US5645066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with scanning guide for three dimensional imaging
Assignee: Advanced Technology Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-26
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Granted: 1997-07-08
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Expires: 2016-04-26
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with a scanning guide which assists a user in conducting three dimensional ultrasonic scanning of a patient. The guide is visual or audible or both, and gives the physician a real time indicator by which to gauge the rate and duration of three dimensional ultrasonic scanning. In a constructed embodiment the scanning guide is modulated by a counter coupled to cine memory, in which image frames are stored for three dimensional processing. As the cine memory fills toward capacity with ultrasonic image frames, the scanning guide is modulated in correspondence with the filling of the memory. A visual indicator of the ultrasonic frame sequence in memory is also provided, on which the user can move markers to eliminate frames at the beginning or end of the sequence from the three dimensional reconstruction.
Inventors
- 👤 Rebecca L. Gandini
- 👤 Delfin M. Catunao
- 👤 Jens Ulrich Quistgaard
- 👤 Lisa M. Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52034; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y15/00; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8993; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/52074; G01S7/52079; G01S15/8979; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for scanning a patient to acquire ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing signals derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic echo information to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; and a scanning guide which is observable by a user to aid the user in scanning a patient with the probe during the acquisition of echo information from a volumetric region of the body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for scanning a patient to acquire ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing signals derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic echo information to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; and a scanning guide which is observable by a user to aid the user in scanning a patient with the probe during the acquisition of echo information from a volumetric region of the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1, wherein said scanning guide comprises means for aiding the user in determining the time during which said volumetric region is to be scanned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1, wherein said scanning guide comprises means for aiding the user in determining the rate at which said probe is to be scanned over said volumetric region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1, wherein said scanning guide comprises means for informing the user as to the amount of ultrasonic echo information which has been acquired during the scanning of said volumetric region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1, wherein said scanning guide comprises means for informing the user when a desired amount of ultrasonic echo information has been acquired during the scanning of said volumetric region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a circuit for coupling said storage device to said scanning guide, whereby said scanning guide operates in correspondence to the filling of said storage device with signals derived from said ultrasonic echo information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1, wherein said storage device further comprises a storage device which can be utilized during two dimensional imaging as a cine memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for scanning a patient to acquire ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing signals derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic echo information to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; a scanning guide which is observable by a user to aid the user in scanning a patient with the probe during the acquisition of echo information from a volumetric region of the body; and a circuit for coupling said storage device to said scanning guide, whereby said scanning guide operates in correspondence to the filling of said storage device with signals derived from said ultrasonic echo information; wherein said circuit includes a counter for counting units of storage which are filled with signals derived from said ultrasonic echo information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for scanning a patient to acquire ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing signals derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic echo information to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; a scanning guide which is observable by a user to aid the user in scanning a patient with the probe during the acquisition of echo information from a volumetric region of the body; and a circuit for coupling said storage device to said scanning guide, whereby said scanning guide operates in correspondence to the filling of said storage device with signals derived from said ultrasonic echo information; wherein said circuit includes a counter for counting units of storage which are filled with signals derived from said ultrasonic echo information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 8, wherein said ultrasonic probe comprises means for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body to form image frames, and wherein said units of storage are image frames.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of any one of claims 1-8, further comprising a display device, and wherein said scanning guide comprises a visual indicator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 10, wherein said visual indicator comprises a moving visual indicator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 11, wherein said moving visual indicator comprises a bar.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of any one of claims 1-8, further comprising an audio speaker, and wherein said scanning guide comprises an audible sound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 13, further including a modulator coupled to said audio speaker for producing a tone modulated in volume, frequency, or duration in correspondence with the desired scanning of said volumetric region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a display, coupled to said storage device for visually indicating the amount of image frames stored by said storage device; and a user adjustable indicator which is presented on said display for indicating the portion of said stored image frames which are represented in a three dimensional display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a display, coupled to said storage device for visually indicating the amount of image frames stored by said storage device; and a user adjustable indicator which is presented on said display for indicating the portion of said stored image frames which are represented in a three dimensional display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 15, further including a three dimensional ultrasonic image processor, responsive to said user adjustable indicator, for forming a three dimensional image from said portion of said stored image frames indicated by said indicator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
201 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a display, coupled to said storage device for visually indicating the amount of image frames stored by said storage device; a user adjustable indicator which is presented on said display for indicating the portion of said stored image frames which are represented in a three dimensional display; and a three dimensional ultrasonic image processor, responsive to said user adjustable indicator, for forming a three dimensional image from said portion of said stored image frames indicated by said indicator; wherein said storage device comprises means for storing image frames and retaining the relative spatial position of said image frames in relation to said volumetric region, wherein said display visually indicates said relative spatial position of said image frames, and wherein said user adjustable indicator is adjustable by a user to eliminate frames spatially relating to an end of said volumetric region from three dimensional image processing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
