U.S. patent application number 10/899803 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-16 for contrast agent imaging with agent specific ultrasound detection.
This patent application is currently assigned to Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.. Invention is credited to James E. Chomas, Ismayil M. Guracar, Patrick J. Phillips.
Application Number | 20060036174 10/899803 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35800916 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060036174 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Guracar; Ismayil M. ; et
al. |
February 16, 2006 |
CONTRAST AGENT IMAGING WITH AGENT SPECIFIC ULTRASOUND DETECTION
Abstract
Highly specific measurements of flow in vessels, such as the
coronary artery, can be obtained by processing cubic fundamental
information. By showing flow in vessels with a high degree of
contrast-to-tissue specificity, ultrasound based 3D contrast agent
based coronary artery angiograms may be possible. Measurement and
display of the velocity of agent from the cubic fundamental signal
is provided simultaneously with display of cubic fundamental
energy, such as providing a display map indexed by both energy and
velocity. High pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for cubic
fundamental detection in conjunction with long velocity measurement
intervals may increase low velocity sensitivity and measurement
precision. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler may be improved by using a
cubic fundamental sensitive pulse sequence. Using cubic fundamental
sensitive techniques with other motion estimation techniques, such
as two-dimensional velocity estimation or speckle tracking, may
operate better than using other contrast agent detection techniques
because of substantially reduced clutter.
Inventors: |
Guracar; Ismayil M.;
(Redwood City, CA) ; Chomas; James E.; (San
Francisco, CA) ; Phillips; Patrick J.; (Sunnyvale,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SIEMENS CORPORATION;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
170 WOOD AVENUE SOUTH
ISELIN
NJ
08830
US
|
Assignee: |
Siemens Medical Solutions USA,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
35800916 |
Appl. No.: |
10/899803 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/458 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 8/483 20130101;
A61B 8/481 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/458 |
International
Class: |
A61B 8/14 20060101
A61B008/14 |
Claims
1. A method for contrast agent imaging with ultrasound, the method
comprising: (a) obtaining a velocity of first contrast agent as a
function of a cubic fundamental of a first ultrasound signal; (b)
obtaining an energy of second contrast agent as a function of a
cubic fundamental of a second ultrasound signal; and (c) generating
an image as a function of both the velocity and energy.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first contrast agent is a same
contrast agent as the second contrast agent and the first
ultrasound signal is a same signal as the second ultrasound
signal.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) comprises: (a1) transmitting a
plurality of pulses having at least two different amplitude levels;
(a2) combining signals responsive to the transmission of (a1); and
(a3) estimating the velocity as a function of the combined
signals.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein (c) comprises displaying one of
the energy or velocity for a spatial location as a function of the
energy, the velocity displayed for higher energy and the energy
displayed for lower energy.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein (c) comprises displaying energy
for low velocity for any energy level.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein (c) is performed for each of a
plurality of spatial locations, spatial locations of the plurality
corresponding to display of energy being non-directional color
coded and spatial locations of the plurality corresponding to
display of velocity being a directional color coded.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) comprises obtaining velocity
using one of different possible sequences of pulses corresponding
different possible pulse repetition intervals; further comprising:
(d) adjusting a velocity scale annotation as a function of the
pulse repetition interval of used one of the different possible
sequences.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) comprises transmitting a
sequence of pulses along a first line, the velocity responsive to
echoes from each of the pulses of the sequence, the pulses having
an unequal distance apart in time within the sequence.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) comprises obtaining the
velocity being a two-dimensional velocity vector.
10. A system for contrast agent imaging with ultrasound, the system
comprising: a beamformer operable to obtain ultrasound data
representing a cubic fundamental response; a detector operable to
estimate velocity and energy values as a function of the ultrasound
data; a memory storing a display map indexed by the velocity and
energy values for outputting a display value; and a display
operable to display an image as a function of the display
value.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the beamformer is operable to
transmit a plurality of pulses having at least two different
amplitude levels and combine signals responsive to the transmission
of the plurality of pulses, and wherein the detector is operable to
estimate the velocity and energy values as a function of the
combined signals.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the display map is operable to
display one of the energy or velocity values for a spatial location
as a function of the energy, the velocity displayed for higher
energy and the energy displayed for lower energy.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the display map is operable to
display energy for low velocity for any energy level.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein the display map is indexed for
each of a plurality of spatial locations, spatial locations of the
plurality corresponding to display of energy being non-directional
color coded and spatial locations of the plurality corresponding to
display of velocity being directional color coded.
15. A method for contrast agent imaging with ultrasound, the method
comprising: (a) transmitting a first sequence of first pulses along
or adjacent to a first line, the first pulses having an unequal
distance apart in time within the sequence; and (b) estimating a
first velocity as a function of cubic fundamental signals
responsive to the first pulses of the first sequence.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: (c) transmitting
second pulses of one or more other sequences along one or more
lines different than the first line, the transmission of the second
pulses interleaved with the transmission of the first pulses, a
different number of second pulses being between two different
sequential pairs of the first pulses.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein (a) comprises transmitting at
least six first pulses wherein at least two of the first pulses
have different amplitude levels within the first sequence; further
comprising: (c) combining first and second sets of received signals
responsive to the transmission of (a) and first and second
different sets, respectively, of the first pulses into at least two
samples; and wherein (b) comprises estimating the first velocity
from the at least two samples.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein (c) comprises combining for each
of the at least two samples received signals responsive to the
different amplitude levels.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein (a) comprises: (a1) transmitting
at least three first pulses free of interleaving; (a2) transmitting
second pulses of one or more different sequences; and then (a3)
transmitting at least three first pulses free of interleaving;
wherein (c) comprises: (c1) combining received signals responsive
to the transmission of (a1) for a first of the at least two
samples; and (c2) combining received signals responsive to the
transmission of (a3) for a second of the at least two samples; and
wherein (b) comprises estimating the first velocity from the first
and second samples.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein (a) comprises transmitting first
pulses for detection of cubic fundamental information closer
together in time than first pulses for estimation of the first
velocity.
21. The method of claim 15 further comprising: (c) estimating
tissue velocity from a sub-set of fewer than all of the first
pulses; and (d) removing the tissue velocity from the first
velocity.
22. The method of claim 15 further comprising: (c) obtaining at
least first and second samples responsive to first and second
sub-sets of the first pulses, respectively, the first sub-set
different than the second sub-set; wherein (a) comprises
transmitting the first pulses of the first sub-set with a different
phase off-set than the first pulses of the second sub-set; and
wherein (b) comprises estimating the first velocity from the first
and second samples.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein (a) comprises transmitting four
different triplets of first pulses, three of the triplets
associated with a same phase off-set and a fourth one of the
triplets having a different phase off-set, wherein (c) comprises
obtaining four samples each responsive to a respective triplet, and
wherein (b) comprises estimating the first velocity from the four
samples.
24. The method of claim 15 wherein (a) comprises transmitting the
first pulses wherein at least two of the first pulses have
different amplitude levels within the first sequence, the different
amplitude levels responsive to different apertures.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein (a) comprises transmitting at
least three sets of first pulses, each of the at least three sets
having a same amplitude pattern of first pulses, at least four of
the first pulses responsive to a respective at least four different
apertures, each element within any of the at least four apertures
being used a same number of time as all of the elements within any
of the at least four apertures; further comprising: (c) combining
at least three sets of received signals responsive to the at least
three sets of first pulses, respectively, into at least three
samples; and wherein (b) comprises estimating the first velocity
from the at least three samples.
26. The method of claim 15 further comprising: (c) transmitting a
reverberation pulse corresponding to generating a similar acoustic
environment for each of the first pulses used in a combination to
obtain a sample at the cubic fundamental.
27. The method of claim 15 wherein (a) comprises transmitting all
the first pulses along the first line.
28. The method of claim 15 wherein (a) comprises transmitting at
least two sets of first pulses, each of the sets of first pulses
including one first pulse along the first line and another first
pulse along an adjacent line.
29. The method of claim 15 wherein (a) comprises transmitting
different first pulses along different lines in a volume; further
comprising: (c) generating a three-dimensional image as a function
of the transmissions of (a).
30. The method of claim 15 wherein (a) comprises obtaining the
first velocity using one of different possible sequences of first
pulses corresponding different possible pulse repetition intervals;
further comprising: (d) adjusting a velocity scale annotation as a
function of the pulse repetition interval of the used one of the
different possible sequences.
31. The method of claim 15 wherein (b) comprises obtaining the
first velocity as one of: a two-dimensional velocity vector or a
three-dimensional velocity vector.
32. A method for contrast agent imaging with ultrasound, the method
comprising: (a) repetitively transmitting a first sequence of first
pulses along a first line, the first sequence corresponding to
detection of cubic fundamental information; and (b) combining
received signals for each repetition of the first sequence
together, the combination providing the cubic fundamental
information; (c) performing a fast Fourier transform as a function
of the combined received signals from a plurality of the
repetitions of (a); and (d) generating an image responsive to
(c).
