公开(公告)号：EP0844496A2

公开(公告)日：1998-05-27

申请号：EP97309497.2

申请日：1997-11-25

Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC.

Inventor： Quistgaard, Jens Ulrich

IPC: G01S15/89

CPC classification number: A61B8/483 ,  A61B8/06 ,  A61B8/13 ,  G01S15/8979 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  G06T17/00 ,  Y10S128/916

Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasound system is described in which ultrasonic B mode tissue information and Doppler flow information is acquired from a volumetric region of the body and processed in an interleaved sequence to render a three dimensional image. The three dimensional rendering processes the B mode and Doppler flow information to give priority to tissue information, flow information, or a blend of the two.

Abstract translation: 一种医疗诊断超声系统是其中超声的B模式的组织信息和多普勒血流信息描述的是从身体的一个体积区域获取的，并在交错顺序处理中呈现三维图像。 三维渲染处理的B模式和多普勒血流信息，以对组织信息优先，流量信息，或两者的共混物。

公开(公告)号：EP0714036A3

公开(公告)日：1998-01-07

申请号：EP95308312.8

申请日：1995-11-21

Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC.

Inventor： Schwartz, Gary Allen ,  Pesque, Patrick René ,  Quistgaard, Jens Ulrich

IPC: G01S15/89 ,  G01S7/52

CPC classification number: G01S7/52077 ,  A61B8/14 ,  A61B8/483 ,  G01S15/8945 ,  G01S15/8979 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  Y10S128/916

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic system and scanning technique are described for producing three dimensional ultrasonic image displays utilizing power Doppler signal information. In a preferred embodiment the power Doppler signal information is displayed in the absence of structural (B mode) information to reduce image clutter and provide three dimensional image segmentation. An ultrasonic scanning technique is presented for acquiring diagnostic three dimensional ultrasonic images of power Doppler intensity through manual hand scanning of a patient, without the need for specially fabricated scanning mechanisms or devices.

公开(公告)号：EP0453251B1

公开(公告)日：1997-08-20

申请号：EP91303404.7

申请日：1991-04-17

Applicant: Advanced Technology Laboratories, Inc.

Inventor： Powers, Jeffry E.

IPC: A61B8/08 ,  A61B17/34

CPC classification number: A61B8/0841 ,  A61B8/0833 ,  A61B17/3403 ,  A61B2017/22075 ,  A61B2017/3413 ,  A61B2090/3929

公开(公告)号：EP0754429A2

公开(公告)日：1997-01-22

申请号：EP96304209.8

申请日：1996-06-06

Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC.

Inventor： Dunham, Paul T. ,  Brechbiel, Tracy C. ,  Zimmerman, Calvin R. ,  Oaks, Frank Bentley

IPC: A61B8/12 ,  A61B1/00

CPC classification number: A61B8/12 ,  A61B1/0055 ,  A61B8/445 ,  A61B8/4461 ,  A61M25/0136

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscopic probe is provided with an articulating distal tip (14) at which an ultrasonic transducer (130) is located. The articulating section (30) of the probe can be locked in an articulated position by a lock control (28,28') located at a control section (10) of the probe. The locking force is variably selectable by the user, so that the articulating section (30) will be locked in position by a desired force. The articulating section (30) is controlled by cables (74,76,129), which include cable tension adjustments (70a,70b) that also serve to delimit the range of articulation. The articulating section (30) is formed of alternating pivot rings (120) with intervening polymeric pivot beads (106), which provide repetitively smooth articulation. The ultrasonic transducer (130) is rotatable to steer the acoustic scan plane during use, and a sliding membrane (164) between the transducer (130) and its acoustic window (162) allows the transducer (130) to rotate smoothly without sticking.

Abstract translation: 超声波内窥镜探针设置有超声波换能器（130）所位于的关节式远侧末端（14）。 探针的铰接部分（30）可以通过位于探针的控制部分（10）处的锁定控制器（28,28'）锁定在铰接位置。 锁定力由使用者可变地选择，使得铰接部分（30）将通过期望的力锁定就位。 铰接部段（30）由缆索（74,76,129）控制，缆索（74,76,129）包括也用于界定铰接范围的缆索张力调节器（70a，70b）。 铰接部段（30）由交替的枢轴环（120）形成，中间的聚合物枢转凸起（106）提供重复平滑的铰接。 超声波换能器130可旋转以在使用期间操纵声学扫描平面，并且换能器130与其声学窗口162之间的滑动膜164允许换能器130平稳地旋转而不会粘连。

公开(公告)号：EP0707219A3

公开(公告)日：1996-06-05

申请号：EP95307168.5

申请日：1995-10-11

Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC.

