Patent ID: 6210335
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
In an ultrasound imaging system for penetrating a subject being studied with ultrasound waves and displaying a color flow image representing at least a portion of the subject, apparatus for improving the penetration of the ultrasound waves while complying with mechanical index, temperature and intensity spatial peak temporal average specifications comprising in combination:a transducer array operable in response to a first command for transmitting ultrasound waves with a first power toward a portion of the subject and receiving first reflected ultrasound waves from the portion and operable in response to a second command for transmitting ultrasound waves with a second power less than the first power toward the portion of the subject and receiving second reflected ultrasound waves from the portion;an ultrasound receiver connected to generate a first set of signals in response to the first reflected ultrasound waves and connected to generate a second set of signals in response to the second reflected ultrasound waves;a processor generating the first command for a first time period and generating the second command for a second time period, the ratio of the first time period to the second time period enabling compliance with said mechanical index, temperature and intensity spatial peak temporal average specifications while enabling penetration of said ultrasound waves during the first time period, and processing the first set of signals and the second set of signals to generate processed color flow data for display as a color flow image; anda display displaying a color flow image in response to said processed color flow data.