33. The method of claim 32 wherein (c) and (d) comprise generating
a pulsed wave Doppler image for a gate location along the first
line.
34. The method of claim 32 wherein (a) comprises repetitively
transmitting at a high pulse repetition frequency such that a
second transmission is performed prior to an end of a time of
flight for a first transmission.
35. A method for contrast agent imaging with ultrasound, the method
comprising: (a) detecting cubic fundamental information; and (b)
performing as a function of the cubic fundamental information one
of: (b1) determining a two or three-dimensional velocity; (b2)
speckle tracking; or (b3) combinations of (b1) and (b2).
36. The method of claim 35 wherein (a) comprises detecting the
cubic fundamental information along two or three intersecting
lines, and wherein (b) comprises determining a two or
three-dimensional velocity as a function of the cubic fundamental
information of the two or three intersecting lines at a point of
intersection.
37. The method of claim 35 wherein (a) comprises detecting the
cubic fundamental for each of a plurality of locations in a region
at two different times, and wherein (b) comprises speckle tracking
between the two different times.
38. The method of claim 32 wherein (a) comprises deriving the cubic
fundamental from sequence where amplitude and phase change.
39. The system of claim 10 wherein the ultrasound data representing
the cubic fundamental response is a function of a sequence of
pulses wherein amplitude and phase change.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This present invention relates to contrast agent imaging. In
particular, the cubic fundamental response provides agent specific
ultrasound imaging.
[0002] Information at the cubic fundamental is detected by varying
the transmit amplitude and phase associated with combined echo
signals. Some techniques for detecting cubic fundamental
information are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,494,841, 6,602,195,
6,632,177 and 6,682,482, the disclosures of which are incorporated
herein by reference. The cubic fundamental information is highly
specific to ultrasound contrast agents since contrast agents
produce cubic response and the transducer and tissue produce very
little cubic response. The information provides tissue clutter
rejection, allowing for imaging more specific to contrast agents.
For example, small vessels within tissue may be more easily imaged
or identified using cubic fundamental information.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,228, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference, provides for contrast-agent
enhanced color-flow imaging. Power modulation or amplitude
variation of the transmit pulses is used to obtain cubic
fundamental information. A color Doppler estimator is used to
detect the cubic fundamental information for imaging.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described
below include a method and systems for contrast agent imaging with
ultrasound. Highly specific measurements of flow in vessels such as
the coronary artery can be obtained by processing cubic fundamental
information. By showing flow in vessels with a high degree of
specificity, ultrasound based 3D contrast agent based coronary
artery angiograms may be possible. The depiction of vessels in the
liver, in particular their direction, is of great clinical interest
during contrast agent exams. These and other applications may be
available by improving flow estimation from or imaging of cubic
fundamental information.
[0005] Different techniques for contrast agent imaging with cubic
fundamental information are discussed herein. Measurement and
display of the velocity of agent from the cubic fundamental signal
is provided simultaneously with display of cubic fundamental
energy, such as providing a display map indexed by both energy and
velocity. High pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for cubic
fundamental detection in conjunction with long velocity measurement
intervals may increase low velocity sensitivity and measurement
precision. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler may be improved by using a
cubic fundamental sensitive pulse sequence. Using cubic fundamental
sensitive techniques with other motion estimation techniques, such
as two-dimensional velocity estimation or speckle tracking, may
operate better than using other contrast agent detection techniques
because of substantially reduced clutter.
[0006] The techniques summarized above and/or disclosed below are
used alone or in any possible combination. The present invention is
defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should
be taken as a limitation on those claims. Further aspects and
advantages of the invention are discussed below in conjunction with
the preferred embodiments and may be later claimed independently or
in combination.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The components and the figures are not necessarily to scale,
emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of
the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system for
contrast agent ultrasound imaging with cubic fundamental
information;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram of one embodiment of a method
for contrast agent ultrasound imaging with cubic fundamental
information;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a graphic representation of a display map indexed
by cubic fundamental based velocity and energy;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a flow chart diagram of another embodiment of a
method for contrast agent ultrasound imaging with cubic fundamental
information;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a frequency response plot of one embodiment of a
contrast pulse sequence acquisition pattern;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a flow chart diagram of yet another embodiment of
a method for contrast agent ultrasound imaging with cubic
fundamental information;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of a cross beam method
for determining a two-dimensional velocity; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a graphical representation of a speckle search
method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PRESENTLY PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Obtaining cubic fundamental information is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,494,841. Any of the transmit sequences and receive
combinations disclosed therein may be used for obtaining cubic
fundamental information for use with the flow imaging described
below. Other transmit sequences and receive combinations for
obtaining cubic fundamental information may be used, such as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,602,195, 6,632,177, 6,638,228 and
6,682,482. In general, a sequence of pulses with different
amplitudes and phases are transmitted. Using amplitude change or
different amplitudes without different phases may also be used to
obtain cubic fundamental information. By combining received signals
responsive to the sequence, a sample including cubic fundamental
information is obtained. Velocity, energy or other flow parameters
may be estimated from a plurality of the samples. The clutter or
tissue rejection of the cubic fundamental information may be
advantageously used in flow imaging of contrast agents.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a system 10 for contrast agent imaging with
ultrasound. The system 10 includes a beamformer 12, a beamformer
controller 13, a transducer 14, a detector 16, a memory 18 and a
display 20. Additional, different or fewer components may be
provided, such as the system 10 without the memory 18 or with a
scan converter or additional detectors. The system 10 is a medical
diagnostic ultrasound imaging system in one embodiment, but other
imaging systems of the same or different modality (ultrasound) may
be used. The system 10 implements contrast pulse sequences (CPS)
for obtaining information at the cubic fundamental.
[0018] The beamformer 12 is an ultrasound transmitter, transmit
beamformer, receive beamformer, summer, filter, analog circuit,
digital circuit or combinations thereof. The beamformer 12 is
operable to obtain ultrasound data representing a cubic fundamental
response. The beamformer 12 transmits a sequence of pulses
associated with a given scan line, such as all the pulses along the
line or the pulses along the scan line and adjacent scan lines.
Responsive echoes are received. The beamformer 12 generates
ultrasound data for each receive beam. By combining receive beams
responsive to different ones of the pulses, cubic fundamental
information is obtained.
[0019] The transmit sequence is controlled to generate echo signals
responsive to the cubic fundamental. The beamformer 12 is operable
to transmit a plurality of pulses having at least two different
amplitude levels and at least two of the plurality of pulses having
opposite phases. An ultrasonic transmitter that is coupled to the
transducer 14 by a transmit/receive switch. The transmitter applies
transmit signals of selected waveform timing and phasing to the
individual elements of the transducer 14. In response, the
transducer 14 creates ultrasonic pressure waves, which
conventionally are focused along one or more scan lines L1, L2. In
the conventional manner, scan lines L1, L2 are steered across the
region of interest by properly adjusting the phase and time delays
of the transmit waveforms. Scatterers in the region of interest
return ultrasonic energy to the transducer 14, which in response
forms echo signals that are applied by the transmit/receive switch
to a receiver. The receiver applies appropriate phase and/or time
delays to individual receive signals to cause the receive signals
to add coherently from desired locations within the region of
interest.
[0020] The transmitter, transducer 14 and receiver can take any
desired forms. The widest variety of techniques can be used to
implement the transmitter, including both analog and digital
techniques. The following U.S. patents, all assigned to the
assignee of the present invention, provide examples of the types
and approaches that can be used to implement the transmitter: U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,550,607, 4,699,009, 5,148,810, 5,608,690, and
5,675,554. If desired, the transmitter may be used to form
unfocused or only slightly focused pressure waves in the region of
interest. These examples are of course not intended to be limiting
in any way.
[0021] Similarly, the transducer 14 can take any desired form. The
transducer 14 can be a 1-, 1.25-, 1.5-, 1.75- or 2-dimensional
array of piezoelectric or capacitive membrane elements. By way of
example, the transducers described in any of the following U.S.
patents (all assigned to the assignee of the present invention) can
readily be adapted for use with this invention: U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,261,408, 5,297,533, 5,410,208, 5,415,175, 5,438,998, 5,562,096,
5,657,295, 5,671,746, 5,706,820, 5,757,727, 5,792,058, 5,916,169,
and 5,920,523. Once again, this list is not intended to be
limiting, and any suitable transducer array can be used.
[0022] The receiver can include beamformers implemented using any
suitable technology. For example, the beamformers described in the
following U.S. patents (all assigned to the assignee of the present
invention) can readily be adapted for use with this invention: U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,550,607, 4,699,009, and 5,555,534. Alternately, the
receiver can include one or more beamformers that form beams on a
point-by-point basis rather than a scan-line basis. As before,
these examples are not intended to be limiting.