201 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a display, coupled to said storage device for visually indicating the amount of image frames stored by said storage device; a user adjustable indicator which is presented on said display for indicating the portion of said stored image frames which are represented in a three dimensional display; and a three dimensional ultrasonic image processor, responsive to said user adjustable indicator, for forming a three dimensional image from said portion of said stored image frames indicated by said indicator; wherein said storage device comprises means for storing image frames and retaining the relative spatial position of said image frames in relation to said volumetric region, wherein said display visually indicates said relative spatial position of said image frames, and wherein said user adjustable indicator is adjustable by a user to eliminate frames spatially relating to an end of said volumetric region from three dimensional image processing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 17, wherein said user adjustable indicator is readjustable by a user to include frames in three dimensional image processing which were previously eliminated from three dimensional image processing by adjustment of said indicator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
99 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; and a user variable indicator for indicating an image frame of said stored image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
99 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; and a user variable indicator for indicating an image frame of said stored image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 19, wherein said indicator includes means for indicating the complete set of image frames stored in said storage device, and a visual marker for indicating the position of an image frame in said set of image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 19, wherein said indicator comprises an image display for displaying an image frame of said stored image frames which may be selected for omission from three dimensional processing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 19, wherein said indicator further comprises means for indicating a plurality of image frames of said stored image frames which are to be omitted from three dimensional processing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
165 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; and a user variable indicator for indicating an image frame of said stored image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing, wherein said indicator includes means for indicating the complete set of image frames stored in said storage device, and a visual marker for indicating the position of an image frame in said set of image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing; and wherein the position of said visual marker is adjustable by the user in relation to said complete set indicating means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
165 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; and a user variable indicator for indicating an image frame of said stored image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing, wherein said indicator includes means for indicating the complete set of image frames stored in said storage device, and a visual marker for indicating the position of an image frame in said set of image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing; and wherein the position of said visual marker is adjustable by the user in relation to said complete set indicating means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
179 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; and a user variable indicator for indicating an image frame of said stored image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing, wherein said indicator includes means for indicating the complete set of image frames stored in said storage device, and a visual marker for indicating the position of an image frame in said set of image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing; and further comprising a counter, coupled to said storage device for indicating the position of an image frame among said stored ultrasonic image frames, wherein said indicator is responsive to the count of said counter.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
179 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; and a user variable indicator for indicating an image frame of said stored image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing, wherein said indicator includes means for indicating the complete set of image frames stored in said storage device, and a visual marker for indicating the position of an image frame in said set of image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing; and further comprising a counter, coupled to said storage device for indicating the position of an image frame among said stored ultrasonic image frames, wherein said indicator is responsive to the count of said counter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
131 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; a user variable indicator for selecting an image frame of said stored image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing; and a user variable canceller circuit for canceling the selection of an image for omission from three dimensional processing, whereby a previously selected image frame may be again included in three dimensional processing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
131 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; a user variable indicator for selecting an image frame of said stored image frames which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing; and a user variable canceller circuit for canceling the selection of an image for omission from three dimensional processing, whereby a previously selected image frame may be again included in three dimensional processing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 25, wherein said user variable indicator comprises an image display for displaying an ultrasonic image of said stored ultrasonic image frames which may be selected for omission from three dimensional processing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
123 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing a sequence of ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; user variable means for selecting an image frame of said stored image frame sequence which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing; and a display for displaying image frames of said stored image frame sequence which may be selected by said user variable means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
123 words
A medical ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which acquires ultrasonic echo information over a volumetric region of the body for presentation in a three dimensional display format, comprising: an ultrasonic probe for acquiring ultrasonic echo information from a volumetric region of the body; a storage device for storing a sequence of ultrasonic image frames derived from said ultrasonic echo information; a processor for processing said ultrasonic image frames to form a three dimensional ultrasonic representation of said volumetric region; user variable means for selecting an image frame of said stored image frame sequence which is to be omitted from three dimensional processing; and a display for displaying image frames of said stored image frame sequence which may be selected by said user variable means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-07 | 2001-01-06 | 2001-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-07 | 2005-01-06 | 2005-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-07 | 2009-01-06 | 2009-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |