Patent ID: 7621873

Claim:
A method for synchronizing non-imaging ultrasound waves and ultrasound imaging waves produced by an ultrasound imaging system, so at least a portion of an ultrasound image produced by the ultrasound imaging system is free from interference due to the non-imaging ultrasound waves, comprising the steps of: (a) producing an output signal in response to receiving scattered ultrasound imaging waves independently of the ultrasound imaging system; (b) manipulating the output signal to generate a synchronization signal; and (c) using the synchronization signal to selectively control generation of the non-imaging ultrasound waves, such that at least a portion of the ultrasound image is free from interference due to the non-imaging ultrasound waves; wherein the step of producing the output signal comprises the step of using a receiver to detect the scattered ultrasound imaging waves, the receiver being independent of an ultrasound imaging probe that generates the ultrasound imaging waves and of a transducer generating the non-imaging ultrasound waves.