Super-resolution contrast imaging method, blood vessel imaging method, and ultrasound imaging apparatus

Abstract

An ultrahigh-resolution contrast imaging method, a blood vessel imaging method and an ultrasonic imaging device, the method comprising: acquiring a plurality of frames of ultrasonic data collected for a target object injected with a contrast agent; performing data processing based on the plurality of frames of ultrasonic data using a first processing technique to obtain a first image, wherein the first processing technique is an imaging technique other than a second processing technique; performing data processing based on the plurality of frames of ultrasonic data using the second processing technique to obtain a second image, wherein the second processing technique is an ultrahigh-resolution contrast imaging technique; and displaying the first image and the second image, wherein the spatial resolution of the second image is higher than that of the first image, and the temporal resolution of the second image is higher than or equal to that of the first image. The ultrahigh-resolution contrast imaging method and device of the present application can improve the readability of blood vessel morphology at different levels and more accurately represent the lesion blood vessel morphology and blood perfusion path.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of ultrasound imaging technology, and more specifically to a super-resolution contrast imaging method, a vascular imaging method, and an ultrasound imaging device. Background Technology

[0002] Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, as a new technology that can dynamically observe the blood perfusion of lesions and their tissues in real time, plays an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of malignant diseases such as liver cancer, thyroid cancer, and breast cancer, and has become an essential examination method for clinical evaluation of blood circulation and perfusion.

[0003] Blockage, obstruction, and lesions in the microcirculation are precursors to many diseases, and observing changes in microvessels is beneficial for early diagnosis. Capillaries, located in the epidermis, are an important component of the blood microcirculation, with the smallest diameter, approximately 6–9 μm. Arterioles and venules, located in the dermis, have a diameter of approximately 10–100 μm and connect to arteries and veins in the subepithelial layer. Microcirculation refers to the blood circulation between arterioles and venules in the vascular network; it is both the peripheral part of the circulatory system and an important component of organs. Under normal circumstances, the blood flow in the microcirculation is adapted to the metabolic level of human tissues and organs, maintaining normal life activities and metabolism. When the metabolism and function of tissues and organs become abnormal, the microcirculation will change to a certain extent. Therefore, the microcirculation is closely related to the occurrence and development of diseases and has important physiological, pathological, pharmacological, and clinical significance, playing a crucial role in the early diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

[0004] However, due to the diffraction limit of ultrasound in the far field, the ability of routine clinical ultrasound contrast imaging to display the details of microvascular structures is limited. Although spatial resolution can be improved by increasing the transmission frequency and using near-field imaging, this inevitably leads to a decrease in imaging depth, and since most organs are at considerable distances from the probe, near-field super-resolution methods are difficult to apply. Super-Resolution Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (SR-CEUS) is a novel imaging method with ultra-high spatial resolution. By borrowing the principle of fluorescence microscopy positioning technology from optical super-resolution imaging, it obtains images with a spatial resolution of tens of micrometers by locating and tracking isolated microbubbles. Therefore, super-resolution contrast imaging technology solves the problem of microvascular visualization and has become a powerful tool for observing microblood flow. It is currently widely used in preclinical research in areas such as tumors, microblood flow perfusion in different tissues and organs, and plaque angiogenesis.

[0005] Super-resolution images show significant differences compared to tissue structure images or contrast images, allowing for clearer observation of microvessels. However, because super-resolution contrast imaging typically requires a high image acquisition frame rate (e.g., 500 frames / s) or a long acquisition time (e.g., several minutes), and is limited by storage media memory, it results in poor filling of vessels that are relatively thicker than microvessels, leading to unsatisfactory display effects. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application is made to address the aforementioned problems. According to one aspect of this application, a contrast imaging method is provided, the method comprising: acquiring multiple frames of ultrasound data collected on a target object injected with a contrast agent; processing the multiple frames of ultrasound data using a first processing technique to obtain a first image, wherein the first processing technique is an imaging technique other than a second processing technique; processing the multiple frames of ultrasound data using a second processing technique to obtain a second image, wherein the second processing technique is a super-resolution contrast imaging technique; and displaying the first image and the second image, wherein the spatial resolution of the second image is higher than the spatial resolution of the first image, and the temporal resolution of the second image is higher than or equal to the temporal resolution of the first image.

[0007] According to another aspect of this application, a vascular imaging method is provided, the method comprising: acquiring multiple frames of ultrasound data collected for a target vascular site; performing data processing on the multiple frames of ultrasound data using a first processing technique to obtain a first image; performing data processing on the multiple frames of ultrasound data using a second processing technique to obtain a second image; and displaying the first image and the second image, wherein the spatial resolution of the second image is higher than the spatial resolution of the first image, and the temporal resolution of the second image is higher than or equal to the temporal resolution of the first image.

[0008] According to another aspect of this application, an ultrasound imaging apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a transmitting and receiving circuit, an ultrasound probe, a processor, and a display, wherein: the transmitting and receiving circuit is used to control the ultrasound probe to transmit ultrasound waves toward a target object, receive the echoes of the ultrasound waves, and acquire ultrasound echo data from the echoes; the processor is used to control the transmitting and receiving circuit, and to perform the aforementioned super-resolution angiography or vascular imaging method based on the ultrasound echo data to generate a first image and a second image.

[0009] The super-resolution contrast imaging method and apparatus of this application, after acquiring multiple frames of raw ultrasound data, processes the multiple frames of ultrasound data separately using a first processing technique and a second processing technique to obtain a first image and a second image. The second processing technique is a super-resolution contrast imaging technique, while the first processing technique is a technique other than super-resolution contrast imaging. The spatial resolution of the second image is higher than that of the first image. By using two different images, the readability of vascular morphology at different levels can be improved. Furthermore, the second image has the same or even higher temporal resolution than the first image, enabling better tracking of the movement trajectory of contrast agent microbubbles, capturing complete perfusion details and richer image information, and more accurately representing the lesion vascular morphology and blood flow perfusion path. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided to further illustrate the embodiments of the invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings, the same reference numerals generally represent the same parts or steps.

