US 4,228,804 A · Diagnostic ultrasonography utilizing frequency spectrum analysis presented in terms of B-scan color patterns or X-Y graph displays

Abstract

Ultrasonographic means and method for visualizing the internal structure and composition of an in vivo soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an applied complex wave pulse of short duration provided by a single wideband, shock-excited transducer utilized in the pulse-echo mode. Echo trains spatially related to the specimen structure are bandpass filtered to provide a plurality of spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of each echo train as a function of time. In a first display mode a plurality of three spectrum signals are primary color-coded and combined to present a multicolor B-scan ultrasonogram permitting characterization of tissue specimen locations in terms of their frequency response as related to the color spectrum correlated to the frequency spectrum. In a complementary second display mode providing higher frequency resolution, a larger plurality of spectrum signals are presented in graph form in a monochrome ultrasonogram permitting detailed characterization of a single A-scan line segment of a tissue specimen as a function of its frequency response. Both display modes are enhanced by modifying the spectrum signals to represent the instantaneous power spectrum of the echo train of the applied pulse as affected by the scanned tissue specimen.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for characterizing a soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an applied signal comprising the steps of:

applying a first ultrasonic frequency band complex wave signal to a soft tissue specimen, said applied signal having a first bandwidth and center frequency;
detecting at least a portion of said applied signal as affected by said specimen;
filtering said detected signal portion to provide a plurality of frequency spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of said detected signal portion, said spectrum signals representing a respective plurality of frequency bands extending over at least a portion of said first frequency band, said frequency bands having bandwidths substantially less than said first bandwidth;
processing said spectrum signals to represent the approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected portion;
and
simultaneously displaying said processed spectrum signals in a visual format for comparison of the frequency and energy magnitude of said spectrum signals relative to each other, said visual format being spatially related to the structure of said specimen as a function of the time between said applying and said detecting.

3 more elements

A device for characterizing the structure and composition of a soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an ultrasonic signal comprising:

means for generating an ultrasonic signal of first frequency band complex wave pulses having substantially identical bandwidths and center frequencies;
means for applying said ultrasonic signal to a soft tissue specimen;
means for detecting at least a portion of said ultrasonic signal reflected from said specimen;
means for filtering at least a pulse portion of said detected signal portion to provide at least three frequency spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of said detected signal portion, said spectrum signals having frequency bands, said frequency bands extending over said first frequency band and having bandwidths substantially less than said identical bandwidths:
means for processing said spectrum signals to represent the approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected portion;
means for color coding each of said processed spectrum signals with a respective color;
and
means for simultaneously displaying in a multicolor B-scan format the frequency and energy magnitude of said color coded processed spectrum signals relative to spatial locations of said specimen.

5 more elements

A device for characterizing the structure and composition of a soft tissue specimen as a function of its effect on the frequency spectrum of an ultrasonic signal comprising:

means for generating an ultrasonic signal of first frequency band complex wave pulses having substantially identical bandwidths and center frequencies;
means for applying said ultrasonic signal to a soft tissue specimen;
means for detecting at least a portion of said ultrasonic signal reflected from said specimen;
means for filtering at least a pulse portion of said detected signal portion to provide a plurality of spectrum signals indicative of the frequency content of said detected signal portion, said spectrum signals having frequency bands, said frequency bands extending over said first frequency band and having bandwidths substantially less than said identical bandwidths;
means for processing said spectrum signals to represent the approximate instantaneous power spectrum of said detected portion;
and
means for graphically displaying said processed spectrum signals as a function of their center frequencies and energy magnitudes, and as a function of the time between said applying and said detecting, said center frequencies being related to an X-axis line, said time between said applying and detecting being related to a corresponding Y-axis line, and said energy magnitude being related to a Z-axis.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Diagnostic ultrasonography utilizing frequency spectrum analysis presented in terms of B-scan color patterns or X-Y graph displays

Life of this patent

Diagnostic ultrasonography utilizing frequency spectrum analysis presented in terms of B-scan color patterns or X-Y graph displays

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16