Apparatus for visualizing tissue property

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus ( 1 ) comprising a signal processor ( 2 ) for processing measurement signals ( 3 ) from a motion-mode ultrasound measurement and a rendering device ( 4 ) coupled to a processor ( 2 ) for rendering a one-dimensional representation ( 40 ) along a temporal axis ( 41 ) indicative of a property within a tissue. The values ( 42 ) in the one-dimensional representation ( 40 ) are derived on the basis of measured values in an observation window ( 12, 22, 32 ) defined on an M-mode ultrasound image ( 10 ), a tissue velocity image ( 20 ) or a strain rate image ( 30 ).

1 . A system, comprising:
 at least one processor configured for communication with:
 an ultrasound transducer configured to obtain an ultrasound measurement signal representing a heart of a patient during energy application to change a property of the heart; 
 a first electrode configured to obtain a first electrical signal representing electrical activity of the heart during the energy application; 
 a second electrode configured to obtain a second electrical signal representating the electrical activity of the heart during the energy application; and 
 a display, 
   wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
 determine, based on the ultrasound measurement signal, at least one of a first plurality of strain rate values or a first plurality of tissue velocity values; 
 generate a combined output simultaneously comprising:
 a representation of the at least one of the first plurality of strain rate values or the first plurality of tissue velocity values; 
 a representation of the first electrical signal; and 
 a representation of the second electrical signal; and 
 
 provide the combined output for presentation on the display. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine, based on the ultrasound measurement signal, at least one of a second plurality of strain rate values or a second plurality of tissue velocity values,   wherein the combined output simultaneously comprises the at least one of the second plurality of strain rate values or the second plurality of tissue velocity values.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the first plurality of strain rate values and the second plurality of strain rate values,   wherein the first plurality of strain rate values comprises absolute strain rate values, and   wherein the second plurality of strain rate values comprises raw strain rate values.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured for communciation with an energy application device configured to provide the energy application. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the first plurality of strain rate values or the first plurality of tissue velocity values are representative of mechanical interaction between the energy application device and the heart. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the energy application device comprises the ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the energy application device comprises the first electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical signal comprises an electrogram. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode is configured to positioned on a body surface of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrical signal comprises an electrocardiogram. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to synchronize the representation of the at least one of the first plurality of strain rate values or the first plurality of tissue velocity values, the representation of the first electrical signal, and the representation of the second electrical signal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the combined output is configured to visualize a difference between a temporary effect of the energy application and a permanent effect of the energy application.