[0011] Figure 1 A schematic flowchart illustrating a super-resolution contrast imaging method according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0012] Figure 2 An exemplary schematic diagram is shown of the original data acquisition range (first spatial range and first temporal range) in the super-resolution contrast imaging method according to an embodiment of this application.

[0013] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates an example of how a first processing technique and a second processing technique acquire and process data in a super-resolution contrast imaging method according to an embodiment of this application.

[0014] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates another example of how the first and second processing techniques acquire and process data in a super-resolution contrast imaging method according to an embodiment of this application.

[0015] Figure 5 An exemplary schematic diagram of a first spatial range and a second spatial range in a super-resolution contrast imaging method according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0016] Figure 6 A schematic flowchart of a vascular imaging method according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0017] Figure 7 A schematic structural block diagram of an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more apparent, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Based on the embodiments of the present invention described herein, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0019] As mentioned earlier, super-resolution images show significant differences compared to tissue structure images or contrast images, allowing for clearer observation of microvessels. However, because super-resolution contrast imaging typically requires a high image acquisition frame rate (e.g., 500 frames / s) or a long acquisition time (e.g., several minutes), and is limited by storage media memory, the filling degree of vessels thicker than microvessels is poor, resulting in unsatisfactory display effects. Specifically, with the same amount of data, thicker vessels require a sufficient number of microbubbles to fill, while thinner vessels can be filled with fewer microbubbles. This is because, in conventional contrast imaging mode, complete microbubbles can be displayed. However, in super-resolution contrast imaging mode, microbubbles are located; the user observes not the microbubbles themselves, but their center points. For thin vessels, several located microbubbles can occupy their entire diameter, but thicker vessels require many more located microbubbles to fill. Therefore, thicker vessels require a larger amount of data than thinner vessels. Therefore, to achieve better display effects for both thicker and thinner vessels, this application employs different processing techniques for the same raw data. The following description is in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic flowchart of a super-resolution contrast imaging method 100 according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the super-resolution contrast imaging method 100 may include the following steps:

[0021] In step S110, multiple frames of ultrasound data are acquired for the target object that has been injected with contrast agent.

[0022] In step S120, a first processing technique is used to process data based on multiple frames of ultrasound data to obtain a first image, wherein the first processing technique is an imaging technique other than the second processing technique.

[0023] In step S130, a second processing technique is used to process the data based on multiple frames of ultrasound data to obtain a second image, wherein the second processing technique is super-resolution contrast imaging technology.

[0024] In step S140, a first image and a second image are displayed, wherein the spatial resolution of the second image is higher than that of the first image, and the temporal resolution of the second image is higher than or equal to that of the first image.

[0025] In the embodiments of this application, after acquiring multiple frames of raw ultrasound data, the first processing technique and the second processing technique are used to process the multiple frames of ultrasound data respectively to obtain a first image and a second image. The second processing technique is super-resolution angiography, while the first processing technique is a technique other than super-resolution angiography, such as processing techniques for grayscale image data (e.g., filtering, microbubble extraction, maximum intensity projection processing, etc.). Therefore, the second image is a super-resolution image, and the first image is a non-super-resolution image. That is, the spatial resolution of the second image is higher than that of the first image. Using two different images can improve the readability of different levels of vascular morphology. For example, the super-resolution image can be used to observe finer blood vessels, while the first image can be used to observe thicker blood vessels, solving the problem of poor filling of thick blood vessels and poor display effect in the super-resolution image obtained after processing the ultrasound image using only super-resolution angiography. Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, after processing with the first and second processing techniques, the second image has the same or even higher temporal resolution than the first image. Temporal resolution refers to the number of image frames generated by the imaging device per unit time. Short time intervals and high temporal resolution mean high dynamic monitoring capabilities; conversely, long time intervals and low temporal resolution result in poor dynamics. Therefore, the second image generated after processing by super-resolution contrast imaging technology has high temporal resolution, enabling better tracking of the movement trajectory of contrast agent microbubbles, capturing complete perfusion details and richer image information, and more accurately representing the morphology of lesion vessels and blood flow perfusion pathways.

[0026] More detailed embodiments are described below. In the process of the embodiments of this application, the user can select the probe and examination mode to determine the lesion to be observed; then, the imaging mode of the device is activated, an appropriate amount of contrast agent is injected into the body, and the imaging target is imaged in real time or continuously in the imaging mode; the data acquisition function is invoked through the device panel or touch screen button to acquire multiple frames of raw data for imaging processing (i.e., the multiple frames of ultrasound data mentioned above); after the data acquisition is completed, the system (i.e., the device implementing method 100) can process the acquired data according to the current mode (first processing technology, second processing technology), output and display it.

[0027] In one example, the user selects the probe and inspection mode to enter mode B. After determining the target area, the user enters the data acquisition preparation stage. In this stage, the initial data acquisition range can be set as needed. The acquisition range refers to both the spatial and temporal ranges. The spatial range refers to the area of ​​the acquired image; by default, the spatial range is the entire image area. The temporal range refers to the acquisition duration. If no time range is set, the user can decide when to end the acquisition, or the acquisition can automatically end based on factors such as microbubble concentration or density. The spatial and temporal ranges receive and respond to user control input via the touchscreen panel or interface window. The initial spatial range for data acquisition can be referred to as the first spatial range, and the temporal range as the first temporal range, such as... Figure 2 As shown.

[0028] After acquiring the original multi-frame ultrasound data, a first processing technique and a second processing technique can be used for processing. The second processing technique can be a super-resolution imaging technique, and the first processing technique can be a contrast enhancement processing technique or other relevant processing techniques for grayscale image data. In one example, using the first processing technique to process multi-frame ultrasound data may include: filtering at least a portion of the multi-frame ultrasound data, extracting microbubbles, or performing maximum intensity projection processing. The following description uses maximum intensity projection processing as an example.

