Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
600445000 | Mechanical scanning | 67 |
20080228076 | Ultrasonic Imaging Device - This invention provides an ultrasonic imaging system that implements imaging by distinguishing sharply and definitely the echo components generated by scattering in a microbubble contrast medium, from the tissue harmonic components generated by nonlinear propagation of a transmitted pulse. This ultrasonic imaging system, constructed to transmit/receive ultrasonic pulses to/from a living body and form a contrast image of the inside of the living body by using the contrast-imaging microbubbles, repeats the transmitting/receiving operations four times in all, under the same transmitting/receiving focus conditions at different phase angles [(a)=0°, (b)=120°, (c)=−120°, (d)=180°] of the carrier of a transmitted pulse wave including a common envelope signal, sums up three time-series receive echo signals associated with (a), (b), (c), forms the contrast image, sums up two time-series receive echo signals associated with (a), (d), forms an image of the living body having a nonlinear pulse propagation property, and makes a superimposed display of the two kinds of images. | 09-18-2008 |
20080234584 | Method and System for Ultrasonic Imaging of an Organ in a Patient's Body Through a Part of the Patient's Respiratory Tract - The invention relates to a method for ultrasonic imaging of an organ in a patient's body through a part of the patient's respiratory tract, including: arranging an ultrasonic imaging device in or on the patient's body; introducing a flexible catheter carrying at least one inflatable member into the respiratory tract; positioning the inflatable member at a predetermined location in the respiratory tract; filling the inflatable member with an ultrasonic transmission fluid through the flexible catheter; and transmitting ultrasonic waves from the imaging device through the transmission fluid in the inflatable member to the organ to be imaged. The inflatable member is positioned in the respiratory tract by manipulating guide means that are attached to or integrated with the flexible catheter. The invention further relates to an ultrasonic imaging system for carrying out this method and to an assembly means for use in such an ultrasonic imaging system. | 09-25-2008 |
20080242991 | Probe for Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound Diagnostic System Using the Same - The present invention relates to a probe, which is adapted to match acoustic impedances and shield undesired signals, and an ultrasound diagnostic system configured to use such a probe. The probe for conducting ultrasound diagnosis includes a transducer array for transmitting ultrasound signals to a target object and receiving the ultrasound signals reflected from the target object. The probe of the present invention also includes multiple membranes for covering the transducer array, wherein the multiple membranes include at least two membranes formed from different materials and having different thicknesses. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249414 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MEASURE CARDIAC EJECTION FRACTION - A system and method to acquire 3D ultrasound-based images during the end-systole and end-diastole time points of a cardiac cycle to allow determination of the change and percentage change in left ventricle volume at the time points. | 10-09-2008 |
20080249415 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, BREAST IMAGING SYSTEM, AND BREAST IMAGING METHOD - A compression paddle of a mammographic diagnosis apparatus is provided with an opening portion which allows an ultrasonic probe to be fitted therein and slide. This apparatus performs ultrasonic scanning on a breast compressed/fixed to the compression paddle, and reconstructs a compressed breast image by using the obtained ultrasonic image as a virtual image, thereby acquiring an ultrasonic image and volume data of the compressed/fixed breast. | 10-09-2008 |
20080255453 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a first ultrasonic probe; a first transmitting/receiving device which drives the first ultrasonic probe to perform scan with an ultrasonic beam; an ultrasonic image generating device which generates an ultrasonic image, based on a signal obtained by the first transmitting/receiving device; an image displaying device which displays the ultrasonic image thereon; a contrast timer which starts clocking in response to a start signal; a second ultrasonic probe; a second transmitting/receiving device which drives the second ultrasonic probe; and a determining device which determines based on a signal obtained by the second transmitting/receiving device whether a contrast agent has flowed in or not, and transmits the start signal to the contrast timer when the contrast agent has flowed in. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262355 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FAST 3D ULTRASOUND IMAGING - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for fast 3D ultrasound imaging. The method comprises data acquisition, desired data selection, data smoothing, table construction, ray casting, table look-up, ray synthesis and final result output. The apparatus comprises an acquisition module, a selection module, a smoothing module, a construction module, a ray casting module, a table look-up module, a synthesis module and an output module. The present invention can avoid a huge amount of unnecessary reconstruction calculations by smoothing preprocessing and constructing the reconstruction table and the gradient table as well as transforming coordinates of the points where necessary. The present invention has greater practical applicability, because the existing imaging technology demands that the radius for rotating the probe be identical to the radius of the probe. | 10-23-2008 |
20080287797 | FLUID-FILLABLE ULTRASOUND IMAGING CATHETER TIPS - An imaging catheter tip is presented. The imaging catheter tip includes a housing. Further, the imaging catheter tip includes a transducer assembly located within the housing in a distal portion of the imaging catheter tip. The transducer assembly includes a transducer. In addition, the imaging catheter tip includes a motor located within the housing in a proximal portion of the imaging catheter tip. The motor is configured to facilitate oscillation of the transducer assembly about a longitudinal axis of the imaging catheter tip. The imaging catheter tip also includes a fill tube disposed between the motor and the housing. The fill tube is configured to deliver acoustic coupling fluid to the distal portion of the imaging catheter tip. | 11-20-2008 |
20080287798 | PACKAGING AND FLUID FILLING OF ULTRASOUND IMAGING CATHETERS - An imaging catheter assembly is presented. The imaging catheter assembly includes an imaging catheter which includes an imaging catheter tip. Further, the imaging catheter assembly includes a fluid reservoir connected to the imaging catheter and configured to deliver fluid through a proximal end of the imaging catheter tip. The imaging catheter assembly also includes a release mechanism configured to cause delivery of the fluid to the imaging catheter tip when activated. | 11-20-2008 |
20080319318 | Breast scanning system - A breast scanning system configured to scan a breast of a patient includes a table configured to receive the patient thereon. The table has an aperture formed therein configured to receive the breast of the patient pendant therethrough and positionable over and into a bath configured to contain a medium. An armature is movably disposable in the bath. The armature carries transducer arrays that are disposable in the bath, and configured to transmit and receive acoustic and/or ultrasound signals. A manual control is operatively coupled to the armature to manually move the armature and thus the transducer arrays within the bath. | 12-25-2008 |
20090082670 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a probe, an ultrasonic wave control unit, a volume data generation unit, and a three-dimensional display processing unit. The ultrasonic wave control unit controls the probe to transmit low-sound-pressure pulses to a scan region at a first pulse repetition period as well as controls the probe to receive an echo corresponding to the low-sound-pressure pulses. Further, the ultrasonic wave control unit controls the probe to transmit high-sound-pressure pulses to the scan region at a second pulse repetition period smaller than the first pulse repetition period. The volume data generation unit generates volume data based on the echo received by the probe under the control of the ultrasonic wave control unit. The three-dimensional display processing unit generates three-dimensional image data by performing a rendering process based on the volume data, and controls display of the three-dimensional image data on a monitor. | 03-26-2009 |
20090112090 | Ultrasonic imaging apparatus - There is provided an ultrasonic imaging apparatus capable of optimizing parameters in frequency compound imaging. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes an optimal parameter calculation unit that calculates optimal values of processing parameters in the frequency compound imaging, and the optimal parameter calculation unit outputs a result that satisfies c | 04-30-2009 |
20090131796 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING ULTRASONIC TISSUE HARMONIC AMPLITUDE - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and imaging method for harmonic enhancement or suppression are disclosed. A fundamental transmit signal and a 3f | 05-21-2009 |
20090177088 | Ultrasonic Probe - A short axis scanning type ultrasonic wave probe configured such that: a plurality of strip shaped piezoelectric elements is arranged in a long axis direction, which is a crosswise direction of the piezoelectric elements, so as to form a flat piezoelectric element group; the piezoelectric element group is housed within a sealed container filled with a liquid that functions as an ultrasonic wave medium; and the piezoelectric element group is mechanically scanned in a short axis direction, which is a lengthwise direction of the piezoelectric elements, and the piezoelectric element group is linearly moved in the short axis direction so as to be mechanically scanned. Thereby, there is provided a short axis mechanical scanning probe in which the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving surface thereof can be easily brought into contact with a protruding section (such as a breast) of a subject human body, while realizing excellent lateral resolution. | 07-09-2009 |
20090209859 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGING METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe | 08-20-2009 |
20090209860 | Ultrasonic probe - In an ultrasonic probe of the present invention, a probe main body that comprises a flat shaped piezoelectric element group having a plurality of strip shaped piezoelectric elements arranged in a line in the major axis direction, which is the crosswise direction of the piezoelectric elements, is formed and housed within a container main body and sealed therein with a cover. The ultrasonic probe is characterized in that, in order to mechanically and linearly scan the probe main body in the minor axis direction, which is the lengthwise direction of the piezoelectric elements, the probe main body is linearly reciprocated and mechanically scanned in the minor axis direction, by an endless belt that is driven by a drive source via another endless belt linearly in the minor axis direction, while being guided by a pair of linear guides. As a result, sufficient movement stroke of the probe main body in the minor axis direction can be ensured, and by means of a movement mechanism comprising the endless belt, the probe main body can be reciprocated in the minor axis direction to the fullest extent between the inner walls of a sealed container. | 08-20-2009 |
20090216125 | Reslution optical & ultrasound devices for imaging and treatment of body lumens - A rotationally vibrating imaging catheter and method of utilization has an array of ultrasound or optical transducers and an actuator along with signal processing, display, and power subsystems. The actuator of the preferred embodiment is a solid-state nitinol actuator. The actuator causes the array to oscillate such that the tip of the catheter is rotated through an angle equal to or less than 360 degrees. The tip is then capable of rotating back the same amount. This action is repeated until the desired imaging information is acquired. The rotationally vibrating catheter produces more imaging points than a non-rotating imaging catheter and eliminates areas of missing information in the reconstructed image. | 08-27-2009 |
