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This paper addresses the effects of nonlinear log compression on the amplitude of the backscattered signals. The changes in the statistical characteristics of signals were examined and correlated with the compression parameters. We develop an analytical formulation for the probability density function (PDF) of log-compressed amplitude signals. To obtain the theoretical PDF, a Rayleigh distributed signal is subjected to a scaled log-compression of the form n1ln(x)+n 2. Such transformation is common in medical ultrasound image formation as it allows independent control over the dynamic range and gain of the displayed image. The resulting Fisher-Tippett PDF and its statistical parameters are derived and compared with the empirically measured statistics of ultrasound images of scattering phantoms. The comparisons reveal a great degree of similarity between theoretical PDF and the histogram of the image, even though the goodness-of-fit tests indicate statistical mismatch from theoretical model due to factors such as non-ideal log compression transfer, noise, envelope smoothing, etc

Ultrasound imaging is synchronized with measurements. Generating three-dimensional representations is synchronized with measuring one or more parameters. For example, measurements are preformed based on navigating through a volume. The measurements are linked to the corresponding three-dimensional representations. As another example, the user selects a measurement from a graph. A three-dimensional representation of the volume associated with the selected measurement is presented.

Medical diagnostic ultrasound stereo imaging is provided. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system operable to scan a body with ultrasound is also operable to generate a three dimensional stereoscopic view of the body. The video processing unit and/or display device create the stereoscopic display.

A system for controlling the point spread function of an ultrasound signal transmitted into a patient. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, only a selected number of the transducer elements transmit a transmit pulse. The elements which do not transmit the pulse are selected in accordance with an apodization probability density function. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each transducer element transmits a variable portion of a transmit pulse in order to control the acoustic power of the signal transmitted from each element.