US5904653A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging combining intensity data with color flow velocity or power data
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1997-05-07
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Granted: 1999-05-18
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Expires: 2017-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for three-dimensional imaging of ultrasound data by combining projections of intensity data with projections of velocity or power data from a volume of interest. The apparatus is an ultrasound scanner which collects B-mode or color flow images in a cine memory, i.e., for a multiplicity of slices. The data from a respective region of interest for each slice is sent to a master controller, such data forming a volume of interest. The master controller performs an algorithm that projects the data in the volume of interest on a plurality of rotated image planes using a ray-casting technique. The combined intensity and velocity or power data for each projection is stored in a separate frame in the cine memory. These reconstructed frames are then displayed selectively by the system operator.
Inventors
- 👤 William Thomas Hatfield
- 👤 Todd Michael Tillman
- 👤 Patricia A. Schubert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8993; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52034; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01S7/52066; G01S7/52074; G01S7/52071; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A system for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising: an ultrasound transducer array for transmitting ultrasound beams and detecting ultrasound echoes reflected in the object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes; means for acquiring Doppler data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each Doppler datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes; means for acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes; memory means for storing pixel data for each of said multiplicity of sample volumes, each pixel datum comprising a respective Doppler datum and a respective intensity datum corresponding to a respective sample volume; means for retrieving a set of pixel data from said memory means corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; means for volumetrically rendering the Doppler data and the intensity data in said pixel data set by projecting the Doppler data onto a first image plane to form a first projected Doppler data set representing a first Doppler projected image component and by projecting the intensity data onto said first image plane to form a projected intensity data set representing a first B-mode projected image component; a display monitor; and means for displaying a first projected image by combining said first Doppler and said first B-mode projected image components on said display monitor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
254 words
A system for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising: an ultrasound transducer array for transmitting ultrasound beams and detecting ultrasound echoes reflected in the object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes; means for acquiring Doppler data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each Doppler datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes; means for acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes; memory means for storing pixel data for each of said multiplicity of sample volumes, each pixel datum comprising a respective Doppler datum and a respective intensity datum corresponding to a respective sample volume; means for retrieving a set of pixel data from said memory means corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; means for volumetrically rendering the Doppler data and the intensity data in said pixel data set by projecting the Doppler data onto a first image plane to form a first projected Doppler data set representing a first Doppler projected image component and by projecting the intensity data onto said first image plane to form a projected intensity data set representing a first B-mode projected image component; a display monitor; and means for displaying a first projected image by combining said first Doppler and said first B-mode projected image components on said display monitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein each Doppler datum comprises velocity data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein each Doppler datum comprises power data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising: means for volumetrically rendering the Doppler data and the intensity data in said pixel data set by projecting the Doppler data onto a second image plane which is rotated relative to said first image plane to form a second projected Doppler data set representing a second Doppler projected image component and by projecting the intensity data onto said second image plane to form a projected intensity data set representing a second B-mode projected image component; means for displaying a second projected image by combining said second Doppler and second B-mode projected image components on said display monitor.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
324 words
A system for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising: an ultrasound transducer array for transmitting ultrasound beams and detecting ultrasound echoes reflected in a scanning plane intersecting the object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; means for acquiring Doppler data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each Doppler datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; means for acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; first memory means for storing a frame of pixel data for each of a multiplicity of successive scanning planes, each pixel datum comprising a respective Doppler datum and a respective intensity datum corresponding to a respective sample volume in said scanning plane; second memory means for storing a multiplicity of frames of pixel data output in succession by said first memory means; means for retrieving a set of pixel data from said second memory means corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; means for volumetrically rendering said pixel data set to form a multiplicity of Doppler data sets representing respective projections of the Doppler data in said pixel data set onto a corresponding multiplicity of image planes; means for volumetrically rendering said pixel data set to form a multiplicity of intensity data sets representing respective projections of the intensity data in said pixel data set onto said corresponding multiplicity of image planes; means for storing said Doppler and intensity data sets in said second memory means; means for selecting one of said multiplicity of image planes; a display monitor; and means for displaying the Doppler and intensity data sets corresponding to said selected image plane on said display monitor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