20090264759 | Ultrasound Imaging Catheter With Pivoting Head - An ultrasound imaging catheter system includes a pivot head assembly coupled between a ultrasound transducer array and the distal end of the catheter. The pivot head assembly includes a pivot joint enabling the transducer array to pivot through a large angle about the catheter centerline in response pivot cables controlled by a wheel within a handle assembly. Pivoting the ultrasound transducer array approximately 90° once the catheter is positioned by rotating the catheter shaft and bending the distal section of the catheter, clinicians may obtain orthogonal 2-D ultrasound images of anatomical structures of interest in 3-D space. Combining bending of the catheter by steering controls with pivoting of the transducer head enables a greater range of viewing perspectives. The pivot head assembly enables the transducer array to pan through a large angle to image of a larger volume than possible with conventional ultrasound imaging catheter systems. | 10-22-2009 |
20100004539 | USER INTERFACE FOR ULTRASOUND MAMMOGRAPHIC IMAGING - Methods and related apparatuses are described for acquiring and displaying ultrasound mammographic image information. The system includes an ultrasound image acquisition device having at least one ultrasonic transducer positionable by a user on breast tissue of a patient so as to provide sonographic information of the breast tissue. A processing system controls the ultrasonic transducer, receives sonographic data from the transducer, and processes the data to generate sonographic image information for real time viewing by the user. A graphical user interface includes a touch-sensitive display programmed and configured to accept user adjustments with respect to the sonographic imaging process, and display the sonographic image information to the user responsive to the accepted adjustments in real time. | 01-07-2010 |
20100022881 | Ultrasound Breast Diagnostic System - To provide an ultrasound breast diagnostic system suitable for screening of breast cancer and minimizing the burden on the doctor examining the captured image. An ultrasound breast diagnostic system comprises an ultrasound breast imaging apparatus having a water bath into which left and right breasts can be dipped downward and an ultrasound probe so disposed on the bottom of the water bath to mechanically scan and adapted to three-dimensionally image the whole region of the breasts by transmission/reception an ultrasound wave, a breast voxel data creating device for creating voxel data on the entire breasts from image data acquired by the apparatus and a display device used for interpretation of images for displaying an image for image examination from the voxel data on the breasts created by the device which sequentially displays tomograms of cross-sections at bilaterally symmetrical positions of the breasts. | 01-28-2010 |
20100145197 | METHOD FOR GENERATING A MOTION-CORRECTED 3D IMAGE OF A CYCLICALLY MOVING OBJECT - The invention relates to a device and method for generating a motion-corrected 3D image of a cyclically moving object by means of an ultrasound probe, comprising the steps of providing at least one 3D reference image of the object, the 3D reference image showing the object substantially at one particular phase in its cyclic movement; acquiring a set of sub-images of the object by sweeping the ultrasound probe over the moving object; registering at least two, preferably all, of the sub-images with the 3D reference image, thereby generating at least two motion-corrected sub-images; and reconstructing a motion-corrected 3D image from the motion-corrected sub-images. The invention is also directed to a corresponding device, computer program, and digital storage medium. | 06-10-2010 |
20100268087 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE CONSTRUCTING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF - Three-dimensional image data is constructed without reducing precision of tomographic image data by each radial scanning which is acquired by scanning in a longitudinal axis direction of a probe even when a variation of rotational speed of radial scanning occurs due to a variation of torque in wave radiation from a probe distal end. A signal processing unit is configured by including an A/D conversion section, a line data generating section, a frame memory section, a memory control section, a data recording control section, an image constructing section, a data recording section, an longitudinal moving amount calculating section and a control section. The frame memory section stores reflection intensity data from the line data generating section by frame unit based on a rotation detection signal Sa, and is configured by including a first memory, a second memory and a third memory which are constituted of three frame memories for storing reflection intensity data of three frames. | 10-21-2010 |
20100280378 | ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DEVICE IMAGE QUALITY - It is possible to improve an image quality of an ultrasonographic device and improve visibility of a tissue structure and a lesion. According to a noise amount estimated for each of at least two resolution levels and reliability of the noise amount estimation, a corrected noise amount is calculated. An intensity conversion is performed on a decomposition coefficient obtained by a multi-resolution decomposition process using the corrected noise amount. Moreover, by performing intensity conversion of the respective decomposition coefficients according to a plurality of decomposition coefficients, it is possible to generate a high-quality image. Furthermore, by switching processing parameters in accordance with the imaging condition, the image type, and the imaging object, it is possible to simultaneously realize the processing time and the image quality appropriate for the purpose. | 11-04-2010 |
20110098571 | SCAN LINE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method for forming an image of a target from echo return data in an ultrasound system by receiving a set of scanlines from an ultrasound transducer and applying a transform to map the scanlines to a plane of best fit, then mapping and interpolating the transformed data to a raster image and displaying the resultant image. | 04-28-2011 |