Inventor： Roundhill, David N. ,  Rust, David

IPC: G01S7/58 ,  G01S7/52 ,  G01S7/53

CPC classification number: G01S7/52057

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided in which a portion of an ultrasonic image can be selected for enlarged display as a "zoom" image. When the image portion is displayed in its enlarged format, the bandwidth of a filter in the ultrasonic information path is extended to increase the information content of the image portion when displayed in its enlarged format. The bandwidth is continuously optimized to maximize information content in consideration of the characteristics of the display while preventing the generation of scintillation artifacts caused by attempts to display information of an excessive bandwidth.

公开(公告)号：EP0714036A2

公开(公告)日：1996-05-29

申请号：EP95308312.8

申请日：1995-11-21

Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC.

Inventor： Schwartz, Gary Allen ,  Pesque, Patrick René ,  Quistgaard, Jens Ulrich

IPC: G01S15/89 ,  G01S7/52

CPC classification number: G01S7/52077 ,  A61B8/14 ,  A61B8/483 ,  G01S15/8945 ,  G01S15/8979 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  Y10S128/916

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic system and scanning technique are described for producing three dimensional ultrasonic image displays utilizing power Doppler signal information. In a preferred embodiment the power Doppler signal information is displayed in the absence of structural (B mode) information to reduce image clutter and provide three dimensional image segmentation. An ultrasonic scanning technique is presented for acquiring diagnostic three dimensional ultrasonic images of power Doppler intensity through manual hand scanning of a patient, without the need for specially fabricated scanning mechanisms or devices.

Abstract translation: 用于制造身体内部的三维超声波图像的方法包括在身体内部的体积区域上传输超声波，从该区域内的空间位置接收超声波多普勒信息信号，并处理超声波多普勒信息信号，以确定 从该地区内的地点收到的多普勒功率强度。 在三维显示中，空间基础上显示多普勒功率强度。 该处理涉及处理超声多普勒信息信号以确定从区域内的位置接收的最大多普勒功率强度。 该显示包括在三维显示中以空间为基础显示位置的最大多普勒功率强度。

公开(公告)号：EP0713680A2

公开(公告)日：1996-05-29

申请号：EP95308391.2

申请日：1995-11-22

Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC.

Inventor： Johnson, Keith W. ,  Powers, Jeffry E.

IPC: A61B8/00

CPC classification number: A61B8/481 ,  G01S7/52041 ,  G01S7/52049

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic system is provided which detects the presence of coated microbubble contrast agents in the body of a patient by transmitting ultrasonic energy which causes the destruction of the coated microbubbles and detects the microbubble destruction through phase insensitive detection and differentiation of echoes received from two consecutive ultrasonic transmissions. The destruction of a microbubble can also be used as a point source of acoustic energy for aberration correction, whereby the timing of the beamformer is adjusted from an analysis of beamformer signals resulting from a detected microbubble destruction event.

Abstract translation: 用于通过超声波询问来检测患者体内涂覆的微泡造影剂的存在的方法包括以足以引起涂覆的微气泡的破坏的能量水平将超声波脉冲传输到患者体内。 接收每个脉冲传输后返回的信号，并通过相位不敏感检测进行检测。 在两个脉冲传输之后接收到的检测信号在空间上是有区别的，并且超过预定阈值的信号差异被识别为由微泡破坏事件导致的。 差异化包括从在较早的脉冲传输之后在空间基础上接收的信号中减去稍后脉冲传输之后接收的信号，并且从被询问的场中的相同位置接收每个相减对的信号。

公开(公告)号：EP0689187A1

公开(公告)日：1995-12-27

申请号：EP95304427.8

申请日：1995-06-23

Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC.

Inventor： Souquet, Jacques

IPC: G10K11/32 ,  B06B1/06

CPC classification number: G10K11/32 ,  B06B1/0622

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic transducer array (16) is provided for providing electronic focusing in the longitudinal plane (L) and elevational (E) focusing. Elements (e₁,e₂...) of the array (16) are subdiced in the elevational direction (E) to provide subelements (1-2,2-2,3-2...) with aspect ratios varying in proportion to their distance to the central longitudinal axis of the array. Such variation affords varying electro-mechanical coupling coefficients to the subelements such that the intensity of the transmitted energy is centered about the central longitudinal axis. In a second embodiment (not represented) elements exhibit extensions in the elevational direction which vary in proportion to their displacement from the longitudinal center of the array. The extended elements are acoustically separated into subelements in the elevational direction to provide elevational focusing or spatial compounding of the transmitted acoustic energy.

