Patent ID: 6315728
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
In an ultrasound imaging system for displaying a color flow image representing at least a portion of a subject being studied, improved apparatus comprising in combination:a transducer assembly operable in response to a first command for transmitting ultrasound waves toward a first portion of the subject and receiving first reflected ultrasound waves from the first portion and operable in response to a second command for transmitting ultrasound waves toward a second portion of the subject and receiving second reflected ultrasound waves from the second portion;a processor connected to generate the first command, to generate a first set of signals having first values related to fluid flow in said first portion of the subject in response to the first reflected ultrasound waves, to analyze the first values to identify flow data representing a region of fluid flow within the first portion of the subject, to generate said second command such that the second portion of the subject is smaller than the first portion and includes at least some of the region of fluid flow, to generate a second set of signals having second values related to fluid flow in said second portion of the subject in response to the second reflected ultrasound waves and to process the second values 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.