Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-11-27
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S455000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322510
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus for capturing an image representing pulsation strength in moving velocity of an echo source within a subject using the Doppler shift in ultrasonic echoes.
In ultrasonic imaging, the Doppler shift in ultrasonic echoes is used to capture a blood flow image. The blood flow image is displayed as a CFM (color flow mapping) image that represents two-dimensional distribution of the blood flow rate or as a power Doppler image that represents locations of blood flows. Based on the blood flow image of an ROI (region of interest), an oncologic diagnosis, for example, is made. When the oncologic diagnosis or the like is made based on the blood flow image, the important key for the diagnosis is whether the blood flow of interest is arterial or venous.
The CFM image and the power Doppler image however have a problem that as these images cannot detect a pulsation property of the blood flow it is difficult to decide whether the blood flow is arterial or venous. Therefore, in order to study the pulsation property, Doppler signals at a point of interest must be sampled again by, for example, a point Doppler technique to observe a spectrum thereof or to listen to Doppler sound.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus for capturing an image representing pulsation strength in moving velocity of an echo source.
(1) In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic imaging method comprising the steps of: repeatedly scanning an imaging range with an ultrasound and receiving an echo; detecting a moving velocity of an echo source based on the Doppler shift in the received echo and detecting a pulsation strength in the moving velocity by a calculation that employs a value of the moving velocity at a current time phase and a value of the moving velocity at a past time phase; and producing an image representing the detected pulsation strength.
In the invention as described regarding the first aspect, it is preferred that the calculation be performed employing a difference value between the value of the moving velocity at the current time phase and the value of the moving velocity at the past time phase in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
Moreover, in the invention as described regarding the first aspect, it is preferred that the calculation be performed employing an average value of the value of the moving velocity at the current time phase and the value of the moving velocity at the past time phase in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
(2) In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic imaging method comprising the steps of: repeatedly scanning an imaging range with an ultrasound and receiving an echo; detecting a moving velocity of an echo source based on the Doppler shift in the received echo and detecting a pulsation strength in the moving velocity by a calculation that employs a value of the moving velocity at a current time phase and an average value for the moving velocity values from a past time phase to the current time phase; and producing an image representing the detected pulsation strength.
In the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that a variance of the moving velocity be detected and the calculation be performed employing the detected variance in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
Moreover, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that the result of the calculation in a specific time period in a pulsation cycle of the heart be output in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
Furthermore, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that an electrocardiographic (ECG) signal of an imaging subject be detected and the specific time period be defined based on the ECG signal in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
In addition, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that an average velocity value for the moving velocity through a pulsation cycle(s) of the heart be determined, a difference value between the value of the moving velocity at the current time phase and the value of the moving velocity at the past time phase be determined, and the pulsation strength in the moving velocity be detected by a calculation that employs the average velocity value and the difference value in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
In addition, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that an average velocity value for the moving velocity through a pulsation cycle(s) of the heart be determined, a difference value between the value of the moving velocity at the current time phase and the value of the moving velocity at the past time phase be determined, an average difference value for the difference value through a pulsation cycle(s) of the heart be determined, and the pulsation strength in the moving velocity be detected by a calculation that employs the average velocity value and the average difference value in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
In addition, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that a variance of the moving velocity be detected, an average variance value for the detected variance through a pulsation cycle(s) of the heart be determined, and the calculation be performed employing the average variance value in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
In addition, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that a maximum velocity value for the moving velocity through a pulsation cycle(s) of the heart be determined, a difference value between the value of the moving velocity at the current time phase and the value of the moving velocity at the past time phase be determined, and the pulsation strength in the moving velocity be detected by a calculation that employs the maximum velocity value and the difference value in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
In addition, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that a maximum velocity value for the moving velocity through a pulsation cycle(s) of the heart be determined, a difference value between the value of the moving velocity at the current time phase and the value of the moving velocity at the past time phase be determined, a maximum difference value for the difference value through a pulsation cycle(s) of the heart be determined, and the pulsation strength in the moving velocity be detected by a calculation that employs the maximum velocity value and the maximum difference value in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
In addition, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that a variance of the moving velocity be detected, a maximum variance value for the variance through a pulsation cycle(s) of the heart be determined, and the calculation be performed employing the maximum variance value in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
In addition, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that an ECG signal of an imaging object be detected, and the pulsation cycle be determined based on the ECG signal in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
In addition, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that the pulsation cycle be determined based on periodic change in the Doppler shift in that the pulsation strength is suitably detected.
In addition, in the invention as described regarding the first or second aspect, it is preferred that the pulsation cycle be determined based on periodic change in the pulsation
Kataoka Hiroaki
Suzuki Yoichi
GE Yokogawa Medical Systems Limited
Imam Ali M.
Lateef Marvin M.
Moonray Kojima
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