# US 10,441,246 B2 · Fast volume contrast imaging (VCI-C) and omniview acquisition > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,246 B2 - Document ID: US10441246B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/380,477 - Filed: 2016-12-15 - Published: 2018-06-21 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-15 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Stefan Denk; Harald Deischinger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441246B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/145: {characterised by scanning multiple planes} - A61B 8/5207: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image} - A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device} - G01S 7/52084: {related to particular user interfaces (special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467)} - G01S 7/52085: {Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences (control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54)} - G01S 15/8913: {using separate transducers for transmission and reception} - G01S 15/8915: {using a transducer array} - G01S 15/8927: {using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures} - A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe} - A61B 8/4488: {the transducer being a phased array} - A61B 8/461: {Displaying means of special interest} - A61B 8/469: {for selection of a region of interest} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided for fast volume contrast imaging in C-plane (VCI-C) and Omniview acquisition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasound system, comprising: an ultrasound probe that is operable to transmit ultrasound signals and receive echo ultrasound signals; and processing circuitry that is operable to increase acquisition speed during one or more particular ultrasound imaging modes by: dividing an area subject to transmittal of ultrasound signals, and capture of corresponding echo ultrasound signals, by said ultrasound probe into a plurality of sectors; triggering transmitting of one or more beams in a first one of said plurality of sectors; and triggering transmittal of one or more beams in at least a second one of said plurality of sectors; wherein: each of said one or more beams transmitted in said second one of said plurality of sectors is triggered such that it is transmitted after transmitting of a corresponding beam in said first one of said plurality of sectors and before echo of said corresponding beam in said first one of said plurality of sectors is received. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry is operable to: determine a timing delay between transmittal of each beam in said first one of said plurality of sectors and reception of an echo of said beam; and determine, based on said determined timing delay and number of sectors in said plurality of sectors, a timing shift for transmitting a corresponding beam on at least said second one of said plurality of sectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ultrasound system of claim 2, wherein said processing circuitry is operable to determine said timing delay based on speed of sound and a distance associated with desired region of interest, said distance comprising at least one of a distance associated with desired region of interest, said distance comprising at least one of a thickness of said region of interest and/or a depth of said region of interest. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry is operable to configure said plurality of sectors such that beams transmitted in each of said plurality of sectors are spatially separated in relation to one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry is operable to configure said plurality of sectors based on geometric characteristics of said ultrasound probe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ultrasound system of claim 5, wherein said geometric characteristics comprise one or more of size, shape, and curvature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said one or more particular ultrasound imaging modes comprise volume contrast imaging in C-plane (VCI-C) and Omniview. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: increasing acquisition speed, in an ultrasound device, during one or more particular ultrasound imaging modes by: dividing an area, subject to transmittal of ultrasound signals and capture of corresponding echo ultrasound signals by an ultrasound probe, into a plurality of sectors; triggering transmitting of one or more beams in a first one of said plurality of sectors; and triggering transmittal of one or more beams in at least a second one of said plurality of sectors; wherein: each of said one or more beams transmitted in said second one of said plurality of sectors is triggered such that it is transmitted after transmitting of a corresponding beam in said first one of said plurality of sectors and before echo of said corresponding beam in said first one of said plurality of sectors is received. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising: determining a timing delay between transmittal of each beam in said first one of said plurality of sectors and reception of an echo of said beam; and determining, based on said determined timing delay and a number of sectors in said plurality of sectors, a timing shift for transmitting a corresponding beam in at least said second one of said plurality of sectors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising determining said timing delay based on speed of sound and a distance associated with desired region of interest, said distance comprising at least one of a thickness of said region of interest and/or a depth of said region of interest. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising configuring said plurality of sectors such that beams transmitted in each of said plurality of sectors are spatially separated in relation to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising configuring said plurality of sectors based on geometric characteristics of said ultrasound probe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said geometric characteristics comprise one or more of size, shape, and curvature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said one or more particular ultrasound imaging modes comprise volume contrast imaging in C-plane (VCI-C) and Omniview. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section, said at least one code section being executable in an ultrasound device for causing said ultrasound device to increase acquisition speed, during one or more particular ultrasound imaging modes, by performing one or more steps comprising: dividing an area subject to transmittal of ultrasound signals, and capture of corresponding echo ultrasound signals, by said ultrasound probe into a plurality of sectors; triggering transmitting of one or more beams in a first one of said plurality of sectors; and triggering transmittal of one or more beams in at least a second one of said plurality of sectors; wherein: each of said one or more beams transmitted in said second one of said plurality of sectors is triggered such that it is transmitted after transmitting of a corresponding beam in said first one of said plurality of sectors and before echo of said corresponding beam in said first one of said plurality of sectors is received. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, the one or more steps further comprising: determining a timing delay between transmittal of each beam in said first one of said plurality of sectors and reception of an echo of said beam; and determining, based on said determined timing delay and a number of sectors in said plurality of sectors, a timing shift for transmitting a corresponding beam in at least said second one of said plurality of sectors. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, the one or more steps further comprising determining said timing delay based on speed of sound and a distance associated with desired region of interest, said distance comprising at least one of a thickness of said region of interest and/or a depth of said region of interest. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, the one or more steps further comprising configuring said plurality of sectors such that beams transmitted in each of said plurality of sectors are spatially separated in relation to one another. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, the one or more steps further comprising configuring said plurality of sectors based on geometric characteristics of said ultrasound probe. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein said geometric characteristics comprise one or more of size, shape, and curvature. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said one or more particular ultrasound imaging modes comprise volume contrast imaging in C-plane (VCI-C) and Omniview.