US5848968A
Expired / Lapsed
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Ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus
Assignee: GE Healthcare Japan Corp
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Filing: 1997-06-13
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Granted: 1998-12-15
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Expires: 2017-06-13
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic imaging apparatus devised to implement contrast imaging of enhanced S/N ratios. The apparatus comprises: an exciting unit for generating ultrasonic waves by stimulating a contrast medium introduced into a target object; a contrast image creating unit for creating a contrast image based on the ultrasonic waves generated through stimulation; an echo generating unit for generating echoes of the ultrasonic waves transmitted into the target object; an echo image creating unit for creating an echo image based on the generated echoes; and a display unit for superimposing the contrast image and the echo image for display.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuhito Takeuchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/48; A61B8/481; G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; A61K; A61K49/00; A61K49/22; A61K49/222; A61K49/223; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8965; G01S15/897; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
An ultrasonic imaging method comprising the steps of: introducing into a target object a contrasting medium comprising a sound generating agent within a microbubble; generating ultrasonic waves by stimulating said contrasting medium to cause said sound generating agent to generate a unique ultrasonic wave different from ultrasonic waves caused by said target object; creating a contrast image based on the ultrasonic waves generated when said sound generating agent is activated; producing an echo image based on echoes of ultrasonic waves applied to said target object; and superimposing said contrast image and said echo image for display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
An ultrasonic imaging method comprising the steps of: introducing into a target object a contrasting medium comprising a sound generating agent within a microbubble; generating ultrasonic waves by stimulating said contrasting medium to cause said sound generating agent to generate a unique ultrasonic wave different from ultrasonic waves caused by said target object; creating a contrast image based on the ultrasonic waves generated when said sound generating agent is activated; producing an echo image based on echoes of ultrasonic waves applied to said target object; and superimposing said contrast image and said echo image for display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said sound generating agent is an explosive substance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said explosive substance consists of hydrogen and oxygen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said explosive substance comprises a mixture of propane and oxygen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said explosive substance comprises a mixture of propane and oxygen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said explosive substance comprises lead azide in solid form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said explosive substance comprises nitroglycerine in liquid form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said sound generating agent comprises a magnetic substance, and wherein said contrasting medium generates an ultrasonic wave by magneto-striction of said magnetic substance caused by application of a magnetic field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said magnetic substance comprises ferrite.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said sound generating agent comprises a dielectric, and wherein said contrasting medium generates an ultrasonic wave by expansion of said dielectric caused by application of an electric field to heat said diectric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said microbubbles are between 2 to 20 μm in size, and comprises a surface active agent selected from the group consisting of dextran water solution, sodium laurate water solution, and saponin water solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic waves have an instantaneous sound pressure inside said target object of between 50 to 100 KPa, wherein said explosive substance is ignited through compression, and wherein said ultrasonic waves generated by explosion of said explosive substance has a wide band and produces high level echoes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: means for introducing into a target object a contrasting medium comprising a sound generating agent contained within a microbubble; excitation means for generating ultrasonic waves by stimulating said contrasting medium to thereby cause said sound generating agent to be activated; contrast image creating means for creating a contrast image based on said ultrasonic waves generated by activation of said sound generating agent; echo generating means for generating echoes of ultrasonic waves applied to said target object; echo image creating means for creating an echo image based on said echoes generated by said echo generating means; and display means for superimposing said contrast image and said echo image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
112 words
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: means for introducing into a target object a contrasting medium comprising a sound generating agent contained within a microbubble; excitation means for generating ultrasonic waves by stimulating said contrasting medium to thereby cause said sound generating agent to be activated; contrast image creating means for creating a contrast image based on said ultrasonic waves generated by activation of said sound generating agent; echo generating means for generating echoes of ultrasonic waves applied to said target object; echo image creating means for creating an echo image based on said echoes generated by said echo generating means; and display means for superimposing said contrast image and said echo image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said sound generating agent is an explosive substance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said explosive substance consists of hydrogen and oxygen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said explosive substance comprises a mixture of propane and oxygen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said explosive stance comprises a mixture of propane and oxygen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said explosive substance comprises lead azide in solid form.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said explisive substance comprises nitroglycerine in liquid form.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said sound generating agent comprises a magnetic substance, and wherein said excitation means comprises means for applying a magnetic field to cause said contrasting medium to generate an ultrasonic wave by magneto-striction of said magnetic substance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said magnetic substance comprises ferrite.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said sound generating agent comprises a dielectric, and wherein said excitation means comprises means for applying an electric field to cause said contrasting medium to generate an ultrasonic wave by expansion of said dielectric.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said microbubbles are between 2 to 20 μm in size, and comprises a surface active agent selected from the group consisting of dextran water solution sodium laurate water solution, and saponin water solution.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said ultrasonic waves have an instantaneous sound pressure inside said target object of between 50 to 100 KPa, wherein said explosive substance is ignited through compression, and wherein said ultrasonic waves generated by explosion of said explosive substance has a wide band and produces high level echoes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-14 | 2002-06-15 | 2002-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | 2006-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-06-15 | 2010-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |