Ultrasonic

Ultrasonic patent applications listed are from June 2005 to current and include Date, Patent Application Number, Patent Title, Patent Abstract summary and are linked to the corresponding patent application page.

01/11/07 - 20070010742 - Method and system for determining contact along a surface of an ultrasound probe
A method and system for determining contact along a surface of an ultrasound probe are provided. The method includes frequency analyzing ultrasound signals received by the ultrasound probe and displaying indicators of acoustic contact of the ultrasound probe with an object based on the frequency analysis. ...

01/04/07 - 20070004982 - Apparatus and method for early detection of cardiovascular disease using vascular imaging
The invention provides an apparatus (10) and method (24) for determining vascular characteristics for early detection of cardiovascular disease comprising: an ultrasonic signal source (32) directing ultrasound signals (30) at an artery (27); an ultrasonic signal receiver (34) receiving ultrasound signals (36) reflected from or transmitted through the artery (27); ...

12/28/06 - 20060293597 - Apparatus and method for imaging objects with wavefields
A transmission wave field imaging method, comprising the transmission of an incident wave field into an object, the incident wave field propagating into the object and, at least, partially scattering. Also includes the measuring of a wave field transmitted, at least in part, through an object to obtain a measured ...

12/28/06 - 20060293596 - Ultrasonic spatial compounding with multiple simultaneous beam transmission
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described in which spatially compounded images are produced by transmitting ultrasound beams in different directions during a common transmit-receive interval. Echoes are received from the different beam directions and are beamformed by a multiline beamformer to produce differently steered beams of coherent ...

12/28/06 - 20060293595 - System and method for ultrasound pulse shaping and output power adjustment using multiple drive pulses
The present invention provides a system and method for ultrasound pulse shaping and output power adjustment using multiple drive pulses. The multiple drive pulses are width modulated to provide the required output signal power and wave-shape characteristics. Using multiple width-modulated pulses provides control over power output that is capable of ...

12/21/06 - 20060287596 - Apparatus and method for imaging objects with wavefields
A transmission wave field imaging method, comprising the transmission of an incident wave field into an object, the incident wave field propagating into the object and, at least, partially scattering. Also includes the measuring of a wave field transmitted, at least in part, through an object to obtain a measured ...

12/07/06 - 20060276711 - Systems and methods for imaging with deployable imaging devices
The systems and methods described herein provide for a medical device insertable into the body of a living being having an imaging device with a layout that is adjustable from an undeployed layout, where the imaging device is insertable into the inner lumen of a medical device, to a larger ...

11/30/06 - 20060270935 - Ultrasonic periodontal device and method of using
System and methods of detecting and measuring periodontal disease comprising filling a periodontal pocket with a fluid capable of propagating sound waves, transmitting a sound wave into the periodontal pocket, sensing the return sound wave from the periodontal pocket, and determining the depth of the pocket by measuring the time ...

11/30/06 - 20060270934 - Guidance of invasive medical devices with combined three dimensional ultrasonic imaging system
A composite three dimensional ultrasound image containing position or image information of an invasive medical device (30) is provided. The three dimensional ultrasound image data can be combined with position or image information of the invasive medical device (30) either prior to or subsequent to volume rendering. the three dimensional ...

11/23/06 - 20060264750 - Ultrasonic treatment apparatus
A game board including a playing surface having an elevated rail around the board sides. A striker provided to sit upon and slide on the elevated game board rails facilitating striker movement, control and striking accuracy. The striker fitted with extended tabs that can contact a playing piece sitting on ...

11/23/06 - 20060264749 - Adaptable user interface for diagnostic imaging
A method for operating a plurality of user interfaces coupled to a plurality of medical devices through a communication network is provided. The method includes performing medical diagnostics on a patient using at least two of the plurality of medical devices, wherein the user interface is configured to control the ...

11/23/06 - 20060264748 - Interference-free ultrasound imaging during hifu therapy, using software tools
Disclosed herein is a method for obtaining a composite interference-free ultrasound image when non-imaging ultrasound waves would otherwise interfere with ultrasound imaging. A conventional ultrasound imaging system is used to collect frames of ultrasound image data in the presence of non-imaging ultrasound waves, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The ...

11/23/06 - 20060264747 - Transmit apodization control for microbeamformers
Apodization control techniques for a microbeamformer including a plurality of microbeamformer channels each including a transducer, a microbeamformer transmitter for driving the transducer, a microbeamformer receiver for receiving signals from the transducer and usually a delay element for delaying the received transducer signals. To improve the generation of waveforms by ...

11/23/06 - 20060264746 - Diagnostic imaging system control with multiple control functions
A user control of a medical imaging system is normally operated by the user to control a function of the system such as the position of one image plane relative to another. There are a number of modes in which the relative plane position can be varied, such as varying ...

11/09/06 - 20060253025 - Ultrasonic bone assessment apparatus and method
An invention is disclosed for the assessment of various properties of bone. A method and apparatus are disclosed that use a pair of non-contact (i.e., air-coupled) ultrasound transducers. The invention includes a pair of non-contact ultrasound transducers placed above skin on opposite sides of the bone and generating an ultrasound ...

11/09/06 - 20060253024 - Software product for three-dimensional cardiac imaging using ultrasound contour reconstruction
A computer software product for modeling of an anatomical structure includes a computer-readable medium, in which program instructions are stored, and which instructions, when read by the computer, cause the computer to acquire a plurality of ultrasonic images of the anatomical structure using an ultrasonic sensor, at a respective plurality ...

11/02/06 - 20060247525 - Segmentation of lesions in ultrasound images
A method for determining a candidate lesion region in a digital ultrasound medical image of anatomical tissue. The method includes the steps of: accessing the digital ultrasound medical image of anatomical tissue; applying an anisotropic diffusion filter to the ultrasound image to generate a filtered ultrasound image; performing a normalized ...

11/02/06 - 20060247524 - Diagnostic ultrasound system
An object of the present invention is to provide a battery-driven ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in which the power consumption required for lighting keys little affects an operation time. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus with lit operation keys comprises a power supply unit that switches power to be supplied to the components ...

10/26/06 - 20060241435 - Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus
The present invention aims to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that can move a display screen for an ultrasound image to a position from which the display screen is easy to see. An image display device is supported by an image display device supporting mechanism so as to be horizontally ...

10/26/06 - 20060241434 - Ultrasonic image construction method and diagnostic ultrasound apparatus
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to observe the whole of a diagnostic region covering a wide range and to improve diagnostic efficiency. Based on a first echo signal produced by scanning with ultrasonic waves a three-dimensional field corresponding to a first position on a ...

10/26/06 - 20060241433 - Finite amplitude distortion-based inhomogeneous pulse echo ultrasonic imaging
A method and system for imaging a sample. The method includes the steps of generating an ultrasonic signal, directing the signal into a sample, which signal is distorted and contains a first order and higher order component signals at first and higher frequencies respectively. The received distorted signal is processed, ...

10/26/06 - 20060241432 - Method and apparatus for calibration, tracking and volume construction data for use in image-guided procedures
An apparatus that collects and processes physical space data while performing an image-guided procedure on an anatomical area of interest includes a calibration probe that collects physical space data by probing a plurality of physical points, a tracked ultrasonic probe, a tracking device that tracks the ultrasonic probe in space ...

10/26/06 - 20060241431 - Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and ultrasound image processing program
In ultrasound diagnosis of, for example, the breasts, a microstructure extraction image in which a microstructure is actively extracted is generated by performing MIP processing together with CFAR processing of removing speckle patterns from a B mode image (tissue image). The generated microstructure extraction image is displayed in the dual ...

10/26/06 - 20060241430 - Apparatus and method for real time 3d body object scanning without touching or applying pressure to the body object
An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object includes a container for containing a coupling medium for transmitting an ultrasonic signal to the organic object disposed therein whereby a simultaneous multiple direction scanning process may be carried out without physically contacting the organic object. The ultrasonic image scanning ...

10/26/06 - 20060241429 - Aberration correction with broad transmit beams in medical ultrasound
Aberration estimation uses cross correlation of receive-focused transmit element data. A set of sequentially fired broad transmit beams insonify an object from different steering angles. Each transmit beam emanates from an actual or a virtual transmit element. For every firing, a receive beamformer forms a transmit element image of the ...

10/26/06 - 20060241428 - Method of generating an ultrasonic image
Generation of an ultrasonic image includes producing an ultrasonic image, selecting a predetermined area on the ultrasonic image, and changing a color of the predetermined area. This will allow a user to indicate a predetermined area according to individual needs and to color a predetermined area. Thus the kernel portion ...

10/26/06 - 20060241427 - Blood-vessel-shape measuring apparatus blood-flow-velocity measuring apparatus and blood-flow-amount measuring apparatus
A blood-vessel-shape calculating means 62 calculates, based on respective echo signals detected by first and second arrays 26, 28 that are placed on a skin 20 of a brachial portion 14 as a portion of a living being such that each of the first and second arrays 26, 28 is ...

10/26/06 - 20060241426 - Ultrasonograph
is measured, and the surface temperature of the window is detected from this measured sound velocity. ...

10/26/06 - 20060241425 - Ultrasound detection
An ultrasound detection approach utilizing a multi-resonator transducer is described. The transducer is capable of tracking a signal, for example a foetal heartbeat, without the need for an operator to displace the transducer. Depth selection and directional Doppler is also provided to maximize signal strength and to provide a more ...

10/26/06 - 20060241424 - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonographic device
An excellent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided that can form a three-dimensional image in a more spatially-correct position regardless of an ultrasonic probe to be used, without leading to deterioration of the productivity of the treatment. An ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transducer, a rotation transmission mechanism, a rotary encoder, ...

10/26/06 - 20060241423 - Apparatus and method for full-field breast ultrasound scanning
A full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) scanning apparatus and related methods are described for compressing and ultrasonically scanning a breast. A first surface of an at least partially conformable, substantially taut membrane or film sheet compresses one side of the breast, and the other side of the breast is compressed by ...

09/14/06 - 20060206027 - Assessing athlete injuries
Methods, systems, and computer program products assess injuries to elite athletes. A method involves receiving historical data associated with the athlete and receiving performance data from a functional assessment of the athlete. The functional assessment is designed based on a sport, a position, and/or the injury of the athlete. The ...

08/24/06 - 20060189868 - Elastography device and method for determining and imaging of mechanical and elastic parameters of an examination object
The present invention relates to a device for determining mechanical, particularly elastic, parameters of an examination object, comprising a) at least one arrangement for determining the spatial distribution of magnetic particles in at least one examination area of the examination object, comprising a means for generating a magnetic field with ...

08/17/06 - 20060184023 - Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and ultrasonic image processing apparatus, method and program
An ultrasonic image processing apparatus capable of analyzing speckle information contained in the entire ultrasonic image and displaying the analysis results as a moving image. The ultrasonic image processing apparatus is an apparatus for processing reception signals, which are obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves toward an object to be inspected ...

08/17/06 - 20060184022 - Ultrasound for the diagnosis and treatment of carpal tunnel and other localized nerve compression conditions
An apparatus and methods for diagnosing and treating nerve compression conditions in a patient, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome and other nerve compression conditions. Ultrasound transducer heads having an array of high frequency piezoelectric crystal elements mounted in the transducer head capable of delivering frequencies of 7.5 ...

08/17/06 - 20060184021 - Method of improving the quality of a three-dimensional ultrasound doppler image
The present invention relates to a method of improving a 3D ultrasound color Doppler image through a post-processing. A method of processing an ultrasound image, includes the following steps: a) recognizing a target object from an inputted ultrasound image based on an object recognition algorithm using connectivity of the target ...

08/17/06 - 20060184020 - Displacement measurement method and apparatus, strain measurement method and apparatus, elasticity and visco-elasticity constants measurement apparatus, and the elasticity and visco-elasticity constants measurement apparatus-based treatment apparatus
The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even ...

08/17/06 - 20060184019 - Ultrasonic imaging apparatus
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus which displays ultrasonic image of a subject, and displays a measurement pattern in the displayed ultrasonic image based on measurement pattern information with respect to a location and a form of the measurement pattern to be input, to perform the image measurement of the ultrasonic image. ...

08/10/06 - 20060178579 - Determining respiratory or circulatory health condition in animals for improved management
A method and system for managing at least one animal is disclosed. The method can include imaging, such as ultrasound imaging, a lung of a live animal, such as a ruminant animal or bovine animal. The imaging can be performed to determine a degree of respiratory damage from past respiratory ...

08/03/06 - 20060173319 - Clinical apparatuses
The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even ...

08/03/06 - 20060173318 - Systems and methods for detecting and presenting textural information from medical images
The invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting and presenting textural information from medical images. In one embodiment, a medical imaging system includes an imaging transducer assembly configured to emit one or more energy pulses and receive one or more echo signals, and a console, coupled to the ...

08/03/06 - 20060173317 - Ultrasound diagnostic system for automatically detecting a boundary of a target object and method of using the same
A method and a system of automatically detecting a boundary of a target object by using an ultrasound diagnostic image. In accordance with the present invention, the boundary of the target object can be detected automatically and precisely. The ultrasound diagnostic method and system form an edge detection boundary candidate ...

08/03/06 - 20060173316 - Hand scanner with moveable platen
A hand scanner according to the invention may obtain an image of the hand and fingers including the bracelet crease/carpel delta area and palm surface regions up to the tips of the fingers using ultrasound measurement techniques. A hand scanner according to the invention may include a movable arcuate platen ...

08/03/06 - 20060173315 - Client/server-based ultrasound diagnostic system
The present invention relates to a client/server-based ultrasound diagnostic system. The client/server-based ultrasound diagnostic system comprises: a client configured to comprise a probe for transducing an electric signal into an ultrasound signal, and vice versa, a beam former for transceiving the electric signal from/to the probe, and a display unit; ...

08/03/06 - 20060173314 - Hand-held ophthalmic device
A hand-held pachymeter includes an ultrasonic probe capable of emitting ultrasonic pulses and capable of receiving echo signals of the ultrasonic pulses. The echo signals may include an echo signal from an anterior portion of a cornea of an eye and an echo signal from a posterior portion of the ...

08/03/06 - 20060173313 - Coherence factor adaptive ultrasound imaging
A set of N×M signals are acquired from an object, where N is the number of array elements and M corresponds to variations in data acquisition and/or processing parameters. The parameters include transmit aperture functions, transmit waveforms, receive aperture functions, and receive filtering functions in space and/or time. A coherence ...

08/03/06 - 20060173312 - Ultrasonic imaging system
Disclosed are a system and method of selecting one or more operational parameters of an ultrasonic imaging system. In particular, methods and means are disclosed for automatically or semi-automatically determining a best operating frequency, or for determining whether a system should operate in a fundamental imaging mode or a harmonic ...

08/03/06 - 20060173311 - Method and system for controlling an ultrasound system
Methods and system for controlling an ultrasound system are described. One method includes acquiring ultrasound data relating to an object and iteratively adjusting acoustic power output of the ultrasound system based on the acquired ultrasound data. ...

08/03/06 - 20060173310 - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic device
In an ultrasonic probe including an insert section which is to be inserted into a body cavity organ of a subject and a handle section which is coupled with the insert section, a plurality of vibrator elements (104) are disposed at a tip end of the insert section over the ...

08/03/06 - 20060173309 - Ultrasonic diagnostic device
A tomographic image and a tissue characteristic image that are in conformity with each other in terms of time-phase and positional relationships can be displayed superimposedly, thereby providing an excellent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that enables an easy and detailed observation of a relationship between a structure and a characteristic of ...

08/03/06 - 20060173308 - Ultrasonograph
A probe 10 receives an echo signal, and the echo signal is stored in memory 18. Operation desk 28a has at least one readout-range setting device 34 for setting an echo signal readout-sensitivity range of the echo signal stored in memory 18. Echo signals in the sensitivity range preset by ...

08/03/06 - 20060173307 - Circular ultrasound tomography scanner and method
A portable mechanical high-precision device (30) for performing circular or helical scanning of a patient's organ (71) or body surface for tissue diagnosis and/or treatment includes a substantially hollow housing (10) for accommodating the organ therein and a securing unit (61) for securing the housing to the organ or body ...

08/03/06 - 20060173306 - Ultrasonographic device
An ultrasonographic device includes an ultrasonic wave transmitter/receiver section which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a test subject through a probe, a phasing addition circuit which controls the phase of the received ultrasonic wave and generates RF signal frame data, an RF signal frame data selection section ...

08/03/06 - 20060173305 - Ultrasonographic method and ultrasonographic device
An ultrasonographic method includes: a first encoding transmission/reception step for transmitting an ultrasonic beam encoded by an encoding set consisting of a plurality of modulation codes in which at least two are in complementary relationship and demodulating reception signals corresponding to the ultrasonic beam; a step for obtaining a first ...

08/03/06 - 20060173304 - Volumetric ultrasound scanning of smaller-sized breast
An apparatus and related methods are described for obtaining volumetric ultrasound scans of a breast of a supine patient in which a fluid reservoir including a bottom flexible membrane contacts an upward-facing surface of the breast. The fluid reservoir is filled with water or other suitable acoustically conductive fluid until ...

08/03/06 - 20060173303 - Full-field breast image data processing and archiving
A system, computer program product, and related methods are described for obtaining, processing, and/or and archiving full-field breast image data, such as full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) data, in a manner that promotes ready integration with current x-ray mammogram-based breast cancer screening methodologies, and which can alternatively be used to support ...

07/06/06 - 20060149148 - Method for deciding opening of ultrasonographic device
There is provided a method for determining an aperture of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that prevents a beam pattern from being deteriorated and allows an image with excellent quality to be obtained. The method includes: a beam formation simulation step (S102) of performing a simulation of an ultrasonic beam pattern ...

06/08/06 - 20060122506 - Sub-nyquist sampling of acoustic signals in ultrasound imaging
Systems and methods are disclosed for improving the resolution and quality of an image formed by signals from an array of receivers. Multiple receivers introduce variations in arrival times that can be less than the period of an operating signal, and also less than the period associated with a sampling ...

06/08/06 - 20060122505 - M-mode presentation of an ultrasound scan
A method and apparatus for processing ultrasound images is provided, including extracting an M-mode data set from the ultrasound images, discerning, from the M-mode data set, a first velocity for a first moving structure and a second velocity for a second moving structure, the second velocity being different from the ...

06/08/06 - 20060122504 - Electronic subsystem with communication links
Electronic modules are interconnected with one another by means of communication (e.g., ultrasonic) links, In one embodiment, in a local conference call environment, only one wireless RF link is necessary—between a master cell phone and a base station, whereas all other voice modules are interconnected with one another and with ...

06/01/06 - 20060116577 - Direct image measurement editing mode for ultrasound reports
A direct image edit mode (DIMEM) introduces flexibility into the ultrasound exam process and, as a result, it improves the workflow associated with it. This flexibility allows a sonographer to seamlessly review, in any order, the entire history of exams. Moreover, with the DIMEM feature images associated with measured values ...

05/25/06 - 20060111633 - Instantaneous ultrasonic measurement of bladder volume
An apparatus and methods to quantify the volume of urine in a human bladder with a limited number of acoustic beams is disclosed. In a first version the apparatus is composed of a transducers assembly that transmits a plurality of narrow ultrasound beams in different directions towards the bladder and ...

05/18/06 - 20060106307 - Three-dimensional ultrasound computed tomography imaging system
A three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound computed tomography (UCT) system for providing a 3-D image of a target is presented. The 3-D UCT system includes an imaging chamber having a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged as a plurality of cylindrical rings. When activated, the plurality of ...

05/11/06 - 20060100513 - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
An ultrasonic probe comprises a transducer part, a heat-receiving part, a refrigeration unit and a cable unit. The cable unit includes a signal line, a refrigerant supply tube, a refrigerant ejection tube and a heat insulator. The heat-receiving part absorbs heat generated from the transducer part. The refrigerant supply tube ...

05/11/06 - 20060100512 - Apparatus and method for enhancing quality of sectional plane image in 3 dimensional ultrasound data
The present invention relates to an apparatus for enhancing the quality of a sectional plane image in a 3-dimensional ultrasound image. The apparatus for enhancing a sectional plane image in a 3-dimensional ultrasound image, includes: a display region calculation unit for selecting a reference sectional plane image in 3D ultrasound ...

05/04/06 - 20060094961 - System, software arrangement and method for segmenting an image
A logic arrangement, system and method for segmentation using magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) are provided. For example, as an end product, an image associated with at least one portion of an anatomical structure is generated. In particular, first data associated with the at least one portion of the anatomical structure ...

05/04/06 - 20060094960 - Synchronized power supply for medical imaging
An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object by projecting ultrasound signals with a transmit carrier frequency. The ultrasonic image scanning system includes a switching mode power supply operated with a programmable clock in synchronization with the transmit carrier frequency. The switching mode power supply further provided with ...

05/04/06 - 20060094959 - System and method for medical imaging with robust mode switching via serial channel
In one embodiment of the invention, there is an ultrasound processing system that communicates images over a single asynchronous serial channel according to a scheme that does not require an isochronous serial channel and that switches among ultrasound imaging modes robustly. For example, the system is configured to packetize ultrasound ...

04/20/06 - 20060084872 - Ultrasonic image processing apparatus
An ultrasonic image processing apparatus allowing an ultrasonic image of an inspection object to be displayed using echo data in a three-dimensional region constructs a three-dimensional image based on the echo data by an image construction section. An image operation input section performs an operation for changing the display state ...

04/20/06 - 20060084871 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
An event signal is generated in response to a specific event as a trigger. A recording control unit controls the operation of an image recording unit on the basis of the event signal, thereby automatically forming, as a unit, and recording moving image information based on a unified standard. In ...

04/20/06 - 20060084870 - Ultrasound diagnostic system for providing elastic image with additional information
There is provided an ultrasound diagnostic system adapted to provide an elastic image with additional information. The ultrasound diagnostic system comprises: a probe for receiving echo signals from a target object, the probe being configured to transfer a pressure applied by an user to the target object; an elastic image ...

04/20/06 - 20060084869 - Method and apparatus for enhancing image quality of a two-dimensional ultrasound image
The present invention relates a method and an apparatus for enhancing ultrasound image quality through a post-processing. A method for enhancing an image quality of a two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound image, comprises the steps of: a) decomposing the 2D ultrasound image into a plurality of images having a multi-resolution by N ...

04/20/06 - 20060084868 - Apparatus for ultrasonic examination of deformable object
The present invention relates to an apparatus for an ultrasonic examination of a deformable object, particularly, the breast. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus capable of performing an ultrasonic examination by moving an ultrasonic probe while maintaining the position and shape of a deformable object to be ...

04/13/06 - 20060079772 - Ultrasonic image generating method
An ultrasonic image generating method for generating an ultrasonic image based on ultrasonic echo data obtained by transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from an inspection object, according to the present invention, includes reference position setting steps for determining the reference position on each image with respect to a plurality of consecutive two-dimensional ...

04/13/06 - 20060079771 - Method and system for selecting and recording biopsy sites in a body organ
The present invention relates to methods and systems for selecting and recording biopsy sites in a body tissue or organ. More in particular the present invention provides a method for selecting and recording biopsy sites in a body organ comprising: a) obtaining a three-dimensional volume of backscattered Ultrasound data grid ...

04/06/06 - 20060074312 - Medical diagnostic ultrasound signal extraction
Ultrasound signal information is detected from a sequence of images. A robust automated delineation of the border of the fan or ultrasound signal information in echocardiographic or other ultrasound image sequence is provided. The processor implemented delineation uses a single image or a sequence of images to better identify ultrasound ...

