The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (100) for producing spatially compounded 3D ultrasound image data, comprising: —an ultrasound acquisition unit (16) for acquiring a plurality of 3D ultrasound image data having different but at least partially overlapping field of views, —a tracking unit (62) adapted to determine a relative spatial position of each of the plurality of 3D ultrasound image data with respect to each other, and —a stitching unit (64) adapted to compound the plurality of 3D ultrasound image data by stitching them to each other in order to generate compounded 3D ultrasound image data, wherein the stitching unit (64) is adapted to calculate a stitching order of the plurality of 3D ultrasound image data based on the determined relative spatial position of the 3D ultrasound image data by minimizing an overlapping area of the different field of views of the plurality of 3D ultrasound image data, and wherein stitching unit (64) is adapted to stitch the plurality of 3D ultrasound image data according to said stitching order.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image generating unit configured to generate a plurality of different ultrasound image data items from reception signals corresponding to a plurality of different steering angles, on the basis of the reception signals which an ultrasound probe has generated on the basis of reflected ultrasonic waves received from a reflecting surface of a subject body by transmitting ultrasonic waves at the plurality of different steering angles, and a regression estimate generating unit configured to perform regression analysis on the basis of the different steering angles and the ultrasound image data items, and generate regression estimates which are weighting values on the basis of the result of the regression analysis, and an image synthesis unit configured to perform weighting on the plurality of ultrasound image data items on the basis of the regression estimates, and synthesize them, thereby generating synthetic image data.

In a method of imaging, a first transmission is carried out in a first direction. The reflected signals are received using a plurality of receiving devices. For each device, a two/three dimensional data set is formed. The first dimension (26b) represents the depth or range and the second dimension (26a) represents lateral distance. The optional third dimension (26c) represents an orthogonal lateral distance. The data set is formed by calculating times of flight for each pixel within a grid. The receive time is then assigned to each pixel. A data set is generated for each receiver, which results in a three/four dimensional data set from the first transmission of signals. A second transmission of signals is made in a different direction or from a different position. The signals received from the second transmission are received in the same way as those received from the first transmission. The signals are first summed across the transmit dimension to form a single data set, so that the data from various transmissions is combined. Adaptive beamforming is then carried out on this data set, resulting in a single adaptive image.

An apparatus, a method, and computer-implemented media. The apparatus is to receive, simultaneously, electrical signals based on respective reflected frequencies of a reflected ultrasonic waveform reflected from a target object as a result of a transmitted ultrasonic waveform; compound information from the electrical signals to generate compounded electrical signals; and cause generation of an output image on a display based on the compounded electrical signals.

An apparatus that detects a tip of an interventional tool based on at least two ultrasound images reconstructed for different beam steering angles within a volumetric region that includes the tool. The apparatus includes an image processor. The image processor includes a tip detection module used to perform a tip tool detection procedure. The tip tool detection procedure involves identifying shadow regions of the tool in the at least two ultrasound images and determining the position of the tip of the tool within the volumetric region.

An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe and an image display device. The ultrasound probe includes a transducer array, a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using the transducer array to generate a sound ray signal; a frame image information data generation unit that generates frame image information data from the sound ray signal; and a wireless communication unit that transmits a plurality of frame image information data items to the image display device. The image display device includes a frame type determination unit that determines frame types of the plurality of frame image information data items, a combination determination unit that determines whether or not to combine the frame image information data items on the basis of the frame types, a compound image data generation unit that combines the plurality of frame image information data items, and a display unit that displays a compound image.

A control unit cyclically sets a first transmission/reception condition for a close range and a second transmission/reception condition for a long range. A synthesizing unit generates an added frame sequence and an edge-enhanced frame sequence from a reception frame sequence, and generates a synthesized frame sequence from the added frame sequence and the edge-enhanced frame sequence. The first transmission/reception condition includes a first transmission frequency and a first transmission depth of focus. The second transmission/reception condition includes a second transmission frequency that is lower than the first transmission frequency and a second transmission depth of focus that is greater than the first transmission depth of focus.

The present disclosure describes ultrasound systems and methods configured to determine stiffness levels of anisotropic tissue. Systems can include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echoes responsive to ultrasound pulses transmitted toward anisotropic tissue having an angular orientation with respect to a nominal axial direction of the transducer. Systems can also include a beamformer configured to control the transducer to transmit a push pulse along a steering angle for generating a shear wave in the anisotropic tissue. The steering angle can be based on the angular orientation of the tissue. The transducer can also be controlled to transmit tracking pulses. Systems can also include a processor configured to store tracking line echo data generated from echo signals received at the transducer. In response to the echo data, the processor can detect motion within the tissue caused by propagation of the shear wave and measure the velocity of the shear wave.

A catheter-based ultrasound imaging system configured to provide a full circumferential 360-degree view around an intra-vascular/intra-cardiac imaging-catheter-head by generating a three-dimensional view of the tissue surrounding the imaging-head over time. The ultrasound imaging system can also provide tissue-state mapping capability. The evaluation of the vasculature and tissue characteristics include path and depth of lesions during cardiac-interventions such as ablation. The ultrasound imaging system comprises a catheter with a static or rotating sensor array tip supporting continuous circumferential rotation around its axis, connected to an ultrasound module and respective processing machinery allowing ultrafast imaging and a rotary motor that translates radial movements around a longitudinal catheter axis through a rotary torque transmitting part to rotate the sensor array-tip. This allows the capture and reconstruction of information of the vasculature including tissue structure around the catheter tip for generation of the three-dimensional view over time.

A system is provided for imaging an underwater environment. The system includes a transducer assembly with at least one transmit transducer element and an array of receive transducer elements. Each receive transducer element is configured to receive sonar returns and form sonar return data. A sonar signal processor is configured to receive the sonar return data from each receive transducer element and generate sonar image data. The sonar return data from all of the receive transducer elements may be summed and used to form a high-definition 1D (e.g., time-based) sonar image. The sonar return data from only a subgroup may be summed and used to form a lower-definition 1D sonar image. In some systems, an array of series-connected transmit transducer elements can be used. The orientation of the emitting faces of the array may vary slightly to mimic a curved surface for increased beam coverage.