[0023] As described above, the amplitude and phase of transmitted
signals are controlled to provide the desired contrast pulse
sequence. In the system 10, the beamformer controller 13, such as a
transmitter power and phase control, applies control signals to the
beamformer 12 to create transmit pulses of the desired power and
phase. Transmitter power can be varied in any suitable manner, as
for example by adjusting the voltage applied to individual
transducer elements, or by adjusting the number of transducer
elements (or transmit aperture) used to form a particular
pulse.
[0024] For obtaining ultrasound data at the cubic fundamental, the
beamformer 12 includes line memories and a summer or a filter to
combine signals responsive to the transmission of the CPS.
Beamformed signals from the receiver are stored in the line
memories or filter buffers. The line memories or buffers can be
formed as physically separate memories, or alternately they can be
formed as selected locations in a common physical device. The
beamformed signals for a given CPS are stored in the line memories
or buffers and then weighted and summed in a weighted summer. The
weighted summer is controlled by the beamformer controller 13, such
as a receive amplitude and phase weighting control, that provides
the weighting values for both amplitude and phase that are used in
the weighted summer. The memories and the summer can be implemented
using analog or digital techniques. The weighted summer forms a
composite output signal by weighting the separate beamformed
receive signals in any of the ways described below. The composite
output signal for a given spatial location is a sample associated
with the cubic fundamental response.
[0025] In the foregoing example, the composite output signal was
formed from a weighted summation of receive signals that had been
beamformed. The weighted summation can be performed at baseband, IF
or RF and prior to or after beamforming. Similarly, the weighted
summation can be performed either before or after scan
conversion.
[0026] The detector 16 is a B-mode detector, Doppler detector,
pulsed wave Doppler detector, correlation processor, Fourier
transform processor, application specific integrated circuit,
general processor, control processor, field programmable gate
array, digital signal processor, analog circuit, digital circuit,
combinations thereof or other now known or later developed device
for detecting information for display from beamformed ultrasound
samples. In one embodiment, the detector 16 implements a fast
Fourier transform from a plurality of samples representing a same
region or gate location. Each of the samples is responsive to cubic
fundamental so that a pulsed wave Doppler display may be generated
from cubic fundamental information.
[0027] In another embodiment, the detector 16 is operable to
estimate velocity, direction, and energy values as a function of
the ultrasound data or samples. Two or more samples or combined
signals responsive to the CPS pulses are input to the detector 16.
The detector 16 determines the first and second coefficients of an
auto-correlation function. The first order coefficient estimates
energy, and the second order coefficient estimates velocity.
Direction is derived from the velocity values by retaining the sign
and removing the magnitude. Other calculations to estimate velocity
and/or energy may be used, such as a cross-correlation or
transform.
[0028] The memory 18 is a look-up table, buffer, random access
memory, read only memory, combinations thereof or other now known
or later developed device for storing data or a look-up table. The
memory 18 is operable to store a display map. The display map may
take many forms, such as separate display maps for either of energy
or velocity. In one embodiment, the display map is indexed by both
the velocity and energy values for outputting a display value. For
example, the display map outputs a color value distinguishing
between different energies or different velocities. A color value
for one of the energy or velocity values for a spatial location is
output as a function of the energy input. The color values
representing velocity are displayed for higher energy, and the
color values representing energy are displayed for lower energy.
Color values representing energy are displayed for low velocity
regardless of the energy level. The color values for energy are
non-directional color coded, and the color values for velocity are
directional color coded. Any threshold may be used for switching
between the energy and velocity output values. In an alternative
embodiment, a processor calculates the display values from one or
more input sources of data.
[0029] The display 20 is a CRT, monitor, LCD, flat panel, projector
or other display device. The display 20 receives display values for
displaying an image. The display values are formatted as a one
dimensional image, two dimensional image or a three dimensional
representation. In one embodiment, the display values correspond to
a PW Doppler image showing a range of frequencies modulated by
energy as a function of time for one or more spatial locations. In
another embodiment, the display values correspond to energy and/or
velocity information for each spatial location. In yet other
embodiments, B-mode, M-mode, velocity, energy, variance, contrast
agent, harmonic or other types of images are displayed. The images
are responsive, at least in part, to cubic fundamental
information.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a method for contrast agent
imaging with ultrasound. Additional, different or fewer acts may be
provided. For example, the acts of the methods of FIGS. 4 and/or 6
are performed along with the acts of FIG. 2. As another example,
velocity estimates responsive to cubic fundamental transmissions
are obtained in acts 30 and 32 without performing acts 34 and 36.
As yet another example, cubic fundamental velocity estimates are
obtained in act 32 without the long pulse repetition interval (PRI)
and high sampling rate CPS pulses of act 30. The method of FIG. 2
is implemented using the system of FIG. 1 or another system.
[0031] In act 30, a sequence of pulses is transmitted (TX) for CPS.
The sequence of pulses is transmitted along or adjacent to a scan
line, L1. The sequence of pulses is used to form a plurality of
samples for estimating velocity of contrast agent as a function of
the cubic fundamental of the echo signals. The velocity is
responsive to echoes from each of the pulses of the sequence.
[0032] Cubic fundamental signals can be obtained by transmitting an
exemplary three pulses with varying amplitude and phase. A
plurality of pulses having at least two different amplitude levels
and at least two of the plurality of pulses having opposite phases
are transmitted. For example, the sequence of pulses to obtain
cubic fundamental information for a single sample for each depth
location along a line is represented as [1/2-11/2]. The magnitude
(i.e., 1/2 versus 1) represents amplitude and the polarity (i.e.,
negative versus positive) represents the relative phasing, here a
180 degree difference. [ 1/2 1 1/2] as well as other sequences with
or without polarity changes or with different amplitude differences
may also be used. It is preferred that the 1/2 amplitude pulses are
achieved by using a subset of the full aperture, such as even or
odd elements of the aperture, so may be represented as 1/2e for the
even elements and 1/2o for the odd elements. Other aperture
groupings to obtain the desired amplitude may be used.
[0033] A sample is formed by combining signals responsive to the
transmitted pulses. In one embodiment, the signals for each pulse
are equally weighted and summed, but unequal weighting with or
without phase shifts may be performed for the combination of
received signals. A sample is represented as Y.sub.N. Each sample
is formed from a unique combination. In one embodiment, the
transmit pulses used for a given sample are used only for that
sample. Alternatively, one or more pulses are used for different
samples. Table 1 shows a contrast pulse transmit sequence along one
scan line with receive filtering using shared pulses.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Transmit sequence 1/2 e -1 1/2 o -1 1/2 e
Received point X.sub.0 X.sub.1 X.sub.2 X.sub.3 X.sub.4 Receive
weight Y.sub.0 1 1 1 Receive weight Y.sub.1 1 1 1 Receive weight
Y.sub.2 1 1 1
The X.sub.n corresponds to the order of transmission of the five
pulses along the scan line. The "1" values are the weights applied
to receive signals. The location of the "1" corresponds to the
transmit pulses and associated received signals to be weighted. In
table 1, three sets of samples Y.sub.0, Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 for a
same scan line are output.
[0034] The three samples are output from the filter block into the
detector, such as a color Doppler autocorrelation detection
processor. The velocity is estimated in act 32 as a function of the
three samples or combined signals.
[0035] The Y.sub.1 samples of Table 1 may have poor linear
fundamental rejection, and may contaminate the detected agent
energy and velocity estimates. The input receive signals may be
reordered for input to a fixed clutter filter, and color Doppler
detection performed with two desired points. Table 2 represents
using the same transmit sequence, but reordering the resulting
received signals for combination into two sets of samples.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Transmit sequence 1/2 e 1/2 o -1 -1 1/2 e
Received point X.sub.0 X.sub.2 X.sub.3 X.sub.1 X.sub.4 Receive
weight Y.sub.0 1 1 0 1 Receive weight Y.sub.1 1 1 0 1
Alternative methods to discard or avoid the undesired output
samples include decimation filtering and generalized matrix
filtering. Other desired combinations responsive to cubic
fundamental information input to the autocorrelation operation may
be used.
[0036] There are many sequences that can be used to compute cubic
fundamental sensitive contrast agent velocity. Additional points
can be added to the sequences to improve the quality of the
velocity estimates, such as shown in table 3. TABLE-US-00003 TABLE
3 Est. sam- reorder Transmit sequence Clutter filter ples pattern
1/2e - 11/2o - 11/2e [1 0 1 1] 2 0, 2, 3, 1, 4 1/2e - 11/2o 1/2e -
11/2o [1 0 1 0 1] 2 0, 2, 4, 1, 3, 5 1/2e - 11/2o 1/2e - 11/2o 1/2e
- 11/2o [1 0 0 1 0 0 1] 3 0, 3, 6, 1, 4, 7, 2, 5, 8 1/2e 11/2o
11/2e [- 1 0 1 1] 2 0, 2, 4, 1, 3
In table 3, the estimate samples represent the number of sets of
combined signals or samples output for velocity estimation. The
clutter filter represents the weighting for a moving window applied
to the received signals of the CPS transmit pulses to obtain the
samples. The reorder pattern is provided to present the desired
data to the clutter filter for forming the samples. Other orders
may be used.