04/06/06 - 20060074311 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
An echo tracking processor unit detects a bone surface section based on an echo signal and tracks a position of the bone surface section. An interpolation line generator unit generates an interpolation line connecting tracking points which represent the tracked bone surface section. A translational displacement corrector unit removes a ...

04/06/06 - 20060074310 - High frame rate three dimensional ultrasound imager
A three dimensional ultrasound imaging device, having an interpolator that creates up sampled ultrasound image information from a three dimensional ultrasound image information using interpolation; and a memory that stores at least one of the three dimensional ultrasound image information and the up sampled ultrasound image information. The three dimensional ...

04/06/06 - 20060074309 - Phased array acoustic system for 3d imaging of moving parts
The invention relates to an ultrasound phased array imaging system comprising: probe (10) with a 2-D array of transducer elements (12) for acquiring 3-D ultrasound data of a volume of a body, including moving tissue and fluid flow; a beamforming system (10, 12, 14, 16) for emitting and receiving in ...

03/23/06 - 20060064013 - Coordinates input system, coordinates input method, coordinates input program, and computer-readable storage medium
A first arithmetic section is provided that calculates a first time, which is a time period from a transmission timing of a ultrasonic wave to a reception recognized timing at which a wave height value of the ultrasonic wave received by an ultrasonic wave receiving section crosses a predetermined threshold ...

03/23/06 - 20060064012 - Statistical estimation of ultrasonic propagation parameters for aberration correction
In estimation of an aberration in propagation of an ultrasonic wave from an aperture through an aberration path, the aperture is modeled as a plurality of sources and receivers. The frequency-domain magnitude of the aberration is estimated by normalizing the scattered signal power spectrum. The frequency-domain phase of the aberration ...

03/16/06 - 20060058663 - System and method for marking an anatomical structure in three-dimensional coordinate system
The present invention is a device localization system that uses one or more ultrasound reference catheters to establish a fixed three-dimensional coordinate system within a patient's heart using principles of triangulation. The coordinate system is represented graphically in three-dimensions on a video monitor and aids the clinician in guiding other ...

03/16/06 - 20060058662 - Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and method for ultrasonic imaging
A ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers which perform ultrasonic transmission and reception to an object, a transceiver unit configured to obtain an ultrasonic signal from the object by driving the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, an ultrasonic data generation unit configured to generate ...

03/16/06 - 20060058661 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic diagnostic method
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic transmitting unit, an image signal generating unit and a signal addition unit. The ultrasonic transmitting unit transmits an ultrasonic wave having a wave surface except a plane wave surface and a focused focal wave surface to a subject so that shapes of wave ...

03/16/06 - 20060058660 - Integrated anesthesia monitoring and ultrasound display
An apparatus and method for synchronizing the hemodynamic measurements from a patient monitoring system and the ultrasound images from an ultrasound monitoring system. The synchronized images and measurements can be combined and displayed on a single display that includes both the ultrasound images and the hemodynamic patient measurements. The combined ...

03/16/06 - 20060058659 - System and method for providing assistance in ultrasound equipment
The present invention relates to a system and a method for dynamically providing help information associated with the functions of ultrasound equipment. A system for providing help information in a medical ultrasound equipment comprises: a storage unit for storing help information associated with a plurality of functions of the medical ...

03/16/06 - 20060058658 - Communications between co-located operating systems for medical diagnostic ultrasound and other systems
Two different operating systems, such as one using Windows real-time extensions and another using Windows NT or other non-real-time operating system, may be implemented on a same system or hardware, such as being co-located on a same processor, without changing client software. Two or more software processes are run on ...

03/16/06 - 20060058657 - Systems and methods for automatic time-gain compensation in an ultrasound imaging system
The systems and methods described herein provide for automatic time-gain compensation of an ultrasound image with an image processing algorithm. A method of automatic time-gain compensation is provided where ultrasound image data is obtained comprising a plurality of echogenic data sets, a plurality of time-gain compensation functions are determined for ...

03/16/06 - 20060058656 - Method and apparatus for performing cw doppler ultrasound utilizing a 2d matrix array
An ultrasound system is provided comprising an ultrasound probe having a 2D matrix of transducer elements transmitting a continuous wave (CW) Doppler transmit signal into an object of interest. The CW transmit signal includes a dither signal component and the probe receives ultrasound echo signals from the object in response ...

03/16/06 - 20060058655 - Ultrasonic transducer having a thin wire interface
The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system and method which, in one embodiment, partitions the main body processing such that a portion of the processing is contained within the transducer thereby reducing the need for a multiplicity of high performance cables running between the transducer and the main ...

03/16/06 - 20060058654 - System and method for providing a user interface for an ultrasound system
A user interface for an ultrasound system is provided. The ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe. The user interface includes at least one user actuable input member for controlling operation of an ultrasound system. The at least one user actuable input member is user configurable to control at least one ...

03/16/06 - 20060058653 - Systems and methods for measuring pulse wave velocity with an intravascular device
The systems and methods described herein allow measurement of the velocity of a pulse wave propagating within a body lumen using an intravascular elongate medical device. The elongate medical device can include a data collection device configured to collect pulse wave data at a location within the lumen. The data ...

03/16/06 - 20060058652 - Ultrasound system power management
Disclosed are systems and methods which power-down (reduce power to or deactivate) circuits in an ultrasound system during periods in which an acoustic signal is not being acquired, although image processing and other system functions are continued normally. Such circuits may be powered-down between each of a series of acoustic ...

03/16/06 - 20060058651 - Method and apparatus for extending an ultrasound image field of view
A method and apparatus for extending a field of view of a medical imaging system is provided. The method includes scanning a surface of an object using an ultrasound transducer, obtaining a plurality of 3-D volumetric data sets, at least one of the plurality of data sets having a portion ...

03/16/06 - 20060058650 - System and method for determinationof fetal movement
According to one aspect, the invention concerns a method for measuring motion of a fetus or of a region of a fetus within an uterus in a time sequence of images, each image including said fetus or region thereof and at least a portion of the uterus, the uterus comprising ...

03/16/06 - 20060058649 - Biological tissue elasticity measurement method and ultrasonographic device
An ultrasonographic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe 1 for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave to/from a patient, means 2 for generating an ultrasonic transmission signal and transmitting it to the ultrasonic probe, means 3 for receiving a reflection echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe; means 4 for re-constructing a form ...

03/09/06 - 20060052699 - Acoustic imaging by nonlinear low frequency manipulation of high frequency scattering and propagation properties
Acoustic imaging provides images with reduced reverberation noise and images of nonlinear scattering and propagation parameters of the object. The received signal from transmitted dual frequency band acoustic pulse complexes is processed with overlapping high and low frequency pulses. The high frequency pulse is used for image reconstruction and the ...

03/09/06 - 20060052698 - Flow spectrograms synthesized from ultrasonic flow color doppler information
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described by which a user can delineate a region of interest (122, 128) in a colorflow Doppler image. The ultrasound system processes the Doppler pixel information of the region of interest (122, 128) to produce a spectrogram illustrating motion at the region ...

03/09/06 - 20060052697 - Efficient ultrasound system for two-dimensional c-scan imaging and related method thereof
An ultrasound system and related method for forming 2D C-scan images and/or collecting 3D image data from 2D transducer arrays. The system including in part a 2D transducer array of elements, transmit voltage generation means for each element, a memory buffer with or part of channels for each element, and ...

03/09/06 - 20060052696 - Ultrasonic diagnosis system and strain distribution display method
An ultrasonic diagnosis system and strain distribution display method utilizing an ultrasonic probe for performing transmission/reception of ultrasonic signals to/from a subject, a storage arrangement for storing the properties of signals detected with the ultrasonic probe, a correlation computer for calculating a correlation coefficient between the properties with and without ...

