Dual process ultrasound contrast agent imaging
US6632177B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 1, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/52041
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and systems for detecting contrast agents is provided. Differences between different sized vessels throughout a period of contrast agent enhancement are identified without significantly depleting the available contrast agent. Dual detection paths are used for imaging, such as one path for detecting nonlinear response and another path for detecting differences between the responses to two or more pulses. Where echoes from two or more pulses of acoustic energy are combined to detect the nonlinear response, the nonlinear response may also include signals originating from a loss-of-correlation (LOC) or motion between received pulses. These signals generated from LOC or motion can be produced from agent disruption where a second received echo is different from a first received echo due to a change in a bubble's shape (i.e., destruction), or from simple spatial translation between acoustic pulses as seen from the same spatial location, respectively. Together the LOC or motion signals and the nonlinear signals can differentiate contrast agent from tissue. Additional information is gained by detecting signals more responsive to difference or motion information. Each path detects di…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.