US 2003/0171677 A1 · Multi-mode processing for ultrasonic imaging

Abstract

Systems and methods for obtaining images of body organs or other tissue for each of their multiple characterizing aspects, and for classifying different tissue types within the images according to their characterizing aspects, are disclosed herein. The tissue may be irradiated with an ultrasonic signal, and an interaction signal received in return. Sinogram data may be constructed from the received interaction signal, and multiple characterizing data extracted therefrom. The multiple characterizing data representing multiple characterizing aspects may then be matched to tissue type within a database containing information correlating characterizing multi-aspect data with tissue type. Images of the tissue may then be presented with identifiers associating tissue portions with their matched tissue types.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for classifying a tissue that is irradiated with an ultrasonic signal comprising:

a) receiving an interaction signal resulting from the interaction between the ultrasonic signal and at least one portion of the tissue;
b) extracting at least first and second characterizing data from an initial portion of the interaction signal characterizing at least a first and second aspect, respectively, of the initial portion of the interaction signal, the first aspect being different from the second aspect;
c) calculating first and second identification data as a function of the first and second characterizing data, respectively;
and
d) matching the first and second identification data to a tissue type by consulting a database containing information correlating identification data associated with at least the first and second aspects to tissue type.

2 more elements

A system for classifying a tissue that is irradiated with an ultrasonic signal comprising:

a) a transmission element for irradiating a portion of the tissue with an ultrasonic signal;
b) a receiver element for subsequently receiving an interaction signal resulting from an interaction between the radiated ultrasonic signal and the tissue portion;
c) a data storage device for storing a database containing information correlating identification data of first and second tissue aspects with tissue type;
d) a processor operatively connected to the receiver element and configured to process the interaction signal and extract at least first and second characterizing data therefrom, the characterizing data characterizing at least a first and second aspect, respectively, of an initial portion of the interaction signal;
e) the processor further configured to calculate identification data as a function of the characterizing data, the identification data representative of at least first and second aspects of the tissue portion;
and
f) the processor being operatively connected to the data storage device, and further configured to match the identification data to a tissue type by consulting the tissue type database.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-mode processing for ultrasonic imaging

Life of this patent

Multi-mode processing for ultrasonic imaging

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24