Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080200807 | Attitude-sensing ultrasound probe - In one embodiment, an apparatus for generating attitude data corresponding to B-scan imaging data generated by an ultrasound probe. The apparatus includes one or more magnetic field sensors generating, based on measurements of the earth's magnetic field, magnetic field data for the probe, which is used to determine the orientation of the probe in a plane. The apparatus preferably also includes one or more accelerometers for determining tilt orientation and position. The apparatus further includes an interface providing, based on the magnetic field data, output data corresponding to the imaging data. The apparatus can be integrated into a probe or can be an attachment to retrofit an existing probe. | 08-21-2008 |
20080200808 | DISPLAYING ANATOMICAL PATIENT STRUCTURES IN A REGION OF INTEREST OF AN IMAGE DETECTION APPARATUS - A method and device for detecting and displaying an anatomical patient structure in a region of interest of a movable image detection apparatus such as an ultrasound probe. After the region of interest is defined in a patient coordinate system, movement of the image detection apparatus can be tracked, and the position of the region of interest can be changed or shifted to compensate for the movement of the image detection apparatus. | 08-21-2008 |
20080208054 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, detecting a signal peculiar to a contrast agent emitted when liquid formed in a fine particle vaporizes due to ultrasonic waves and imaging space distribution thereof. A narrow band is used for transmission, a broad band is used for a received signal, and in a state of high space resolution of the received signal, a transmission signal and the received signal are discriminated. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208055 | Method and Device for the Sonographic Navigated Repositioning of Bone Fragments - A method and device for aligning the first and second fragments of a fractured bone relative to each other, wherein the bone fragments may be aligned using images from an ultrasound device that is tracked by a navigation system. The positions and/or orientations of landmarks on each of the bone fragments may be used to set the bone alignment for more precise healing. | 08-28-2008 |
20080214936 | Phantom Device - A phantom device for mimicking anatomical structures, comprising: at least one electronic device layer comprising segmented areas of liquid crystals for forming a graphic layout of an anatomical structure; the segments comprising dyes of various absorbing characteristics for mimicking anatomical structures such as blood vessels; the areas further comprising electrically controllable optical diffuser and/or absorber elements for varying the absorption in the segments so as to mimic dynamical properties of said anatomical structure. | 09-04-2008 |
20080221450 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORMING ULTRASOUND IMAGES - The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system capable of providing a plurality of M-mode images corresponding to M-mode lines without moving a probe. A volume data forming and reconstructing unit of the present invention forms volume data based on the ultrasound echo signals, the volume data forming and reconstructing unit being configured to determine a beat period of the moving object and reconstruct the volume data based on the beat period. A processor forms at least one reference image based on the reconstructed volume data and one or more M-mode images corresponding to one or more M-mode lines set on the reference image and a display unit displays the reference image, the M-mode lines and the M-mode images. | 09-11-2008 |
20080228075 | Combination Imaging and Therapy Transducer With Therapy Transducer Amplifier - A combined ultrasound imaging and therapy transducer ( | 09-18-2008 |
20080234581 | Performing Tasks With Sensors - A method wherein a location or position sensor cooperates with a controller or other operating system such that a predefined motion pattern (circular motion, double click, translatory motion, reciprocal motion, and the like, and any combination thereof) of the sensor performs one or more specific tasks, which are not necessary related to the spatial locations per se of the sensor. Also a method for identifying sensors and landmarks is described including sensing the present location of the sensor plus an additional point and comparing with locations in the recent past. | 09-25-2008 |
20080234582 | PLAQUE CHARACTERIZATION USING MULTIPLE INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND DATASETS HAVING DISTINCT FILTER BANDS - A system and method are disclosed that facilitate generating visual representations of characterized tissue based upon ultrasound echo information obtained from a portion of an imaged body. The system includes a first filter having a first filter band that is applied to a near range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render near range filtered echo information. A second filter, having a second filter band that covers a frequency range of the first filter band, is applied to a far range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render far range filtered echo information. The system furthermore includes a set of characterization criteria that are applied to the near and far range filtered echo information. The characterized near and far range image data are thereafter combined into a single tissue-characterization image. | 09-25-2008 |
20080234583 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING AN ULTRASOUND IMAGE - The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system and a method for reformatting a planar image. The ultrasound system includes a volume data acquiring unit and an image processing unit. The volume data acquiring unit may acquire volume data by transmitting/receiving ultrasound signals to/from a target object of an un-echoic area. The image processing unit may perform inverse volume rendering upon the volume data to form a 3-dimensional image showing the target object and set a region of interest (ROI) on the target object in response to a user input. The image processor detects data corresponding to the ROI from the volume data and reformats the detected data to form a planar image. | 09-25-2008 |
20080242985 | 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-d 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 acquires one or more 3D data sets covering all of the amniotic fluid in the uterus and this data is then processed using an optimized 3D algorithm to output the total amniotic fluid volume corrected for any fetal head brain volume contributions. | 10-02-2008 |
