Optimization of lines per second for medical diagnostic ultrasound contrast agent imaging

摘要

Frame rate and/or line density are controlled in contrast agent medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging. The number of lines scanned per second (e.g., frame rate and/or line density) is set based on the differences in contrast agent response. Where the contrast agent response is changing rapidly, more frequent scanning and/or denser scanning is performed. Where the contrast agent response is not changing or changing slowly, less frequent scanning and/or less dense scanning is performed. By linking the number of scan lines per second of the scanning adaptively with the contrast agent response, the destruction of contrast agents may be reduced while providing information when needed for diagnosis.

主权项

1. A method for controlling contrast agent medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging, the method comprising:
acquiring ultrasound frames of data representing, at least in part, information from contrast agents, the ultrasound frames representing a region of a patient at different times; comparing at least two of the ultrasound frames from the different times, the comparing indicating a scalar value of a difference between same locations of the region represented in the at least two of the ultrasound frames; altering a number of scan lines per second for subsequently acquired ultrasound frames of data representing the contrast agents, the altering being based on the scalar value of as a function of the difference, wherein altering results in decreasing the number from a first value for an arterial phase to a second value for a portal phase and from the second value to a third value for a late phase, the portal phase being after an arterial phase and before the late phase; and generating an image from at least one of the subsequently acquired ultrasound frames.