John Charles Lowery

US Patent:

56366310, Jun 10, 1997

Filed:

May 12, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/881911

Inventors:

Aaron S. Waitz - Suffern NY
John E. Bono - Bellevue WA
Robert L. Lincoln - Redmond WA
John H. Lowery - Oak Ridge NJ
Wayne L. Connell - Snohomish WA
James R. Jacobson - Wharton NJ
Donn D. Franklin - Lake Stevens WA
Richard D. Tabbutt - Woodinville WA

Assignee:

Advanced Technology Laboratories, Inc. - Bothell WA

International Classification:

A61B 800

US Classification:

12866001

Abstract:

A format for ultrasonic image data storage is described that utilizes a standard data formatting system to provide information specific to ultrasonic images and, in particular, sequences of ultrasonic images. The format utilizes a technique of tagged data records with a unique tag that extends the standardized to ultrasonic image specific tages. On tag denotes a particular image in a sequence of images which is marked as the image which is representative of the sequence. Specific areas of an ultrasonic image which contain distinct types of data are tagged to identify the type of data in the area. The distinct types of data can be arranged in unique ranges of data values so that a particular data value will inherently identify the type of data to which the value relates. Blocks of image data comprising monochrome or color data can be tagged as to the data type, enabling luminance data or red, green and blue data to be alternatively represented in the data values and automatically processed accordingly. Another tag value identifies the preferred sequential direction in which a sequence of images is to be viewed when recalled and replayed.