An ultrasound system performs duplex colorflow and spectral Doppler imaging, with the spectral Doppler interrogation performed at a sample volume location shown on the colorflow image. The colorflow image is displayed in a color box overlaid on a co-registered B mode image. A color box position and steering angle processor analyzes the spatial Doppler data and automatically sets the color box angle and location over a blood vessel for optimal Doppler sensitivity and accuracy. The processor may also automatically set the flow angle correction cursor in alignment with the direction of flow. In a preferred embodiment these optimization adjustments are made automatically and continuously as a user pauses at points for Doppler measurements along a length of the blood vessel.

The present embodiment relates to an ultrasound probe having a first ultrasound vibrator group and a second ultrasound vibrator group, comprising a plurality of matrix switches and an adder. The ultrasound probe has a mode to send ultrasound to a predetermined observation point within a subject by the first ultrasound vibrator group, and to receive ultrasound echoes reflected within the subject by the second ultrasound vibrator group. The plurality of matrix switches extract, based on the distance between the second ultrasound vibrator group and the observation point, a plurality of ultrasound echoes having substantially the same phase from a plurality of ultrasound echoes output by the second ultrasound vibrator group. The adder adds the plurality of ultrasound echoes extracted by the plurality of matrix switches for each of the matrix switches and outputs them.

Accuracy of spectrum analysis improves, and further reliability of information indicating tissue characterization of a living organ improves. A computation region, which is a target of frequency spectrum analysis, and a window region are set on a received signal. A plurality of received signals of the window region are weighted and the frequency spectrum analysis is performed on the received signals of the window region after the weighting. The weighting is performed by using weight distribution corresponding to strength distribution generated in the received signals of the window region in a case of assuming that the ultrasound transmitted from the plurality of transducers propagates as waves in the subject, reaches a target region in the subject which corresponds to the computation region, is reflected from the target region, then further propagates as waves in the subject, and reaches the plurality of transducers.

A method for ultrasound imaging generates an interleaved ultrasound beam pattern that alternates transmission between a focused ultrasound signal and a plane wave ultrasound signal during a scan. Reflected signal data from the focused ultrasound signal is directed to a first signal processing path that executes delay/sum processing and generates successive lines of image data. Reflected signal data from the plane wave ultrasound signal is directed to a second signal processing path that generates a full plane of image data. Pixel location and timing for data from the first signal processing path are synchronized with location and timing for the second signal processing path. The combined, synchronized image data from the first and second signal processing paths can be displayed, stored, or transmitted.

Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that measures an elastic modulus of a vascular wall, the apparatus allowing selection of a heartbeat suitable for the measurement of the elastic modulus. The problem is solved by storing M-mode images at predetermined intervals in the azimuth direction in a B-mode image, selecting a position in the azimuth direction in the B-mode image, and displaying the M-mode image of the selected position together with the B-mode image.

Concepts for the identification of a gain parameter value for ultrasound hemodynamic analysis are proposed. Overall, an output B-mode gain value may be determined which can be used to produce a B-mode ultrasound image having an optimized contrast-to-noise ratio in a region of interest of the ultrasound image. The global B-mode gain may be adjusted, resulting in an improvement of the contrast-to-noise ratio in the region of interest. Using the proposed concept(s), an output B-mode gain may be automatically generated which is suitable for hemodynamic analysis of a blood vessel of a subject, without the need for intervention by a skilled operator.

An intraluminal sensing system is provided, which includes an intraluminal device. The intraluminal device includes a flexible elongate member that can be positioned within a body lumen of a patient, and an ultrasound sensor at a distal portion of the flexible elongate member and configured to emit an ultrasound pulse in a longitudinal direction and to receive ultrasound echoes from the pulse. The system also includes a processor circuit in communication with the ultrasound sensor. The processor circuit is configured to compute a velocity spectrum of particles moving within the body lumen based on the received ultrasound echoes and, based on the velocity spectrum, compute a skew index indicative of a position or alignment of the ultrasound sensor within the body lumen. The processor circuit is also configured to output an indication of the skew index.

According to one embodiment, based on a reception signal, the Doppler signal generation unit generates a first Doppler signal attributed to motion of a living body in a ROI and a second Doppler signal attributed to slower motion. The velocity display scale determination unit determines first and second velocity display scales based on velocity distribution ranges for the first and second Doppler signals, respectively. The image generation unit generates first and second Doppler images based on the first and second Doppler signals, respectively. The display unit displays the first and second Doppler images with the first and second velocity display scales, respectively.

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces audio Doppler from detected Doppler signals. The Doppler signals are detected in a band of frequencies which corresponds to the velocity of blood flow signals, and Doppler information is displayed based on the detected band of frequencies. The audio Doppler system produces Doppler audio in a frequency band which is shifted in pitch from the detected band of frequencies. The operator of the ultrasound system is provided with a user control by which the degree of pitch shifting can be controlled. The ultrasound system displays Doppler blood flow velocities referenced to a transmit Doppler frequency f.sub.0, with the audio Doppler being shifted in pitch from the frequencies corresponding to the blood flow velocities.

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces audio Doppler from detected Doppler signals. The Doppler signals are detected in a band of frequencies which corresponds to the velocity of blood flow signals, and Doppler information is displayed based on the detected band of frequencies. The audio Doppler system produces Doppler audio in a frequency band which is shifted in pitch from the detected band of frequencies. The operator of the ultrasound system is provided with a user control by which the degree of pitch shifting can be controlled. The ultrasound system displays Doppler blood flow velocities referenced to a transmit Doppler frequency f.sub.0, with the audio Doppler being shifted in pitch from the frequencies corresponding to the blood flow velocities.