[0029] Assuming the original acquired multi-frame ultrasound data includes N frames of ultrasound data, where N is a natural number greater than 1, the first processing technique, based on the multi-frame ultrasound data, processes the data to obtain a first image. This can include: performing maximum intensity projection calculation on every n frames of ultrasound data to obtain one first image, resulting in a total of N / n first images, where n is a natural number less than N; or, acquiring one frame of ultrasound data from every n frames of ultrasound data, and, except for directly generating a first image from the first acquired frame, performing maximum intensity projection calculation on each acquired frame of ultrasound data and the previous acquired frame to obtain another first image, resulting in a total of N / n first images, where n is a natural number less than N. The second processing technique, based on the multi-frame ultrasound data, processes the data to obtain a second image. This can include: performing super-resolution imaging calculation on every m frames of ultrasound data to obtain one second image, resulting in a total of N / m second images, where m is a natural number less than or equal to n. Since m is less than or equal to n, the number of frames in the first image is less than or equal to the number of frames in the second image, making the temporal resolution of the second image higher than or equal to the temporal resolution of the first image, as described above.

[0030] In one example, m equals n. The above processing procedure is as follows: For every n frames of ultrasound data, maximum intensity projection calculation is performed to obtain one first image frame, resulting in a total of N / n first images (or, one frame of ultrasound data is obtained from every n frames of ultrasound data; except for the first frame of ultrasound data which is directly used to generate one first image, each subsequent frame of ultrasound data is compared with the previous frame of ultrasound data using maximum intensity projection calculation to obtain one first image frame, resulting in a total of N / n first images); For every n frames of ultrasound data, super-resolution imaging calculation is performed to obtain one second image frame, resulting in a total of N / n second images. This processing procedure is as follows: Figure 3 As shown, that is, the first processing technique and the second processing technique each time acquire the same number of frames for processing (in Figure 3 (As shown in the diagram, processing is performed every 4 frames). In this example, the resulting first and second images have the same temporal resolution, but the second image has a higher spatial resolution than the first image.

[0031] In another example, where m equals n / 2, the above processing procedure is as follows: For every n frames of ultrasound data, maximum intensity projection calculation is performed to obtain a first image frame, resulting in a total of N / n first images (or, one frame of ultrasound data is obtained from every n frames of ultrasound data; except for the first frame of ultrasound data which is directly used to generate a first image, each subsequent frame of ultrasound data is compared with the previous frame using maximum intensity projection calculation to obtain a first image frame, resulting in a total of N / n first images); For every n / 2 frames of ultrasound data, super-resolution imaging calculation is performed to obtain a second image frame, resulting in a total of 2N / n second images. This processing procedure is as follows: Figure 4 As shown, the first and second processing techniques acquire different numbers of frames for processing each time (in...). Figure 4 The diagram shows the first processing technique processing every 4 frames and the second processing technique processing every 2 frames. In this example, the final second image has a higher spatial resolution than the first image, and the second image has a higher temporal resolution than the first image.

[0032] In embodiments of this application, after obtaining the first image and the second image, the first image and the second image can be displayed. Displaying the first image may include sequentially displaying each generated frame of the first image. In this embodiment, real-time display of the first image is achieved, allowing the user to observe the dynamic process of the target object. Alternatively, displaying the first image may include displaying the last frame of the first image among all generated first images. In this embodiment, the first image is frozen, and the user can only observe the last frame of the first image, which still satisfies the user's observation needs for the target object (e.g., whether there are lesions in a large blood vessel).

[0033] In embodiments of this application, displaying the second image may include: after generating and displaying the first frame of the second image, for each newly generated second image, the currently generated second image is summed with the previously generated second image before being displayed. In this embodiment, except for the first frame of the second image, each subsequent frame of the second image is the sum of the currently generated second image and the previously generated second image. This allows the user to observe more and more second images containing microvessels, enabling the user to observe the target object (such as whether there are lesions in finer blood vessels) with increasing clarity. Furthermore, based on this method, the user can also view the dynamic perfusion process of the contrast agent. Alternatively, displaying the second image may include: displaying the sum of all generated second images. In this embodiment, the user can directly view the final super-resolution image, which also meets the user's need to view the target object (such as whether there are lesions in finer blood vessels).

[0034] In embodiments of this application, displaying the first image and the second image may include switching between displaying the first image and the second image in the same display area based on a switching instruction. In this embodiment, the first image and the second image can be displayed in the same display area (e.g., the same display window), therefore, they can switch between each other's display under a switching instruction (such as a user's switching instruction) to meet the user's viewing needs. In another embodiment, displaying the first image and the second image may include displaying the first image and the second image in different display areas respectively. In this embodiment, the first image and the second image can be displayed in different display areas (e.g., different display windows), therefore, their display does not affect each other, and they can be displayed simultaneously, allowing the user to view both images at the same time, which is more conducive to the user's comparative analysis.

[0035] In the embodiments of this application, the aforementioned multi-frame ultrasound data corresponds to a first spatial range and a first temporal range; data processing based on the multi-frame ultrasound data using a first processing technique may include: processing data within a second spatial range and a second temporal range of the multi-frame ultrasound data using the first processing technique, wherein the second spatial range is less than or equal to the first spatial range, and the second temporal range is less than or equal to the first temporal range; data processing based on the multi-frame ultrasound data using a second processing technique may include: processing data within a third spatial range and a third temporal range of the multi-frame ultrasound data using the second processing technique, wherein the third spatial range is less than or equal to the first spatial range, the third temporal range is less than or equal to the first temporal range, and the second spatial range is greater than or equal to the third spatial range; wherein the number of both the second spatial range and the third spatial range is at least one.