324 words
A system for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising: an ultrasound transducer array for transmitting ultrasound beams and detecting ultrasound echoes reflected in a scanning plane intersecting the object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; means for acquiring Doppler data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each Doppler datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; means for acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; first memory means for storing a frame of pixel data for each of a multiplicity of successive scanning planes, each pixel datum comprising a respective Doppler datum and a respective intensity datum corresponding to a respective sample volume in said scanning plane; second memory means for storing a multiplicity of frames of pixel data output in succession by said first memory means; means for retrieving a set of pixel data from said second memory means corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; means for volumetrically rendering said pixel data set to form a multiplicity of Doppler data sets representing respective projections of the Doppler data in said pixel data set onto a corresponding multiplicity of image planes; means for volumetrically rendering said pixel data set to form a multiplicity of intensity data sets representing respective projections of the intensity data in said pixel data set onto said corresponding multiplicity of image planes; means for storing said Doppler and intensity data sets in said second memory means; means for selecting one of said multiplicity of image planes; a display monitor; and means for displaying the Doppler and intensity data sets corresponding to said selected image plane on said display monitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 5, wherein each Doppler datum comprises velocity data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 5, wherein each Doppler datum comprises power data.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising the following steps: transmitting ultrasound beams in a scanning plane intersecting the object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from predetermined sample volumes in said scanning plane; scanning said scanning plane through the object volume; acquiring color flow data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each color flow datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said predetermined sample volumes in said scanning plane; generating in real time a frame of pixel data for each scanning plane, each pixel datum comprising a respective color flow datum and a respective intensity datum corresponding to a respective sample volume in said scanning plane; storing a multiplicity of successive frames of pixel data; retrieving a set of pixel data from said stored multiplicity of frames of pixel data, said pixel data set corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; projecting the color flow data and the intensity data in said pixel data set onto a first image plane, thereby forming a projected data set representing a first projected image; and displaying said first projected image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising the following steps: transmitting ultrasound beams in a scanning plane intersecting the object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from predetermined sample volumes in said scanning plane; scanning said scanning plane through the object volume; acquiring color flow data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each color flow datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said predetermined sample volumes in said scanning plane; generating in real time a frame of pixel data for each scanning plane, each pixel datum comprising a respective color flow datum and a respective intensity datum corresponding to a respective sample volume in said scanning plane; storing a multiplicity of successive frames of pixel data; retrieving a set of pixel data from said stored multiplicity of frames of pixel data, said pixel data set corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; projecting the color flow data and the intensity data in said pixel data set onto a first image plane, thereby forming a projected data set representing a first projected image; and displaying said first projected image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 8, wherein each Doppler datum comprises velocity data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 8, wherein each Doppler datum comprises power data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
(Amended) The method as defined in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: volumetrically rendering the Doppler data and the intensity data in said pixel data set by protecting the Doppler data onto a second image plane which is rotated relative to said first image plane to form a second projected Doppler data set representing a second Doppler projected image component and by projecting the intensity data onto said second image plane to form a projected intensity data set representing a second B-mode projected image component; and displaying a second projected image by combining said second Doppler and second B-mode projected image components.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
301 words
A method for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising the steps of: transmitting ultrasound beams in a scanning plane intersecting the object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from predetermined sample volumes in said scanning plane; scanning said scanning plane through the object volume; acquiring color flow data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each color flow datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said predetermined sample volumes in said scanning plane; storing in real time a frame of pixel data for each scanning plane, each pixel datum comprising a respective color flow datum and a respective intensity datum corresponding to a respective sample volume in said scanning plane; storing a multiplicity of frames of pixel data output in succession by said first memory means; retrieving a set of pixel data from said stored multiplicity of frames of pixel data, said pixel data set corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; generating a multiplicity of color flow data sets representing respective projections of the color flow data in said pixel data set onto a corresponding multiplicity of image planes; generating a multiplicity of intensity data sets representing respective projections of the intensity data in said pixel data set onto said corresponding multiplicity of image planes; storing said multiplicities of color flow and intensity data sets; selecting one of said multiplicity of image planes; and displaying the color flow and intensity data sets corresponding to said selected image plane.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
301 words
A method for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising the steps of: transmitting ultrasound beams in a scanning plane intersecting the object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from predetermined sample volumes in said scanning plane; scanning said scanning plane through the object volume; acquiring color flow data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each color flow datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes in said scanning plane; acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said predetermined sample volumes in said scanning plane; storing in real time a frame of pixel data for each scanning plane, each pixel datum comprising a respective color flow datum and a respective intensity datum corresponding to a respective sample volume in said scanning plane; storing a multiplicity of frames of pixel data output in succession by said first memory means; retrieving a set of pixel data from said stored multiplicity of frames of pixel data, said pixel data set corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; generating a multiplicity of color flow data sets representing respective projections of the color flow data in said pixel data set onto a corresponding multiplicity of image planes; generating a multiplicity of intensity data sets representing respective projections of the intensity data in said pixel data set onto said corresponding multiplicity of image planes; storing said multiplicities of color flow and intensity data sets; selecting one of said multiplicity of image planes; and displaying the color flow and intensity data sets corresponding to said selected image plane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 12, wherein each Doppler datum comprises velocity data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 12, wherein each Doppler datum comprises power data.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising the following steps: scanning the object volume with ultrasound beams; detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from predetermined sample volumes in the object volume; acquiring color flow data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each color flow datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes; acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said predetermined sample volumes; storing a respective pixel data for each one of said multiplicity of sample volumes to form a pixel data set, each pixel datum comprising a respective color flow datum and a respective intensity datum; retrieving a subset of pixel data from said stored set of pixel data, said pixel data subset corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; projecting the color flow data and the intensity data in said pixel data subset onto a first image plane, thereby forming a projected data set representing a first projected image; and displaying said first projected image.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for three-dimensional imaging of an ultrasound scattering medium moving relative to adjacent tissue in an object volume, comprising the following steps: scanning the object volume with ultrasound beams; detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from predetermined sample volumes in the object volume; acquiring color flow data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the scattering medium, each color flow datum corresponding to a respective one of said multiplicity of sample volumes; acquiring intensity data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes reflected by the tissue, each intensity datum corresponding to a respective one of said predetermined sample volumes; storing a respective pixel data for each one of said multiplicity of sample volumes to form a pixel data set, each pixel datum comprising a respective color flow datum and a respective intensity datum; retrieving a subset of pixel data from said stored set of pixel data, said pixel data subset corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; projecting the color flow data and the intensity data in said pixel data subset onto a first image plane, thereby forming a projected data set representing a first projected image; and displaying said first projected image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 15, wherein each Doppler datum comprises velocity data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 15, wherein each Doppler datum comprises power data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method as defined in claim 15, further comprising the steps of: volumetrically rendering the Doppler data and the intensity data in said pixel data set by projecting the Doppler data onto a second image plane which is rotated relative to said first image plane to form a second projected Doppler data set representing a second Doppler projected image component and by projecting the intensity data onto said second image plane to form a projected intensity data set representing a second B-mode projected image component; and displaying a second projected image by combining said second Doppler and second B-mode projected image components.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
255 words
