Title:
【発明の名称】超音波走査
Document Type and Number:
Japanese Patent JP2001509043
Kind Code:
A
Abstract:
An ultrasound scanning technique for biological tissue examines the radio frequency signals derived from reflected ultrasonic energy to identify signal parameters indicative of particular tissue histology. Such identification is then used to produce a histological image of the biological tissue. The technique is particularly useful in the examination of blood vessels to identify different types of plaque within the vessel wall A, F. Lipid plaques D, E produce relatively low levels of reflection. Calcified plaques produce high levels of regular reflection. Fibrous plaques may be identified as a highly homogeneous thickened wall area that does not show the characteristics of a lipid plaque. A homogeneity value for the radio frequency signal is calculated for all areas not identified as lipid plaques or calcified plaques and then this homogeneity value is mapped to a colour that is displayed within the histological image. The various plaques are identified by searching and identifying signals having characteristic peak/trough values which satisfy threshold conditions.
Inventors:
Heart, jill
Kitny, Richard, Ian
Kitny, Richard, Ian
Application Number:
JP52443498A
Publication Date:
July 10, 2001
Filing Date:
November 27, 1997
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
International Classes:
A61B8/06; A61B8/08; G01S7/52; G01S15/89; (IPC1-7): A61B8/08
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Akira Asamura (3 outside)