Ultrasonic system and method for harmonic imaging in three dimensions

A method for producing three dimensional images with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy in power bursts into a subject, each power burst comprising a first center frequency and a respective envelope shape, each envelope shape rising gradually to a respective maximum value and falling gradually from the respective maximum value;
• (b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy;
• (c) obtaining from said echo information a plurality of information signals associated with a second frequency band, said second frequency band comprising a harmonic band of said fundamental frequency band;
• and
• (d) displaying an image representing three dimensions and responsive to said information signals.

An ultrasound apparatus adapted for generating a three dimensional reconstruction of a subject during an imaging session, said subject being free of added ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session, said apparatus comprising:

• a transducer;
• a transmit beamformer operatively connected to said transducer for transmitting ultrasonic energy into a subject during said imaging session, said subject being free of added ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session;
• a receive beamformer operatively connected to said transducer and configured to obtain echo information;
• a filter operatively connected to said receive beamformer and operative to filter from said echo information a plurality of information signals associated with a harmonic frequency band, said harmonic frequency band comprising harmonics of a fundamental frequency band transmitted into the subject;
• and
• wherein the three-dimensional reconstruction is responsive to said information signals.

A method for producing a three dimensional reconstruction with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency into a subject in a transmit beam having an elongated high power region by focusing at least first selected frequency components from at least selected transducer elements at a first range and focusing at least second frequency components from at least selected transducer elements at a second range;
• (b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy;
• (c) obtaining from said echo information a plurality of information signals associated with harmonics of the fundamental frequency band;
• and
• (d) forming the three-dimensional reconstruction in response to said information signals.

A method for producing a three dimensional reconstruction with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency into a subject in a transmit beam having a line focus;
• (b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy;
• (c) obtaining from said echo information a plurality of information signals associated with harmonics of the fundamental frequency band;
• and
• (d) forming the three-dimensional reconstruction in response to said information signals.

A method for producing a three dimensional reconstruction with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a first frequency band into a subject during said imaging session, said subject being free of added ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session;
• (b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy;
• (c) obtaining from said echo information a plurality of detected Doppler information signals associated with a second frequency band, said second frequency band comprising at least a harmonic band of said first frequency band;
• (d) forming the three-dimensional reconstruction in response to said information signals;
• and
• (e) displaying a Doppler image selected from the group of:
• velocity, variance, energy and combinations thereof, the Doppler image being responsive to said three dimensional reconstruction.

A method for producing a three dimensional reconstruction with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a first frequency band into a subject during said imaging session, said subject being free of added ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session, said ultrasonic energy characterized by a peak power level near said first frequency band;
• (b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy;
• (c) obtaining from said echo information a plurality of information signals associated with a second frequency band, said second frequency band comprising at least a harmonic band of said first frequency band, and a second plurality of information signals associated with said first frequency band;
• (d) forming the three-dimensional reconstruction in response to said information signals;
• and
• (e) displaying a composite image responsive to said three dimensional reconstruction and representing three dimensions, said composite image comprising spatially distinct near-field and far-field regions, said far-field region emphasizing information signals in the first frequency band and said near-field region emphasizing information signals in the second frequency band.

A method for producing a three dimensional reconstruction with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a first frequency band into a subject during said imaging session, said subject being free of added ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session;
• (b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy;
• (c) obtaining from said echo information a plurality of information signals associated with a second frequency band, said second frequency band comprising at least a harmonic band of said first frequency band;
• and
• (d) forming the three-dimensional reconstruction in response to said information signals;
• wherein the steps (a), (b) and (c) comprise obtaining said information signals associated with at least two transmit focal regions for each ultrasound transmit line direction.

A method for producing a three dimensional reconstruction with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting ultrasonic energy at a first frequency band into a subject during said imaging session, said subject being free of added ultrasound contrast agent throughout the entire imaging session;
• (b) receiving ultrasonic echo information associated with said transmitted ultrasonic energy;
• (c) obtaining from said echo information a first plurality of information signals associated with said first frequency band and a second plurality of information signals associated with a second frequency band, said second frequency band comprising at least a harmonic band of said first frequency band;
• (d) compounding the first and second plurality of information signals;
• and
• (e) forming the three-dimensional reconstruction as a function of said compounded information signals.