20110218441 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - In an examination section of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic transducer (UT) unit, a shape measurement unit, and a belt conveyor for moving the UT unit and the shape measurement unit parallel to an object to be viewed are provided. The UT unit has an UT array constituted of five ultrasonic transducers UTa to UTe arranged on a curved convex surface. The UT unit performs ultrasonic scanning of the object C to be viewed. The shape measurement unit has a laser light source and a light receiver, and measures a shape of the object C to be viewed. Based on the result of the shape measurement, a main controller of a processor selectively drives the UT, which could apply the ultrasonic wave vertically to the object C to be viewed, among the UTa to UTe, according to the moved position of the UT unit. | 09-08-2011 |
20110224551 | Ultrasound Imaging Probe and Method - An ultrasound probe is provided having an ultrasound module received in a housing thereof, the ultrasound module including a plurality of transducers longitudinally spaced apart within the housing and a control and processing system electrically coupled to the transducers for collecting ultrasonic data representative of a target biological tissue when the ultrasound probe is in operation. A motor is likewise received in the housing to rotate, oscillate and/or translate the ultrasound module in a data collection mode. Coupling fluid is received in the housing to at least partially surround the ultrasound module and the motor. A method of obtaining ultrasonic data representative of a target biological tissue, such as a bladder, for diagnostic purposes is also provided. | 09-15-2011 |
20110282208 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - The present disclosure provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a fastening part having a band shape and wound around a diagnosis object; and an examination part connected to the fastening part and allowing a probe to move in a different direction from a winding direction of the fastening part around the diagnosis object. During ultrasonic diagnosis, with the fastening part wound around a diagnosis object, the probe moves in a different direction from a winding direction of the fastening part around the diagnosis object and provides uniform ultrasound images of the object, thereby improving reliability of the ultrasonic diagnosis. | 11-17-2011 |
20110301465 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ELASTIC IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD - An elastic image suitable for diagnosis is easily acquired without depending on the examiner's pressure technique. The displacement of tissue in a tomographic portion of an object is measured on the basis of a pair of RF signal frame data items regarding the tomographic portion, which are obtained at different times by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from the object (b). The average displacement of each beam line (d | 12-08-2011 |
20120108974 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe; a transmission section which supplies the probe with a drive signal; a receiving section which receives a reception signal sent from the probe; an image generation section which generates frame image data obtained by converting the reception signal; an intermediate image generation section which detects a moved image, identifies a move source and a move destination of the detected image based on a plurality of frame image data, and generates intermediate image data which allocates the moved image at a position obtained by intermediating the identified move source and the identified move destination of the detected image; and a display section which displays the ultrasound diagnosis image, wherein the display section displays the ultrasound diagnosis image so that intermediate image is inserted and displayed in a chronological order into image based on the frame image data. | 05-03-2012 |
20120203108 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND IMAGE CONSTRUCTION METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with: an ultrasonic probe which is brought into contact with an object to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves; a transmission unit and a reception unit which periodically transmit and receive the ultrasonic waves to and from the object and subject a reflection echo signal from the object to reception processing; a displacement measurement unit which sequentially finds the displacements of a living organism tissue at the position of cross section at which the ultrasonic waves are transmitted to and received from the object; an elasticity image construction unit which sequentially constructs the elasticity images of the living organism tissue; and a three-dimensional image construction unit which constructs a three-dimensional elasticity image. | 08-09-2012 |
20120277591 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of obtaining a high-quality ultrasound image while suppressing the temperature rise in an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe includes receive amplification units including amplifiers for amplifying reception signals outputted from a transducer array and a power supply unit for supplying bias current to the amplifiers. The power supply unit changes the bias current it supplies to the amplifiers according to the depth of a reflection position of ultrasonic echo. | 11-01-2012 |
20120277592 | IMAGING PROBE HOUSING WITH FLUID FLUSHING - An imaging probe for use in a catheter for ultrasonic imaging is provided. The catheter may be of the type including a sheath having an opening at a distal end for conducting a fluid there through. The imaging probe includes a distal housing coupled to a drive shaft for rotation, a transducer within the distal housing for generating and sensing ultrasonic waves, and a fluid flow promoter that promotes flow of the fluid within the sheath across the transducer. | 11-01-2012 |