[0037] Sequences may be adapted to provide improved sensitivity for
low velocities in act 30. The pulses are spaced unequal distances
apart in time within the sequence. For example, pulses for
detection of cubic fundamental information are transmitted closer
together in time than pulse sets for estimation of the velocity.
Since different transmitted pulses are used for different samples,
the sequence of pulses along a line or adjacent lines may provide
pulses used for each sample at a high rate (i.e., relatively close
spacing in time), but with the pulses different samples used for
velocity estimation spaced apart in time.
[0038] In one embodiment, the spatial distribution of pulses of a
sequence is obtained by interleaving pulses for other sequences.
For example, pulses of a sequence used for forming samples on
different, such as adjacent, scan lines are transmitted interleaved
with pulses for a given scan line. The interleaving provides for a
different number of pulses from other sequences being between two
different sequential pairs of the pulses of a given sequence,
resulting in variation of the time between pulses of the given
sequence where a sequence is associated with pulses for two or more
samples to be used for estimating a velocity.
[0039] In one embodiment for interleaving, equal spacing in time
between the pulses is used. This interleaving is similar to
interleaving for low velocity scale settings for conventional color
Doppler. For example, if the flow sample interleave ratio (FSIR) is
3 (i.e., data for three spatially distinct scan lines are acquired
in an interleaved fashion) and the sample count (i.e., number of
pulses per scan line) is 6, then the total of 18 firings are
acquired with the following ordering: TABLE-US-00004 spatial line:
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 |-PRI-|
By convention, the PRI is defined as the time interval between
pulses for the same spatial location. It corresponds to the
velocity scale set by the user. A 6 pulse contrast pulse sequence
with the same interleaving sequence showing the aperture weighting
pattern is provided as: [0040] 1.sup.(1/2e) 2.sup.(1/2e)
3.sup.(1/2e) 1.sup.(-1) 2.sup.(-1) 3.sup.(-1) 1.sup.(1/2o)
2.sup.(1/2o) 3.sup.(1/2o) 1.sup.(1/2e) 2.sup.(1/2e) 3.sup.(1/2e)
1.sup.(-1) 2.sup.(-1) 3.sup.(-1) 1.sup.(1/2o) 2.sup.(1/2o)
3.sup.(1/2o) The time between individual firings is PRI/3, or more
generally PRI/FSIR.
[0041] By acquiring contrast pulse sequences with a long PRI, the
velocity resolution for low velocities is increased. For example,
the sample correlation is between complex clutter filter output
samples that are 3*PRI apart in time. Sensitivity to linear
fundamental clutter may be increased in the interleaving cases as
well as the possibility of incoherence due to motion within the
three pulses of the coherently combined CPS triplet (i.e., three
pulses used to form one set of samples along a scan line) because
of the longer PRI. To avoid this unwanted sensitivity, the pulses
used for a given sample are maintained closer in time, providing
unequal temporal spacing of pulses of the sequence. For example, at
least six first pulses are transmitted. The six pulses correspond
to two triplets or two sets of CPS pulses where each set has at
least two pulses with different amplitude levels and at least two
pulses with different phases. Three pulses (i.e., a first triplet)
in the sequence corresponding to a first set of samples are
transmitted free of interleaving. Pulses for one or more other
sequences are than transmitted. Then, three more pulses (i.e., a
second triplet) in the original sequence corresponding to a second
set of samples are transmitted free of interleaving. This example
sequence is represented by: TABLE-US-00005 1.sup.(1/2e) 1.sup.(-1)
1.sup.(1/2o) 2.sup.(1/2e) 2.sup.(-1) 2.sup.(1/2o) 3.sup.(1/2e)
3.sup.(-1) 3.sup.(1/2o) 1.sup.(1/2e) 1.sup.(-1) 1.sup.(1/2o)
2.sup.(1/2e) 2.sup.(-1) 2.sup.(1/2o) 3.sup.(1/2e) 3.sup.(-1)
3.sup.(1/2o) |-----3*PRI used for velocity estimate------|
This example sequence preserves high sampling rates for the CPS
triplets while retaining the long correlation intervals for
velocity sensitivity. Good linear fundamental clutter rejection is
maintained because the second difference clutter filtering in this
example is performed at a high sample rate (PRI/3). Increased
velocity resolution is provided by the sample interleaving because
the autocorrelation is performed across samples that are 3*PRI
apart in time. Stationary and moving contrast agent may be better
differentiated because of the greater velocity resolution.
[0042] In alternative embodiments, sets of four or more pulses are
used instead of triplets (i.e., sets of three pulses) to acquire a
given sample. In yet other embodiments, some interleaving is
provided within the triplet or set of pulses for combination to
obtain the cubic fundamental information. More or less relative
interleaving is provided between the sets of pulses than shown in
the example above or than used within the sets or triplets. In one
embodiment, the pulses of a set used for obtaining cubic
fundamental information are interleaved with another set in the
same sequence. In yet another alternative embodiment, one or more
pulses of a sequence are used for generating two or more
samples.
[0043] Received signals responsive to each set of transmitted
pulses are combined. The combination is performed as discussed
above to obtain a sample or samples along a scan line responsive to
cubic fundamental information. Received signals responsive to the
different amplitude and phased pulses are combined to obtain cubic
fundamental information. In the example above, received signals
responsive to the first triplet (i.e., the first three pulses
labeled "1") are combined, and the received signals responsive to
the second triplet (i.e., the last three pulses labeled "1") are
combined. By combining the received signals for each of the two or
more sets of pulses in a sequence, two or more samples are
generated for each given spatial location.
[0044] Velocities are estimated as a function of cubic fundamental
signals responsive to the pulses of the sequence. The velocity at a
given spatial location is estimated from the two or more samples
formed from the sequence of transmit pulses. For example, a
velocity is estimated from the two samples obtained using the "1"
sequence transmit pulses in the example above.
[0045] In act 34, an energy of contrast agent is obtained. The
energy is obtained as a function of a cubic fundamental of
ultrasound signals. For example, a CPS sequence using all the same,
all different or a sub-set of transmit pulses used to estimate
velocity is transmitted. Using different pulses may result in
received signals responsive to the same or different contrast agent
due to movement of the contrast agent. A single sample or a
plurality of samples is used to estimate the energy.
[0046] In act 36, an image is generated as a function of both the
velocity and energy estimates. Calculations, processes or look-up
table maps may be used for identifying display values for the
image. The image is a black and white or color image. In one
embodiment, a color map or look-up table indexed by the velocity
and energy values is used to generate display values. FIG. 3 shows
one such color map. One of the energy or velocity is displayed for
a spatial location as a function of the energy. The velocity is
displayed for higher energy, and the energy is displayed for lower
energy. The velocity is a color, such as a directional color coded
display value. For higher velocities, a different shade, brightness
or hue is displayed. A different shade, brightness or hue is used
to distinguish negative from positive velocities. For energies, a
non-directional color coded display value is generated. The display
values for energy are a different color, shade, hue or brightness
than the display values for velocity. Low energy signals are shown
without unreliable velocity estimates with a non-directional color
coding. High energy signals with more reliable velocity estimates
show a color-coded velocity.
[0047] The threshold or cut-off between displaying energy or
velocity information is set by experimentation or in response to
user input. In one region associated with stationary contrast
agent, spatial locations associated with a sufficiently low
velocity are displayed as black, as energy or as a non-velocity
regardless of the energy level.
[0048] The map is used for each of a plurality of spatial locations
to generate display values for a color image. The map can also be
changed to show black (or the underlying tissue or B-mode in mix
modes) in the locations where velocity is not mapped and/or
stationary agent is located. The color mapping scheme then appears
very much like a color Doppler map where stationary agent is
suppressed. Alternatively, stationary agent is mapped to a color
different from moving agent while the absence of agent is mapped to
black or underlying B-mode. The map may be simplified to show only
directional information rather than velocity. Any of the mapping or
combinations shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,923, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference, can be applied here.
