Method and apparatus for tissue-centered scan conversion in an ultrasound imaging system

Patent 5538004 Issued on July 23, 1996. Estimated Expiration Date:

February 28, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Scan converter system
Patent #: 4471449
Issued on: 09/11/1984
Inventor: Leavitt , et al.

Acoustic image system and method
Patent #: 4821731
Issued on: 04/18/1989
Inventor: Martinelli , et al.

Method and apparatus for the simultaneous performance of the beam formation and scan conversion in a phased array system
Patent #: 5197037
Issued on: 03/23/1993
Inventor: Leavitt

Methods for the diagnosis and ablation treatment of ventricular tachycardia
Patent #: 5222501
Issued on: 06/29/1993
Inventor: Ideker, et al.

Method and apparatus for determining the volume of a body cavity in real time
Patent #: 5322067
Issued on: 06/21/1994
Inventor: Prater, et al.

Apparatus and method for treating cardiac arrhythmias Patent #: 5391199
Issued on: 02/21/1995
Inventor: Ben-Haim

Inventor

Bamber, Jeffrey C.

Application

No. 396293 filed on 02/28/1995

US Classes:

600/443, Anatomic image produced by reflective scanning128/916, ULTRASOUND 3-D IMAGING600/463With acoustical or display imaging

Examiners

Primary: Manuel, George

International Class

A61B 008/12

Abstract

A method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging utilize tissue-centered scan conversion to compensate for transducer motion. A reference point, typically located in a region of interest, is selected. An ultrasound probe is positioned at a selected probe position and orientation relative to the region of interest. The region of interest is ultrasonically scanned, and echo signals representative of ultrasound echoes received from the region of interest are generated. The echo signals are referenced to the probe position and orientation. The probe position and orientation relative to the reference point are determined, typically by a sensing device. The echo signals and the probe position and orientation are transformed to image signals for display. The process is repeated for different probe positions and orientations to obtain a plurality of images. Each of the images is referenced to the selected reference point as the probe position and orientation changes, thereby compensating for transducer motion.

Other References

Ch. M. Gros et al, Senologia, Juin 1978, No. 2, pp. 3-14
N. Shinozuka et al, WFUMB '94 and WFS '94 Abstracts, Ultrasound Med. Biol., vol. 20, p. S267
D. Rotten et al, BMUS Bulletin, Nov. 1992, British Medical Ultrasound Society, London, pp. 18-23
A. Moshkalik et al, Abstracts, Ultrasonic Imaging and Tissue Characterization Symposium, 1994, Ultrasonic Imaging, vol. 16, pp. 47-48
P. R. Detmer et al, Ultrasound and Medicine in Biology, vol. 20, No. 9, pp. 923-936, 1994
M. D. Handschumacher et a, J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., vol. 21, No. 3, Mar. 1, 1993, pp. 743-753
G. E. Mailloux et al, IEEE Trans. Med. Imag., vol. 8, 1989, pp. 143-153
L. N. Bohs et al, IEEE Trans, BME, vol. 38, 1991, pp. 280-286
Hoskins P. R. et al, European J. Ultrasound, vol. 1, 1994, pp. 159-16