03/09/06 - 20060052695 - Ultrasound cardiac stimulator
An ultrasound cardiac stimulation system comprising: a spatially selective ultrasound source comprising at least one ultrasound transducer located outside the circulatory system; and a controller; where the controller generates an electrical response in the heart by directing the ultrasound source to transmit a high enough power level of ultrasound to ...

02/23/06 - 20060041197 - Dispenser with sensor
A product dispenser incorporating radiation sensor preferably for ultra violet radiation and preferably with an alarm or notification mechanism which provides indications of ultra violet radiation levels and which may activate the alarm and notification mechanism and/or the product dispenser having regard to ultra violet radiation levels sensed. ...

02/16/06 - 20060036171 - Signal processing apparatus for an ultrasound transducer, ultrasound receiver and method for operating an ultrasound receiver
To reduce signal interference and improve the signal-to-noise ratio in the transmitted signal, the analog signals produced by an ultrasound transducer are promptly digitized. In accordance with the invention, the demodulator is already shielded from the ultrasound transducers, immediately after the preamplifier, which is itself shielded from the ultrasound transducers, ...

02/16/06 - 20060036170 - Calibrating imaging devices
Methods and apparatus for calibrating images and imaging devices to common coordinate systems utilize, in some embodiments, rods that detectably reflect an acoustic signal regardless of the incidence angle of the signal with respect to the rods. Typically, the rods are disposed within a “phantom” at known positions with respect ...

02/16/06 - 20060036169 - Ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus
An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus in which scanning time is shortened by simultaneously transmitting plural ultrasonic beams in plural directions and separation among the plural ultrasonic beams is improved. The ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe including plural ultrasonic transducers; a drive signal generating unit for ...

02/16/06 - 20060036168 - Electrohydraulic shock wave-generating system with automatic gap adjustment
An electrohydraulic shock wave-generating system for extracorporeal therapy of renal stones or musculoskeletal disorders includes a shock wave generator, a micro high-sensitivity camera, and a gap-controlling unit. The shock wave generator includes a truncated ellipsoidal bowl and two electrodes, each electrode having a portion inside the bowl, with a gap ...

02/09/06 - 20060030778 - Ultrasonic transmission films and devices for hygienic transducer surfaces
The present invention provides for methods and devices for reducing medical probe contamination by providing rigid probe holders. ...

02/09/06 - 20060030777 - T-statistic method for suppressing artifacts in blood vessel ultrasonic imaging
A technique for enhancing the image quality in intravascular ultrasound imaging increases contrast between blood and vessel wall processes image data using a point-wise t-statistic technique. Data from an ultrasound transducer is digitized and stored in a memory buffer [500]. For each point in the image, a t-statistic value is ...

02/09/06 - 20060030776 - Range dependent weighting for spatial compound imaging
A system and method for range dependent weighting in ultrasound imaging. The system includes a transducer array, a data acquisition system, and an imaging processor. The transducer array receives a first ultrasound beam having a first focal depth. The data acquisition system receives a first ultrasound imaging signal from the ...

02/09/06 - 20060030775 - Method and system of controlling ultrasound systems
A method and system for controlling an ultrasound system are provided. The method includes processing image data received from an ultrasound system to obtain a time gain compensation correction curve, wherein the image data is internally time gain compensated. The method further includes processing the image data using the time ...

01/26/06 - 20060020205 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, image processing apparatus and image processing method
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a unit for generating image data, an image reconstructing unit and an image synthesizing unit. The unit for generating image data generates image data for displaying a tomogram of a subject by luminance according to signal intensities of echo signals obtained through ultrasonic waves transmitted ...

01/26/06 - 20060020204 - System and method for three-dimensional space management and visualization of ultrasound data (sonodex)
A system and method for the imaging management of a 3D space where various substantially real-time scan images have been acquired is presented. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, a user can visualize images of a portion of a body or object obtained from a substantially real-time scanner ...

01/26/06 - 20060020203 - Method and apparatus of image processing to detect and enhance edges
A method for detecting and enhancing edges in an ultrasound image includes the steps of applying an edge detection filter to at least one of a plurality of pixels of an ultrasound image to compute an edge detection value having a magnitude and a direction; and applying either a directional ...

01/26/06 - 20060020202 - Method and appartus for controlling ultrasound system display
A method for operating a medical imaging system is provided. The method includes receiving an image data set of a region of interest in a first dimensional representation, reducing the dimensionality of the image data set to a second dimensional representation, selecting a feature of interest in the second dimensional ...

01/12/06 - 20060009696 - Method for imaging and treating a breast
A method for imaging and treating a breast of a patient includes: disposing the breast into a bath of medium; physically securing the breast and maintaining the breast in a repeatable position and in a repeatable shape with respect to a chest wall of the patient; scanning the breast with ...

01/12/06 - 20060009695 - System and method for providing communication between ultrasound scanners
System and method for ganged ultrasound scanners is described. The described system includes a plurality of ultrasound scanners configured as a network and at least one connector for connecting a single ultrasound probe to the plurality of ultrasound scanners. The connector is configured to provide communication between the plurality of ...

01/05/06 - 20060004287 - Time delay estimation method and system for use in ultrasound imaging
A method for correcting a time delay between at least two signals in ultrasound systems is provided. The ultrasound system comprises a beamformer processor comprising a summer coupled to the transducer array and configured for performing a complex operation on a first plurality of receive signals to generate a beamsum ...

12/29/05 - 20050288584 - System for remote evaluation of ultrasound information obtained by a programmed application-specific data collection device
A system which includes at least one ultrasound data collection device which is programmable to carry out a specific ultrasound procedure on a selected part of a human body of a patient. The resulting ultrasound data is transmitted via a local server at the site of the data collection device ...

12/29/05 - 20050288583 - Ultrasonic dianostic apparatus and method of processing an ultrasound signal
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer housed in a catheter for sending an ultrasonic wave to a blood vessel and receiving a reflected signal from the blood vessel, an A/D converter for converting the received reflected signal into a digital signal, a data averaging processor for storing lines ...

12/29/05 - 20050288582 - Micro medical-ultrasonic endoscopic oct probe
A micro medical-ultrasonic endoscopic OCT probe comprising: a micro ultrasonic motor stator for connecting a friction layer and a magnetic rotor; an ultrasonic transducer and a prism being adhered to a rotor respectively; an acoustic couplant for immersing the ultrasonic transducer; an OCT imaging system consisting of prism, grim lens ...

12/29/05 - 20050288581 - Acoustic coupling gel for combined mammography and ultrasound image acquisition and methods thereof
In accordance with embodiments of the present technique, a combined mammography and ultrasound imaging system is provided. The system includes an ultrasound probe, which transmits ultrasound signals to a breast of a patient and receives reflected ultrasound signals from the breast. The system further includes a first acoustic coupling sheath. ...

12/29/05 - 20050288580 - Ultrasonic imaging apparatus with adaptable spatial image combination
The invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus using a method for combining CMB images of the same object including a step of seeking representative contours CNT of an interface on the images to be combined IM[I], IM[J], said step being intended to define interest areas IA[I], IA[J] in the ...

12/22/05 - 20050283073 - Ultrasound measurement techniques for bone analysis
Ultrasound measurement of bone quality using nonlinear analysis in combination with or alternatively using shear waves provide improved information about human bone conditions. Surface waves also provide a novel method to estimate shear wave velocity. ...

12/22/05 - 20050283072 - Method and apparatus for scanning confocal acoustic diagnostic for bone quality
The invention comprises a system and method for determining at least one material property of a material sample (such as a bone sample) at at least one point. The system includes a transmitting ultrasonic transducer and a receiving ultrasonic transducer, both transducers being confocal transducers. The transducers are configured to ...

12/15/05 - 20050277835 - Ultrasound imaging by nonlinear low frequency manipulation of high frequency scattering and propagation properties
New methods of ultrasound imaging are presented that provide images with reduced reverberation noise and images of nonlinear scattering and propagation parameters of the object, and estimation of corrections for wave front aberrations produced by spatial variations in the ultrasound propagation velocity. The methods are based on processing of the ...