[0049] For imaging small vessels, signals associated with tissue
velocity may be subtracted from velocities associated with both
tissue and contrast agent velocities. Measurement of contrast agent
flow velocities in vessels while inside moving tissue could allow
vessels to be shown with high contrast despite the presence of
perfused contrast agent in the tissues. Tissue velocity is
determined using received signals without combination to find the
cubic fundamental response. For example, tissue velocity is
estimated from received signals for a sub-set of fewer than all of
the pulses used in CPS. Using the 6-pulse sequence arranged as two
identical 3 pulse triplets [1/2e-11/2o] discussed above, the
contrast and tissue agent velocity is provided by correlating
across the triplets. The fundamental signal tissue velocity is
obtained by correlating across the two full amplitude signals. In
table 4 below, the complex filter output samples Y.sub.0 and
Y.sub.1 yield the combined agent flow and tissue velocity
measurement V.sub.at. The samples Z.sub.0 and Z.sub.1 yield the
tissue velocity measurement V.sub.t. TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 4
Transmit sequence 1/2 e 1/2 e -1 -1 1/2 o 1/2 o Received point
X.sub.0 X.sub.3 X.sub.1 X.sub.4 X.sub.2 X.sub.5 Receive weight
Y.sub.0 1 0 1 0 1 Receive weight Y.sub.1 1 0 1 0 1 Receive weight
Z.sub.0 0 0 1 0 0 Receive weight Z.sub.1 0 0 1 0 0
Alternatively, the tissue velocity is estimated from pulses not
also used for estimating velocity.
[0050] The velocity estimates are obtained in parallel.
Alternatively, one or more passes are performed through a same
device to obtain the estimates sequentially from the same or
different data.
[0051] To identify the velocity and contrast agents within a
vessel, the tissue velocity is removed from the contrast agent and
tissue velocity. The actual contrast agent flow velocity V.sub.a
can be derived by subtracting the tissue velocity measurement
V.sub.t from the combined agent and tissue velocity V.sub.at.
Alternatively, the input spectrum of the agent velocity measurement
is modulated based on the tissue velocity measurement similar to
adaptive clutter filtering. The tissue information is moved to 0,
or zero velocity, so that the vessel contrast agent velocity
remains. The information at and around 0 is then removed by clutter
filtering.
[0052] The 1/2e and 1/2o pulses may also be used to help improve
the quality of the tissue velocity estimate thru variance
reduction, providing more averaged velocities. These pulses may
have poor quality grating lobe performance where the reduction in
amplitude is obtained by partially sampling the aperture. Combining
these pulses coherently could improve grating lobe performance, but
may introduce a zero in the amplitude frequency response of the
tissue velocity estimator for high velocities.
[0053] Fundamental and/or second harmonic clutter velocity bias may
be rejected by modulating the relative phases of the triplets or
other groupings of pulses. The transmit phases are modulated to
affect the velocity estimator to achieve improved velocity based
detection specificity. Two sets of the contrast pulse sequence
triplets [1/2e-11/2o] provide a pair of complex values fed into the
autocorrelators to generate a velocity estimate. Additional
triplets can be used to increase the number of points that are
averaged, reducing the variance of the velocity estimates. By
altering the transmit phase of triplets in a particular sequence,
the velocity estimates for linear fundamental, second harmonic, and
cubic fundamental may be affected in useful ways.
[0054] The phase is altered between triplets or between combined
triplets or other subset. Pulses of one sub-set of a sequence are
transmitted with a different phase off-set than the pulses of
another sub-set. The received signals responsive to each sub-set
are combined to obtain information at the cubic fundamental. Each
sample for velocity estimation corresponds to different sub-sets of
pulses. The phase off-set is applied to different sub-sets of
pulses. Where a pulse within a sub-set has a phase off-set relative
to other pulses in the sub-set, the intra sub-set phase off-set is
added to the sub-set phase off-set. The velocity is then estimated
from the resulting samples.
[0055] For example, phase shifts are applied to a 9-pulse sequence
containing three triplets. The phases applied to the three triplets
are [0.degree. 0.degree. 90.degree.]. A 90.degree. phase shift is
applied to each of the pulses in the third triplet and not to the
pulses of the first two triplets. After combining the received
signals for each triplet, three samples are input to estimate
velocity. The first pair of complex samples fed to the
autocorrelators has no relative phase change, so generate a normal
velocity estimate. The second pair of samples has a positive
90.degree. phase change for linear fundamental signals, 180.degree.
for second harmonic signals and a 270.degree. or -90.degree. phase
change for cubic signals. When this second autocorrelation value or
velocity estimate is averaged with the first, the true velocity
from linear fundamental signals will see an average of a 45.degree.
positive bias. The measured velocity is higher by 1/4 of the
Nyquist velocity. The cubic fundamental has a bias of 1/4 of the
Nyquist velocity in the negative direction. The second harmonic has
a zero bias, the first and second samples cancel each other out
since they are of opposite phase. The velocity has zero bias due to
second harmonic clutter.
[0056] In one embodiment, the second harmonic is reduced by
filtering in CPS imaging so that there is less energy to affect
cubic fundamental estimates. The filtering is performed by limiting
axial bandwidth on receive, which affects range resolution. There
is a tradeoff between second harmonic clutter and cubic fundamental
bandwidth. In this phase off-set embodiment, by providing the
relative phase off-sets, bias in the velocity estimate due to
second harmonic signals is reduced when the axial bandwidth is
broadened to include second harmonic signals.
[0057] More complete cancellation of information other than at the
cubic fundamental is provided using a twelve pulse sequence with
four triplets, each with transmit phasing of [0.degree. 0.degree.
120.degree. 0.degree.]. Three of the triplets are associated with a
same phase off-set and a fourth one of the triplets has a different
phase off-set. Samples are obtained for each of the triplets, such
as each triplet including samples representing a same scan line.
The velocity is estimated from the samples, such as from four
samples for each spatial location. Using four samples, three
complex correlated values are averaged by the autocorrelator. For
fundamental frequencies, the velocities of the values to be
averaged by the autocorrelators are shifted by [0.degree.
120.degree. -120.degree.]. These sum to zero. The contribution of
fundamental signal to the overall velocity estimate is nil or
reduced. For the second harmonic, the shift is [0.degree.
240.degree. -240.degree.]. These also sum to zero. The contribution
of second harmonic signal to the velocity estimate is nil or
reduced. For the cubic fundamental, the shift is [0 360.degree.
-360.degree.] which is equal to [0.degree. 0.degree. 0.degree.].
These add constructively, resulting in a variance reduction
benefit. The velocity estimate value for non-accelerating objects
is mostly or entirely determined by the cubic fundamental signal.
The velocity estimates from this four triplet twelve pulse
technique help improve the specificity of agent flow in moving
tissue. Only or mostly contrast agent signals produce a velocity
estimate in non-accelerating moving tissue.
[0058] For the cases where large signals are from tissue (either
harmonic or fundamental), the variance of the estimate may be used.
For high energy cases where velocities cancel out, the variance
estimate (1-abs(R(1)/R(0)) may be quite high since R(1) is zero
where R(1) and R(0) are the autocorrelation coefficients. A large
variance indicates clutter. The variance estimate is used to
condition the display of low velocity signals with high energy. For
example, one or both of the energy and velocity is not used or
reduced for high variance conditions. This suppression may further
remove signals from tissue.
[0059] Other sequences with phase off-sets using triplets or other
groupings of CPS pulses may be used. For example, other phase
sequences for a 3-triplet, 9-pulse sequence with transmit phase
adjustments are possible. With a [0 45 0] phase adjustment, the two
velocity estimate values each have a phase shift proportional to
the harmonic order: [+45-45] fundamental (sums to zero bias),
[+90-90] second harmonic (sums to zero complete rejection) and
[+135-135] cubic (sums to a 180.degree. bias). As another example
in a [0 60 0] phase adjustment, the two velocity estimate values
each have the following phase shifts: [+60 -60] fundamental (sums
to zero bias), [+120 -120] second harmonic (sums to 180.degree.
bias) and [+180 -180] cubic (sums to zero). This sequence rejects
or reduces velocities from the cubic fundamental signal, so may be
used to isolate parameters from the second harmonic signal.
[0060] In one embodiment of the CPS transmissions of act 30, the
difference in amplitude of the transmitted pulses used to obtain
information at the cubic fundamental is obtained by using different
amplification or voltages. In other embodiments, the difference in
amplitude is obtained by adjusting the aperture or number of
elements and element spacing used for transmission of the pulses.
For example, three or more sets of CPS pulses are transmitted in a
sequence for a scan line. Each of the sets has a same amplitude and
phase pattern of pulses. At least four of the pulses used in the
sequence are responsive to a respective at least four different
apertures. Other numbers of apertures may be provided. Three or
more sets of received signals responsive to the three or more sets
of transmitted pulses are combined respectively into three or more
samples for velocity estimation.