[0036] In this embodiment, multiple frames of ultrasound data correspond to a first spatial range and a first temporal range. The spatial range refers to the region of interest (ROI) of the target part of the target object corresponding to the acquired ultrasound data, and the temporal range refers to the duration of ultrasound data acquisition or the number of frames corresponding to that duration, as described above. In this embodiment, the processing performed by the first processing technique and the second processing technique can target the same spatial range or different spatial ranges. Similarly, the processing performed by the first processing technique and the second processing technique can target the same temporal range or different temporal ranges. For example, the spatial range and temporal range corresponding to the ultrasound data processed by the first processing technique are respectively referred to as the second spatial range and the second temporal range, and the spatial range and temporal range corresponding to the ultrasound data processed by the third processing technique are respectively referred to as the third spatial range and the third temporal range. Then, the second spatial range and the third spatial range can both be less than or equal to the first spatial range, and the second temporal range and the third temporal range can both be less than the first temporal range. That is, the ROI corresponding to the ultrasound data processed by the first processing technique and the second processing technique is less than or equal to the ROI corresponding to the acquired original ultrasound data. The ultrasound data processed by the first and second processing techniques can each be the original ultrasound data of all frames or a portion of the original ultrasound data. Furthermore, regarding the second and third spatial ranges, the second spatial range can be greater than or equal to the third spatial range. This is because the second processing technique (super-resolution processing technique) is generally used to view finer blood vessels, and its corresponding area is generally smaller, while the first processing technique is generally used to view thicker blood vessels, and its corresponding area is relatively larger. Furthermore, the number of both the second and third spatial ranges can be at least one. That is, within the region of interest corresponding to the original ultrasound data, the first and second processing techniques can each process one or more sub-regions within that region, which can meet the user's viewing needs for different regions.

[0037] Figure 5 Example diagrams of the first and second spatial ranges are shown, in which the second spatial range is smaller than the first spatial range. Although not shown, the third spatial range can also be within the range of the first spatial range, just like the second spatial range. Each of the aforementioned first, second, second, third spatial, and third temporal ranges can be automatically set, obtained based on user input, or a combination of both (e.g., automatically set and then manually confirmed or adjusted by the user). Automatic setting can be achieved through traditional image processing methods or deep learning-based methods.

[0038] In embodiments of this application, when the first processing technique is a contrast enhancement processing technique, and the second spatial range is larger than the third spatial range, displaying the first image and the second image may include superimposing the first image and the second image. In this embodiment, the first processing technique is a contrast enhancement processing technique, and the image obtained by it is usually such as a tissue image, and therefore can be used as a background image. Therefore, the second image can be superimposed on the first image as the background image, making it convenient for the user to view the positional correspondence between the imaging results obtained by the contrast enhancement processing technique and the super-resolution imaging technique. In addition, the second spatial range is larger than the third spatial range, that is, the final second image corresponds to a part of the first image. The superimposed display of the two allows the user to view the positional correspondence between the imaging results obtained by the contrast enhancement processing technique and the super-resolution imaging technique, and the imaging result obtained by the super-resolution imaging technique will not obscure the non-super-resolution imaging part of the first image, making it convenient for the user to view the super-resolution imaging result and the non-super-resolution imaging result simultaneously.

[0039] In embodiments of this application, when both the second and third spatial ranges are smaller than the first spatial range, method 100 may further include: generating multiple ultrasound images as background images based on multiple frames of ultrasound data, and displaying the background images; wherein the first and second images are both foreground images, and the background and foreground images are displayed in different display areas, or the background and foreground images are superimposed. In this embodiment, both the second and third spatial ranges are smaller than the first spatial range, that is, the regions of interest corresponding to the first and second images obtained by the first and second processing techniques are smaller than the regions of interest corresponding to the original acquired multiple frames of ultrasound data. Therefore, a background image (such as a tissue image or contrast image) can be generated based on the original acquired multiple frames of ultrasound data, and the first and second images can be superimposed on the background image as foreground images for easy viewing of the positional correspondence between the regions of interest corresponding to the first, second, and background images. Alternatively, the foreground and background images can be displayed in different display areas, allowing the user to view all three simultaneously for comparison and analysis.

[0040] In a further embodiment of this application, when the second spatial range and the third spatial range are the same or overlap, the aforementioned overlay display of the background image and the foreground image may include: overlaying the background image with the first image to obtain a first overlay display result, and overlaying the background image with the second image to obtain a second overlay display result. The first and second overlay display results are displayed in different display areas, or switched within the same display area. In this embodiment, the second and third spatial ranges are the same or overlap, meaning that the regions of interest corresponding to the first and second images are the same or overlap. Therefore, if these two images are overlaid with the background image, at least part of the first or second image may be obscured. Therefore, the first and second images can be overlaid with the background image separately to obtain separate overlay results. The two overlay results can be displayed simultaneously in different display areas, or switched within the same display area based on a switching command. This display method facilitates users in viewing the positional correspondence between the regions of interest corresponding to the first and second images and the region of interest corresponding to the background image.

[0041] In a further embodiment of this application, when the second spatial range and the third spatial range do not intersect, the background image and the foreground image are superimposed and displayed. This can include: superimposing the first image and the second image onto the background image; or superimposing the background image and the first image to obtain a first superimposed display result, and superimposing the background image and the second image to obtain a second superimposed display result, wherein the first superimposed display result and the second superimposed display result are displayed in different display areas, or switched within the same display area. In this embodiment, the second spatial range and the third spatial range are identical and do not intersect, which means that the regions of interest corresponding to the first image and the second image do not overlap. Therefore, they can be superimposed with the background image, making it easy for the user to see both the first image and the second image on the same background image. The positional correspondence between these three images and between any two images is immediately apparent. Alternatively, the first image and the second image can be superimposed with the background image separately to obtain different superimposed results. The two superimposed results can be displayed simultaneously in different display areas, or switched within the same display area based on a switching command. In this display method, the user can also view the positional correspondence between the regions of interest corresponding to the first image and the second image and the region of interest corresponding to the background image.