Abstract translation: 提供了一种用于在纵向平面（L）和高（E）聚焦中提供电子聚焦的超声诊断换能器阵列（16）。 阵列（16）的元素（e1，e2 ...）在高度方向（E）处被细分，以提供子元素（1-2,2-2,3-2 ...），其宽高比与 它们到阵列的中心纵轴的距离。 这种变化为子元件提供变化的机电耦合系数，使得透射能量的强度围绕中心纵向轴线居中。 在第二实施例（未示出）中，元件在高度方向表现出与其从阵列的纵向中心的位移成比例地变化的延伸。 扩展元件在高度方向上声学地分离为子元件，以提供透射声能的高度聚焦或空间复合。

公开(公告)号：EP0661554A1

公开(公告)日：1995-07-05

申请号：EP94309910.1

申请日：1994-12-29

Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC.

Inventor： Robinson, Brent Stephen ,  Cooley, Clifford R. ,  Hwang, Juin-Jet ,  Entrekin, Robert R.

IPC: G01S7/52

CPC classification number: G01S7/52085 ,  G01S7/52044 ,  G01S7/52077 ,  G01S15/8977

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided which scans an image region to receive a plurality of spatially arranged lines of ultrasonic image information signals. These ultrasonic line information signals are used in an interpolater to interpolate one or more lines which are spatially interlineated between each pair of spatially adjoining received lines. These interpolated lines are produced using either the received RF or demodulated IF ultrasonic image information signals. The interpolated lines are produced prior to scan conversion, and preferably prior to nonlinear processing such as detection or log compression to reduce spatial aliasing artifacts. In one preferred embodiment the interpolater comprises a transversal filter of four taps which is responsive to received line information signals from a common range or depth. In a second embodiment the interpolater is adaptively responsive to motion to select samples for interpolation which would be spatially at the same range in the absence of motional effects.

Abstract translation: 超声波诊断成像系统扫描图像区域以接收多个空间排列的超声波图像信息信号线。 在内插器中使用超声线信息信号来插入在每对空间相邻的接收线之间在空间上相互交错的一条或多条线。 使用所接收的RF或解调的IF超声波图像信息信号产生插入的线。 在扫描转换之前，优选地在非线性处理之前，例如检测或对数压缩之前产生插入的线，以减少空间混叠伪像。 预插入器包括四个抽头的横向滤波器，其响应于来自公共范围或深度的接收线路信息信号，或者内插器可以自适应地响应运动以选择样本进行插值，空间上将在不存在 运动效应。

公开(公告)号：EP0650036A2

公开(公告)日：1995-04-26

申请号：EP94307502.8

申请日：1994-10-13

Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES, INC.

Inventor： Powers, Jeffry E. ,  Loupas, Thanasis

IPC: G01F1/66 ,  G01S15/89 ,  G01S15/58 ,  A61B8/06

CPC classification number: G01S15/8979 ,  G01S7/52034 ,  G01S7/52071 ,  G01S15/52 ,  G01S15/582

Abstract: A velocity estimation technique is provided for a pulse-echo ultrasonic diagnostic system in which a two dimensional array of samples is acquired from a sample volume. The two dimensions of the array are depth, in which echo signal samples are acquired in response to transmission of a pulse to the sample volume, and pulse time, in which samples are acquired in response to transmission of the pulses in the pulse ensemble to the sample volume. Two autocorrelation calculations are performed on the array, one in the depth dimension and another in the pulse time dimension to yield two correlation functions, the first related to echo frequency and the second related to the Doppler frequency. The two correlation functions are then employed in a Doppler velocity estimation to determine the velocity of motion at the sample volume. The technique utilizes the full information content present in the bandwidth of the received echo signals, thereby overcoming inaccuracies due to depth dependent frequency decline or coherent signal cancellation. Since accuracy is premised upon the number of samples in the array and not its size in a particular dimension, performance can be tailored to favor frame rate or axial resolution while maintaining the accuracy of velocity estimation.