Method and system for imaging vessels
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorXuegong Shi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system of imaging of a vessel is provided. The system can include a matrix transducer array (120) for transmitting ultrasonic waves into a region of a body having a vessel and receiving echoes in response, where the echoes are associated with blood flow through the vessel; and a processor (100) operably coupled to the matrix transducer array. The processor can adjust positions of sample volumes (250) associated with the echoes. The processor can electronically steers the ultrasonic waves at one or more of the positions of the sample volumes. The processor can determine a wall of the vessel at each of the positions of the sample volumes based on a Doppler spectrum captured at each of the positions of the sample volumes. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Claims20
A method of imaging vessels, the method comprising:
- transmitting ultrasonic waves into a region of a body having a vessel and receiving echoes in response, the echoes being associated with blood flow through the vessel;
- adjusting positions of sample volumes associated with the echoes, the adjusting of the positions of the sample volumes being based at least in part on the path of the vessel;
- electronically steering the ultrasonic waves at one or more of the positions of the sample volumes;
- and
- determining a wall of the vessel at each of the positions of the sample volumes based on a Doppler spectrum captured at each of the positions of the sample volumes.
A method of performing transcranial imaging, the method comprising:
- acquiring a Doppler image of a vessel in the transcranial region;
- positioning a Doppler sample volume in proximity to the vessel at a pre-determined depth using the Doppler image as a guide;
- adjusting positions of subsequent sample volumes;
- electronically steering ultrasonic waves at one or more of the positions of the subsequent sample volumes;
- and
- determining a center line and a wall of the vessel for at least a portion of the positions of the subsequent sample volumes based on a Doppler spectrum associated with blood flow through the vessel that is captured at each of the positions of the subsequent sample volumes, the determination of the center line and the wall being determined based on a strength of the Doppler signal.
An ultrasound imaging system (10) comprising:
- a matrix transducer array (120) for transmitting ultrasonic waves into a region of a body having a vessel and receiving echoes in response, the echoes being associated with blood flow through the vessel;
- and
- a processor (100) operably coupled to the matrix transducer array, wherein the processor adjusts positions of sample volumes (250) associated with the echoes, wherein the processor electronically steers the ultrasonic waves at one or more of the positions of the sample volumes, and wherein the processor determines a wall of the vessel at each of the positions of the sample volumes based on a Doppler spectrum captured at each of the positions of the sample volumes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.