20120289833 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND PROBE - A sensor information acquisition unit acquires information indicating a position and an orientation of a probe that generates an ultrasonic wave and receives a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave. A cross-sectional image generation unit generates a cross-sectional image indicating at least a part of a cross-sectional surface of a subject by arranging and synthesizing a plurality of ultrasonic images, which are based on the reflected wave received by the probe at a plurality of positions around the subject, based on the position and the orientation of the probe when the probe generates the ultrasonic wave and receives the reflected wave. The present technique is applicable to, for example, an ultrasonic inspection apparatus. | 11-15-2012 |
20120302887 | COMPRESSIVE SURFACES FOR ULTRASONIC SCANNING - Automated ultrasonic scanning of a chestwardly compressed breast of a supine patient uses a scanning assembly that moves down to compress the breast through a membrane that is secured to the assembly across a bottom opening. A motorized ultrasound transducer moves across the breast while the breast remains downwardly compressed against the patient's chest, sending and receiving ultrasound energy through the membrane. The membrane is porous with respect to an acoustic coupling liquid that impregnates it. The transducer outputs ultrasound information that is processed to form initial planar images and then reconstructed slice images of breast tissue. | 11-29-2012 |
20130137985 | Devices, Systems, and Methods for Controlling Field of View in Imaging Systems - Devices, systems, and methods for controlling the field of view in imaging systems are provided. For example, in one embodiment an imaging system includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for use within an internal structure of a patient, an imaging transducer positioned within the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, an imaging marker positioned to be detectable within a field of view of the imaging transducer, and a controller in communication with the flexible elongate member and configured to adjust a control signal of the flexible elongate member based on the detection of the imaging marker in data received from the flexible elongate member in order to achieve a desired field of view for the imaging transducer. | 05-30-2013 |
20130267851 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS - Provided is an object information acquiring apparatus including: a probe in which a plurality of elements transmitting an ultrasound wave to a measurement target region of an object and receiving a reflected wave is arranged in a first direction; a mechanical scanning unit that moves the probe in the first direction and a direction crossing the first direction; a transmission processor that, to each element included in a transmission aperture element row transmitting the ultrasound wave, inputs an input signal for driving the element; a received signal processor that combines received signals obtained by the elements included in a reception aperture element row receiving the ultrasound wave; a generator that generates property information on the object from the combined signal; and a controller that determines at least one of the number of elements included in the transmission aperture element row. | 10-10-2013 |
20130267852 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of embodiments includes an ultrasound probe, a scanning controller, and a display controller. The ultrasound probe is configured to be capable of ultrasound three dimensional scanning by swinging a plurality of transducer elements in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the transducer elements. The scanning controller is configured to control the ultrasound probe to scan a plurality of intersecting cross sections while swinging the transducer elements. The display controller is configured to control such that a plurality of ultrasound images based on ultrasound scanning performed on the cross sections are displayed on a given display. | 10-10-2013 |
20130345566 | LINEAR MAGNETIC DRIVE TRANSDUCER FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING - An ultrasound imaging system uses a magnetic linear motor driven ultrasound scanner, with accurate track and hold operation and/or other motion feedback, to scan a two dimensional or three dimensional area of a sample. The scanner is implemented in a low-power and low-bandwidth handheld device and is connected with a remote image processing system that receives raw data and performs full ultrasound image analysis and creation, allowing the handheld to be used for scanning, pre-processing, and display. | 12-26-2013 |
20140024941 | Measurement Frequency Variable Ultrasonic Imaging Device - The ultrasonic imaging device includes the ultrasonic probe including the piezoelectric device transmitting ultrasonic waves to the sample and receives echo waves, the X axis scanner and the Y axis scanner scanning the sample and positions the probe at a scanning position, the frequency controller controlling the frequency of the received signal in accordance with the position of the scanning position, the signal processing unit processing the received signal, the image generator generating ultrasonic wave image at the frequency on the basis of the output of the signal processing unit. The frequency controller generates and supplies a burst signal having the predetermined frequency by the burst wave oscillator to the piezoelectric device of the ultrasonic probe to generate the ultrasonic waves having a predetermined frequency. | 01-23-2014 |
20140066771 | VERSATILE BREAST ULTRASOUND SCANNING - Versatile ultrasound scanning of a breast is described using an apparatus ( | 03-06-2014 |
20140180107 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING WITH VARIABLE LINE DENSITY - The invention generally relates to intravascular ultrasound imaging and to systems and methods to improve line density and image quality. The invention provides an intravascular imaging system that uses a clock device to provide a set of trigger signals for each revolution of the imaging catheter and capture various patterns of scan lines for each set of trigger signals. The system can be operated to capture two scan lines of data for each trigger signal thereby doubling scan line density compared to existing systems. The clock device can be provided by hardware, such as a rotary encoder, that is configured to define a maximum number of trigger signals that the module can provide per rotation of the catheter. | 06-26-2014 |
20140180108 | Method for Multi-Frequency Imaging Using High-Bandwidth Transducer Outputs - A method for imaging a volume within a patient is provided. The method includes generating an ultrasonic signal at a first selected frequency, using a first transducer located within the tissue structure; directing the ultrasonic signal on a spot in the volume within the patient; scanning the spot in a predetermined pattern about the wall of the volume within the patient; receiving an ultrasonic echo in a second transducer at a second selected frequency; converting the ultrasonic echo into a voltage; amplifying the voltage with a processing circuit; and providing an image of the volume within the patient from the voltage. In some embodiments, the method may include classifying the image according to a characterization tool; and providing a plurality of images of the volume from the voltage. | 06-26-2014 |
20140187950 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring position data from a motion sensing system on a probe while acquiring ultrasound data with the probe. The system and method includes detecting a predetermined motion pattern of the probe, accessing a subset of the ultrasound data corresponding to the predetermined motion pattern, and displaying an image based on the subset of the ultrasound data on a display device. | 07-03-2014 |
20140187951 | METHOD OF REMOVE BLACKGROUND NOISE IN SHORT PULSE EXCITATION OF ARFI - A method for eliminating background noises in shear waves and the respective ultrasonic imaging system, the method includes: transmitting a push pulse along a push pulse vector; transmitting a first group of focus track pulses at a first group of a plurality of locations far away from the push pulse vector; receiving a first group of focus echo signals in response to the first group of focus track pulses; and processing the first group of focus echo signals to determine a first group of tissue displacement information varying with time. | 07-03-2014 |
20140257105 | FLUID FILLABLE CATHETER CAPSULE - A fluid fillable catheter capsule assembly is provided suitable for use with an appropriate catheter in imaging applications for medical or surgical procedures. Methods of constructing such fluid fillable catheter capsule assemblies, methods of using the fluid fillable catheter capsule assemblies, and imaging systems provided with fluid fillable catheter capsule assemblies are provided. | 09-11-2014 |
20140276065 | High Resolution Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging Systems and Methods - Disclosed is a high resolution intravascular ultrasound imaging system including a catheter with a rotatable imaging assembly and an image processor. The image processor in turn features a pulser configured to energize the ultrasound transducer of the rotatable imaging assembly with a multi-frequency ultrasound waveform signal. The image processor further contains a receiver configured to decompose received ultrasound energy as reflected by the target vessel into a plurality of individual subband signals, individually process these signals and reconstitute these signals into a high resolution image of the blood vessel. The IVUS system of the invention may be useful in characterizing cap thickness of vulnerable plaques or other detailed studies of blood vessels. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276066 | IMAGING APPARATUS WITH REINFORCED ELECTRICAL SIGNAL TRANSMISSION MEMBER AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - The invention generally relates to an imaging apparatus having a reinforced electrical signal transmission member, and method of use thereof. In certain aspects, the apparatus includes a hollow elongate body. The apparatus also includes an elongate electrical signal transmission member within the body. The elongate signal transmission member includes two or more outer jacket layers. There is an imaging device within the body and the signal transmission member is coupled to the imaging device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140296712 | ULTRASONIC PROBE, ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT DEVICE, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DEVICE - An ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic sensor section and a guide section. The ultrasonic sensor section has an ultrasonic transducer device. The guide section is disposed on a sensor surface on which the ultrasonic sensor section is provided. The guide section is configured and arranged such that a resistance force with respect to a target sample when the ultrasonic probe is moved in a first direction while the sensor surface contacts a surface of the target sample as the ultrasonic sensor section faces the target sample is smaller than the resistance force with respect to the target sample when the ultrasonic probe is moved in a second direction intersecting the first direction. | 10-02-2014 |
20140343430 | IMAGING PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for image processing based on ultrasound data. The system may include an IVUS catheter configured to collect data vectors including ultrasound data and an imaging engine configured to process the ultrasound data of the data vectors. The imaging engine may receive the data vectors and divide the data vectors into different sets. The ultrasound data of each respective set may be averaged and then an envelope of each set may be detected. The envelopes of each set may then be averaged to generate an enhanced data vector which may be used to generate an image. | 11-20-2014 |
20150094588 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR WEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF AN AUTOMATED BREAST ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Various methods and systems are provided for imaging a tissue. In one example, a system comprises an adjustable arm, a scanning assembly attached to a first end of the adjustable arm, a counterweight coupled to a second end of the adjustable arm, and a weight adjustment system coupled to the counterweight and configured to modify an effective weight of the scanning assembly. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094589 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR A REMOVABLE TRANSDUCER WITH MEMORY OF AN AUTOMATED BREAST ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Various methods and systems are provided for a removable transducer module having memory. In one example, a transducer module for an ultrasound imaging system comprises a casing configured to fit into a module receiver of the ultrasound imaging system, an array of transducer elements, and a non-transitory memory configured to store at least one of usage data and specification data for the transducer module. | 04-02-2015 |
