# US 11,076,830 B2 · Ultrasound imaging apparatus and method of controlling the same

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- Number: US 11,076,830 B2
- Document ID: US11076830B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/843,309
- Filed: 2015-09-02
- Published: 2016-03-03
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-02
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Su Hyun Park; Kyu Hong Kim; Bae Hyeong Kim; Jung Ho Kim; Joo Young Kang; Young Ihn Kho; Yun-Tae Kim; Sung Chan Park
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076830B2

## CPC

- A61B 8/481: {involving the use of contrast agents, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream}
- A61B 8/464: {involving a plurality of displays}
- A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device}
- B06B 1/0215: {for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes}
- G01S 7/52039: {exploiting the non-linear response of a contrast enhancer, e.g. a contrast agent (diagnostic techniques involving the use of contrast agents A61B8/481)}
- G01S 7/52041: {detecting modification of a contrast enhancer, e.g. detecting the destruction of a contrast agent by an acoustic wave, e.g. loss of correlation (diagnostic techniques involving the use of contrast agents A61B8/481)}
- B06B 2201/76: Medical, dental
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)
- 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

An ultrasound imaging apparatus and a method of controlling the same are provided. The ultrasound imaging apparatus includes an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) sensor configured to determine whether an UCA flows in an object based on an echo signal that is reflected by the object in a mechanical index environment. The ultrasound imaging apparatus further includes a controller configured to obtain at least one among an UCA image and a tissue image of the object in another mechanical index environment lower than the mechanical index environment in response to the UCA sensor determining that the UCA flows in the object.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising:
a probe;
a memory configured to store a program; and
a processor configured to execute the program to:
control the probe to transmit an ultrasound signal of a third mechanical index to an object;
determine whether an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) flows in the object based on at least one of detecting a peak of a harmonic frequency signal included in an echo signal corresponding to the ultrasound signal of the third mechanical index allowing the UCA to collapse, detecting that the harmonic frequency signal changes by more than a threshold amount, and detecting that the harmonic frequency signal has a level greater than a threshold level;
control the probe to transmit an ultrasound signal of a second mechanical index lower than the third mechanical index in a first cycle based on determining that the UCA flows in the object, the first cycle having a relatively long pulse cycle to allow the UCA to collapse;
obtain a UCA collapse image based on an echo signal corresponding to the ultrasound signal of the second mechanical index;
control the probe to transmit the ultrasound signal of the second mechanical index in a second cycle that allows the UCA to move nonlinearly; and
obtain a UCA image based on an echo signal corresponding to the ultrasound signal of the second mechanical index allowing the UCA to move nonlinearly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:
control the probe to transmit an ultrasound si anal of a first mechanical index lower than the second mechanical index to the object, in response to determining that the UCA flows in the object;
obtain a tissue image of the object using a fundamental frequency signal included in an echo si anal corresponding to the ultrasound signal of the first mechanical index allowing the UCA to move linearly;
obtain the UCA image, in a second mechanical index environment in which the ultrasound signal of the second mechanical index is transmitted, for a first time period; and
obtain the tissue image, in a first mechanical index environment in which the ultrasound signal of the first mechanical index is transmitted, for a second time period,
wherein the UCA image is generated in a first frequency band,
wherein the tissue image is generated in a second frequency band narrower than the first frequency band.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The ultrasound imaging apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a display configured to display the tissue image and the UCA image.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The ultrasound imaging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the display is further configured to alternately display the tissue image and the UCA image.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The ultrasound imaging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the display is further configured to display a mechanical index that is used by the ultrasound imaging apparatus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ultrasound imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the UCA image is generated by transmitting ultrasound signals according to a pulse inversion method.

### Claim 7

A method of controlling an ultrasound imaging apparatus, the method comprising:
controlling a probe to transmit an ultrasound signal of a third mechanical index to an object;
determining whether an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) flows in the object based on at least one of detecting a peak of a harmonic frequency signal included in an echo signal corresponding to the ultrasound signal of the third mechanical index allowing the UCA to collapse, detecting that the harmonic frequency signal changes by more than a threshold amount, and detecting that the harmonic frequency signal has a level greater than a threshold level;
controlling the probe to transmit an ultrasound si anal of a second mechanical index lower than the third mechanical index in a first cycle based on determining that the UCA flows in the object, the first cycle having a relatively long pulse cycle to allow the UCA to collapse;
obtaining a UCA collapse image based on an echo signal corresponding to the ultrasound signal of the second mechanical index;
controlling the probe to transmit the ultrasound signal of the second mechanical index in a second cycle that allows the UCA to move nonlinearity; and
obtaining a UCA based on an echo signal corresponding to the ultrasound signal of the second mechanical index allowing the UCA to move nonlinearly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising:
controlling the probe to transmit an ultrasound signal of a first mechanical index to the object, in response to determining that the UCA flows in the object;
obtaining a tissue image of the object using a fundamental frequency signal included in an echo signal corresponding to the ultrasound signal of the first mechanical index allowing the UCA to move linearly,
wherein the UCA image is generated in a first frequency band, and
wherein the tissue image is generated in a second frequency band narrower than the first frequency band.