow assistance to an operator during a medical imaging procedure, such as a Doppler ultrasound evaluation of a body vessel of a subject. A sensor such as a gyroscope (128) may be integrated in an external ultrasound probe (102). Workflow assistance may be provided to position the ultrasound probe (102) to make accurate flow measurements of fluid within the vessel, such as by coupling system color flow information with gyroscope angles. The workflow assistance may also assist a user in identifying a perpendicular orientation of the ultrasound to be used as a reference in making Doppler measurements. The system may also be used to create a vessel map.
REGION OF INTEREST POSITIONING FOR LONGITUDINAL MONTIORING IN QUANTITATIVE ULTRASOUND
For longitudinal monitoring of a patient using quantitative ultrasound (QUS), one or more indicators of region of interest (ROI) position relative to the patient and one or more images from a past QUS imaging for the patient are stored. The indicator is in addition to an image with the ROI. For subsequent QUS imaging of the patient, the indicator is used to position the ROI. In QUS monitoring, a same or fixed anatomy is monitored from examination-to-examination based on placement of the ROI using a displayed indicator for the previous placement.
Ultrasound imaging system including wireless probe tracking
Ultrasound imaging systems including transducer probes having wireless tags, and associated systems and methods, are described herein. For example, the wireless tags can store supplemental data about the transducer probes, and the ultrasound system can include a base unit configured to wirelessly communicate with nearby ones of the wireless tags to receive the supplemental data. The base unit can be further configured to display the transducer probes that are nearby. In some embodiments, the operator can filter or sort the displayed nearby transducer probes based on the supplemental data to identify a particular one of the nearby transducer devices that has one or more desired attributes.
ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM MEMORY ARCHITECTURE
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.