20150305716 | Ultrasound Transducer Array Apparatus and Method of Imaging Using Transducer Arrays - Solid-state ultrasound imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly directed to transducer arrays that employ a relatively large number of transducers yet are configured for fitting within space constraints associated with lumen and/or catheter dimensions. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging device includes a flexible elongate member; and an ultrasound scanner assembly disposed at a distal portion of the flexible elongate member, wherein the ultrasound scanner assembly includes an ultrasound transducer array, wherein the ultrasound transducer array includes a plurality of rings of transducers. In one aspect, the transducer arrays may be oscillated between multiple positions along the length of the flexible elongate member. | 10-29-2015 |
20160135785 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are an ultrasound probe and a method of controlling the same. Image quality reduction in a 3D image may be prevented, and blurring of an ultrasound image may be removed via image correction by independently installing position detecting sensors on a transducer module and a motor of the ultrasound probe, detecting a backlash increasing as time, and compensating a variation of the backlash. | 05-19-2016 |
600446000 | Hand-held unit | 14 |
20090043203 | POWER MANAGEMENT IN PORTABLE ULTRASOUND DEVICES - A method for operating an ultrasound device comprises automatically switching among power modes in responses to changes in the power remaining available for operation of the ultrasound device. Two or more power modes may be available for each of a number of operational modes. The power modes may trade off performance against operating time. In some embodiments the ultrasound device can operate in a reduced-power idle mode in which the ultrasound device checks for ultrasound echoes indicating that a transducer is against a subject. In some embodiments, switching among power modes involves changes such as: changing a line density of ultrasound images; changing numbers of transducer elements being used for ultrasound transmission and/or reception; reconfiguring data processing circuitry; and changing pulse characteristics of transmitted ultrasound. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043204 | HAND-HELD ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICE HAVING REMOVABLE TRANSDUCER ARRAYS - A hand-held ultrasonic imaging device is provided with a removable transducer array. The imaging device has a housing, a display on the housing, and a transducer assembly including a transducer array detachably coupled to the housing. The imaging device may detect the type of transducer array that is coupled to the housing and select a corresponding functional mode for the transducer array. The transducer array may be coupled at different angles to the housing. The transducer array may be coupled to the housing by a pivotable swivel connector. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043205 | HAND-HELD ULTRASOUND SYSTEM HAVING STERILE ENCLOSURE - A sterile enclosure is provided for enclosing a hand-held ultrasound device to prevent any material on the ultrasound device from contaminating a sterile environment in which the ultrasound device is used. The enclosure has an opening for insertion of the ultrasound device into the enclosure, a closure for closing the opening, an acoustically-transparent transducer portion for covering an active face of a transducer of the ultrasound device, and a transparent display portion overlaying a display of the ultrasound device. In some embodiments a detachable or integrally formed needle guide is provided with the enclosure, for holding and guiding a needle so that the needle is projected into a field of view of the transducer of the ultrasound device. | 02-12-2009 |
20090062652 | Wirelessly Chargeable And Portable Ultrasonic Diagnostic Device - Embodiments of the present invention may provide a portable ultrasonic diagnostic device to which electric energy can be transferred wirelessly. The device according to the present invention comprises: a wireless energy radiating part for converting an electrical energy into wireless energy to radiate the wireless energy therearound; a main body of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic device, the main body being separated from the radiating part; a wireless energy converting part disposed in the main body and being configured to convert the wireless energy radiated from the radiating part into the electrical energy; and a rechargeable battery connected to the converting part so as to be recharged by the electrical energy converted at the converting part. | 03-05-2009 |
20090171212 | Interactive Virtual Visualization System For Training And Assistance In the Use of Ultrasound Handheld Transducers - This invention provides a system and method for constructing and implementing an interactive virtual visualization system suitable for training and assisting an ultrasound operator to acquire useful images using a handheld transducer. The system requires an actual ultrasound machine complete with image display, controls and ultrasound transducer. As a direct result, skills obtained on the machine while in training mode do not have to be reacquired on a different machine in order for the operator to transit to live subjects. This also implies that the same machine may be used for refresher training. Two embodiments of the invention are presented, one in which the interactive virtualization system appears outboard to the ultrasound machine, the other in which the virtualization systems is embedded directed within the ultrasound machine. | 07-02-2009 |
