Ultrasound contrast agent detection using spectral analysis from acoustic scan lines

Abstract

A method for detecting the presence of contrast agent in the body of the patient initially transmits ultrasound pulses along respective acoustic scan lines, which pulses exhibit a fundamental transmission frequency. A set of returned signals are received along a respective scan line after each pulse transmission. The frequency content of each set of return signals is segregated into first and second groups, the first group positioned about the fundamental transmission frequency and the second group positioned about a harmonic frequency thereof. Thereafter, a relationship is determined as between the energy characteristics of the first group and the second group, for each set of return signals. The determined relationship for a scan line indicates a proportion of the return signal that is returned from contrast agent versus a proportion which is returned from tissue. Accordingly, only a single scan line is required to achieve data that enables differentiation between signal returns from tissue and signal returns from contrast agent.

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