US5882315A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasonic imaging method and image for doppler tissue parameters
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-23
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Granted: 1999-03-16
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Expires: 2017-12-23
Abstract
Abstract An improved Doppler tissue imaging mode combines two Doppler image parameters developed as respective functions of receive signals acquired from a single firing event to generate a combined image parameter for display. In one example, the combined image parameter has a color hue that varies in a piecewise linear way with Doppler tissue velocity or Doppler tissue acceleration and a color value or intensity that varies linearly with Doppler tissue energy. Because the same firing events are used to develop both Doppler image parameters for a given region of tissue, high temporal and/or spatial resolution is made possible.
Inventors
- 👤 Ting-Lan Ji
- 👤 Ismayil Guracar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/48; A61B8/488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for forming an ultrasonic image of an imaged region, said method comprising the following steps: (a) developing first and second Doppler image parameters of an imaged region, both said first and second Doppler image parameters varying as respective functions of receive signals acquired from a single firing event; said first Doppler image parameter selected from the group consisting of: Doppler tissue velocity, Doppler tissue acceleration and combinations thereof; said second Doppler image parameter indicative of Doppler tissue energy; said first and second Doppler image parameters both having a common imaging mode selected from the group consisting of: a harmonic imaging mode and a fundamental imaging mode; (b) combining the first and second Doppler image parameters to form a combined image parameter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for forming an ultrasonic image of an imaged region, said method comprising the following steps: (a) developing first and second Doppler image parameters of an imaged region, both said first and second Doppler image parameters varying as respective functions of receive signals acquired from a single firing event; said first Doppler image parameter selected from the group consisting of: Doppler tissue velocity, Doppler tissue acceleration and combinations thereof; said second Doppler image parameter indicative of Doppler tissue energy; said first and second Doppler image parameters both having a common imaging mode selected from the group consisting of: a harmonic imaging mode and a fundamental imaging mode; (b) combining the first and second Doppler image parameters to form a combined image parameter.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for forming an ultrasonic image of an imaged region, said method comprising the following steps: (a) developing first and second Doppler image parameters of an imaged region, both said first and second Doppler image parameters varying as respective functions of receive signals acquired from a single firing event; said first Doppler image parameter selected from the group consisting of: Doppler tissue velocity, Doppler tissue acceleration and combinations thereof; said second Doppler image parameter indicative of Doppler tissue energy; and (b) combining the first and second Doppler image parameters to form a combined image parameter, said combined image parameter characterized by a color hue that varies as a function of the first Doppler image parameter and by a color value that varies as a function of the second Doppler image parameter.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for forming an ultrasonic image of an imaged region, said method comprising the following steps: (a) developing first and second Doppler image parameters of an imaged region, both said first and second Doppler image parameters varying as respective functions of receive signals acquired from a single firing event; said first Doppler image parameter selected from the group consisting of: Doppler tissue velocity, Doppler tissue acceleration and combinations thereof; said second Doppler image parameter indicative of Doppler tissue energy; and (b) combining the first and second Doppler image parameters to form a combined image parameter, said combined image parameter characterized by a color hue that varies as a function of the first Doppler image parameter and by a color value that varies as a function of the second Doppler image parameter.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for forming an ultrasonic image of an imaged region, said method comprising the following steps: (a) developing first and second Doppler image parameters of an imaged region, both said first and second Doppler image parameters varying as respective functions of receive signals acquired from a single firing event; said first and second Doppler image parameters both having a common imaging mode selected from the group consisting of: a harmonic imaging mode and a fundamental imaging mode; one of said Doppler image parameters indicative of filtered Doppler tissue energy; and the other of said Doppler image parameters indicative of unfiltered Doppler tissue energy; and (b) combining the first and second Doppler image parameters to form a combined image parameter.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for forming an ultrasonic image of an imaged region, said method comprising the following steps: (a) developing first and second Doppler image parameters of an imaged region, both said first and second Doppler image parameters varying as respective functions of receive signals acquired from a single firing event; said first and second Doppler image parameters both having a common imaging mode selected from the group consisting of: a harmonic imaging mode and a fundamental imaging mode; one of said Doppler image parameters indicative of filtered Doppler tissue energy; and the other of said Doppler image parameters indicative of unfiltered Doppler tissue energy; and (b) combining the first and second Doppler image parameters to form a combined image parameter.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for forming an ultrasonic image of an imaged region, said method comprising the following steps: (a) developing first and second Doppler image parameters of an imaged region, both said first and second Doppler image parameters varying as respective functions of receive signals acquired from a single firing event; one of said Doppler image parameters indicative of filtered Doppler tissue energy; and the other of said Doppler image parameters indicative of unfiltered Doppler tissue energy; (b) combining the first and second Doppler image parameters to form a combined image parameter said combined image parameter characterized by a color hue that varies as a function of the first Doppler image parameter and by a color value that varies as a function of the second Doppler image parameter.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for forming an ultrasonic image of an imaged region, said method comprising the following steps: (a) developing first and second Doppler image parameters of an imaged region, both said first and second Doppler image parameters varying as respective functions of receive signals acquired from a single firing event; one of said Doppler image parameters indicative of filtered Doppler tissue energy; and the other of said Doppler image parameters indicative of unfiltered Doppler tissue energy; (b) combining the first and second Doppler image parameters to form a combined image parameter said combined image parameter characterized by a color hue that varies as a function of the first Doppler image parameter and by a color value that varies as a function of the second Doppler image parameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 1 or 2 wherein said second Doppler image parameter is indicative of filtered Doppler tissue energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 1 or 2 wherein said second Doppler image parameter is indicative of unfiltered Doppler tissue energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1 or 3 wherein the common imaging mode is the fundamental imaging mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention of claim 1 or 3 wherein the combined image parameter is characterized by a color hue that varies as a function of the first Doppler image parameter and by a color value that varies as a function of the second Doppler image parameter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the color value varies as a linear function of the second Doppler image parameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the color hue varies as a piecewise linear function of the first Doppler image parameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 2 or 4 wherein the color value varies as a linear function of the second Doppler image parameter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 2 or 4 wherein the color hue varies as a piecewise linear function of the first Doppler image parameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein the first Doppler image parameter is indicative of Doppler tissue velocity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein the first Doppler image parameter is indicative of Doppler tissue acceleration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the color hue of the combined image parameter is a piecewise linear function of Doppler tissue acceleration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein step (b) comprises the step of applying a reversible mapping function to the first and second Doppler image parameters to form the combined image parameter.
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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) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |