Intuitive ultrasonic imaging system and related method thereof

Abstract

A hand held ultrasonic instrument ( 10 ) is provided in a portable unit that performs C-Mode imaging and collects 3D image data. In a preferred embodiment a transducer array ( 60 ), display unit ( 20 ), beamformer ( 40 ), power system, and image processor are integrated in one enclosure weighing less than three pounds. In operation, the portable unit is scanned across a target and the displayed image is conveniently presented to the operator whereby the displayed image corresponds exactly to the target, or a scaled fashion if desired.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An ultrasonic imaging system for producing images of a target, the system comprising:
 a housing;   a two-dimensional transducer array disposed on the housing;   a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit defining a planar region, wherein the transducer array and the display unit are integrated with the housing, wherein the display unit is configured to display a three-dimensional image;   a beamformer disposed within the housing, the beamformer in communication with the two-dimensional transducer array, and configured to generate focused echo data obtained from adjacent planes parallel to a surface of the transducer array; and   an image processor disposed within the housing, the image processor configured to:
 receive focused echo data obtained from the adjacent planes; and 
 generate a three-dimensional image of an image region located below the plane of the display, the three-dimensional image generated using adjacent image planes located at different depths, and using envelope-detected images from the adjacent planes combined to yield the three-dimensional image. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a control to select the depth of the three-dimensional image region. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the image processor is configured to generate a three-dimensional image for display on the display unit scaled so that dimensions of the three-dimensional image presented to the user include actual dimensions of the target as would be perceived from the perspective of the user if the target were visible to the user. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the image processor is configured to generate a three-dimensional image including estimated blood flow velocities represented by respective colors. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the display unit is adjustably mounted to the housing to provide an adjustable angle between the display and the housing, and wherein the adjustable angle of the display unit controls an image region angle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the image processor is configured to generate a three-dimensional image to be displayed on the display including an animated series of images. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the image processor is configured to generate a three-dimensional image based on a dataset obtained by averaging at least two envelope detected images to provide reduced speckle. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the image processor is configured to perform speckle pattern decorrelation over time to identify tissue or blood motion. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the two-dimensional transducer array is configured to transmit ultrasonic energy into a target, and
 wherein the ultrasonic energy transmitted one or more focused transmit beams.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the two-dimensional transducer array is configured to transmit ultrasonic energy into a target, and the two-dimensional transducer array is configured to receive ultrasonic echo signals from the target, the two-dimensional transducer array configured to provide and receive coded excitation to increase an effective signal to noise ratio of received echo signals. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the image processor is configured to form the three-dimensional image using receive-only spatial compounding. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , the image processor is configured to form the three-dimensional image using transmit-receive compounding. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the image processor is configured to form the three-dimensional image by frequency compounding. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the image processor is configured to form the three dimensional image including using tissue harmonic information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said housing, display, and two-dimensional transducer array is curved. 
     
     
         17 . An ultrasonic imaging system for producing images of a target, the system comprising:
 a housing;   a two-dimensional transducer array disposed on the housing;   a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit defining a planar region, wherein the transducer array and the display unit are integrated with the housing, wherein the display unit is configured to display a three-dimensional image, wherein the display unit is adjustably mounted to the housing to provide an adjustable angle between the display and the housing, and wherein the adjustable angle of the display unit controls an image region angle;   a beamformer disposed within the housing, the beamformer in communication with the two-dimensional transducer array, and configured to generate focused echo data obtained from adjacent planes parallel to a surface of the transducer array; and   an image processor disposed within the housing, the image processor configured to:
 receive focused echo data obtained from the adjacent planes; and 
 generate a three-dimensional image of an image region located below the plane of the display, the three-dimensional image generated using adjacent image planes located at different depths, and using envelope-detected images from the adjacent planes combined to yield the three-dimensional image, and the three dimensional image scaled so that dimensions of the three-dimensional image presented to the user include actual dimensions of the target as would be perceived from the perspective of the user if the target were visible to the user. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method of imaging a target to produce ultrasonic images comprising:
 obtaining ultrasonic echo signals from a target using a two-dimensional transducer array;   generating a three-dimensional image via an image processor using the ultrasonic echo signals for presentation on a display unit, wherein echo signals include focused echo data obtained from adjacent planes parallel to a surface of the two-dimensional transducer array,   wherein the display unit is in alignment with the two-dimensional transducer, and wherein the display unit, the three-dimensional image processor and the two-dimensional transducer are collocated within a housing; and   wherein the three-dimensional image includes an image region located underneath the two-dimensional transducer array and located below the plane of the display, the three-dimensional image generated using adjacent image planes located at different depths, and using envelope-detected images from the adjacent planes combined to yield the three-dimensional image.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the three-dimensional image region is located at a depth beneath the two-dimensional transducer array, wherein the depth is selectable. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the three-dimensional image is formed by averaging at least two envelope detected images to provide reduced speckle. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the three-dimensional image comprises an animation including a series of images from image planes having different depths within the target.