20090306509 | FREE-HAND THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING WITH POSITION AND ANGLE DETERMINATION SENSORS - A freehand 3-D imaging system includes an integrated sensor configuration that provides position and orientation of each 2D imaging plane used for 3-D reconstruction without the need for external references. The position sensors communicate with the imaging system using either wired and wireless means. At least one translational and one angular sensor or three translational sensors acquire data utilized to compute position tags associated with 2D ultrasound image scan frames. The sensors can be built into the ultrasound transducer or can be reversibly connected and therefore retrofitted to existing imaging probes for freehand 3D imaging. | 12-10-2009 |
20100179429 | HANDHELD VOLUMETRIC ULTRASOUND SCANNING - Systems, methods, and related computer program products for ultrasonic examination of a tissue volume, such as a human breast, are described. A handheld volumetric ultrasound scanning probe, which is characterized by a two-dimensional scan area with a substantially rigid cap extending across the two-dimensional scan area, is provided with a texturably couplant-porous material sheet covering the substantially rigid cap over at least a portion of the two-dimensional scan area. The texturably couplant-porous material sheet facilitates positional stability of the handheld volumetric ultrasound scanning probe while positioned against a skin surface of the tissue volume. Advantageously, while the texturably couplant-porous material sheet brings about a more stable physical interface at the skin surface, the texturably couplant-porous material sheet brings about little or no degradation in acquired image quality. Also described are systems and related methods for elastography imaging using the handheld volumetric ultrasound scanning probe. | 07-15-2010 |
20100240998 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING SINGLE CRYSTAL PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL IN AN ULTRASOUND PROBE - A method for forming an acoustical stack for an ultrasound probe comprises partly dicing a single crystal piezoelectric material to form single crystal pieces that are partly separated by a plurality of kerfs. The single crystal piezoelectric material comprises a carrier layer. The kerfs are filled with a kerf filling material to form a single crystal composite and the carrier layer is removed. At least one matching layer is attached to the single crystal composite, and dicing within the kerfs is accomplished to form separate acoustical stacks from the single crystal composite. | 09-23-2010 |
20100262007 | MEDICAL SCANNING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A system and method of ultrasound scanning to achieve apparent real-time display of a sector ultrasound scan Including a single scanline ultrasound scanning apparatus with a sensor adapted to sense the position and/or orientation of the transducer and to output this as data and a screen to display a B-mode ultrasound scan image formed from a series of scanlines, each scanline being a dataset having a series of echo intensity values and a direction captured by reciprocating a transducer probe against a surface of a subject to be scanned such that a planar sector or series of planar sectors of the subject are swept by an ultrasound beam producing a series of scanlines and continuously processing and displaying said scanlines to produce an image that changes in real time In accordance with the features of the subject in the sector being scanned. | 10-14-2010 |
20100331699 | Full-field breast ultrasound system and architecture - A modular, flexible architecture for offering full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) functionality and general-purpose ultrasound functionality in a single system is described. A conventional, general-purpose ultrasound system ( | 12-30-2010 |
20110021919 | HIGH FREQUENCY, HIGH FRAME-RATE ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - A system for producing an ultrasound image comprises a scan head having a transducer capable of generating ultrasound energy at a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz), and a processor for receiving ultrasound energy and for generating an ultrasound image at a frame rate of at least 15 frames per second (fps). | 01-27-2011 |
20110319763 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED MEASURING OF THE INTERVENTRICULAR SEPTUM THICKNESS - A method for automatically measuring interventricular septum thickness is provided. The method in one embodiment comprises acquiring a series of ultrasound images of a heart, acquiring a septum mask by applying a septum segmentation algorithm on the series of ultrasound images, localizing a mitral valve tip using a valve tip localization algorithm and calculating the thickness of the interventricular septum using an interventricular septum thickness algorithm. The interventricular septum thickness algorithm uses the septum mask and the localized mitral valve tip as inputs. | 12-29-2011 |
20140024942 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PDA-BASED ULTRASOUND - A method and system are disclosed for a compact, inexpensive ultrasound system using an off-the-shelf personal digital assistant (PDA) device interfacing to a hand-held probe assembly through a standard digital interface. The hand-held probe assembly comprises a detachable transducer head attached to a beamforming module that performs digital beamforming. The PDA runs Windows applications and displays menus and images to a user. The PDA also runs ultrasound data processing software to support a plurality of imaging modes. An internal battery is provided in the PDA to power the system. The transducer head is detachable from the beamforming module. | 01-23-2014 |
20140276067 | Ultrasound Imaging Apparatus - An ultrasound imaging apparatus including a processing unit configured to produce an ultrasound image of the target region by applying position/orientation data representative of the position and/or orientation of an ultrasound transducer on the first side of a surface during each collection cycle to echo data representative of reflected ultrasound energy received by the ultrasound transducer during each collection cycle so as to coherently focus the echo data at a plurality of points distributed within the target region. | 09-18-2014 |