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US6436048B1
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Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with scanhead elevation beamforming
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
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Filing: 2001-07-13
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Granted: 2002-08-20
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Expires: 2021-07-13
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus are described for imaging the coronary arteries of the heart. The vascular system is infused with an ultrasonic contrast agent. A volumetric region of the heart wall including a coronary artery is three dimensionally scanned. A projection image of the volumetric region is produced from the scanning, providing a two dimensional contrast image of the coronary artery with the appearance of an angiogram. Preferably the coronary artery signals are segmented from contrast signals emanating from the myocardium and the heart blood pool so that the coronary arteries are clearly highlighted and distinct in the ultrasonic angiogram.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick Rene′ Pesque
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/48; A61B8/483; A61B8/06; A61B8/08; A61B8/0883; A61B8/0891; A61B8/481; G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; G01S15/8925; G01S15/8959; G01S15/8963; G01S15/8979; G01S15/8993; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52025; G01S7/52079; G01S7/5208; G01S7/52085; G01S7/52095; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/34; G10K11/341; G10K11/346; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4472; A61B8/54; A61B8/543; G01S15/8918; G01S15/8934; G01S15/8938; G01S15/894; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/52074; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a multidimensional transducer array exhibiting an elevation dimension and an azimuth dimension, and a variable focus elevation beamformer coupled to the transducer array which acts to perform elevation beamforming in the probe; means for coupling elevation beamformed signals from the probe to an ultrasound processor; and wherein the ultrasound processor includes an azimuth beamformer responsive to the elevation beamformed signals which acts to perform azimuth beamforming utilizing the elevation beamformed signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system comprising: an ultrasonic probe having a multidimensional transducer array exhibiting an elevation dimension and an azimuth dimension, and a variable focus elevation beamformer coupled to the transducer array which acts to perform elevation beamforming in the probe; means for coupling elevation beamformed signals from the probe to an ultrasound processor; and wherein the ultrasound processor includes an azimuth beamformer responsive to the elevation beamformed signals which acts to perform azimuth beamforming utilizing the elevation beamformed signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the transducer array exhibits a plurality of columns of elements extending in the azimuth dimension and a plurality of rows of elements extending in the elevation dimension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the elevation beamformer acts to delay and combine signals received from the elements of a row to form an elevation beamformed signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 3 , wherein the elevation beamformer acts to form a number of elevation beamformed signals which is not greater than the number of channels of the azimuth beamformer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 3 , wherein the coupling means comprises a multi-conductor cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 5 , wherein the number of signal leads of the cable is equal to the number of channels of the azimuth beamformer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the transducer array acts to transmit and receive ultrasound beams, and wherein beams are steered in the azimuth direction and focused in the elevation direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the transducer array acts to transmit and receive ultrasound beams, and wherein beams are electronically steered in the azimuth direction and in the elevation direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the elevation beamformer comprises a digital beamformer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the digital beamformer comprises a plurality of digital delay lines coupled to the elements of an elevation row of transducer elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the digital beamformer further comprises a summer which is coupled by the coupling means to the azimuth beamformer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the elevation beamformer acts to perform elevation steering of ultrasonic beams.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the elevation beamformer further acts to perform beam focusing in the elevation direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the elevation beamformer comprises an analog beamformer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 14 , wherein the analog beamformer comprises a plurality of analog delay lines coupled to a summer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 14 , wherein the analog delay lines comprise a plurality of charge storage elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the elevation beamformer comprises a plurality of beamformer channels, wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of conductors coupled between the elevation beamformer and the azimuth beamformer, wherein data values from a plurality of elevation beamformer channels are sent over the conductors in an interleaved manner.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the elevation beamformer further comprises a control data store having control data which acts to control the elevation beamformer to perform dynamic focusing.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for performing beamforming in an ultrasound system having a probe containing an array transducer having an elevation dimension and an azimuth dimension and a variable focus probe beamformer; means for coupling beamformed signals from the probe to a processing system; and a processing system which contains a system beamformer, comprising: receiving ultrasound signals by the array transducer; beamforming the received ultrasound signals in the elevation dimension in the probe beamformer; coupling the elevation beamformed signals to the processing system; and beamforming the elevation beamformed signals in the azimuth dimension in the system beamformer.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for performing beamforming in an ultrasound system having a probe containing an array transducer having an elevation dimension and an azimuth dimension and a variable focus probe beamformer; means for coupling beamformed signals from the probe to a processing system; and a processing system which contains a system beamformer, comprising: receiving ultrasound signals by the array transducer; beamforming the received ultrasound signals in the elevation dimension in the probe beamformer; coupling the elevation beamformed signals to the processing system; and beamforming the elevation beamformed signals in the azimuth dimension in the system beamformer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein beamforming in the elevation dimension comprises steering beams in the elevation dimension.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein beamforming in the elevation dimension comprises focusing beams in the elevation dimension.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein beamforming in the elevation dimension comprises delaying and summing analog signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the probe beamformer comprises a plurality of charge storage elements, and wherein delaying comprises delaying analog signals using a plurality of charge storage elements.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein beamforming in the elevation dimension comprises delaying and summing digital signals.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the elevation beamformer comprises a plurality of beamformer channels; wherein beamforming in the elevation dimension comprises beamforming a column of transducer elements which extends in the elevation dimension; and wherein coupling beamformed signals to the processing system comprises coupling interleaved data values from a plurality of beamformer channels to the processing system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein beamforming in the elevation dimension further comprises dynamic focusing received echo signals in the elevation dimension.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-19 | 2006-02-18 | 2006-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-19 | 2010-02-18 | 2010-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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