Ultrasound imaging systems and methods of increasing the effective acquisition frame rate

Claim 2

An image frame memory for storing ultrasound image frame data obtained from an anatomic structure having periodic physiological motion, the motion defining successive physiologic cycles, the memory storing the image frame data as a plurality of image loops, each image loop including frame data representing a plurality of image frames acquired at spaced time intervals within a physiologic cycle.

Claim 3

An image frame memory for storing ultrasound image frame data obtained from an anatomic structure having periodic physiological motion, the motion defining successive physiologic cycles, the memory storing the image frame data as a plurality of image loops, each image loop comprising: (a) a loop header including a loop identification number; and (b) a plurality of frame packets, each frame packet including a frame header including a frame number within the image loop, and frame data representing one image frame acquired at a spaced interval within the physiologic cycle.

Claim 4

An image frame memory for storing ultrasound image frame data obtained from an anatomic structure having periodic physiological motion, the motion defining successive physiologic cycles, the memory storing the image frame data as a plurality of image loops, each image loop comprising: (a) a loop header including a loop identification number; and (b) a plurality of frame packets, each frame packet including a frame header including a frame number within the image loop, and frame data representing one image frame acquired at a spaced interval within the physiologic cycle.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3 wherein the first location includes a memory having (i) a first buffer, and (ii) a second buffer, the first and second buffers of the first location alternately functioning as a capture buffer and a transmit buffer in an opposite manner with respect to each other, and the second location includes a memory having (i) a third buffer, and (ii) a fourth buffer, the third and fourth buffers of the second location alternately functioning as a receive buffer and a display buffer in an opposite manner with respect to each other, wherein steps (a) and (b) further comprise: (i) storing the image loop data in the first buffer as it is being acquired, the first buffer repeatedly overwriting its stored image loop data with new image loop data for each successive physiologic cycle, (iii) communicating the image loop in the first buffer to the third buffer via the transmission medium when a new image loop is collected in the first buffer and when the second buffer completes the communication of its currently stored image loop, the first and second buffers thereby switching functions upon completion of the communication by the first buffer, (iv) outputting the image loop in the third buffer to an image display at the second location when the third buffer receives the entire image loop from the first buffer, the image loop currently in the fourth buffer being repeatedly displayed until it is overwritten with the next complete image loop received from the first or the second buffer, the third and the fourth buffers thereby switching functions upon receipt of a new image loop from the first or second memory, the imaging data thereby being displayed in real-time whenever the bandwidth of the transmission medium is sufficient to allow step (iv) to always be completed in a time period which does not exceed one physiologic cycle, the imaging data being displayed in pseudo real-time whenever the bandwidth of the transmission medium is insufficient to allow step (iv) to be completed in a time period which does not exceed one physiologic cycle.

Claim 8

The method of claim 3 wherein the first location includes a memory having (i) a capture buffer, and (ii) a transmit buffer, and the second location includes a memory having (i) a receive buffer, and (ii) a display buffer, wherein steps (a) and (b) further comprise: (i) storing the imaging data in the capture buffer as it is being acquired, the capture buffer repeatedly overwriting its stored imaging data with new imaging data for each successive physiologic cycle, (ii) transferring the imaging data in the capture buffer to the transmit buffer when a complete image loop of imaging data is collected in the capture buffer and when the transmit buffer becomes ready to receive a new image loop, (iii) communicating the image loop in the transmit buffer to the receive buffer via the transmission medium, the transmit buffer becoming ready to receive its new image loop from the capture buffer upon completion of the communication, (iv) transferring the image loop in the receive buffer to the display buffer when a complete image loop of imaging data is collected in the receive buffer; and (v) outputting the image loop in the display buffer to an image display at the second location for viewing the acquired imaging data, the image loop currently in the display buffer being repeatedly displayed until it is overwritten with the next complete image loop transferred from the receive buffer, the imaging data thereby being displayed in real-time whenever the bandwidth of the transmission medium is sufficient to allow step (iv) to always be completed in a time period which does not exceed one physiologic cycle, the imaging data being displayed in pseudo real-time whenever the bandwidth of the transmission medium is insufficient to allow step (iv) to be completed in a time period which does not exceed one physiologic cycle.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 6 wherein the physiologic cycle is the heart cycle, and the predetermined event in the physiologic cycle is the QRS trigger, the first and second series of image frames thereby being taken at different known times with respect to the QRS trigger.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the physiologic cycle is the heart cycle, and the predetermined event in the physiologic cycle is the QRS trigger, the first and second series of image frames thereby being taken at different known times with respect to the QRS trigger.