Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100160783 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An ultrasound imaging method includes scanning an inspected object with a first cluster of ultrasonic beams having a first frequency and a first steer angle, to produce a first sub-frame which is used as a reference frame, and scanning the inspected object with a second cluster of ultrasonic beams having a second frequency different from the first frequency and a second steer angle different from the first steer angle, to produce a second sub-frame. The ultrasound imaging method also includes compounding the second sub-frame and the first sub-frame to form a compounded image, and displaying the compounded image. | 06-24-2010 |
20120179038 | ULTRASOUND BASED FREEHAND INVASIVE DEVICE POSITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD - In one embodiment, an interventional guidance method includes generating an ultrasound image of a subject anatomy of interest. The method also includes superimposing on the ultrasound image a visual indication of at least one of projection of a position of an interventional device, trajectory of the interventional device, and a location at which the interventional device will intercept an ultrasound imaging plane. The interventional guidance method also includes dynamically altering an aspect of the superimposed visual indication during a interventional procedure. The dynamic altering includes altering a dynamic indication of a trajectory of the interventional instrument transverse to the imaging plane or an interception location of the trajectory of the interventional instrument with the imaging plane. | 07-12-2012 |
20120197131 | PROBE-MOUNTED ULTRASOUND SYSTEM CONTROL INTERFACE - In one embodiment, an ultrasound probe is provided including a probe body with a sensing face arranged to be held in contact with a subject by a user. The probe also provides a tactile interface located on a side of the probe body sufficiently close to the sensing face so that a user can depress the tactile interface with a finger while the probe is grasped by the user via the thumb of the same hand and at least two other fingers of the same hand rest in contact with the subject. The probe includes at least one switch which is activated by depression of the tactile interface. | 08-02-2012 |
20120209107 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING NEEDLE VISUALIZATION IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A method of enhancing needle visualization in ultrasound imaging is provided. The method includes reducing overall gain in needle frames, and applying a nonlinear mapping to the needle frames, wherein the nonlinear mapping is configured to make strong signals stronger and make weak signals weaker after mapping. | 08-16-2012 |
20130072785 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING NEEDLE VISUALIZATION IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A method of enhancing needle visualization in ultrasound imaging is provided. The method includes reducing overall gain in needle frames, and applying a nonlinear mapping to the needle frames, wherein the nonlinear mapping is configured to make strong signals stronger and make weak signals weaker after mapping. | 03-21-2013 |
20140005550 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING EQUIPMENT AND DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING USER INTERFACE LAYOUT | 01-02-2014 |
20140059677 | MEDICAL DEVICE CUSTOMIZATION SYSTEM - A medical device customization system and method comprising medical device that receives signals from a biological probe having an operational parameter and that stores data based on the signals in a memory. The medical device receives a custom application and establishes a virtual machine to run the custom application. | 02-27-2014 |
20140063219 | SYSTEM AND METHOD INCLUDING A PORTABLE USER PROFILE FOR MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEMS - A medical imaging system is provided that includes a system controller that is configured to control operation of a medical imaging system. The system controller is configured to receive a user profile from a profile-storage system that is at a distinct location with respect to the medical imaging system. The user profile includes predetermined operational settings that are associated with the operator. Each of the predetermined operational settings is selected from a plurality of potential operational settings that control operation of the medical imaging system. The system controller is configured to load the predetermined operational settings of the user profile, wherein the predetermined operational settings affect at least one of acquisition of a medical image during the imaging session or how the information is displayed to the operator during the imaging session. | 03-06-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090054768 | Method and apparatus for voice recording with ultrasound imaging - An ultrasound system comprises a probe for acquiring ultrasound data associated with a patient and a microphone detecting audio. The system further comprises a processor module and a memory. The processor module is configured to receive the ultrasound data from the probe and processes the ultrasound data to form an image file. The processor module is further configured to receive the audio from the microphone and forms a voice recording file based on the received audio. The memory stores the image file and the voice recording file, and the processor module automatically associates the image file and the voice recording file with each other. | 02-26-2009 |
20090131793 | PORTABLE IMAGING SYSTEM HAVING A SINGLE SCREEN TOUCH PANEL - A portable imaging system is presented. The system includes a single panel display, where the single panel display includes a first portion configured to display an image and a second portion configured as a touch-based user interface. A method of imaging using a portable imaging system, where the portable imaging system includes a single panel display, where the single panel display includes a first portion configured to display an image and a second portion configured as a touch-based user interface, a controls portion, where the controls portion includes one or more buttons configured to aid in performing commonly used functions, is also presented. The method includes displaying an image on the first portion of the single panel display. In addition, the method includes manipulating the image using controls on the touch-based user interface. | 05-21-2009 |
20100010348 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VISUALIZATION OF AN ULTRASOUND PROBE RELATIVE TO AN OBJECT - Systems and methods for visualization of an ultrasound probe relative to an object are provided. The system includes an ultrasound probe configured to acquire ultrasound data. The system further includes a display configured to display an ultrasound image based on the ultrasound data and a graphical representation of the ultrasound probe in combination with the ultrasound image. | 01-14-2010 |
