US5694937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1996-01-30
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Granted: 1997-12-09
•
Expires: 2016-01-30
Abstract
Abstract According to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, a cross section of an examining human body having bubbles implanted as ultrasonic shadowing agent is scanned by an ultrasound so as to obtain an echo signal. Image data is repeatedly generated based on the echo signal. Then, image data is displayed as a motion image. Power of the ultrasound to be transmitted is changed from first power to second power, which is stronger than first power. The ultrasound of first power breaks a first amount of bubbles. The ultrasound of second power, which is stronger than first power, breaks a second amount of bubbles, which is larger than the first amount of bubbles. Though the image generated by use of first power is unclear, the amount of breakage of bubbles can be extremely retrained. Since the image is used to examine the state of the bubble flow to the region of interest, unclearness can be allowed. When the bubbles are fully introduced to the region of interest, first power is changed to second power. Second power is stronger than first power. Therefore, the image obtained by second power is clearer than image obtained by first power, and is fit for a high accurate diagnosis of the state of the blood stream.
Inventors
- 👤 Naohisa Kamiyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/48; A61B8/481; A61B8/06; A61B8/13; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52036; G01S7/52038; G01S7/52041; G01S7/52046; G01S7/52085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: scanning means for repeatedly scanning a cross section of an examining human body having implanted bubbles as an ultrasonic shadowing agent with an ultrasound to collect an echo signal; image data obtaining means for repeatedly obtaining image data based on said echo signal; displaying means for displaying said obtained image data as a motion image; changing means for changing power of said ultrasound from first power to second power stronger than said first power; and storing means for selectively storing the image data obtained from the obtaining means during a time period in which the cross section of the examining body is scanned with the ultrasound of the second power.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: scanning means for repeatedly scanning a cross section of an examining human body having implanted bubbles as an ultrasonic shadowing agent with an ultrasound to collect an echo signal; image data obtaining means for repeatedly obtaining image data based on said echo signal; displaying means for displaying said obtained image data as a motion image; changing means for changing power of said ultrasound from first power to second power stronger than said first power; and storing means for selectively storing the image data obtained from the obtaining means during a time period in which the cross section of the examining body is scanned with the ultrasound of the second power.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power is sound pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanning means includes a piezoelectric element group and voltage generating means for variably generating a voltage for driving said piezoelectric element group, and said changing means changes the voltage generated by said voltage generating means from a first voltage corresponding to said first power to a second voltage corresponding to said second power and being higher than said first voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image data obtain means includes means for storing image data first obtained after said power of the ultrasound is changed from said first power to said second power.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said displaying means includes means for displaying image data first obtained after said power of the ultrasound is changed from said first power to said second power as a static image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising inputting means for manually designating a change of power from said first power to said second power.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said changing means includes means for returning power of said ultrasound to said first power after the scanning is continued for a predetermined period of time by said second power.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image data obtaining means includes means for subtracting image data, first obtained after said power of the ultrasound is changed from said first power to said second power, and image data, nth obtained after said power of the ultrasound is changed from said first power to said second power, from each other between frames.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanning means scans plural ultrasonic scanning lines and includes means for repeating a receiving and transmitting operation twice in connection with each of said ultrasonic scanning lines, and means for subtracting the echo signal obtained by the first receiving and transmitting operation and the echo signal obtained by the second receiving and transmitting operation from each other, and said image data obtaining means obtains image data based on said subtracted echo signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanning means includes means for extracting a high frequency component from said echo signal, and said image data obtaining means obtains image data based on said high frequency component.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said displaying means includes means for displaying a power state of said ultrasound.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image obtaining means includes means for obtaining a time density curve of a pixel value of said image data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanning means includes first means for generating the ultrasound by said first power, and second means for generating the ultrasound by said second power.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: scanning means for repeatedly scanning a cross section of an examining human body having implanted bubbles as an ultrasonic shadowing agent with an ultrasound to repeat an echo signal; image obtaining means for repeatedly obtaining image data based on said echo signal; displaying means for displaying said generated image data as a motion image; changing means for changing a frequency of said ultrasound from a first frequency to a second frequency; and storing means for selectively storing the image data obtained from the obtaining means during a time period in which the cross section of the examining human being is scanned with the ultrasound of the second frequency.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: scanning means for repeatedly scanning a cross section of an examining human body having implanted bubbles as an ultrasonic shadowing agent with an ultrasound to repeat an echo signal; image obtaining means for repeatedly obtaining image data based on said echo signal; displaying means for displaying said generated image data as a motion image; changing means for changing a frequency of said ultrasound from a first frequency to a second frequency; and storing means for selectively storing the image data obtained from the obtaining means during a time period in which the cross section of the examining human being is scanned with the ultrasound of the second frequency.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said image obtaining means includes means for storing image data first obtained after said frequency of the ultrasound is changed from said first frequency to said second frequency.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said displaying means includes means for displaying image data first obtained after said frequency of the ultrasound is changed from said first frequency to said second frequency as a static image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising inputting means for manually designating a change of the frequency from said first frequency to said second frequency.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said changing means includes means for returning the frequency of said ultrasound to said first frequency after the scanning is continued for a predetermined period of time by said second frequency.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said image obtaining means includes means for subtracting image data, first obtained after said frequency of the ultrasound is changed from said first frequency to said second frequency, and image data, subsequently obtained after said frequency of the ultrasound is changed from said first frequency to said second frequency, from each other between frames.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said scanning means scans plural ultrasonic scanning lines and includes means for repeating a receiving and transmitting operation twice in connection with each of said ultrasonic scanning lines, and means for subtracting the echo signal obtained by the first receiving and transmitting operation and the echo signal obtained by the second receiving and transmitting operation from each other, and said image generating means generates image data based on said subtracted echo signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said scanning means includes means for extracting a high frequency component from said echo signal, and said image data obtaining means obtains image data based on said high frequency component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said displaying means includes means for displaying a frequency state of said ultrasound.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said image obtaining means includes means for obtaining a time density curve of a pixel value of said image data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
117 words
An ultrasound imaging method, which repeatedly scans a cross section of an examining human body having implanted bubbles as an ultrasonic shadowing agent with an ultrasound to obtain an echo signal, repeatedly obtains image data based on said echo signal, and displays said image data as a motion image, comprising: a first step of scanning said ultrasound by first power; a second step of scanning said ultrasound by second power stronger than said first power after scanning said ultrasound by said first power; and a third step of selectively storing the image data obtained during a time period in which the cross section of the examining human body is scanned with the ultrasound of the second power.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
117 words
An ultrasound imaging method, which repeatedly scans a cross section of an examining human body having implanted bubbles as an ultrasonic shadowing agent with an ultrasound to obtain an echo signal, repeatedly obtains image data based on said echo signal, and displays said image data as a motion image, comprising: a first step of scanning said ultrasound by first power; a second step of scanning said ultrasound by second power stronger than said first power after scanning said ultrasound by said first power; and a third step of selectively storing the image data obtained during a time period in which the cross section of the examining human body is scanned with the ultrasound of the second power.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 24, wherein said power is sound pressure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 25, further comprising a third step of returning power of said ultrasound to said first power after the scanning is continued for a predetermined period of time by said second power.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
117 words
An ultrasound imaging method, which repeatedly scans a cross section of an examining human body having implanted bubbles as an ultrasonic shadowing agent with an ultrasound to obtain an echo signal, repeatedly obtains image data based on said echo signal, and displays said image data as a motion image, comprising: a first step of scanning said ultrasound by first power; a second step of scanning said ultrasound by second power stronger than said first power after scanning said ultrasound by said first power; and a third step of selectively storing the image data obtained during a time period in which the cross section of the examining human body is scanned with the ultrasound of the second frequency.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
117 words
An ultrasound imaging method, which repeatedly scans a cross section of an examining human body having implanted bubbles as an ultrasonic shadowing agent with an ultrasound to obtain an echo signal, repeatedly obtains image data based on said echo signal, and displays said image data as a motion image, comprising: a first step of scanning said ultrasound by first power; a second step of scanning said ultrasound by second power stronger than said first power after scanning said ultrasound by said first power; and a third step of selectively storing the image data obtained during a time period in which the cross section of the examining human body is scanned with the ultrasound of the second frequency.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 27, further comprising a third step of returning the frequency of said ultrasound to said first frequency after the scanning is continued for a predetermined period of time by said second frequency.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5410516A
Cited
US5255683A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-08 | 2001-06-09 | 2001-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-08 | 2005-06-09 | 2005-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-08 | 2009-06-09 | 2009-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |