Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090005682 | Tissue complex modulus and/or viscosity ultrasound imaging - Complex response of tissue is calculated as function of a convolution relationship associated with measured strain with applied stress. In the Fourier or frequency domain, the convolution is a simple algebraic computation, such as multiplication. The complex response provides elasticity and viscosity information, assisting diagnosis. Complex compliance may be directly calculated from the strain and stress. Complex fluidity may be directly calculated from strain rate and stress. | 01-01-2009 |
20090036749 | Multi-volume rendering of single mode data in medical diagnostic imaging - Separate renderings are performed for data of a same medical imaging mode. The data is processed differently prior to rendering and/or rendered differently to enhance desired image information. For example, a same set of ultrasound B-mode data is rendered with opacity rendering and with maximum intensity projection or surface rendering. The surface or maximum intensity projection highlights strong transitions associated with bones. The opacity rendering maintains tissue information. Different sets of B-mode data may be separately rendered, such as one set processed to emphasize contrast agent response and another set processed to emphasize tissue. The separate renderings are aligned and combined. The combined rendering is output as an image. | 02-05-2009 |
20090216119 | SPARSE TISSUE PROPERTY MEASUREMENTS IN MEDICAL ULTRASOUND IMAGING - The shear modulus information is measured for sparse locations in a scanning field of view. For other locations, the shear modulus information is calculated as a function of the sparsely measured values and strain information. For example, shear modulus values are provided for every grid point in a field of view based on strain values for every grid point and on sparsely measured shear modulus values. | 08-27-2009 |
20100016718 | Shear Wave Imaging - Shear wave imaging is provided in medical diagnostic ultrasound. A region is imaged to determine a location in which to calculate shear velocity. The shear velocity is estimated for the location. The imaging may guide the identification of the location, reducing the time to determine useful shear information. The estimate of shear may be validated, such as using cross-validation, to indicate the confidence level of the shear value. The shear velocity may be displayed relative to a scale of shear velocities associated with a type of tissue, such as tissue for an organ. The location on a scale may be more intuitive for a user. | 01-21-2010 |
20100280373 | Feedback in medical ultrasound imaging for high intensity focused ultrasound - Feedback of position is provided for high intensity focused ultrasound. The location of a beam from a HIFU transducer is determined using ultrasound imaging. The ultrasound imaging detects tissue displacement caused by a beam transmitted from the HIFU transducer. The displacement or information derived from the displacement may be used to detect and image the location of the beam. Separate transducers may be used for HIFU and imaging. The user aims the HIFU transmissions with feedback from ultrasound imaging of displacement of tissue. | 11-04-2010 |
20100286516 | HIGH PULSE REPETITION FREQUENCY FOR DETECTION OF TISSUE MECHANICAL PROPERTY WITH ULTRASOUND - Detection of tissue response is provided with a high pulse repetition frequency. A sequence of separable signals is transmitted in one event. For example, pulses at different frequencies are transmitted as separate waveforms, but in rapid succession. As another example, coded transmit pulses are used. After transmission of the pulses, signals are received. Based on the different frequencies or coding, tissue response is measured at different times based on the receive event. Instead of one measure, a plurality of measures are provided for a given transmit and receive event pair, increasing the effective pulse repetition frequency for shear or elasticity imaging. | 11-11-2010 |
20100317971 | FEEDBACK IN MEDICAL ULTRASOUND IMAGING FOR HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND - Feedback of position is provided for high intensity focused ultrasound. The location of a beam from a HIFU transducer is determined using ultrasound imaging. The ultrasound imaging detects tissue displacement caused by a beam transmitted from the HIFU transducer. The displacement or information derived from the displacement may be used to determine a center line or point location (e.g., foci) of the tissues response to HIFU. The location of the line or point may be displayed in an image, such as an overlay or by color coding. | 12-16-2010 |
20110060221 | Temperature prediction using medical diagnostic ultrasound - Temperature related information or a temperature characteristic is detected, at least in part, with a medical diagnostic ultrasound system. Anatomy information from an ultrasound scan is used with modeling to determine the temperature or other temperature related parameter. Ultrasound information may be obtained in real-time with application of thermal therapy, so may be used to better control thermal treatment. The anatomy information may be used to align model features measured from a region. The anatomy information may be used as an input into the model. The anatomy information may be used to select an appropriate model, such as selection based on the type of tissue. The anatomy information may be used to correct an output of the model, such as accounting for temperature distribution due to an adjacent vessel. | 03-10-2011 |
20120089019 | Solving for Shear Wave Information in Medical Ultrasound Imaging - A shear wave velocity solution is provided for medical ultrasound imaging. Rather than determining shear wave information for each location based on distance from the origin of the shear wave and time to peak displacement for the location, displacement profiles resulting from different combinations of origin and detection locations are correlated. Shear information is detected using displacements from a diverse spatial combination of transmission locations and detection locations. The correlation combination is used in a same function for simultaneously solving for the delays for multiple lateral locations. Spatial diversity and layered correlation may provide for more accurate shear wave estimation. | 04-12-2012 |
20120108968 | Tissue Density Quantification Using Shear Wave Information in Medical Ultrasound Scanning - Tissue density is quantified using shear wave information in medical ultrasound scanning. Measurements of the tissue reaction to shear waves indicate tissue density. For example, shear wave velocity is linked with density using clinical study information. The shear wave velocity in a region, over the entire tissue, or at various locations is used to determine a corresponding density or densities. The tissue density information is used for categorization, estimation of disease risk, imaging, diagnosis, or other uses. The tissue may be breast tissue or other tissue. | 05-03-2012 |
20120215101 | Viscoelasticity Measurement Using Amplitude-Phase Modulated Ultrasound Wave - A viscoelastic property of tissue is measured in vivo. To collect more information and/or estimate viscosity, shear modulus, and/or other shear characteristics, an amplitude and phase modulated waveform is transmitted to the tissue. The displacement caused by the waveform over time includes displacements associated with response to different frequencies. By examining the displacement in the frequency domain, one or more viscoelastic properties may be calculated for different frequencies. The frequency response may indicate the health of the tissue. | 08-23-2012 |
20130066204 | Classification Preprocessing in Medical Ultrasound Shear Wave Imaging - Classification preprocessing is provided for medical ultrasound shear wave imaging. In response to stress, the displacement at one or more locations in a patient is measured. The displacement over time is a curve representing a shift in location. One or more characteristics of the curve, such as signal-to-noise ratio and maximum displacement, are used to classify the location. The location is classified as fluid or fluid tissue, solid tissue, or non-determinative. Subsequent shear imaging may provide shear information for locations of solid tissue and not at other locations. | 03-14-2013 |
20130123630 | Adaptive Image Optimization in Induced Wave Ultrasound Imaging - Adaptive image optimization is provided in induced wave ultrasound imaging. The values for various transmit and receive parameters may be set adaptively. Based on feedback from use with a given patient, the values are set to better optimize signal-to-noise ratio, off-time, tracking accuracy or other consideration. Transmit frequency, F-number, line spacing, tracking pulse repetition frequency, line sampling count, and/or push pulse amplitude values may adapt. | 05-16-2013 |
20130218011 | Visualization of Associated Information in Ultrasound Shear Wave Imaging - Information associated with shear calculation is also displayed in ultrasound shear wave imaging. More information than just a shear wave image is provided for diagnosis. Information about the quality or variables used to determine shear is also displayed. This additional information may assist the user in determining whether the shear information indicates tissue characteristics or unreliable shear calculation. | 08-22-2013 |
20130225994 | High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Registration with Imaging - High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is registered with imaging. The effects of transmission from a HIFU transducer, such as a rise in temperature, are detected by a separate imaging system. By using multiple transmissions, a plurality of locations of the transmissions from the HIFU transducer are determined within the imaging system coordinates. A transform relating the imaging system coordinates to the HIFU transducer coordinates is determined from the detected effects. The transform may be used to relate locations indicated in images of the imaging system with coordinates of the HIFU transducer for application of HIFU. The imaging system may not have to scan the HIFU transducer or fiducials and a fixed relationship may not be needed. | 08-29-2013 |
20130261429 | Magnetic Resonance and Ultrasound Parametric Image Fusion - Magnetic resonance and ultrasound parametric image is fused or combined. MRI and ultrasound imaging are used to acquire the same type of parametric images. Fused data is created by combining ultrasound and MRI parametric data at times for which both types of data are available. Rather than sacrificing rate, fused data is created for times for which MRI data is not acquired. A curve representing the values of the parameter over time is fit to the available MRI and ultrasound data of each location, resulting in fused data at times for which MRI data is not available. | 10-03-2013 |
20130281877 | Skin Temperature Control in Therapeutic Medical Ultrasound - Skin temperature is measured during medical ultrasound therapy. The temperature of a standoff between the transducer and skin is monitored. The temperature of the standoff relates to the skin temperature. The temperature, whether skin or standoff temperature, is used to control the therapy. The temperature feedback may allow for increased or optimize therapy levels. | 10-24-2013 |
20130296743 | Ultrasound for Therapy Control or Monitoring - Therapy control and/or monitoring is performed with an ultrasound scanner. The ultrasound scanner detects temperature to monitor therapy, and perform HIFU beam location refocusing of the therapy system based on the temperature. The monitoring is synchronized with the therapy using a trigger output of the ultrasound scanner. The trigger output responds to a scan sequence of the ultrasound scanner. To meet a given therapy plan, the scan sequence is customized, resulting in the customized trigger sequence. Three dimensional or multi-planar reconstruction rendering is used to represent temperature for monitoring feedback. The temperature at locations not being treated may be monitored. If the temperature has an undesired characteristic (e.g., too high), then the therapy is controlled by ceasing, at least temporarily. | 11-07-2013 |
20130345545 | Ultrasound Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Magnetic resonance imaging frame rate is increased using ultrasound information. Magnetic resonance (MR) images may be provided at an increased frame rate relative to the MR acquisition. For times between acquisition of MR data, MR data may be created. To account for any change in position of tissue over time, ultrasound is used to track the location of tissue or other imaged structure. The ultrasound-based location information is used to indicate the position of intensities or values of the created MR data. MR images at a higher frame rate than the MR acquisition are generated, but with accuracy of relative position based on the ultrasound data. | 12-26-2013 |
20130345565 | Measuring Acoustic Absorption or Attenuation of Ultrasound - Acoustic absorption or attenuation of ultrasound is measured. To estimate acoustic absorption or attenuation, the displacement of tissue caused by stress at different frequencies is measured. The absorption or attenuation is calculated from the displacements. The incorporation of different frequencies provides another variable for solving for attenuation or absorption despite unknown tissue stiffness. | 12-26-2013 |
20140276046 | Ultrasound ARFI Displacement Imaging Using an Adaptive Time Instance - In ARFI imaging, a cost function is used to identify a time of displacement that best or sufficiently indicates the desired information. For example, the displacements associated with a combination of contrast and signal-to-noise ratio are identified. The time at which the desired displacements occur may be other than the time of the maximum. Since the time is common to displacements for one or more scan lines, the displacement image may be assembled line-by-line or by groups of lines. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276058 | Fat Fraction Estimation Using Ultrasound with Shear Wave Propagation - Fat fraction is estimated from shear wave propagation. Acoustic radiation force is used to generate a shear wave in tissue of interest. The attenuation, center frequency, bandwidth or other non-velocity characteristic of the shear wave is calculated and used to estimate the fat fraction. | 09-18-2014 |
20150087976 | Shear Wave Estimation from Analytic Data - Shear wave characteristics are estimated from analytic data. Measures of displacement are converted into complex representations. The magnitude and/or phase components of the complex representation may be used for estimating various characteristics, such as velocity, center frequency, attenuation, shear modulus, or shear viscosity. The zero-phase of the phase component represents an occurrence of the shear wave at that location. | 03-26-2015 |