Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
600444000 | With mechanical and electronic scanning | 28 |
20080255452 | Methods and Apparatus For Performing Enhanced Ultrasound Diagnostic Breast Imaging - A method for performing enhanced ultrasound diagnostic breast imaging includes using first and second compression plates ( | 10-16-2008 |
20090187105 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound image processing apparatus includes first and second connecting portions to which first and second ultrasound probes are removably connected, the probes including first and second ultrasound transducers driven by first and second different ultrasound scanning systems respectively. The ultrasound image processing apparatus also includes an ultrasound image signal processing circuit that performs signal processings for generating first and second ultrasound images corresponding to the first and second ultrasound scanning systems from ultrasound signals received by the first and second ultrasound transducers. | 07-23-2009 |
20090221917 | Ultrasound probe device and method of operation - The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe device. A device | 09-03-2009 |
20100004538 | COMPOUND SCANNING HEAD FOR AN ULTRASONIC SCANNING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an ultrasound transducer whose holding device moves along a guide track while transducer on the end of the holing device oscillates about a known position during ultrasound transmission and receiving. In this embodiment, most refractive eye components including zonules and their connection points can be imaged. | 01-07-2010 |
20100217127 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MECHANICAL TRANSLATION OF FULL MATRIX ARRAY - An ultrasonic transducer assembly ( | 08-26-2010 |
20100324423 | ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A method and device for ultrasound imaging including an array of transducers wherein the distance between adjacent transducers is greater than the minimum separation of adjacent scanlines required to produce an ultrasound image of a selected resolution. The transducer array is adapted to be mechanically moved so that the array may be swept to generate scanlines. | 12-23-2010 |
20110087103 | ULTRASOUND FOCUS POSITIONING DEVICE - A positioning device has a computer and an ultrasound device that is provided to expose biological tissue with high-intensity, focused ultrasound radiation, and an ultrasound transducer unit, a mechanical focusing unit and an electronic focusing unit for positioning and/or focusing of the high-intensity, focused ultrasound radiation of the ultrasound transducer unit. The computer is designed to adjust the focus position of the ultrasound transducer unit along at least one dimension by operating the mechanical focusing unit; and the computer is designed to regulate the focus position of the ultrasound transducer unit along the at least one dimension by operating the electronic focusing unit after the positioning by the mechanical focusing unit. | 04-14-2011 |
20110125022 | SYNCHRONIZATION FOR MULTI-DIRECTIONAL ULTRASOUND SCANNING - Multi-directional ultrasound scanning is synchronized. A plurality of wobbler arrays are used sequentially. To limit artifacts caused by motion, the sequential operation is synchronized. While a first wobbler array is scanning, a second wobbler array is moving or active. Once the first wobbler array completes a scan or portion of the scan, the second wobbler array begins the scan without waiting for initiation of the wobbling. The position of the second array may alternatively or additionally be synchronized with the first array or the end of the scan of the first array. The data from the different scans may represent overlapping volumes, so may be combined to form an extended field of view. | 05-26-2011 |
20120238876 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe which has a one-dimensional array-type transducer array and an array moving unit moving the transducer array in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the transducer array; a transmission and reception circuit which electronically scans the transducer array, and transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam toward a subject to acquire two-dimensional image data; and a controller which, when the internal temperature of the ultrasound probe is equal to or higher than a first set value, controls the transmission and reception circuit such that the transmission and reception or the reception of an ultrasonic beam for at least a part of a region other than a region of interest is paused. | 09-20-2012 |
20120253197 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FLUSHING BUBBLES FROM A CATHETER OF AN INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - An intravascular ultrasound imaging system includes a catheter that is insertable into a patient blood vessel. A flushing assembly is in fluid communication with a lumen of the catheter. The flushing assembly flushes air bubbles formed in acoustically-favorable medium in the catheter lumen in response to an event other than a user-initiated flushing prompt. The flushing assembly includes a reservoir containing acoustically-favorable medium for input into the catheter lumen, and a pump coupled to the reservoir. The pump pumps the acoustically-favorable medium from the reservoir to the catheter lumen. A connector is in fluid communication with the reservoir. The connector is coupleable with the catheter lumen. A controller is coupled to the pump. The controller is configured and arranged for controlling operation of the pump. | 10-04-2012 |
20120296214 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE, AND REGION-TO-BE-DETECTED IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD AND MEASUREMENT METHOD USING SAME - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that enables even an unskilled person to get accurate detection done is provided. | 11-22-2012 |
20130072798 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An object information acquiring apparatus includes: a probe that converts an acoustic wave from an object into an electric signal; a unit that moves the probe; a generating unit that generates a plurality of first image data corresponding to tomographs of the object using a plurality of acoustic signals from respective positions of the object interior, and generates second image data using the plurality of acoustic signals; and a display control unit into which the first image data and second image data are input, and which displays on a display unit an image of the object interior, wherein the display control unit displays on the display unit a display based on the first image data, and switches the display when the second image data are input from an identical position of the object. | 03-21-2013 |
20130123634 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROMOTING FLOW OF AN ACOUSTICALLY-FAVORABLE MEDIUM OVER A TRANSDUCER OF AN ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - A catheter assembly includes an imaging core insertable into a lumen of a sheath of a catheter. The imaging core includes a rotatable driveshaft and a transducer that is coupled to the driveshaft and that rotates with the driveshaft. One or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports are defined in a distal portion of the sheath. A flow-inducing element is coupled to the driveshaft and rotates with the driveshaft. The flow-inducing element draws fluid into the lumen through the inlet port(s) from the environment external to the sheath and pushes the drawn fluid out of the lumen through the outlet port(s). One of the one or more inlet ports or the one or more outlet ports is disposed proximal to the flow-inducing element and the transducer, and the other of the inlet port(s) or the outlet port(s) is disposed distal to the flow-inducing element and the transducer. | 05-16-2013 |
20130172751 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHOCK ABSORBING IN ULTRASOUND PROBES - Methods and systems for shock absorbing in ultrasound probes are provided. One ultrasound probe has a housing and a scan head within the housing, wherein the scan head includes a transducer array. The ultrasound provide further includes an axle coupled to the scan head allowing rotation of the scan head and a shock absorbing member within the scan head coupled between the transducer array and the axle. The shock absorbing member is configured to allow relative movement between the axle and the transducer array. | 07-04-2013 |
20130338505 | Ultrasound Probe for Laparoscopy - An intra-operative ultrasound probe for use with a robotic and laparoscopic surgical systems that allows for direct surgeon control over the position and orientation of the ultrasound image is presented. The transducer is designed to interface with the laparoscopic grasper so that it is easy to pick up in a locking, self-aligning and repeatable manner. The transducer is tracked in space using either forward kinematics or electromagnetic sensing, allowing multiple 2D images to be combined in order to create 3D ultrasound volumes. The 3D volumes can be further processed and displayed on the surgeon's console, or used to register and display acquired pre-operative images at the correct spatial location within the patient. | 12-19-2013 |
20140031692 | ULTRASONIC PROBE USING A VERTICALLY ARRANGED MOTOR - According to an ultrasonic probe using a vertically arranged motor, a motor stands upright in the ultrasonic probe and a side pulley is located in a tangential direction of a probe-shaft pulley, thereby enabling a rotating force generated by the vertically arranged motor to be smoothly transferred to an array axis of ultrasonic elements and significantly simplifying a structure of the ultrasonic probe to remarkably reduce manufacturing costs. In addition, according to the ultrasonic probe using the vertically arranged motor, a mechanism which enables a linear operation is implemented while using the vertically arranged motor. Thus, the ultrasonic probe may have an ergonomic design to significantly improve user satisfaction. | 01-30-2014 |
20140046187 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING METHOD - Described is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus which includes an ultrasound probe and which generates ultrasound image data sets for displaying an ultrasound image. The ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus includes a transmitting unit which performs ultrasound scanning for a plurality of times so that a part of or all of scan regions overlap in a plurality of different directions, an image processing unit which generates a plurality of ultrasound image data sets according to the receive signals and an anisotropic aspect evaluation unit which evaluates an anisotropic aspect of ultrasound wave reflection in the subject according to at least either of the ultrasound image data sets and the receive signals. In the ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus, the image processing unit generates synthetic image data in which the plurality of ultrasound image data sets are synthesized according to an evaluation result of the anisotropic aspect evaluation unit. | 02-13-2014 |
20140046188 | System and Method for Ultrasonic Diagnostics - A system for ultrasound imaging including an ultrasound transducer array housed in a single patch and comprising a plurality of ultrasound sensor elements and associated electronic; a beamformer electrically coupled to the ultrasound transducer array patch for combining outputs of said ultrasound sensor elements; and a CPU electrically coupled to the beamformer and configured to receive the combined outputs of said ultrasound sensor elements, perform image processing and analytics and generate an image or metrics to be displayed on a remote display screen. | 02-13-2014 |
20140088429 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system of producing an ultrasound image of an imaging region of a body, the image comprising pixels, the method comprising:
| 03-27-2014 |
20140121520 | MEDICAL ULTRASOUND SCANNING WITH CONTROL OVER PRESSURE/FORCE EXERTED BY AN ULTRASOUND PROBE AND/OR A COMPRESSION/SCANNING ASSEMBLY - A system and a method related to improving ultrasound examination of a patient, specifically of a patient's breast by sensing and controlling the pressure/force that an ultrasound probe and/or a compression/scanning assembly housing the probe exert on the breast and/or the chest wall of the patient. | 05-01-2014 |
20140276063 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING AN IMAGE FROM A ROTATIONAL INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND DEVICE - The invention generally relates systems and methods to for producing an image from a rotational intravascular ultrasound device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276064 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - The object of the present invention is to provide a ultrasound probe and an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus which are able to reduce the time and labor for the operation and to prevent image quality from deteriorating. the ultrasound probe of the embodiments comprises an acoustic window, a transducer part, and a moving mechanism. The acoustic window comprises more than one holding surface with a recessed surface shape that engages with a subject. The transducer part comprises a plurality of transducers arranged in one or a plurality of rows for transceiving ultrasound waves with respect to the subject that comes into contact with the holding surface via the acoustic window. The moving mechanism moves the transducer part in a direction vertical to the arrangement direction of each row of the transducers. | 09-18-2014 |
20140323866 | BREAST ULTRASOUND SCANNING DEVICE - Apparatus and related methods for facilitating volumetric ultrasonic scanning of a breast are described. In one preferred embodiment, a generally cone-shaped radial scanning template having a vertex and a wide opening angle is provided, the radial scanning template having a slot-like opening extending outward from the vertex through which an ultrasound transducer scans the breast as the radial scanning template is rotated. In another preferred embodiment, a flexible membrane for compressing a skin surface of the breast is provided, the flexible membrane being mounted on a mechanical assembly such as a roller assembly to form a slot-like opening through which an ultrasound transducer directly contacts the skin surface, the flexible membrane rising and falling relative to the skin surface but not moving laterally as the slot-like opening and ultrasound transducer move laterally across the compressed breast, whereby stabilization of the breast and direct transducer-skin contact are concurrently achieved. | 10-30-2014 |
20140330125 | LARGE VOLUME THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRSAOUND IMAGING - The present invention relates to a method for providing a three-dimensional ultrasound image of a volume ( | 11-06-2014 |
20150094587 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR A MODULAR TRANSDUCER SYSTEM OF AN AUTOMATED BREAST ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Various methods and systems are provided for ultrasonically scanning a tissue sample using a modular transducer system. In one example, a system for ultrasonically scanning a tissue sample comprises: an adjustable arm; a scanning assembly attached to the adjustable arm, the scanning assembly including a housing configured to remain stationary during scanning and a module receiver that is configured to translate with respect to the housing during scanning; and a transducer module comprising a transducer array of transducer elements, wherein the transducer module is configured to be removably coupled with the module receiver in order to establish both a mechanical connection and an electrical connection between the module receiver and the transducer module. | 04-02-2015 |
20150119715 | DEVICE FOR GUIDING A MEDICAL IMAGING PROBE AND METHOD FOR GUIDING SUCH A PROBE - A device for guiding a medical imaging probe in order to move the probe close to an anatomical space, the probe having a mechanism for acquiring images of the anatomical space, and the device having at least one sensor mounted to the probe. The device includes a processing mechanism for deducing a rotation of the probe in the space from the signals generated by the sensor and for estimating a plurality of plausible positions of the probe relative to the anatomical space by deducing the rotation of the probe in the space. The processing mechanism is arranged such as to determine the position of the probe relative to the anatomical space from the plausible positions. Also disclosed is a method for guiding the probe. | 04-30-2015 |
20150133788 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING OF SPECULAR-REFLECTING TARGET - Ultrasound apparatus or techniques can include obtaining reflected ultrasound echo information, which can be used to construct a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation of an at least approximately specular reflected target, such as bone. In an example, echo information can be obtained from spatially-overlapping tissue regions, such as using one or more of an array of ultrasonic transducers, or mechanically-scanning one or more ultrasonic transducers. In an example, one or more of a deformable housing or a deformable coupling pad can be used, such as to couple ultrasonic energy between one or more transducers and a tissue region. | 05-14-2015 |
20150359512 | SYNTHETIC APERTURE ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - A synthetic aperture ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe, and an ultrasound signal processor configured to communicate with the ultrasound probe to receive phase and amplitude information from a plurality of ultrasonic echo signals from a corresponding plurality of ultrasound pulses. The synthetic aperture ultrasound system also includes a positioning system configured to communicate with the ultrasound signal processor to provide probe position information. The positioning system is configured to determine a first position and a second position of the ultrasound probe relative to a region of interest. The ultrasound signal processor is further configured to coherently sum, utilizing the probe position information, at least one of the plurality of ultrasonic echo signals from the first position with at least one of the plurality of ultrasonic echo signals from the second position to provide a synthetic aperture that is larger than a physical aperture of the ultrasound probe. | 12-17-2015 |