20080242986 | ULTRASONIC OBSERVATION APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An ultrasonic observation apparatus generates respective ultrasonic images from sound ray data obtained by a detachable electron scanning ultrasonic probe and detachable mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe and includes a coordinate transformation table for use to generate image data at pixel locations for display from the sound ray data obtained by the electron scanning ultrasonic probe and mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe, and a control unit which detects a type or range of the electron scanning ultrasonic probe or mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe and regenerates the coordinate transformation table based on the detected type or range of the electron scanning ultrasonic probe or mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe. | 10-02-2008 |
20080242987 | Method and Apparatus for Transducer Excitation in Medical Ultrasound Imaging - A method of transducer excitation in medical ultrasound imaging. Based on a stepped approximation of Gaussian modulated cosines, the transmit waveform provides bandlimited spectrum and low level of second order harmonics while retaining the duration of the transmitting within two carrier cycles. The waveform is constructed as a linear composition of four unipolar, rectangle pulses of unity amplitude. Furthermore, the described embodiment supports digitally controlled transmit apodization and focusing. | 10-02-2008 |
20080242988 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - There is provided an automatic adjustment function of the dynamic range that carries out statistic processing by the use of each brightness of image data that corresponds to a plurality of frames, automatically determines the upper limit of the dynamic range based on the brightness that corresponds to an echo signal from a subject, and automatically determines a lower limit value of the dynamic range based on the brightness that corresponds to a noise level. By this function, in the case where the dynamic range first established by manual operation, etc. is excessively wide or excessively narrow, the dynamic range can be automatically adjusted to an optimal setting even when the brightness distribution on the image is dynamically varied. | 10-02-2008 |
20080242989 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: a probe section having a piezoelectric transducer array two-dimensionally arranged in rectangular form on a plane orthogonal to an emitting direction in which an ultrasonic wave is emitted; an image acquisition section which acquires B-mode image information having an imaging cross-section including a scanning direction corresponding to one arrangement direction of the two-dimensional arrangement and the emitting direction, using the probe section; an input unit which inputs an imaging condition for the B-mode image information to the image acquisition section; and a display unit which displays the B-mode image information thereon. The image acquisition section has thickness-direction aperture width switching means which switches an aperture width for performing said emitting in a thickness direction corresponding to another arrangement direction of the two-dimensional arrangement. The input unit has thickness-direction aperture width setting means that sets information about the aperture width to be switched, to the thickness-direction aperture width switching means. | 10-02-2008 |
20080242990 | Hair removal using focused high intensity acoustic energy - Hair is permanently removed from a patient's skin by transcutaneously focusing high intensity acoustic energy at a hair follicle and applying sufficient energy to destroy the follicle, whereby hair is removed and regrowth is prevented. Typically, a region of a patient's skin would be ultrasonically imaged to show the location of a plurality of individual hair follicles. The individual imaged hair follicles are then treated using a system which automatically directs the high intensity acoustic energy at each follicle. | 10-02-2008 |
20080249413 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, that generates image data of a C-mode image of an examination-target portion based on volume data generated through an ultrasonic scan of an object and for displaying the C-mode image, has a curved C-mode surface generating unit and a curved C-mode image generating unit. The curved C-mode surface generating unit generates, based on the volume data, a curved C-mode surface formed by a curved surface that curves without including a non-visualized portion. The curved C-mode image generating unit generates image data of a curved C-mode image based on data of the curved C-mode surface generated by the curved C-mode surface generating unit. | 10-09-2008 |
20080255451 | LOW POWER ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - A low power ultrasound system for use in sonography applications, including vascular imaging, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the low power ultrasound system comprises a base unit that includes an image processor and a display. An ultrasound probe is operably connected to the base unit. The probe includes a head portion including an array of crystal transducers. A plurality of pulser/receiver modules that cause the transducers to emit ultrasonic transmit pulses are also included in the probe. The pulser/receiver modules are further configured to receive analog signals relating to ultrasonic echo receive pulses detected by the transducers. The probe includes a singular low noise amplifier that amplifies the analog signals, and an analog-to-digital converter that converts the analog signals to a digital signal. A wireless interface is included for enabling the digital signal to be wirelessly transmitted from the probe to the image processor of the base unit. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262351 | Microbeamforming Transducer Architecture - A method for ultrasound imaging utilizes microbeamforming within a transducer probe in electrical communication with a base ultrasound system. The transducer elements are arranged in sub-arrays or subsets, and the transducer includes a cross-point/summation switch in communication with each sub-array, and the base ultrasound system. In the microbeamforming operation, the signals received at the receiving elements comprising a sub-array are summed to generate a composite sub-array signal for same sub-array, and a set of composite sub-array signals corresponding to a particular receive beamforming pattern is defined using a signal controlling the output of the cross-point switch. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262352 | Clutter Suppression in Ultrasonic Imaging Systems - A method for ultrasonic imaging includes transmitting ultrasonic radiation toward a target and receiving the ultrasonic radiation reflected from a region of the target. A main reflected signal and an auxiliary reflected signal are defined. The reflected signals have different respective main and auxiliary beam patterns. A difference between the main reflected signal and the auxiliary reflected signal is taken, so as to generate an output signal containing a reduced level of clutter in comparison with the main reflected signal. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262353 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FAST VOLUME RENDERING OF 3D ULTRASOUND IMAGE - The invention provides a method and apparatus for fast volume rendering of 3D ultrasound image, comprising a dividing step, a calculating step, a determining step, a morphological closing operation step and a filling step, wherein each flat grid can be entirely filled by obtaining gray-scale values for all pixels inside the grid through interpolating; for the non-flat grid, the steps of dividing, calculating, determining and filling are performed repeatedly until the non-flat grid is subdivided into atomic grids to calculate gray-scale values for remaining pixels by projection. As the method can be finished in the rear end, no difficulty occurs in the implementation, and no process for being adapted to previous frames is required. Therefore, the method can improve the rendering speed effectively without degrading the quality of image to put 3D ultrasound imaging to the best use. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262354 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF GENERATING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - The invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that scans an object to be examined into which contrast medium bubbles are injected with ultrasonic waves to acquire an ultrasonic image of the object. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image data generating unit that generates a plurality of image data indicating information on the shape of an object to be examined on the basis of echo signals returning from the object, a setting unit that sets an interesting area which is smaller than the entire image area to first image data, which is reference image data, among the plurality of image data, a vector generating unit that compares at least one second image data different from the first image data among the plurality of image data with data in the interesting area to generate a motion vector indicating the motion between the first image data and the at least one second image data, an image correcting unit that corrects the blur of the first image data and the at least one second image data on the basis of the motion vector, and an image generating unit that generates a display image on the basis of the plurality of corrected image data. | 10-23-2008 |
20080287795 | System And Method For Identifying A Vascular Border - A system and method is provided for using a first vascular image, or more particularly a plurality of control points located thereon, to identify a border on a second vascular image. Embodiments of the present invention operate in accordance with an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device and a computing device electrically connected thereto. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, an-IVUS console is electrically connected to a computing device and adapted to acquire IVUS data. The IVUS data (or multiple sets thereof) is then provided to (or acquired by) the computing device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the computing device includes a plurality of applications operating thereon—i.e., a border-detection application, an extrapolation application, and an active-contour application. These applications are used to (i) identify a border and control points on a first IVUS image (i.e., any IVUS image), (ii) extrapolate the control points to a second IVUS image (i.e., another IVUS image), (iii) identify a border on the second IVUS image, and (iv) adjust the border on the second IVUS image in accordance with at least one factor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one factor is selected from a group consisting of gradient factor, continuity factor, and curvature factor. | 11-20-2008 |
20080287796 | Method and system for spine visualization in 3D medical images - A method and system for visualizing the spine in 3D medical images is disclosed. A spinal cord centerline is automatically determined in a 3D medical image volume, such as a CT volume. A reformatted image volume is then generated based on the spinal cord centerline. The reformatted image volume can be a straightened spine volume or a Multi-planar Reconstruction (MPR) based volume that follows the natural curve of the spine. The reconstructed volume can be displayed as 2D slices or 3D volume renderings. | 11-20-2008 |
20080300486 | Spatial and temporal alignment for volume rendering in medical diagnostic ultrasound - Ultrasound data is aligned spatially and temporally for volume rendering of a fetal heart or other cyclically moving object. A sequence of ultrasound data is obtained for each of a plurality of planes, such as acquiring data representing each plane over one or more cycles. The different planes are scanned sequentially in a step mode acquisition. The data is aligned temporally and spatially to create data representing volumes at different times throughout the cycle. The alignment uses similarity of the ultrasound data in time and space. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300487 | CARDIAC MECHANICAL ASSESSMENT USING ULTRASOUND - A method for diagnosis includes capturing a sequence of two-dimensional ultrasound images of a moving organ within a body of a patient. At least one contour of the organ is identified in a succession of the images in the sequence and is processed to generate an output indicative of motion of the organ over time. | 12-04-2008 |