[0042] In the above embodiments, displaying the background image may include any of the following: displaying the last frame of the background image; dynamically playing the background image; extracting a portion of frames from the background image for dynamic playback, wherein the display frame rate (i.e., the number of frames played per second) of the portion of frames is equal to at least one of the display frame rate of the first image and the display frame rate of the second image, or the display frame rate of the portion of frames is higher than at least one of the display frame rate of the first image and the display frame rate of the second image. Several examples of displaying the background image are given in this embodiment. Correspondingly, the aforementioned first image and second image may also have similar display methods. For example, the background image, the first image, and the second image may all display their respective last frame (i.e., all are in a frozen state), which is beneficial for users to quickly and directly see the final result. As another example, the background image may be displayed in a frozen state, while the first and second images may be in a dynamically playing state, and the display frame rate of the images may be determined by the actual acquisition time range. This example of display method is beneficial for users to view the dynamic perfusion process of each large and small blood vessel. For example, the background image is displayed in dynamic playback mode, while the first and second images are both frozen. This display method allows users to view the changes in the corresponding images from the original data over time and directly see the final results of the first and second images. Another example is where the background image, the first image, and the second image are all in dynamic playback mode, with the background image displayed as a portion of the imaging frames at the same frame rate as the first and second images. This display method allows users to view the simultaneous comparison of the perfusion process and the super-resolution results. Yet another example is where the background image, the first image, and the second image are all in dynamic playback mode, with the background image displaying a higher frame rate than the second image. This display method allows users to view the changes in the super-resolution imaging results over time in greater detail (due to the relatively lower frame rate).

[0043] The above exemplarily illustrates a super-resolution contrast imaging method 100 according to an embodiment of this application. Based on the above description, after acquiring multiple frames of raw ultrasound data, the super-resolution contrast imaging method 100 according to an embodiment of this application processes the multiple frames of ultrasound data using a first processing technique and a second processing technique respectively to obtain a first image and a second image. The second processing technique is a super-resolution contrast imaging technique, while the first processing technique is a technique other than super-resolution contrast imaging. The spatial resolution of the second image is higher than that of the first image. By using two different images, the readability of different levels of vascular morphology can be improved. Furthermore, the second image has the same or even higher temporal resolution than the first image, enabling better tracking of the movement trajectory of contrast agent microbubbles, capturing complete perfusion details and richer image information, and more accurately representing the lesion vascular morphology and blood flow perfusion path.

[0044] The following is combined Figure 6Describes a vascular imaging method provided according to another aspect of this application. Figure 6 A schematic flowchart of a vascular imaging method 600 according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 6 As shown, the vascular imaging method 600 may include the following steps:

[0045] In step S610, multiple frames of ultrasound data are acquired for the target blood vessel site.

[0046] In step S620, the first processing technique is used to process the data based on multiple frames of ultrasound data to obtain the first image.

[0047] In step S630, a second processing technique is used to process the data based on multiple frames of ultrasound data to obtain a second image.

[0048] In step S640, a first image and a second image are displayed, wherein the spatial resolution of the second image is higher than that of the first image, and the temporal resolution of the second image is higher than or equal to that of the first image.

[0049] The vascular imaging method 600 according to an embodiment of this application is largely the same as the super-resolution angiography imaging method 100 described above, except that the second processing technique in the vascular imaging method 600 is not limited to super-resolution angiography imaging technology. For example, the second processing technique can be a high frame rate imaging technique, and the first processing technique can be a conventional frame rate imaging technique. Alternatively, the second processing technique can be a super-resolution imaging technique, and the first processing technique can be a high frame rate imaging technique or a conventional frame rate imaging technique. Therefore, the imaging frame rate of the second processing technique is always higher than that of the first processing technique. Thus, similar to the super-resolution angiography imaging method 100 described above, the vascular imaging method 600 according to an embodiment of this application can also improve the readability of different levels of vascular morphology and more accurately represent the lesion vascular morphology and blood flow perfusion path through two different images. The remaining parts of the vascular imaging method 600 according to an embodiment of this application are the same as those of the super-resolution angiography imaging method 100 described above. For simplicity, details are not repeated here, and only some main operations are described.

[0050] In embodiments of this application, displaying a first image includes: sequentially displaying each generated frame of the first image; or, displaying the last frame of the first image among all generated first images.

[0051] In embodiments of this application, displaying a second image includes: after generating and displaying a first frame of a second image, for each newly generated second image, the currently generated second image is added to the previously generated second image and then displayed; or, the sum of all generated second images is displayed.

[0052] In embodiments of this application, displaying a first image and a second image includes: switching between displaying the first image and the second image in the same display area based on a switching instruction; or displaying the first image and the second image in different display areas respectively.

[0053] In embodiments of this application, multiple frames of ultrasound data correspond to a first spatial range and a first temporal range; data processing based on the multiple frames of ultrasound data using a first processing technique includes: processing data within a second spatial range and a second temporal range of the multiple frames of ultrasound data using the first processing technique, wherein the second spatial range is less than or equal to the first spatial range, and the second temporal range is less than or equal to the first temporal range; data processing based on the multiple frames of ultrasound data using a second processing technique includes: processing data within a third spatial range and a third temporal range of the multiple frames of ultrasound data using the second processing technique, wherein the third spatial range is less than or equal to the first spatial range, the third temporal range is less than or equal to the first temporal range, and the second spatial range is greater than or equal to the third spatial range; wherein the number of both the second spatial range and the third spatial range is at least one.

[0054] In embodiments of this application, each of the first spatial range, the first time range, the second spatial range, the second time range, the third spatial range, and the third time range is automatically set or obtained based on user input.

[0055] In the embodiments of this application, when the first processing technology is a contrast enhancement processing technology and the second spatial range is larger than the third spatial range, displaying the first image and the second image includes: superimposing the first image and the second image.

[0056] In embodiments of this application, when both the second spatial range and the third spatial range are smaller than the first spatial range, the method further includes: generating multiple frames of ultrasound images as background images based on multiple frames of ultrasound data, and displaying the background images; wherein the first image and the second image are both used as foreground images, and the background image and the foreground image are displayed in different display areas, or the background image and the foreground image are superimposed and displayed.

[0057] In the embodiments of this application, when the second spatial range and the third spatial range are the same or overlap, the background image and the foreground image are superimposed and displayed, including: the background image and the first image are superimposed and displayed to obtain a first superimposed display result, and the background image and the second image are superimposed and displayed to obtain a second superimposed display result, wherein the first superimposed display result and the second superimposed display result are displayed in different display areas, or switched to be displayed in the same display area.

