Patent ID: 7862511
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method of generating three-dimensional (3D) full volume ultrasound images with the use of contrast agents comprising: acquiring ultrasound image data for multiple subvolumes synchronized to an ECG over multiple cardiac cycles via triggering, wherein the acquiring comprises using an output acoustic power insufficient for causing destruction of the contrast agents during ultrasound image data acquisition and using an output acoustic power sufficient for causing destruction of the contrast agents during ultrasound image data acquisition, wherein the triggering of respective ones of the ultrasound image data acquisitions of the multiple subvolumes is selected to enable destroyed contrast agents to be replaced by new contrast agents prior to a subsequent triggering of ultrasound image data acquisition of a subsequent subvolume; and combining ultrasound image data from the multiple subvolumes to generate the 3D full volume ultrasound image data.