12/15/05 - 20050277834 - Method and system of thermoacoustic imaging with exact inversion
The present invention is directed to a method and system of TCT imaging whereupon an exact inversion formula is used for reconstruction of TCT data. The present invention utilizes inversion formulae that are of the filtered backprojection and ρ-filter types. ...

12/08/05 - 20050273009 - Method and apparatus for co-display of inverse mode ultrasound images and histogram information
An ultrasound system is provided for analyzing a region of interest. The ultrasound system includes a probe for acquiring ultrasound information associated with the region of interest and a memory for storing a volumetric data set corresponding to at least a subset of the ultrasound information for at least a ...

12/08/05 - 20050273008 - Method of generating a predetermined wave field
The invention relates to a method of generating a predetermined objective wave field in a medium using a first network of transducers T1-Tn). The inventive method consists in first using each transducer i of the first network to emit an approximation of the signal ei(t). Subsequently, each transducer of a ...

12/01/05 - 20050267367 - Protocol controller for a medical diagnostic imaging system
The embodiments described herein relate to a protocol controller for a medical diagnostic imaging system. In one embodiment, two or more distinct study protocols are active on a medical diagnostic imaging system at the same time. In another embodiment, control of a medical diagnostic imaging system is changed at each ...

12/01/05 - 20050267366 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and image processing method
A three-dimensional image data memory stores three-dimensional image data including that of a imaging target. A digitization processor unit applies a digitizing process to the three-dimensional image data using a first threshold value to extract data corresponding to the target. A user sets a two-dimensional region of interest surrounding a ...

12/01/05 - 20050267365 - Method and apparatus for measuring anatomic structures
A method for measuring an anatomic structure based on at least one medical diagnostic image frame using an integrated ultrasound device is provided. The image frame includes a first axis that is substantially parallel to an intima-media and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The method ...

12/01/05 - 20050267364 - Three dimensional locator for diagnostic ultrasound or medical imaging
A location within a volume is determined from medical images. A region of interest or other location is examined from two different viewing directions. The user or processor indicates the region or point of interest in each of the different images. The desired point or region within the three-dimensional volume ...

11/24/05 - 20050261583 - Ultrasonic imaging apparatus, ultrasonic image processing method, and ultrasonic image processing program
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus capable of displaying images in which speckle and structure are expressed in a desired state. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe for transmitting ultrasonic waves according to drive signals and receiving ultrasonic echoes generated in an object to obtain detection signals, a drive signal ...

11/24/05 - 20050261582 - Intracorporeal probe with disposable probe body
An ultrasonic probe for flow rate measurement is disclosed having a plurality of transducers mounted on a flexible cable configured to be inserted in a body cavity to obtain cardiac or other biometric telemetry. The flexible cable is provided with a disposable body which covers and microbially isolates the flexible ...

11/17/05 - 20050256404 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic diagnostic method
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 comprises an ultrasonic transmitter unit 13,15, an ultrasonic receiving unit 13,17, an extracting unit 17, a filter unit and an adder unit 19c,21c. The ultrasonic transmitter unit 13,15 transmits ultrasonic varied at least one of phase and amplitude to an object. The ultrasonic receiving unit ...

11/17/05 - 20050256403 - Method and apparatus for imaging of tissue using multi-wavelength ultrasonic tagging of light
An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes a source of electromagnetic radiation that is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at two or more wavelengths through an imaging volume. The imaging apparatus also includes an ultrasound transducer that is configured to direct ultrasound waves through the imaging volume such ...

11/17/05 - 20050256402 - Ultrasonograph
This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image constructing circuit (31) for creating plural ultrasonic tomographic images resulting from a process in which an ultrasonic endoscope moves within a body cavity, a position detecting portion (13) for detecting position information of the ultrasonic tomographic images, an image processing circuit (33) for ...

11/10/05 - 20050251040 - Advanced application framework system and method for use with a diagnostic medical ultrasound streaming application
An application interface provides an environment in which applications may discover and attach to data streams. The interface facilitates efficient sharing and management of acquired data through arbitration and parallel processing: allowing multiple applications to work in parallel on the same or different data streams to implement independent or co-dependent ...

11/10/05 - 20050251039 - 3d ultrasound-based instrument for non-invasive measurement of amniotic fluid volume
A hand-held 3D ultrasound instrument is disclosed which is used to non-invasively and automatically measure amniotic fluid volume in the uterus requiring a minimum of operator intervention. Using a 2D image-processing algorithm, the instrument gives automatic feedback to the user about where to acquire the 3D image set. The user ...

11/10/05 - 20050251038 - Multiple volume exploration system and method
Method and system for multiple volume exploration is disclosed. A first 3D volume is rendered in a first region. One or representations are displayed in a second region, where each representation signifies a stack of 2D images. A first stack represents one or more 2D images of cross sections of ...

11/10/05 - 20050251037 - Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprises a cine-memory for temporarily storing a frame line obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasound. In a stress echo test, the storage region of the cine-memory is divided into the same number of segments as the number of capturing processes (i.e. the number of scenes). Each ...

11/10/05 - 20050251036 - System, method and medium for acquiring and generating standardized operator independent ultrasound images of fetal, neonatal and adult organs
A system, method and medium for standardizing a manner of acquisition and display of ultrasound images. In one embodiment of the invention, a volumetric image of an organ is acquired in a standardized manner. Relationships such as formulas are utilized to automatically generate anatomical planes of interest within the volume ...

11/10/05 - 20050251035 - Modular portable ultrasound systems
The present invention relates to a lightweight, high resolution portable ultrasound system using components and methods to improve connectivity and ease of use. A preferred embodiment includes an integrated system in which the beamformer control circuitry can be inserted into the host computer as a peripheral or within the processor ...

11/10/05 - 20050251034 - Data dependent color wall filters
The present invention generally relates to ultrasound. In particular, the present invention relates to data dependent color wall filters (used in ultrasound imaging devices for example). Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a color wall filter that provides flash reduction and clutter suppression. One embodiment of the color ...

10/27/05 - 20050240104 - Apparatus and method for forming 3d ultrasound image
The present invention relates to a 3D ultrasound diagnostic forming a 3D ultrasound image only with volume data exiting within contour by automatically detecting the contour of a target object, comprising: a first unit for generating a region of interest (ROI) box on a 2D ultrasound image; a second unit ...

10/27/05 - 20050240103 - Method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging with autofrequency selection
An ultrasound imaging system is provided with an interface for receiving user input, and a controller coupled to the interface, the controller being adapted and configured to adjust parameters for a catheter-based ultrasound probe in response to received user input. Preferably, the controller is programmed to receive a user request ...

10/27/05 - 20050240102 - Ultrasound interfacing device for tissue imaging
A device (10) used with high frequency ultrasound provides a replaceable barrier between the ultrasound transducer and the tissues being imaged. The device (10) provides an acoustic pathway of minimal effect on the ultrasound signals, and furthermore provides for a safety barrier between a mechanical scanner and the tissues being ...

10/27/05 - 20050240101 - Ultrasonograph and method for controlling ultrasonograph
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with an ultrasonic probe driving section 2, a receiving section 5 for amplifying an ultrasonic reflected wave, a phase detecting section 6 for phase-detecting the ultrasonic reflected wave, a velocity computing section 10 for obtaining the velocity of an object to be measured at ...

10/13/05 - 20050228278 - Ultrasound system and method for measuring bladder wall thickness and mass
An ultrasound transceiver scans an organ and processes the echogenic signals to produce three-dimensional, two-dimensional, and one-dimensional information of the organ. The 3-D, 2-D, and 1-D information is utilized to determine the thickness, surface area, volume, and mass of the organ wall. ...

10/13/05 - 20050228277 - System and method for 2d partial beamforming arrays with configurable sub-array elements
Methods and systems for electronically scanning within a three dimensional volume while minimizing the number of system channels and associated cables connecting a two-dimensional array of elements to an ultrasound system are provided. Larger apertures can be utilized with existing 2D transducer electronics, whose purpose is to reduce the number ...

10/13/05 - 20050228276 - Wall motion analyzer
A system and method for real-time quantitative analysis of heart wall motion is provided. A Doppler imaging system is used to monitor the movement of a heart, or other organ. A B-mode reference image of the target organ is made and then a region-of-interest is defined through the use of ...

10/13/05 - 20050228275 - Ultrasonic diagnosing system
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic endoscope, an ultrasonic observing portion, a position detecting unit, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. Cross-sectional planes in parallel therewith are set to radial tomographic images, an intersecting line segment is obtained between a radial tomographic image and the cross-sectional plane, the ...

09/29/05 - 20050215897 - Image data processing method and apparatus for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and image processing apparatus
The ultrasonic diagnostic system according to the present invention includes a kernel-data generating section for extracting first image data in a specified range set with reference to a specified pixel of a generated image data to generate kernel data, a pixel-value arranging section for modulating the values and arranging the ...

09/29/05 - 20050215896 - Instantaneous ultrasonic echo measurement of bladder volume with a limited number of ultrasound beams
An apparatus and methods to quantify the volume of urine in a human bladder with a limited number of acoustic beams is disclosed. In a first version a plurality of narrow ultrasound beams is transmitted in different directions towards the bladder. Returning echoes are converted to digital form and stored ...

09/29/05 - 20050215895 - Devices and methods for obtaining three-dimensional images of an internal body site
Devices and methods for obtaining a three-dimensional image of an internal body site are provided. The subject devices are elongated structures (e.g., catheters) having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers located at their distal end. The configuration of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers may be reversibly changed from a first to ...

09/29/05 - 20050215894 - Ultrasound system
An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe configured for sensing and transmitting ultrasound signals. The ultrasound system further includes an optical conduit configured for coupling a light source and an optical detector in an optical path. The optical conduit includes electro-optic modulators configured for modulating optical signals on the optical ...

09/29/05 - 20050215893 - Synthetic elevation aperture for ultrasound systems and methods
Using configurable arrays, synthetic aperture processes may be used along an elevation dimension for increasing resolution. The increased resolution is used for two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging. Alternatively or additionally, wide band synthetic elevation aperture focusing processes, such as beamformation, are provided along the elevation dimension to increase resolution. In yet ...

09/29/05 - 20050215892 - System and method for transducer array cooling through forced convection
A system and method for cooling an entirely or partially immersed mechanical or other type of transducer array is disclosed. Motion/flow of the immersion fluid is induced either by motion of the mechanical transducer itself, where the transducer is of the mechanically movable type, or by a separate motion-inducing mechanism ...

09/22/05 - 20050209519 - Hierarchical modeling in medical abnormality detection
Hierarchal modeling is used to distinguish one state or class from three or more classes. In a first stage, a normal or other class is distinguished from a diseased or other groups of classes. If the results of the first stage classification indicate diseased or data within the groups of ...

09/15/05 - 20050203397 - Asymetric membrane cmut devices and fabrication methods
Asymmetric membrane capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (“cMUT”) devices and fabrication methods are provided. In a preferred embodiment, a cMUT device according to the present invention generally comprises a membrane having asymmetric properties. The membrane can have a varied width across its length so that its ends have different widths. The ...

09/15/05 - 20050203396 - Extended, ultrasound real time 3d image probe for insertion into the body
An ultrasound imaging probe for real time 3D ultrasound imaging from the tip of the probe that can be inserted into the body. The ultrasound beam is electronically scanned within a 2D azimuth plane with a linear array, and scanning in the elevation direction at right angle to the azimuth ...

09/15/05 - 20050203395 - Motion analysis improvements for medical diagnostic ultrasound
The phase or associated amplitude analysis of a sequence of images is improved by, first, providing quantifications in response to the phase or amplitude information. For example, a value or values representing asynchrony between different locations through a sequence of images may provide useful diagnostic information. Second, since heart motion ...

09/15/05 - 20050203394 - System and method for navigating an ultrasound catheter to image a beating heart
Catheter navigation is coupled with ultrasound imaging to yield a context map showing the location on a heart of the ultrasonically imaged frame. ...

09/15/05 - 20050203393 - Trigger extraction from ultrasound doppler signals
A trigger extraction system for obtaining an event trigger for an event occurring in a region of interest includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a trigger extraction program stored in the memory for execution by the processor. The trigger extraction program includes instructions for accessing ultrasound ...

09/15/05 - 20050203392 - Receive circuit for minimizing channels in ultrasound imaging
Receive circuits and associated methods are provided for ultrasound imaging. Both subarray mixing and time division multiplexing are provided with a same circuit. Components of the receive circuit respond to either phasing or time slot information to implement subarray mixing or time division multiplexing. A network of switches allows combination ...

09/15/05 - 20050203391 - Element mapping and transmitter for continuous wave ultrasound imaging
Element mapping and transmission of continuous waves are provided ultrasound imaging. For use with multiple dimensional or large arrays, the number of receive beamformer channels or associated cables connecting the transducer array to the receive beamformer may be limited. Subarrays of signals from different elements associated with similar phasing are ...

09/15/05 - 20050203390 - Method and apparatus for providing real-time calculation and display of tissue deformation in ultrasound imaging
An ultrasound system and method for calculation and display of tissue deformation parameters are disclosed. An ultrasound acquisition technique that allows a high frame rate in tissue velocity imaging or strain rate imaging is employed. With this acquisition technique the same ultrasound pulses are used for the tissue image and ...

09/08/05 - 20050197574 - Ultrasound transducer array having a flexible substrate
The present invention comprises methods for fabricating an ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible circuit. Preferably, the method comprises attaching an ultrasound transducer array and integrated circuitry to the flexible circuit during fabrication of the ultrasound transducer assembly while the flexible circuit is in a substantially flat shape. The contacts ...

09/08/05 - 20050197573 - Ultrasound imaging with reduced noise
Signal processing techniques reduce the impact of noise (including speckle noise and shot noise) on ultrasound images by reducing the intensity of pixels that are probably noise and increasing the intensity of pixels that are probably signal. The decision of whether a given pixel is probably noise or probably signal ...

09/08/05 - 20050197572 - System and method for ecg-triggered retrospective color flow ultrasound imaging
A method for producing an ECG-triggered retrospective color-flow ultrasound image comprises generating ultrasound, transmitting the ultrasound into a subject at a first location, wherein a first reference point of an ECG signal taken from the subject triggers the ultrasound transmission, receiving ultrasound reflected from the subject at the first location, ...

09/08/05 - 20050197571 - Vascular impedance measurement apparatus
Apparatus and method for the measurement of vascular impedance of the ocular circulation in vivo are provided. A pressure pulse waveform is recorded from measurement of the intraocular pressure, and the velocity profile of blood flow in the retrobulbar circulation is recorded. These two readings are used to calculate the ...

08/25/05 - 20050187474 - Apparatus and method for displaying sectional planes of target object utilizing 3-dimensional ultrasound data
An apparatus for displaying sectional planes of a target object utilizing 3 dimensional (3D) ultrasound data. The apparatus is capable of scanning the target object in real time by improving a scan conversion speed and virtually scans the target object by storing previously acquired 3D data. The apparatus, which displays ...

08/25/05 - 20050187473 - Robotic 5-dimensional ultrasound
A robotic 5D ultrasound system and method, for use in a computer integrated surgical system, wherein 3D ultrasonic image data is integrated over time with strain (i.e., elasticity) image data. By integrating the ultrasound image data and the strain image data, the present invention is capable of accurately identifying a ...

08/25/05 - 20050187472 - Protocol-driven ultrasound examination
The present invention relates to a system and method for performing a protocol-driven ultrasound examination for generating an image of moving cardiac structure and blood of a heart. One embodiment comprises a front-end and at least one processor. The front end is arranged to transmit ultrasound waves into the moving ...

08/25/05 - 20050187471 - Non-invasive subject-information imaging method and apparatus
A non-invasive subject-information imaging apparatus according to this invention includes a light generating unit which generates light containing a specific wavelength component, a light irradiation unit which radiates the generated light into a subject, a waveguide unit which guides the light from the light generating unit to the irradiation unit, ...

08/25/05 - 20050187470 - Ultrasonograph, method for displaying information on distortion of biological tissue in ultrasonic image
An ultrasonograph comprising a probe for measurement by bringing the probe into contact with a subject in a first state, first image creating means for creating a first image of the subject from the information sent from the probe, image display means for displaying the first image created by the ...

08/25/05 - 20050187469 - Blood flow oxygen measurement system and method
An apparatus for measuring physiologic tissues perfusion information including: a first device producing a first output indicative of blood flow of a patient; a second device producing a second output indicative of oxygen content of the blood; and a processor combining said first and said second outputs to produce a ...

08/25/05 - 20050187468 - Modified esophageal doppler monitor methods for measuring aortic dp/dt and pulse wave velocity
A modified esophageal Doppler monitor with two ultrasonic Doppler transducers that is capable of measuring time rate change of pressure within the aorta and aortic pulse wave velocity is provided. Methods of using this modified monitor to assess aortic compliance, diagnose atherosclerotic disease and assess efficacy of therapeutic agents for ...

08/18/05 - 20050182325 - Bone strength measuring instrument and method
A bone strength measuring instrument and method is provided for obtaining thickness values of cortical bone, cancellous bone and tissue in a human body part by applying an ultrasonic wave to a measured portion of the human body. Ultrasonic transmitters and receivers can be positioned in contact with the human ...

08/18/05 - 20050182324 - Methods of estimating ultrasound scatterer parameters in soft tissues
A method for characterizing ultrasound scatterers in soft tissue, wherein scattered signals are used to eliminate the absorption attenuation of an ultrasound wave from estimated parameters and to obtain directional scattering information. The scattered signals are obtained from either multiple regions where one region is used as a reference or ...

08/11/05 - 20050177044 - Ultrasound gating of cardiac ct scans
An ultrasonic imaging system acquires echo signals from an object being imaged such as a moving coronary artery and the cross-correlation between echo signals is employed as an objective measure of relative object location. The method is used in a prescan procedure to determine an optimal gating window to acquire ...

08/04/05 - 20050171431 - Integrated low-power pw/cw transmitter
Integrated circuit transmitters allow for ultrasound imaging with both pulsed and continuous waves. High voltage and low voltage switches are integrated onto a same semiconductor chip. The high voltage switches are used for pulsed wave operation, and the low voltage switches are used for continuous wave operation. Power dissipation may ...

08/04/05 - 20050171430 - Processing and displaying breast ultrasound information
Displaying breast ultrasound information on an interactive user interface is described, the user interface being useful in adjunctive ultrasound mammography environments and/or ultrasound-only mammography environments. Bilateral comparison is facilitated by a pairwise display of thick-slice images corresponding to analogous slab-like subvolumes in the left and right breasts. Coronal thick-slice imaging ...

08/04/05 - 20050171429 - Method and system for very high frame rates in ultrasound b-mode imaging
Certain embodiments include a system and method for an improved image acquisition rate in an ultrasound imaging system. The system includes an encoder for encoding an ultrasound signal with a code for transmission to form an encoded ultrasound signal, a transmitter for transmitting the encoded ultrasound signal, and a receiver ...

07/28/05 - 20050165306 - Detection of motion in vibro-acoustography
Harmonic motion is produced in a subject using vibro-acoustography. An ultrasonic imaging system repetitively interrogates the subject and the Doppler shift in the reflected echo signals is analyzed to measure the phase and amplitude of harmonic motion produced in the subject at different prescribed frequencies. Shear wave propagation through the ...

07/14/05 - 20050154301 - Acoustic diagnosis of sinusitis
A system for diagnosing sinusitis in a human subject including: a miniature transducer for emitting a sound signal; a miniature microphone for detecting sound signals; a transducer holder configured to contain the miniature transducer and a microphone holder configured to contain the miniature microphone, each configured to be inserted into ...

07/14/05 - 20050154300 - Integrated low-voltage transmit/receive switch for ultrasound imaging system
A low-voltage transmit/receive switch that acts to protect sensitive low-voltage electronics from high-voltage pulse signals used to drive an ultrasonic transducer. The low-voltage transmit/receive switch comprises a series resistor and a parallel MOSFET pair. The parallel MOSFETs are low-voltage devices. The low-voltage transmit/receive switch is placed between the output of ...

07/14/05 - 20050154299 - Method and apparatus for ultrasonic continuous, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring
Ultrasound is used to provide input data for a blood pressure estimation scheme. The use of transcutaneous ultrasound provides arterial lumen area and pulse wave velocity information. In addition, ultrasound measurements are taken in such a way that all the data describes a single, uniform arterial segment. Therefore a computed ...

07/07/05 - 20050148870 - Apparatus for generating command signals to an electronic device
The invention consists of a device to give command signals to an electronic device characterised by being comprised of at least one acoustic sensor (2a and 2b), to be brought in contact with one or more extremities of a user by means of one or more attachments (1a and 1b), ...

06/23/05 - 20050137478 - System and method for 3-d imaging
A system and method for recording and depicting ultrasound images of a moving object are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, ultrasound images are acquired as the field of view of an ultrasound probe is advanced across the tissues of interest during a resting period between periods of relatively large-scale heart ...

06/23/05 - 20050137477 - Dynamic display of three dimensional ultrasound (ultrasonar)
A method and system for the dynamic display of three dimensional ultrasound images is presented. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, the method includes acquisition of a plurality of ultrasound images with a probe whose position is tracked. Using the positional information of the probe, the plurality of ...

06/16/05 - 20050131294 - Ultrasound system for generating a single set of ultrasound pulse firings
An ultrasound imaging system configured to simultaneously acquire and process multi-mode and multi-band echo information from a single set of pulse firings is provided. Raw ultrasound signals are digitized and stored in an I/Q data buffer. The stored data are then parallel preprocessed as a function of frequency band or ...

06/16/05 - 20050131293 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image producing section which produces images of time-serial frames of an inspection subject based on echoes of ultrasonic waves emitted to the subject, a marking section which marks certain frame images among the frame images produced by the image producing section, and a cine ...

06/09/05 - 20050124883 - Adaptive parallel artifact mitigation
A method is disclosed herein for adaptively compensating for multi-line receive artifacts in cardiac ultrasound imaging. In accordance with the method, a plurality of transmit beams are transmitted (201) into a subject with a transmitter having a transmit aperture, wherein each of said transmit beams has a plurality of receive ...

06/09/05 - 20050124882 - System and method of operating microfabricated ultrasonic transducers for harmonic imaging
A capacitive microfabricated ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) is operated to improve its performance during harmonic imaging in non-linear media, such as in contrast agents or in human tissue. The cMUT is operated by inverting the transmit waveform to adjacently spaced azimuth elements, and combining at least two additional firings without adjacent ...

06/09/05 - 20050124881 - Ultrasonographic system and ultrasonography
An ultrasonic diagnostic system prepares a diagnostic data including image by transmitting ultrasonic pulses to a living tissue, and receiving and analyzing reflected wave of the ultrasonic pulses, and has an analytical processing unit to measure a backscattering intensity by using a scattering wave from a region of interest in ...

06/09/05 - 20050124880 - Ultrasonograph
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe having two-dimensionally arranged transducer elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to an object, a transducer element selector for selecting transducer elements used in transmission and reception, a signal processing unit for applying a delay to a signal received by a selected ...

06/09/05 - 20050124879 - Tissue imaging at superharmonic frequencies
Ultrasound imaging of tissue in medical applications is carried out by transmitting ultrasound energy into a target volume at least a first fundamental frequency, receiving reflected and/or scattered ultrasound energy from the target volume; and detecting components of the received signal at multiple harmonics of the fundamental frequency or at ...

06/09/05 - 20050124878 - Methods and apparatus for objective fetal diagnosis
Fetal diagnostic apparatus (10) which comprises ultrasonic imaging a