[0058] In embodiments of this application, when the second spatial range and the third spatial range do not intersect, the background image and the foreground image are superimposed and displayed, including: superimposing the first image and the second image on the background image; or superimposing the background image and the first image to obtain a first superimposed display result, and superimposing the background image and the second image to obtain a second superimposed display result, wherein the first superimposed display result and the second superimposed display result are displayed in different display areas, or switched to be displayed in the same display area.

[0059] In embodiments of this application, displaying a background image includes any one of the following: displaying the last frame of an ultrasound image in the background image; dynamically playing the background image; extracting a portion of frames from the background image for dynamic playback, wherein the display frame rate of the portion of frames is equal to at least one of the display frame rate of the first image and the display frame rate of the second image, or the display frame rate of the portion of frames is higher than at least one of the display frame rate of the first image and the display frame rate of the second image.

[0060] In the embodiments of this application, a first processing technique is used to process data based on multiple frames of ultrasound data, including: filtering at least a portion of the data in the process of processing the multiple frames of ultrasound data, extracting microbubbles, or performing maximum intensity projection processing.

[0061] In the embodiments of this application, the multi-frame ultrasound data includes N frames of ultrasound data, where N is a natural number greater than 1; the first processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a first image, including: performing maximum intensity projection calculation on each n frames of ultrasound data to obtain a first image, resulting in a total of N / n first images, where n is a natural number less than N; or obtaining one frame of ultrasound data from each n frames of ultrasound data, except that the first frame of ultrasound data obtained is directly used to generate a first image, and for each frame of ultrasound data obtained, performing maximum intensity projection calculation with the ultrasound data obtained in the previous frame to obtain a first image, resulting in a total of N / n first images, where n is a natural number less than N.

[0062] In the embodiments of this application, a second processing technique is used to process data based on multiple frames of ultrasound data to obtain a second image, including: performing super-resolution imaging calculation on each m frames of ultrasound data to obtain one frame of the second image, and obtaining a total of N / m frames of the second image, where m is a natural number less than or equal to n.

[0063] Based on the above description, the vascular imaging method 600 according to the embodiments of this application, after acquiring multiple frames of raw ultrasound data, processes the multiple frames of ultrasound data using a first processing technique and a second processing technique respectively to obtain a first image and a second image. The spatial resolution of the second image is higher than that of the first image. By using two different images, the readability of vascular morphology at different levels can also be improved. In addition, the second image has the same or even higher temporal resolution than the first image, which can better track the movement trajectory of contrast agent microbubbles, capture complete perfusion details and richer image information, and can also more accurately represent the lesion vascular morphology and blood flow perfusion path.

[0064] The following is combined Figure 7 Describe the ultrasound imaging device provided in accordance with the application. Figure 7 A schematic block diagram of an ultrasound imaging apparatus 700 according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 7 As shown, the ultrasound imaging device 700 may include a transmitting and receiving circuit 710, an ultrasound probe 720, a processor 730, and a display 740, wherein: the transmitting and receiving circuit 710 is used to control the ultrasound probe 720 to emit ultrasound waves toward a target object, receive the echoes of the ultrasound waves, and acquire ultrasound echo data from the echoes; the processor 730 is used to control the transmitting and receiving circuit, and based on the ultrasound echo data, execute the super-resolution angiography imaging method 100 according to the embodiments of this application or the aforementioned vascular imaging method 600 according to the embodiments of this application to generate a first image and a second image; the display 740 is used to display the first image and the second image. Those skilled in the art can understand the structure and operation of the ultrasound imaging device 700 in conjunction with the foregoing description, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be described again here.

[0065] Furthermore, according to embodiments of this application, a storage medium is also provided, on which program instructions are stored. When the program instructions are executed by a computer or processor, they are used to perform corresponding steps of the super-resolution angiography or vascular imaging method of the embodiments of this application. The storage medium may, for example, include a memory card of a smartphone, a storage component of a tablet computer, a hard disk of a personal computer, a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a USB memory, or any combination of the above storage media. A computer-readable storage medium may be any combination of one or more computer-readable storage media.

[0066] Furthermore, according to embodiments of this application, a computer program is also provided, which can be stored on a cloud or local storage medium. When this computer program is run by a computer or processor, it is used to perform the corresponding steps of the super-resolution angiography or vascular imaging method of the embodiments of this application.

[0067] Based on the above description, the super-resolution contrast imaging method, vascular imaging method, and ultrasound imaging device according to the embodiments of this application, after acquiring multiple frames of raw ultrasound data, respectively use a first processing technique and a second processing technique to process the multiple frames of ultrasound data to obtain a first image and a second image. The spatial resolution of the second image is higher than that of the first image. By using two different images, the readability of different levels of vascular morphology can also be improved. In addition, the second image has the same or even higher temporal resolution than the first image, which can better track the movement trajectory of contrast agent microbubbles, capture complete perfusion details and richer image information, and can also more accurately represent the lesion vascular morphology and blood flow perfusion path.

[0068] Although exemplary embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the above exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed in the appended claims.

[0069] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this invention.

[0070] In the several embodiments provided by this invention, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another device, or some features may be ignored or not executed.

[0071] Numerous specific details are set forth in the specification provided herein. However, it will be understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this specification.

[0072] Similarly, it should be understood that, in order to streamline the invention and aid in understanding one or more of the various aspects of the invention, features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention. However, the method of the invention should not be construed as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the corresponding claims, its inventive point lies in solving the corresponding technical problem with fewer features than all of those in a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into that detailed description, wherein each claim itself is a separate embodiment of the invention.

[0073] Those skilled in the art will understand that, apart from the mutual exclusion of features, all features disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) and all processes or units of any method or apparatus so disclosed can be combined in any combination. Unless otherwise expressly stated, each feature disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by an alternative feature that serves the same, equivalent, or similar purpose.

