An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that can combine image data and has a first image mode and a second image mode, includes: a hardware processor that sets a scan parameter of an image of a first image mode according to restriction information of the scan parameter, when the second image mode is turned on and generates control information; a transmitter that generates a drive signal and inputs the drive signal to an ultrasound probe that transmits transmission ultrasound to a test object and receives reflected ultrasound; a receiver that generates a reception signal of the images in the first and second image modes from an electric signal generated in the ultrasound probe; a first-image-mode image generator that generates first-image-mode image data; a second-image-mode image generator that generates second-image-mode image data; and a combiner that generates combined image data by combining the generated first-image-mode image data and second-image-mode image data.

A main image includes a tomographic image and a reference image as ultrasonic images. A sub-image includes a site-of-interest map and a site-of-interest list. During execution of ultrasonic inspection, each time a new site of interest is identified, a site-of-interest symbol is added to the site-of-interest map and a site-of-interest record is added to the site-of-interest list. The position of the site-of-interest symbol is determined according to the position of a probe mark.

An ultrasound imaging system includes a cine buffer in which image frames produced during an examination are stored. A processor is programmed to select one or more image frames from the cine buffer for presentation to an operator for approval and inclusion in a patient record or other report. The operator can accept the proposed image frames or can select one or more other image frames from the cine buffer. The processor may select image frames at spaced intervals in the cine buffer for presentation. Alternatively, the processor compares image frames in the cine buffer with one or more target image frames. Image frames that are similar to the target image frames are presented to the operator to confirm. Alternatively, image frames can be selected by the processor that contain a specific feature or that are similar to image frames that were previously selected by the operator when performing a particular type of examination.

In a method, system and computer program product for retrospective image clip saving for ultrasound imagery, the method includes first repeatedly acquiring different ultrasound image clips of a single view of a target feature through an ultrasound imaging probe of an ultrasound imaging system. Thereafter, each of the acquired different ultrasound image clips may be stored in a buffer of the ultrasound imaging system and a value assigned to each of the image clips according to a measured characteristic. A save-best-clip mode of the ultrasound imaging system is then activated and, in response to the activation, each of the acquired different ultrasound image clips are compared in the buffer based upon respective measured characteristics, at least one of the clips demonstrating an optimal value for the measured characteristic is identified and the identified clip or clips saved in memory of the ultrasound imaging system in correspondence with the single view.

The medical imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a bath tank for accommodating a test subject, the test subject being at least a portion of a body of a human subject; a measurement device movable in a predetermined direction, the measurement device including ab group of elements to emit a radiation wave into the bath tank and receive a scattered radiation wave; and a control unit for measuring by the measurement device when at least one of a location of the test subject within a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction, a location of the test subject in the predetermined direction, and continuity of data measured by the measurement device satisfies a predetermined condition. Because of this configuration, the medical imaging apparatus is able to acquire data covering the entire measurement target site.

Various methods and systems are provided for ultrasound imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises, during an ultrasound scan, acquiring a series of ultrasound frames with a first transmit power, receiving a command to pause the ultrasound scan, and acquiring at least one ultrasound frame with a second transmit power higher than the first transmit power responsive to receiving the command. In this way, the image quality of an image displayed while a scan is paused may be increased.

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.

A hierarchical workflow is configured to associate examination information captured using an imaging platform with contextual metadata. The examination information may include ultrasound image data, which may be associated with annotations, measurements, pathology, body markers, and/or the like. The hierarchical workflow may comprise templates associated with respective anatomical regions, locations, volumes, and/or surfaces. A template may define configuration data to automatically adapt the imaging platform to capture imaging data in the corresponding anatomical region. The template may further include guidance information for the operator, including processing steps for capturing relevant examination information. Additional examination information may be captured and included in the hierarchical workflow.

An ultrasound imaging system includes a cine buffer in which image frames produced during an examination are stored. A processor is programmed to select one or more image frames from the cine buffer for presentation to an operator for approval and inclusion in a patient record or other report. The operator can accept the proposed image frames or can select one or more other image frames from the cine buffer. The processor may select image frames at spaced intervals in the cine buffer for presentation. Alternatively, the processor compares image frames in the cine buffer with one or more target image frames. Image frames that are similar to the target image frames are presented to the operator to confirm. Alternatively, image frames can be selected by the processor that contain a specific feature or that are similar to image frames that were previously selected by the operator when performing a particular type of examination.

A method for controlling an image appearance in ultrasound system comprising the steps of: providing a set of image appearance feature control parameters (401, 402, 403), each one of which is related to an image appearance feature according to a pre-defined relation between a value scale of the said image appearance feature control parameter (401, 402, 403) and an image appearance related to a certain condition of the corresponding image appearance feature; generating a relation between the value of each image appearance feature control parameter (401, 402, 403) and the value of the standard workflow setting parameters (411, 412, 413) of a combination of standard workflow setting parameters (410) influencing the said image appearance feature; varying automatically the value of the one or more of the said standard workflow setting parameters (411, 412, 413) of the combination of standard workflow setting parameters (410) influencing an image appearance feature as a function of a variation of the value of the corresponding image appearance feature control parameters (401, 402, 403) for obtaining the image appearance feature variation requested by the variation of the said image appearance feature control parameter (401, 402, 403); visualizing of the image with the requested image appearance feature. The invention also relates to an image appearance feature control user interface operating according to the method and to an ultrasound system comprising an image appearance feature control interface.