20110054317 | TRACKING AND OPTIMIZING GAIN AND CONTRAST IN REAL-TIME FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A system for dynamic optimization of gain and contrast in ultrasound imaging includes an image processor module programmed to dynamically estimate a correction profile in real-time and apply the correction profile to adjust a gain and contrast of image frame data sets. The image processor module is programmed to identify tissue and background regions in an image frame data set, determine an image intensity for each of the tissue and background regions, and formulate a gain profile based on the image intensity of the tissue region to compensate the gain variation of an image. The image processor module is further programmed to calculate an image contrast metric based on the image intensity of the tissue and background regions, and modify a gray map of the image frame data set based on the image contrast metric to adjust the contrast of an image displayed on the display system. | 03-03-2011 |
20130261432 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR NEEDLE VISUALIZATION - A method for needle visualization for an ultrasound imaging device, the method comprising alternately acquiring a tissue frame followed by a needle frame at a temporal spacing to form a frame sequence, spatially compounding the frame sequence, and outputting an image frame resulting from spatial compounding. | 10-03-2013 |
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 |
20140066766 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AN ULTRASOUND WORKFLOW - An ultrasound imaging system including a user interface configured to receive user inputs from an operator during an imaging session. The user interface includes a display device having a display area and an image-processing module that is configured to receive ultrasound signals from a diagnostic probe and process the signals to generate ultrasound images. The system also includes a workflow module that is configured to display, concurrently, an acquired image of the ultrasound images and a user-selectable element in the display area. The acquired image includes an anatomical feature of a subject. The workflow module is configured to display an activated frame over the acquired image in the display area when the user-selectable element is selected by the operator. The activated frame appears partially transparent such that the anatomical feature is visible through the activated frame. | 03-06-2014 |
20140243669 | 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. | 08-28-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120092527 | Method for Multiple Image Parameter Adjustment Based on Single User Input - Systems and methods for determining scan parameters to be used during image acquisition are provided. Values of imaging effects can be input using user controls accessible from a user interface. A processor can determine scan parameters to be used during image acquisition based on the input imaging effect values. The determined scan parameters can be displayed using the user interface. Values of imaging effects and potential ranges of values of imaging effects can be constrained based on selected values of other imaging effects. Imaging effects can include image resolution, image penetration, frame rate and/or color flow sensitivity. Scan parameters can include: line density, number of focal zones, frequency, dynamic range, pulse repetition frequency, and/or number of compounding angles. An ultrasound imaging system can be used to acquire images using the determined scan parameters. | 04-19-2012 |
20120099773 | Method to Achieve Frame Rate or Resolution in Diagnostic Ultrasound - Systems and methods for toggling between a high frame rate setting and a high resolution setting while acquiring image data are provided. A method can include: receiving an indication that a high frame rate setting or a high resolution setting should be used to acquire image data, retrieving scan parameters that are associated with the indicated setting from real-time accessible and rewriteable memory, and using the scan parameters to acquire image data using an image acquisition device. An indication to toggle between settings can be triggered manually by an operator of the image acquisition device or automatically based on acquired image data. When successive sets of image data indicate image data is changing at least a minimum amount, a high frame rate setting can be automatically selected. When successive image frames indicate image data is not changing at least a minimum amount, a high resolution setting can be automatically selected. | 04-26-2012 |
20120157844 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ILLUSTRATE ULTRASOUND DATA AT INDEPENDENT DISPLAYS - An ultrasound imaging system is provided that comprises a beamformer, a first processor, and a second processor. The beamformer receives an ultrasound image data acquired by a transducer probe. The first processor processes the ultrasound image data communicated from the beamformer so as to create a first illustration at a first interface to show to a user of the ultrasound imaging system. The second processor processes the ultrasound image data communicated from the beamformer so as to create a second illustration at a second interface to show to a patient of the ultrasound imaging system. The first processor performs different processing steps compared to the second processor such that the first illustration at the first interface is different than the second illustration at the second interface. | 06-21-2012 |
20120179037 | WIRELESS ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION IN AN ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - A wireless ultrasound imaging system includes plural probes, at least one access point device, and a processing subsystem. Each of the probes has at least one transducer element that is configured to emit ultrasound pulses into one or more imaged bodies and receive echoes of the pulses. The probes are configured to generate ultrasound data based on the echoes and to wirelessly transmit the ultrasound data. The access point device is configured to wirelessly receive the ultrasound data from the probes. The processing subsystem is communicatively coupled with the at least one access point device. The processing subsystem receives the ultrasound data from the probes and creates one or more images based on the ultrasound data. In one aspect, a plurality of the probes is configured to concurrently acquire the ultrasound data. | 07-12-2012 |
20120289830 | METHOD AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM FOR IMAGE-GUIDED PROCEDURES - A method and ultrasound imaging system for image-guided procedures includes collecting first position data of an anatomical surface with a 3D position sensor. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes generating a 3D graphical model of the anatomical surface based on the first position data. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes acquiring ultrasound data with a probe in position relative to the anatomical surface. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes using the 3D position sensor to collect second position data of the probe in the position relative to the anatomical surface. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes generating an image based on the ultrasound data and identifying a structure in the image. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes registering the location of the structure to the 3D graphical model based on the first position data and the second position data. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes displaying a representation of the 3D graphical model including a graphical indicator of the structure. | 11-15-2012 |
20130226001 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING ULTRASOUND IMAGING - An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe having a transducer array for acquiring ultrasound data and a first beamformer for partially beamforming the information received from the transducer array, and a portable host system in communication with the ultrasound probe, the portable host system including a second beamformer to perform additional beamforming on the partially beamformed data received from the ultrasound probe. | 08-29-2013 |
20150150539 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC MACHINE FOR GENERATING A FUSED ULTRASONIC IMAGE - The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and ultrasonic machine for generating a fused ultrasonic image. The method comprises extracting an anatomical location from a stored ultrasonic image, and generating the fused ultrasonic image according to the anatomical location and a currently obtained ultrasonic image. The apparatus comprises an extraction module for extracting an anatomical location from a stored ultrasonic image, and a generation module for generating the fused ultrasonic image according to the anatomical location and a currently obtained ultrasonic image. | 06-04-2015 |
20150173723 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC NEEDLE RECALIBRATION DETECTION - A tracking system that includes a sensor and emitter is calibrated, and a tracked position and orientation of a surgical instrument is determined based at least in part on tracking information emitted by the emitter and detected by the sensor. An ultrasound system performs an ultrasound scan to acquire ultrasound scan data including the surgical instrument. The ultrasound system determines a scanned position and orientation of the surgical instrument based on the ultrasound scan data. The ultrasound system compares the tracked position and orientation with the scanned position and orientation to determine a calibration error. If the calibration error exceeds a threshold, the ultrasound system may ( | 06-25-2015 |
20150201908 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADAPTIVE BLOOD FLOW VISUALIZATION BASED ON REGIONAL FLOW CHARACTERISTICS - Various embodiments include a system and method that provide adaptive blood flow visualization by calculating and applying an enhancement factor to each of the pixels in color flow ultrasound image data based on regional flow characteristics detected within the color flow ultrasound image data. The method can include determining for a pixel of a color flow region of interest image, by a processor of an ultrasound system, a lowest percentage of color pixels in a plurality of elongated enhancement analysis windows positioned in the color flow region of interest image. Each of the plurality of elongated enhancement analysis windows includes a pre-defined spatial relationship to an anchor pixel positioned at the pixel. The method includes computing an enhancement factor for the pixel based on the determined lowest percentage of color pixels. The method includes applying the enhancement factor to the pixel. | 07-23-2015 |
20150201911 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEQUENTIAL NEEDLE RECALIBRATION - Various embodiments include a system and method that provide sequential needle recalibration by correlating a sequence of calibration data for a tracking system to a plurality of corresponding ultrasound probe positions during a calibration sequence such that the appropriate calibration data is retrieved and applied based on the position of the ultrasound probe during a procedure. The method can include acquiring a sequence of calibration data for a tracking system at a plurality of different ultrasound probe positions. The sequence of calibration data may be acquired from a tracking sensor attached to or within the ultrasound probe. The tracking system can include the tracking sensor and a tracking emitter attached to or within a surgical instrument. The method may include generating, by a processor of the ultrasound system, an index correlating each of the sequence of calibration data to a corresponding one of the plurality of different ultrasound probe positions. | 07-23-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080205715 | Method and apparatus for variable resolution medical images - A hand carried medical imaging device includes a probe configured to acquire raw medical image data, an integrated display, a data memory configured to store the acquired raw medical image data, a back end processor, and a user interface operably coupled to the back end processor configured to receive commands from a user and to instruct the back end processor to display the produced medical image on the integrated display at a first resolution, and to either produce and send either the medical image at the second, higher resolution, to send the acquired raw image data, or both, to the external device, in accordance with the commands from the user. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208061 | Methods and systems for spatial compounding in a handheld ultrasound device - Method and systems for medical ultrasound imaging using a handheld ultrasound imaging system is provided. The ultrasound system includes a probe configured to acquire scan data from an object and a handheld device configured to process the received scan data and perform image compounding. | 08-28-2008 |
20120057767 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING VARIABLE RESOLUTION MEDICAL IMAGES - A hand carried medical imaging device includes a probe configured to acquire raw medical image data, an integrated display, a data memory configured to store the acquired raw medical image data, a back end processor, and a user interface operably coupled to the back end processor configured to receive commands from a user and to instruct the back end processor to display the produced medical image on the integrated display at a first resolution, and to either produce and send either the medical image at the second, higher resolution, to send the acquired raw image data, or both, to the external device, in accordance with the commands from the user. | 03-08-2012 |