[0074] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention and form different embodiments. For example, in the claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0075] The various component embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, or as software modules running on one or more processors, or a combination thereof. Those skilled in the art will understand that microprocessors or digital signal processors (DSPs) can be used in practice to implement some or all of the functions of some modules in the article analysis device according to embodiments of the present invention. The present invention can also be implemented as an apparatus program (e.g., a computer program and computer program product) for performing part or all of the methods described herein. Such programs implementing the present invention can be stored on a computer-readable medium, or can be in the form of one or more signals. Such signals can be downloaded from an Internet website, provided on a carrier signal, or provided in any other form.

[0076] It should be noted that the above embodiments are illustrative of the invention and not restrictive, and that those skilled in the art can devise alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses should not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in the claims. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several different elements and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the unit claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by the same item of hardware. The use of the words first, second, and third, etc., does not indicate any order. These words can be interpreted as names.

[0077] The above are merely specific embodiments or descriptions of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A super-resolution contrast imaging method, characterized in that, The method includes: Acquire multiple frames of ultrasound data from a target subject that has been injected with contrast agent; A first image is obtained by processing the multi-frame ultrasound data using a first processing technique, wherein the first processing technique is an imaging technique other than the second processing technique. The second processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a second image, wherein the second processing technique is super-resolution contrast imaging technique. Displaying the first image and the second image to improve the readability of blood vessel morphology at different levels, wherein the first image can be used to observe the first blood vessel, and the second image can be used to observe the second blood vessel, wherein the first blood vessel is thicker than the second blood vessel, wherein the spatial resolution of the second image is higher than the spatial resolution of the first image, and the temporal resolution of the second image is higher than or equal to the temporal resolution of the first image, wherein the temporal resolution refers to the number of image frames generated by the imaging device per unit time. The multi-frame ultrasound data includes N frames of ultrasound data, where N is a natural number greater than 1; the first processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a first image, which includes: obtaining one first image based on every n frames of ultrasound data, for a total of N / n first images; the second processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a second image, which includes: obtaining one second image based on every m frames of ultrasound data, for a total of N / m second images, where m is a natural number less than or equal to n.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The display of the first image includes: Display each generated frame of the first image sequentially; or, Display the last frame of the first image from all the generated first images.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The display of the second image includes: After generating and displaying the first frame of the second image, for each subsequent frame of the second image, the currently generated frame of the second image is added to the previously generated frame of the second image and then displayed; or, Display the cumulative result of all the generated second images.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The display of the first image and the second image includes: The first image and the second image are displayed in the same display area based on a switching command; or the first image and the second image are displayed in different display areas respectively.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The multi-frame ultrasound data corresponds to a first spatial range and a first temporal range; The first processing technique for data processing based on the multi-frame ultrasound data includes: processing data in a second spatial range and a second time range in the multi-frame ultrasound data using the first processing technique, wherein the second spatial range is less than or equal to the first spatial range, and the second time range is less than or equal to the first time range. The second processing technique for data processing based on the multi-frame ultrasound data includes: processing data in the third spatial range and the third time range of the multi-frame ultrasound data using the second processing technique, wherein the third spatial range is less than or equal to the first spatial range, the third time range is less than or equal to the first time range, and the second spatial range is greater than or equal to the third spatial range. The number of the second spatial range and the number of the third spatial range are both at least one.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the first spatial range, the first time range, the second spatial range, the second time range, the third spatial range, and the third time range is either automatically set or obtained based on user input.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the first processing technique is a contrast enhancement processing technique, and the second spatial range is larger than the third spatial range, displaying the first image and the second image includes: The first image and the second image are displayed overlaid.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, When both the second spatial range and the third spatial range are smaller than the first spatial range, the method further includes: Based on the multi-frame ultrasound data, generate multi-frame ultrasound images as background images and display the background images; In this configuration, both the first image and the second image serve as foreground images, and the background image and the foreground image are displayed in different display areas, or the background image and the foreground image are displayed superimposed.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the second spatial range and the third spatial range are the same or overlap, the background image and the foreground image are superimposed and displayed, including: The background image is superimposed on the first image to obtain a first superimposed display result, and the background image is superimposed on the second image to obtain a second superimposed display result. The first superimposed display result and the second superimposed display result are displayed in different display areas, or switched in the same display area.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the second spatial range and the third spatial range do not overlap, the background image and the foreground image are displayed superimposed, including: The first image and the second image are superimposed on the background image for display; or The background image is superimposed on the first image to obtain a first superimposed display result, and the background image is superimposed on the second image to obtain a second superimposed display result. The first superimposed display result and the second superimposed display result are displayed in different display areas, or switched in the same display area.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8-10, characterized in that, Displaying the background image includes any of the following: Display the last frame of the background image; The background image is played dynamically; A portion of frames is extracted from the background image and played dynamically. The display frame rate of the portion of frames is equal to at least one of the display frame rate of the first image and the display frame rate of the second image, or the display frame rate of the portion of frames is higher than at least one of the display frame rate of the first image and the display frame rate of the second image.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The data processing based on the multi-frame ultrasound data using the first processing technology includes: At least a portion of the multi-frame ultrasound data is subjected to filtering, microbubble extraction, or maximum intensity projection processing.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The multi-frame ultrasound data includes N frames of ultrasound data, where N is a natural number greater than 1. The first processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a first image, including: For every n frames of ultrasound data, maximum intensity projection calculation is performed to obtain one first image frame, resulting in a total of N / n first images, where n is a natural number less than N; or One frame of ultrasound data is obtained from every n frames of ultrasound data. Except for the first frame of ultrasound data obtained which directly generates a first image, each time a frame of ultrasound data is obtained, the maximum intensity projection calculation is performed with the ultrasound data obtained in the previous frame to obtain a first image. A total of N / n first images are obtained, where n is a natural number less than N.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The second processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a second image, including: Super-resolution imaging calculations are performed on each m frames of ultrasound data to obtain one second image, resulting in a total of N / m second images, where m is a natural number less than or equal to n.

15. A method for vascular imaging, characterized in that, The method includes: Acquire multiple frames of ultrasound data for the target blood vessel site; The first image is obtained by processing the multi-frame ultrasound data using a first processing technique. A second processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a second image. Displaying the first image and the second image to improve the readability of blood vessel morphology at different levels, wherein the first image can be used to observe the first blood vessel, and the second image can be used to observe the second blood vessel, wherein the first blood vessel is thicker than the second blood vessel, wherein the spatial resolution of the second image is higher than the spatial resolution of the first image, and the temporal resolution of the second image is higher than or equal to the temporal resolution of the first image, wherein the temporal resolution refers to the number of image frames generated by the imaging device per unit time. The multi-frame ultrasound data includes N frames of ultrasound data, where N is a natural number greater than 1; the first processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a first image, which includes: obtaining one first image based on every n frames of ultrasound data, for a total of N / n first images; the second processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a second image, which includes: obtaining one second image based on every m frames of ultrasound data, for a total of N / m second images, where m is a natural number less than or equal to n.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The second processing technology is super-resolution imaging technology, and the first processing technology is high frame rate imaging technology or conventional frame rate imaging technology; or The second processing technology is a high frame rate imaging technology, while the first processing technology is a conventional frame rate imaging technology.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, Displaying the first image includes: Display each generated frame of the first image sequentially; or, Display the last frame of the first image from all the generated first images.

18. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, Displaying the second image includes: After generating and displaying the first frame of the second image, for each subsequent frame of the second image, the currently generated frame of the second image is added to the previously generated frame of the second image and then displayed; or, Display the cumulative result of all the generated second images.

19. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The display of the first image and the second image includes: The first image and the second image are displayed in the same display area based on a switching command; or the first image and the second image are displayed in different display areas respectively.

20. The method according to any one of claims 15-19, characterized in that, The multi-frame ultrasound data corresponds to a first spatial range and a first temporal range; The first processing technique for data processing based on the multi-frame ultrasound data includes: processing data in a second spatial range and a second time range in the multi-frame ultrasound data using the first processing technique, wherein the second spatial range is less than or equal to the first spatial range, and the second time range is less than or equal to the first time range. The second processing technique for data processing based on the multi-frame ultrasound data includes: processing data in the third spatial range and the third time range of the multi-frame ultrasound data using the second processing technique, wherein the third spatial range is less than or equal to the first spatial range, the third time range is less than or equal to the first time range, and the second spatial range is greater than or equal to the third spatial range. The number of the second spatial range and the number of the third spatial range are both at least one.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, Each of the first spatial range, the first time range, the second spatial range, the second time range, the third spatial range, and the third time range is either automatically set or obtained based on user input.

22. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, When the first processing technique is a contrast enhancement processing technique, and the second spatial range is larger than the third spatial range, displaying the first image and the second image includes: The first image and the second image are displayed overlaid.

23. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, When both the second spatial range and the third spatial range are smaller than the first spatial range, the method further includes: Based on the multi-frame ultrasound data, generate multi-frame ultrasound images as background images and display the background images; In this configuration, both the first image and the second image serve as foreground images, and the background image and the foreground image are displayed in different display areas, or the background image and the foreground image are displayed superimposed.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that, When the second spatial range and the third spatial range are the same or overlap, the background image and the foreground image are superimposed and displayed, including: The background image is superimposed on the first image to obtain a first superimposed display result, and the background image is superimposed on the second image to obtain a second superimposed display result. The first superimposed display result and the second superimposed display result are displayed in different display areas, or switched in the same display area.

25. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that, When the second spatial range and the third spatial range do not overlap, the background image and the foreground image are displayed superimposed, including: The first image and the second image are superimposed on the background image for display; or The background image is superimposed on the first image to obtain a first superimposed display result, and the background image is superimposed on the second image to obtain a second superimposed display result. The first superimposed display result and the second superimposed display result are displayed in different display areas, or switched in the same display area.

26. The method according to any one of claims 23-25, characterized in that, Displaying the background image includes any of the following: Display the last frame of the ultrasound image in the background image; The background image is played dynamically; A portion of frames is extracted from the background image and played dynamically. The display frame rate of the portion of frames is equal to at least one of the display frame rate of the first image and the display frame rate of the second image, or the display frame rate of the portion of frames is higher than at least one of the display frame rate of the first image and the display frame rate of the second image.

27. The method according to any one of claims 16-19, characterized in that, The data processing based on the multi-frame ultrasound data using the first processing technology includes: At least a portion of the multi-frame ultrasound data is subjected to filtering, microbubble extraction, or maximum intensity projection processing.

28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that, The multi-frame ultrasound data includes N frames of ultrasound data, where N is a natural number greater than 1. The first processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a first image, including: For every n frames of ultrasound data, maximum intensity projection calculation is performed to obtain one first image frame, resulting in a total of N / n first images, where n is a natural number less than N; or One frame of ultrasound data is obtained from every n frames of ultrasound data. Except for the first frame of ultrasound data obtained which directly generates a first image, each time a frame of ultrasound data is obtained, the maximum intensity projection calculation is performed with the ultrasound data obtained in the previous frame to obtain a first image. A total of N / n first images are obtained, where n is a natural number less than N.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that, The second processing technique is used to process the multi-frame ultrasound data to obtain a second image, including: Super-resolution imaging calculations are performed on each m frames of ultrasound data to obtain one second image, resulting in a total of N / m second images, where m is a natural number less than or equal to n.

30. An ultrasonic imaging device, characterized in that, The device includes a transmitting and receiving circuit, an ultrasonic probe, a processor, and a display, wherein: The transmitting and receiving circuit is used to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves toward the target object, receive the echo of the ultrasonic waves, and obtain ultrasonic echo data from the echo. The processor is used to control the transmitting and receiving circuit, and to generate a first image and a second image by performing the super-resolution angiography method according to any one of claims 1-14 or the vascular imaging method according to any one of claims 15-29 based on the ultrasound echo data. The display is used to show the first image and the second image.

31. A storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the super-resolution angiography method according to any one of claims 1-14 or the vascular imaging method according to any one of claims 15-29.

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