[0061] For a simple example using the same three apertures for
three sets of triplets in a sequence, higher order filtering may be
used to increase the rejection of moving fundamental signals. The
1/2-11/2 set of pulses is arrived at by turning particular elements
on and adjusting the polarity or phase of the transmitted waveform
from each element as given below in table 5. TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 5
Full aperture - - - - - - - - 1/2 aperture (even) + + + + 1/2
aperture (odd) + + + +
This aperture pattern has the desirable property that each element
contributes an equal amount of positive and negative signal to the
overall combined result. Each element within any of the apertures
is used a same number of times as all of the other elements within
any of apertures. This helps cancel certain system and transducer
non-linearity. Alternatively, any given element may be used in
different number of apertures for a sequence than another element.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,602,195 and 6,682,482 disclose various aperture
combinations for CPS pulses. The same or different apertures may be
used for each set of pulses within a same sequence.
[0062] To achieve high order fundamental suppression and some cubic
fundamental suppression, the following CPS set of [1/3 -1 1-1/3]
may be used. The following aperture function can be used to realize
this set of pulses: TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 6 3/4 aperture (even) - -
- - - - 3/4 aperture (odd) + + + + + + 1/4 aperture (odd) - - 1/4
aperture (even) + +
[0063] Four different aperture patterns are used. An additional
zero is provided at DC for linear fundamental suppression. A single
zero cancels stationary cubic fundamental components. The
specificity of moving agents detection may be improved.
[0064] In addition to the higher order aperture patterns discussed
above, clutter filtering may be used to further enhance velocity
estimation. For example, the adaptive clutter filter discussed
above using long correlation intervals with high sampling rates is
used in conjunction with the single cancellation zero available in
the cubic fundamental signal space to more effectively separate
moving agent from agent that is stationary relative to the moving
tissue.
[0065] Longer CPS pulse sets may reduce sensitivity at low agent
velocities. The previously discussed technique of rejecting the
clutter bias might be a better way to make use of additional pulses
to improve agent detection. This also has the variance reduction
benefits to the velocity and energy estimates that come from
averaging multiple autocorrelation samples.
[0066] A fourth order fundamental canceller of another embodiment
using aperture weighting of amplitude has the following weights:
[1/6-2/3 1 -2/3 1/6]. The following aperture pattern can realize
this by weighting the function [1 -4 6 -4 1]/8: TABLE-US-00009
TABLE 7 3/4 aperture X X X X X X X X X X X X 1/2 aperture (even) X
X X X X X X X 1/2 aperture (odd) X X X X X X X X 1/8 aperture
(even) X X 1/8 aperture (odd) X X
Each "x" indicates the usage of a given element in a particular
aperture. This five-pulse sequence has five different aperture
amplitude functions. Each element contributes a single positive and
single negative phase to the overall summation.
[0067] Crosstalk considerations may necessitate larger groupings of
elements such that at least 2 or 4 adjacent elements are in use at
all times (i.e., each "x" or column in Table 7 represents 2, 3, 4
or other number of adjacent elements). In higher order sequences
four and five pulses can replace the triplets discussed
earlier.
[0068] An alternative method for combining sequences to improve
rejection is to apply not only different phases but vary transmit
amplitude weights between triplets. Consider the following triplet:
[1/2e-11/2o]. For a 9 pulse sequence, three triplets with weights
[1/2 11/2] are used. The actual transmitted aperture sequence is
[1/4ee -1/2e 1/4eo 1/2e -11/2o 1/4oe -1/2o 1/4oo] where "eo" or
"oe" include even and odd elements or groups of elements. The
aperture pattern for this sequence could be the following:
TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 8 Full aperture - - - - - - - - 1/2 aperture
(even) .+-. .+-. .+-. .+-. 1/2 aperture (odd) .+-. .+-. .+-. .+-.
1/4 aperture (even--even) + + 1/4 aperture (even - odd) + + 1/4
aperture (odd - even) + + 1/4 aperture (odd--odd) + +
The apertures labeled with both "+" and "-" are used twice, once
with positive phasing and once with negative phasing. This transmit
sequence puts additional zeros at FS/2 and at FS/6 for increased
fundamental cancellation. This could be helpful in very high
clutter, shallow depth environments where the very low power signal
of the 1/4 aperture can penetrate, such as in transesophageal,
intravascular applications or small animal imaging.
[0069] The triplet pattern is maintained so that within the group
of 9 pulses, the values may be useful for other purposes. For
example, the output of each triplet with appropriate receive
weighting is obtained. Receive weighting is used since two of the
three sets are associated with a half amplitude of the other set. A
weight is applied to received signals or final samples of one, two
or all three sets to equalize the amplitude contribution within the
sequence. These resulting sample values are applied to the velocity
estimator. The velocity estimate may be computed with normal levels
of fundamental clutter rejection. The energy estimate may be
computed with all 9 points with a higher level of fundamental
clutter rejection and agent specificity. When these energy and
velocity values are combined for display, such as with the map show
in FIG. 3, the velocity is only displayed for signals with a high
detected energy.
[0070] Contrast pulse sequence triplets or other sets of CPS pulses
used in a sequence can be corrected by inserting a preamble pulse,
represented as an initial additional pulse within the triplet:
[1/2o 1/2e -11/2o]. The amplitude and phase of the preamble or
reverberation pulse is selected so that first three values sum to
zero. This ensures cancellation of linear fundamental reverb
signals. Techniques to determine the phase and amplitude of the
reverberation suppression pulse are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,436,041, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference. A second reverb pulse may be added as an initial
negative one value: [-11/2o 1/2e -11/2o].
[0071] The reverb pulse or pulses generates a similar acoustic
environment for each of the first pulses used in a combination to
obtain a sample at the cubic fundamental. In an interleaving
embodiment, each triplet (or other sub grouping) has a separate
reverb firing. A 6-pulse sequence of two triplets without reverb
cancellation uses an 8-pulse sequence for reverberation
cancellation. For example, with a flow sample interleave ratio
(FSIR) of four, 4.times.6=24 firings without reverb pulses has
4.times.8=32 firings with reverb pulses. Without a reverb pulse,
the sequences for four lines are: 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 1 1 1 2 2 2
3 3 3 4 4 4. With the addition of one reverb firing per triplet,
the sequences are: 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4, where each triplet includes one initial reverb
pulse. The superscripts denoting the aperture, phase and/or
polarity function are omitted for clarity.
[0072] If there are not large phase changes between lines, then
earlier triplets may serve as reverb pulses for subsequent
triplets. A 9-pulse sequence may then become a 10-pulse sequence
after a single reverb correction pulse is added to the beginning of
the sequences. This assumes no phase changes between the groupings.
If phase changes occur, then additional reverb pulses may be used.
The time between firing each pulse is carefully controlled so that
reverb pulses present the appropriate phase. In one embodiment,
uniform pulse timing is used to control the phase.
[0073] One other way to reduce the number of reverb lines is by
allowing some interleaving within triplets. For example, if the
FSIR=4 with a two triplet six-pulse sequence, the following 24
firing pulses are provided: 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 4 3 4 3 4 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 4
3 4 3 4. Inserting single reverb pulses before each interleave
triplet group provides 28 firings with the following sequences: 2 1
2 1 2 1 2 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 4 3 4 3 4 3 4. One reverb
pulse for each interleaved triplet pair is provided, reducing the
number of reverb pulses from the previous case by 50% (from 8 to
4). The contrast pulse sequence is acquired with a lower sampling
rate (because of the interleaving) but a still longer correlation
period. The lower sampling rate may introduce motion artifact due
to imperfect cancellation of the fundamental signal.
[0074] The reverberation cancellation technique of using dead time
before the triplet, i.e. [01/2e-11/2o], may be used. However,
reflections from the first transmitted pulse from objects deep in
the body may be seen when the second pulse is being received.
Reflections from the second pulse may be seen on the third receive
pulse. The first received pulse has no reflected signal. The three
received pulses are combined with an FIR filter--in this case a [1
1 1] filter. The missing reflection on the first pulse may prevent
cancellation of the linear fundamental signal from the deep
objects. If the object is a bright reflector, such as the
diaphragm, then the contrast agent detector will register a large
signal. An example alternating polarity set of pulses without and
with reverb pulses is provided as: TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 9 Tx
Sequence: 1/2e -1 1/2o Reverb Signal: 1/2e -1 Rx weights: 1 1 1
.fwdarw. Reverb Sum: -1 + 1/2e = -1/2o Tx Sequence 1/2o 1/2e -1
1/2o Reverb Signal: 1/2o 1/2e -1 Rx weights: 1 1 1 .fwdarw.Reverb
Sum: -1 + 1/2e + 1/2o = 0
[0075] An example uniform polarity sequence without and with reverb
pulses is provided as: TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 10 Tx Sequence: 1/2e 1
1/2o Reverb Signal: 1/2e 1 Rx weights: 1 -1 1 .fwdarw. Reverb Sum:
1 - 1/2e = 1/2o Tx Sequence -1/2o 1/2e 1 1/2o Reverb Signal: -1/2o
1/2e 1 Rx weights: 1 -1 1 .fwdarw. Reverb Sum: 1 - 1/2e - 1/2o =
0
[0076] An alternative to reverb suppression pulses is to increase
the time between firing each pulse with the commensurate tradeoff
on linear fundamental clutter suppression and reduction in frame
rate. The duration increase is between each of the firings.
[0077] The velocity scale may be adjusted to account for the
sequences discussed herein with or without reverberation. Velocity
estimates are obtained using one of different possible sequences of
pulses corresponding different possible pulse repetition intervals.
For example, the sequence is selected automatically in response to
a type of examination or is selected as a function of user input.
In response to the selection of a specific sequence and associated
pulse repetition interval, a velocity scale annotation is adjusted
as a function of the pulse repetition interval. One way to
implement this could be to have a filter dependent scale factor for
the velocity scale, such as a scale factor for multiplying the
velocity scale used for annotation and calipers. The velocity scale
is based on a particular PRI. By using the Doppler equation,
Nyquist velocities are computed. For these various pulsing
techniques, the velocity scale may have to be scaled (reduced) by
integer factors which depend on the particular sequence. For
example, the five pulse [ 1/2-1 1/2-1 1/2] set of CPS pulses has a
true velocity scale which is one half as large. The six pulse set
of CPS pulses is scaled by 1/3. Other sequences may require
different scale factors.
[0078] In act 30, each of the pulses within a sequence is
transmitted along a same scan line. Where interleaving between scan
lines is used, the pulses of a plurality of sequences are
transmitted along a respective plurality of scan lines. Table 11
below shows an acquisition pattern with three firings per detected
line (i.e., set of CPS pulses for samples along a scan line).
Linear fundamental suppression is provided by the second difference
[1-2 1] response.
[0079] ultrasound line TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 11 ##STR1##
L.sub.n indicates the scan line.
[0080] In alternative embodiments, one or more pulses within a set
of CPS pulses for forming samples along a scan line or within a
sequence of multiple sets include at least one pulse transmitted
along one line and another pulse transmitted along an adjacent
line. For example, two pulses per detected scan line are used,
resulting in linear fundamental suppression. Pulses are shared
between scan lines or sequences. The lines are not collocated so
there may be linear fundamental leakage. Phase correction and good
sampling density may be used to improve linear fundamental
cancellation. Table 12 shows this first alternative: TABLE-US-00014
TABLE 12 ##STR2##
[0081] Some pulses are transmitted along scan lines located between
the scan lines of interest.
[0082] In another alternative shown in table 13, only one pulse on
average per detected line is used. Poor linear fundamental
suppression may be provided. The second difference [1 -2 1]
response is provided for lines L.sub.0, L.sub.3, L.sub.6, etc., but
the transmitted pulses within a set of pulses are not collocated,
resulting in linear fundamental leakage. A linear fundamental
suppression response for other lines (L.sub.1, L.sub.2, L.sub.4,
L.sub.5, etc) may be worse than first difference performance [1 1
-2]. Line by line variation in linear fundamental suppression
performance may produce artifacts in the final image. Lateral video
filtering may help suppress the artifacts, trading off lateral
resolution. TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 13 ##STR3##
The L.sub.1/L.sub.2 represents a scan line between L.sub.0 and
L.sub.3. Samples are formed for each of L.sub.0-L.sub.6. FIG. 5
shows a frequency response of the linear fundamental suppression
using the pulses of Table 13. The solid line represents the L.sub.1
and L.sub.2 response, the dot-dash line represents the L.sub.3
response and the dotted line represents a first difference response
for reference.
[0083] Table 14 represents yet another alternative transmit
pattern. An average of 2 firings per detected line are used for
linear fundamental suppression based on the second difference [1 -2
1] response. The scan lines are not collocated so there may be
linear fundamental leakage. TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 14 L.sub.1 L.sub.2
L.sub.3 L.sub.4 L.sub.5 1/2e -1 1/2o -1 1/2e -1 1/2o -1 1/2e -1
1/2o
[0084] Rather than estimating velocity or energy from samples
representing the same spatial locations, the number of pulses may
be decreased by estimating from adjacent spatial locations.
Consider a CPS set of pulses where triplets are processed to
produce linear fundamental suppressed complex values Y.sub.n, such
as shown in Table 15. TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 15 ##STR4##
The complex autocorrelation value for line n is represented as:
[0085] R(1).sub.n=Y.sub.nY*.sub.n-1 which correlates two complex
values from different spatial scan lines. The velocity estimate for
line n is then .angle.R(1).sub.n. The velocity estimates may be
obtained with only 3 pulses per line. Additional averaging could be
performed: R .function. ( 1 ) n = k = n n + 1 .times. Y k .times. Y
k - 1 * ##EQU1## to reduce the variance of the velocity estimate as
well as adjust the spatial center of mass of the velocity estimates
for these lines.
[0086] Other techniques may also be applied. For example, the
transmit phases of consecutive triplets in adjacent lines can be
modulated to help reduce the linear fundamental signal velocity
bias. In one embodiment, twelve pulses of a sequence may be
realized with a 9 pulses per scan line. Each entry in table 16
represents a 3-pulse CPS triplet acquired at a particular line Y.
TABLE-US-00018 TABLE 16 ##STR5##
Three triplets acquired along a particular line (Y.sub.1) are
combined with a single triplet acquired from an adjacent line
(Y.sub.2) to form a single velocity estimate with reduced bias from
linear fundamental and second harmonic clutter bias. The lines are
close enough together to allow a reasonable velocity estimate to be
made across lines, such as being adjacent scan lines.
[0087] The twelve pulse cancellation technique of the example
embodiment above may be alternatively realized with an average of
1.5 triplets or 4.5 pulses per line. In the following table 17,
each row represents collinear firings of the [1/2e -11/2o] contrast
pulse sequence triplet. Each angle represents a transmit phase
adjustment for all firings of a particular triplet. TABLE-US-00019
TABLE 17 ##STR6##
The velocity values, V, are estimated based on the samples for each
scan line, Y. For example, the velocities are estimated as
V.sub.0=.angle.Y.sub.1Y*.sub.0+Y.sub.2Y*.sub.1+Y.sub.3Y*.sub.2 and
V.sub.1=.angle.Y.sub.2Y*.sub.1+Y.sub.3Y*.sub.2+Y.sub.4Y*.sub.3.
[0088] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a flow chart diagram of
another embodiment of a method for contrast agent ultrasound
imaging with cubic fundamental information. Additional, different
or fewer acts may be used, such as including any of the acts of
FIG. 2 or related pulses, sets of pulses or sequences with or
without interleaving. The method is implemented using the system of
FIG. 1 or another system.
[0089] In act 40, a sequence of pulses is repetitively transmitted
along a scan line. The sequence is free of interleaving in one
embodiment. For example, the sequence is a set of pulses for
obtaining one sample for each spatial location. By transmitting CPS
pulses, the sequence corresponds to detection of cubic fundamental
information. In one embodiment, the pulse sequence represented as
1/2e-11/2o is repeated continuously.
[0090] In act 42, the received signals responsive to each
repetition are combined. The combination of received signals
corresponding to each set or sequence provides cubic fundamental
information. The receive signals from each pulse of a triplet are
added together in one embodiment.
[0091] In act 44, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) is performed as a
function of the combined received signals from a plurality of the
repetitions of transmission and combination. The samples are
continuously fed into an FFT. The measurement PRI (the display
velocity scale) is 3.times. the actual PRI. The two zeros may
remove most of the linear fundamental clutter. Reverberation is
handled naturally because each pulse of the sequence serves as
natural reverb pulses for subsequent pulses. An initial
reverberation pulse may or may not be used.
[0092] In act 46, an image responsive to the FFT is generated. The
image is a pulsed wave (PW) Doppler image for a gate location along
the scan line. Since the cubic fundamental information is used for
the PW Doppler image, imaging flow in coronary arteries may
benefit. The cubic fundamental information has high contrast agent
specificity and low clutter. The lower clutter levels may also
improve automated quantitative measurements.
[0093] In one embodiment, act 40 is performed using a high pulse
repetition frequency (PRF). Sequential transmissions are performed
with a lesser delay between transmissions. The delay may even be
such that a second transmission is performed prior to an end of a
time of flight for a location of interest for a first transmission.
High PRF may provide good high velocity estimates with less concern
for ghost gates being near strong clutter. Very low velocity scales
may be used, and flows that would normally be obscured by clutter
may be measured.
[0094] In some applications, such as coronary flow reserve studies,
timing information is important. It is possible to create multiple
Doppler strips. One strip is from data from the -1 transmit pulses
and represents the fundamental signal energy containing significant
tissue motion. Tissue motion provides heart cycle timing
information (i.e. the start of systole and diastole). The other
strip provides the cubic fundamental sensitive signal which is
highly specific to the moving contrast agent. The two strips may
also be stacked one on top of the other on the display or overlaid
with different colors. The two strips may have the same or
different effective measurement PRIs. The fundamental pulses may be
sub-sampled to get a PRI that is an integer multiple longer for the
fundamental strip than for the cubic fundamental strip. The receive
weights and phases may be altered from the 1/2e and 1/2o pulses so
that all pulses can be used for a fundamental sensitive strip and a
shorter measurement PRI can be used. Since tissue timing
information is of interest, clutter leakage from imperfect
cancellation may be less of a concern.