An imaging system comprising: an ultrasound transducer array comprising a multiplicity of transducer elements; a transmit beamformer programmed to cause said transducer array to transmit in sequence a plurality of focused beams which scan a plane; a receive beamformer programmed to form respective beamsummed receive signals from respective sets of signals transduced by said transducer array following transmission of said respective beams; a Doppler data processor programmed to derive a set of Doppler data from said beamsummed receive signals; a B-mode data processor programmed to derive a set of intensity data from said beamsummed receive signals; a memory for storing said sets of Doppler and intensity data in the form of sets of pixel data, each pixel datum comprising a Doppler datum and an intensity datum derived from ultrasound scattered from a particular sample volume; a projection image data processor programmed to perform the steps of: (a) retrieving a set of pixel data from said memory means corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; (b) volumetrically rendering the Doppler data and the intensity data in said pixel data set by projecting the Doppler data onto an image plane to form a projected Doppler data set representing a Doppler projected image component and by projecting the intensity data onto said image plane to form a projected intensity data set representing a B-mode projected image component; and (c) combining said Doppler and B-mode projected image components; and a display device for displaying said combined Doppler and B-mode projected image components as a projected image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
255 words
An imaging system comprising: an ultrasound transducer array comprising a multiplicity of transducer elements; a transmit beamformer programmed to cause said transducer array to transmit in sequence a plurality of focused beams which scan a plane; a receive beamformer programmed to form respective beamsummed receive signals from respective sets of signals transduced by said transducer array following transmission of said respective beams; a Doppler data processor programmed to derive a set of Doppler data from said beamsummed receive signals; a B-mode data processor programmed to derive a set of intensity data from said beamsummed receive signals; a memory for storing said sets of Doppler and intensity data in the form of sets of pixel data, each pixel datum comprising a Doppler datum and an intensity datum derived from ultrasound scattered from a particular sample volume; a projection image data processor programmed to perform the steps of: (a) retrieving a set of pixel data from said memory means corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; (b) volumetrically rendering the Doppler data and the intensity data in said pixel data set by projecting the Doppler data onto an image plane to form a projected Doppler data set representing a Doppler projected image component and by projecting the intensity data onto said image plane to form a projected intensity data set representing a B-mode projected image component; and (c) combining said Doppler and B-mode projected image components; and a display device for displaying said combined Doppler and B-mode projected image components as a projected image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
269 words
An imaging system comprising: an ultrasound transducer array comprising a multiplicity of transducer elements; a transmit beamformer coupled to said transducer array in a transmit mode; a receive beamformer coupled to said transducer array in a receive mode; a computer programmed to perform the steps of: (a) controlling said transmit beamformer in said transmit mode to cause said transducer array to transmit a plurality of beams in sequence; (b) controlling said receive beamformer in said receive mode to form respective beamsummed receive signals from respective sets of signals transduced by said transducer array following transmission of said respective beams; (c) deriving respective sets of Doppler data from said beamsummed receive signals; (d) deriving respective sets of intensity data from said beamsummed receive signals; (e) storing said sets of Doppler and intensity data in the form of sets of pixel data, each pixel datum comprising a Doppler datum and an intensity datum derived from ultrasound scattered from a particular sample volume; (f) retrieving a set of pixel data from said memory means corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; (g) volumetrically rendering the Doppler data and the intensity data in said pixel data set by projecting the Doppler data onto an image plane to form a projected Doppler data set representing a Doppler projected image component and by projecting the intensity data onto said image plane to form a projected intensity data set representing a B-mode projected image component; and (h) combining said Doppler and B-mode projected image components; and a display device for displaying said combined Doppler and B-mode projected image components as a projected image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
269 words
An imaging system comprising: an ultrasound transducer array comprising a multiplicity of transducer elements; a transmit beamformer coupled to said transducer array in a transmit mode; a receive beamformer coupled to said transducer array in a receive mode; a computer programmed to perform the steps of: (a) controlling said transmit beamformer in said transmit mode to cause said transducer array to transmit a plurality of beams in sequence; (b) controlling said receive beamformer in said receive mode to form respective beamsummed receive signals from respective sets of signals transduced by said transducer array following transmission of said respective beams; (c) deriving respective sets of Doppler data from said beamsummed receive signals; (d) deriving respective sets of intensity data from said beamsummed receive signals; (e) storing said sets of Doppler and intensity data in the form of sets of pixel data, each pixel datum comprising a Doppler datum and an intensity datum derived from ultrasound scattered from a particular sample volume; (f) retrieving a set of pixel data from said memory means corresponding to a volume of interest in the object volume; (g) volumetrically rendering the Doppler data and the intensity data in said pixel data set by projecting the Doppler data onto an image plane to form a projected Doppler data set representing a Doppler projected image component and by projecting the intensity data onto said image plane to form a projected intensity data set representing a B-mode projected image component; and (h) combining said Doppler and B-mode projected image components; and a display device for displaying said combined Doppler and B-mode projected image components as a projected image.
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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) | 2002-05-17 | 2002-11-16 | 2003-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-17 | 2006-11-16 | 2007-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-17 | 2010-11-16 | 2011-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |