A system and method include storage of an echo signal power spectrum of a reference phantom for a fundamental frequency band and an echo signal power spectrum of the reference phantom for a harmonic frequency band, acquisition of an echo signal power spectrum of a region of tissue for the fundamental frequency band and an echo signal power spectrum of the region of tissue for the harmonic frequency band, determination of a first backscatter coefficient based on the echo signal power spectrum of the region of tissue for the fundamental frequency band and the echo signal power spectrum of the reference phantom for the fundamental frequency band, determination of a second backscatter coefficient based on the echo signal power spectrum of the region of tissue for the harmonic frequency band and the echo signal power spectrum of the reference phantom for the harmonic frequency band, and determination of a non-linearity of the region of tissue based on the first backscatter coefficient and the second backscatter coefficient.

Systems and methods for processing an analog waveform before it is sampled by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for the purpose of multiline beamforming in an ultrasound system are provided. The multiline beamforming is enabled by delaying the same waveform by two different time delays and by re-combining the delayed waveforms. This approach leverages an architecture that can also be used for temporal filtering, in which a single acoustic signal can be read out of the ARAM twice, separated by time, taking advantage of the fact that the ARAM allows for non-destructive read operations.

An ultrasound probe in which there is local amplification, time gain compensation and digitization of each transducer element output. Inverting arrangements surround the time gain compensation and digitization units, and a synchronous inversion function enables deterministic distortion to be cancelled.

Systems, methods, and mechanisms for sound beam focal point determination within an acoustic medium may include propagating a first sound beam to intersect a second sound beam, where the second sound beam converges at a focal point. Signals representative of sound pressure in the acoustic medium may be received from one or more sensors. A direction and/or focal length of the first sound beam within the acoustic medium may be adjusted, based, at least in part, on the received signals, to produce a maximum amplitude of signals generated from nonlinear mixing of the first sound beam and the second sound beam, where the maximum amplitude may correspond to the intersection of the first sound beam with the focal point of the second sound beam. A location of the intersection may be determined, at least in some instances, using a time-of-arrival analysis on the received signals.

Systems, methods, and mechanisms for sound beam focal point determination within an acoustic medium may include propagating a first sound beam to intersect a second sound beam, where the second sound beam converges at a focal point. The first and second sound beams may originate from known locations. A direction of the first sound beam within the acoustic medium may be adjusted to produce a maximum amplitude of signals generated from nonlinear mixing of the first sound beam and the second sound beam, where the maximum amplitude may correspond to the intersection of the first sound beam with the focal point of the second sound beam. A location of the intersection may be determined, at least in some instances, based on the known locations, the adjusted direction of the first sound beam, and a direction of the second sound beam.

An ultrasound diagnostic device includes a transmitter that causes an ultrasound probe including a plurality of transducers aligned in an azimuth direction to perform a plurality of set transmissions including a plurality of types of ultrasound transmissions for a transmission line which is common, while changing a position of the transmission line in the azimuth direction, a receiver that acquires, from the ultrasound probe, received signals based on reflected waves for the plurality of types of ultrasound transmissions and generates a plurality of types of acoustic line signals, and a hardware processor that generates an imaging signal based on the plurality of types of acoustic line signals. During a time interval between the plurality of types of the ultrasound transmissions in a first set transmission, the transmitter performs at least one of the plurality of types of ultrasound transmissions in a second set transmission.

A dual frequency ultrasound transducer includes a high frequency (HF) transducer and a low frequency (LF) transducer that is positioned behind the high frequency transducer. An intermediate layer is positioned between the low frequency transducer and the high frequency transducer to absorb high frequency ultrasound signals. An alignment feature on the low frequency transducer is positioned with respect to a fiducial that is marked at a known position with respect to high frequency transducer elements of the HF transducer to align low frequency transducer elements of the LF transducer with the HF transducer elements.

An ultrasound system is used to measure the percent stenosis of a vessel in terms of residual lumen area. A measurement of volume blood flow is made at an unobstructed point of the vessel near the site of the stenosis. A measurement of the time averaged mean blood flow velocity is made at the stenosis. The quotient of these two values is computed to produce an estimate of the residual lumen area and the percent stenosis at site of the obstruction.

A dual frequency ultrasound transducer includes a high frequency (HF) transducer and a low frequency (LF) transducer that is positioned behind the high frequency transducer. An intermediate layer is positioned between the low frequency transducer and the high frequency transducer to absorb high frequency ultrasound signals. An alignment feature on the low frequency transducer is positioned with respect to a fiducial that is marked at a known position with respect to high frequency transducer elements of the HF transducer to align low frequency transducer elements of the LF transducer with the HF transducer elements.

An ultrasound system is disclosed comprising an ultrasound transducer array (100) comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer cells (130), each of said cell having an independently adjustable position and/or orientation such as to conform an ultrasound transmitting surface of the cell to a region of a body and a controller (140). The controller is configured to register the respective ultrasound transducer cells by simultaneously operating at least two ultrasound transducer cells in a transmit mode in which the cells transmit distinguishable ultrasound signals and operating the remaining ultrasound transducer cells in a receive mode. The controller extracts time-of-flight information of the respective ultrasound signals between transmitter and receiver and by systematically selecting different ultrasound transducer cells as transmitters, the controller collects sufficient time-of-flight information from which the respective position and/or relative orientation of the ultrasound transducer cells within the ultrasound transducer array may be derived. A method for operating the ultrasound system in this manner as well as a computer program product is also disclosed.