[0095] Cubic fundamental velocity, energy, intensity and/or other
type of information is used for three-dimensional imaging in one
embodiment. To reduce scan time or frame rate, different pulses are
transmitted along different lines in a volume. The CPS pulses to
form samples along a scan line are transmitted along a same or
different scan lines. Table 18 shows a 2 dimensional sampling
pattern of CPS triplets acquired in order from 1-16 for a total of
16.times.3=48 line firings: TABLE-US-00020 TABLE 18 1 3 5 7 9 11 13
15 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
[0096] In one embodiment, these triplets are acquired with the
transmit phase angles shown in table 19: TABLE-US-00021 TABLE 19 0
120 0 0 120 0 0 120 0 0 120 0 0 120 0 0
[0097] The velocity estimates are formed with samples for 4
triplets of 7 scan lines centered at each group of four. Groups of
4 lines are combined in one embodiment as shown in Table 20.
TABLE-US-00022 TABLE 20 Line combination phase sequence 1, 2, 3, 4
0, 0, 120, 0 3, 4, 5, 6 120, 0, 0, 120 5, 6, 7, 8 0, 120, 0, 0 7,
8, 9, 10 0, 0, 120, 0 9, 10, 11, 12 120, 0, 0, 120 11, 12, 13, 14
0, 120, 0, 0 13, 14, 15, 16 0, 0, 120, 0
These phase sequences have 0, +120 and -120 degree phase
differences in different orders. The phase differences produce
fundamental clutter velocity bias cancellation. The average number
of pulses to acquire these 7 scan lines is 48/7.apprxeq.6.9
firings.
[0098] The energy estimates are formed with a higher spatial
sampling density than the velocity estimates. Each energy estimate
may be formed from a single set of pulses, resulting in a greater
sampling density. Spatial filtering operations to smooth out
artifacts can be set to account for the different parameter
sampling densities. For example, the spatial smoothing coefficients
are varied to increase the amount of smoothing of the higher
density energy estimates to reduce speckle and reduce the amount of
smoothing of the lower density velocity estimates. The smoothing
equalizes the actual resolution after reconstruction between the
velocity and energy estimates.
[0099] A three-dimensional image is generated as a function of the
cubic fundamental transmissions and received signal combinations.
Any detected data may be used for generating the image. Where both
velocity and energy estimates are used, the different in sampling
grid is accounted for in scan conversion and/or in the 3D
reconstruction.
[0100] Volume flow measurements before and after drug or exercise
challenges are useful in clinical determinations of heart health.
Cross sectional area measurements in 2D images are problematic due
to unknown vessel orientation. Clutter is also a serious limitation
to mean velocity computation. In practice, the maximum velocity
waveform is used and relative measurements are made before and
after cardiac challenge to derive coronary flow reserve. Contrast
agent flow in coronary arteries in 3D is shown with a high degree
of specificity to actual blood flow by the cubic fundamental
information (rejecting fundamental clutter). Vessel cross sectional
area measurements (derived from the cubic fundamental 3D vessel
image) may be combined with mean velocity information (again
derived from the cubic fundamental signals from moving agent) to
compute volume flow. Volume flow changes before and after challenge
may be clinically useful. Since there are small variations in the
size of the coronary artery before and after challenges, it may be
sufficient to use the time integrated mean velocity waveform in
clinical comparisons. This may provide better accuracy over the
maximum velocity waveform. The rejection of tissue clutter provided
by the cubic fundamental agent information enables the mean
waveform to be used.
[0101] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a method for contrast
agent ultrasound imaging with cubic fundamental information.
Additional, different or fewer acts may be used, such as including
any of the acts of FIG. 2 or 4 or related pulses, sets of pulses or
sequences with or without interleaving. The method is implemented
using the system of FIG. 1 or another system.
[0102] In act 50, cubic fundamental information is detected. Any of
the CPS techniques discussed above may be used. The detected data
may include only cubic fundamental information or information in
addition to the cubic fundamental. The detected cubic fundamental
information is detected at one or more spatial locations, such as
along two intersecting lines or for each of a plurality of
locations in a region at two different times
[0103] In act 52, one or more motion estimation techniques are
performed. For example, one or both of acts 54 and 56 are
performed. Acts 54 and 56 correspond to obtaining directional
velocity information, either of one frame of data relative to
another frame of data or of a multi-dimensional velocity vector for
a given spatial location. Other motion estimation techniques
different than one dimensional velocity or energy detection may be
used. The techniques take advantage of the clutter rejection and/or
other characteristics of the cubic fundamental information. The
linear fundamental clutter rejection available from the CPS triplet
and the specificity to cubic fundamental signals allows a number of
motion estimation techniques to be more likely to succeed. For
example, the techniques of spatial quadrature, cross correlation,
and speckle tracking all have serious limitations due to clutter.
Operating these techniques on clutter free cubic fundamental
signals allow more practical use of these techniques. Lateral
velocity estimation may be more accurate without clutter. Low
velocity information without clutter by detecting the cubic
fundamental may be possible without frame rate reduction due to
large clutter filters.
[0104] In act 56, a directional velocity estimate is obtained. For
example, a two or three-dimensional velocity is obtained. In one
embodiment represented in FIG. 7, cubic fundamental information is
obtained along two intersecting scan lines 60. Velocity estimates
at the point of intersection provide velocity information in each
of the two different scan line directions. The geometric
relationship of the scan lines may be used to determine a
two-dimensional velocity. For cross-beam detection methods low
lateral spatial-frequencies/velocities remain and vector estimates
become more accurate, especially for velocities predominantly in
the x-direction. A three dimensional velocity vector may be derived
from three intersecting beams or the tracking of speckle between
two acquired volumes with the use of a 2D transducer array. A 3D
velocity vector may also be derived from two separate
two-dimensional velocity vectors from orthogonal planes within a
volume.
[0105] In act 54, speckle tracking is performed. FIG. 8 shows
speckle tracking between the two different times where "X"
indicates data from one frame of data and "O" indicates data from a
different frame of data. The spatial locations marked "X" are a
region of interest or speckle information to be tracked. By
tracking the region from one frame to another frame, the relative
motion of the region is determined. Before tracking the velocity
using the target region within a search region (e.g., locations
labeled with "O"), clutter is removed. A flow sample count (i.e.,
the number of firings to a same location) number of pulses are
acquired per line L.sub.i (i=1,5). By using cubic fundamental
information, a simple or no clutter filter may be used to remove
clutter information. Correlation, sum of absolute differences or
other calculation is used to determine a sufficient match of
translation and/or rotation of the target region to the search
region.
[0106] Before tracking the velocity using the target region within
a search region, clutter is removed. Pulses are acquired per line
L.sub.i (i=1,5) and filtered with T taps/coefficients of the
clutter filter. For low velocity detection, a clutter filter with
more than three coefficients is used so the transition band between
the stop band and the pass band is narrow and strong clutter
signals may not override the weaker blood signals. Using the
following `minimal` example with a flow sample count of 4 (FSC=4)
and T=4, the frame rate is primarily determined by transmitting
(4.times.5)+(4.times.3)=32 pulses. If the pulses where acquired
sequentially in space across lines L.sub.i and then repeated to
build up the FSC number of pulses per line, the number of filter
coefficients is greater than 4 for the same minimum detectable
velocity since more time exists between pulses filtered by the
clutter filter. This latter alternative reduces frame rates even
further. For speckle-tracking methods, low lateral velocities also
remain and in addition less transmit pulses are required. Since
only a minimum of three pulses are required per line in each of the
target and search regions, the total number of pulses in the
example above drops to (3.times.5)+(3.times.3)=24 instead of the 32
pulses. For detecting even lower velocities, the improvement in
frame rate may be greater given the need for a larger number of
clutter filter coefficients and therefore more transmit pulses
beyond 4 per line.
[0107] For each line in the cross-beam, speckle-tracking, or other
method of detecting vector motion, N pulses are fired as fast as
practical and combined appropriately to suppress linear fundamental
energy and detect cubic fundamental. This step for each line
effectively eliminates or reduces clutter, leaving nonlinear energy
to be used for detecting stationary, slowly, or quickly moving
blood or contrast agent. Since this step effectively separates
clutter (at linear fundamental frequency) from the desired blood
flow (at nonlinear fundamental), movement over a range of
velocities can be detected and any significant biases may be
minimized.
[0108] While the invention has been described above by reference to
various embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed
description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and
that it be understood that it is the following claims, including
all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope
of this invention.
* * * * *