20080306384 | Apparatus and method for computing 3D ultrasound elasticity images - Disclosed is a system and method for computing ultrasound 3D elasticity images. The method includes acquiring ultrasound RF data in a rest state, in which substantially no pressure is applied to a tissue medium, and acquiring ultrasound data in a stressed state, in which pressure is applied to a tissue medium having an aberration, and computing a measured displacement image from the two RF data sets. The method also includes computing an initial estimated displacement image, which is derived from a 3D elasticity model. The method further includes computing an optimization loop, wherein the initial estimated displacement image is adjusted to converge on the measured displacement image. The optimized estimated displacement image is then segmented and superimposed over the rest state ultrasound image. Further, the original 3D elasticity model is adjusted to match the optimized estimated displacement image. | 12-11-2008 |
20080306385 | Automatic Ultrasound Scanning Initiated by Protocol Stage - The invention relates to a method and system for automatically initiating user control automation by one of either beginning a Protocol stage for imaging or changing dependent controls. This invention eliminates the need for user intervention for hitting a button such as the I-Scan button for the Philips I-Scan system, which is one of the systems on which the invention can be implemented. | 12-11-2008 |
20080319317 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus removes a speckle pattern using information on a direction (depth direction) that is substantially orthogonal to a plurality of ultrasonic images included in three-dimensional image data. For example, three-dimensional CFAR processing, two-dimensional CFAR processing, and a depth-direction arithmetic process are performed to discriminate a continuous structure that is three-dimensionally arranged from a local microstructure, thereby generating a microstructure extracted image. | 12-25-2008 |
20090005682 | Tissue complex modulus and/or viscosity ultrasound imaging - Complex response of tissue is calculated as function of a convolution relationship associated with measured strain with applied stress. In the Fourier or frequency domain, the convolution is a simple algebraic computation, such as multiplication. The complex response provides elasticity and viscosity information, assisting diagnosis. Complex compliance may be directly calculated from the strain and stress. Complex fluidity may be directly calculated from strain rate and stress. | 01-01-2009 |
20090005683 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a probe that transmits an ultrasonic pulse to an object to be detected and receives a reflection ultrasonic pulse train from the object to be detected, a sound pressure amplitude control device for automatically changing, with one frame including a repetition of the transmission and the reception which acquires a piece of tomographic image information of the object to be detected as a minimum change unit, a sound amplitude of the ultrasonic pulse according to an acquisition number of a frame indicative of an order of the acquisition, and a display unit that displays the tomographic image information. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012397 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - A parameter calculating unit calculates a parameter value at each time through an interpolation process based on a parameter value at a telediastole stored in a telediastole memory and a parameter value at a telesystole stored in a telesystole memory. An interpolation coefficient memory stores an interpolation coefficient which is used for the interpolation process. When the parameter calculating unit calculates, for each parameter, parameter values of the times from telediastole to the telesystole, a region-of-interest setting unit sets, for each time, a three-dimensional region of interest in the three-dimensional data space based on the plurality of parameters. With this process, a three-dimensional region of interest which dynamically changes from the telediastole to the telesystole is set in the three-dimensional data space. | 01-08-2009 |
20090018447 | Medical diagnostic ultrasound gray scale mapping for dynamic range on a display - Gray scale information is mapped to a display with increased dynamic range. Rather than mapping ultrasound data to equal color components, the mapping is offset. The offset may provide a deviation from gray, but the deviation of such a small increment may not be perceptible. Instead, the deviation provides different brightness, which is more easily perceived. The deviation allows for additional levels of gray, such as the 64 levels on a 6-bit display plus any deviation values (e.g., 128 levels for 64 equal color components and 64 with one of the color components offset by one increment). Higher dynamic range ultrasound data maps with less or no loss of dynamic range to a display with a lower true gray scale dynamic range. Spatial dithering may alternatively or additionally increase perception of the dynamic range. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018448 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a cross-sectional image generating unit, a region-of-interest setting unit, a three-dimensional image generating unit and a display unit. The cross-sectional image generating unit generates a cross-sectional image corresponding to a desired cross-sectional plane by performing a two-dimensionally scan on the cross-sectional plane within a three-dimensional scannable region. The region-of-interest setting unit sets a second region of interest for a three dimensional image within a three-dimensional region based upon a first region of interest in the cross-sectional image. The three-dimensional image generating unit performs a three-dimensionally scan on the three-dimensional region including the second region of interest, sets a view point based upon the second region of interest, and generates the three dimensional image, including the second region of interest, in a line of sight from the view point. The display unit displays the three-dimensional image. | 01-15-2009 |
20090024032 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitting section for driving a probe transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject; a receiving section for amplifying a reflected echo, produced by getting the ultrasonic wave reflected by a tissue and received at the probe, to generate a received signal; an image processing section for generating a tomographic image of the subject based on the signal; a region setting section for setting an arbitrary range of the tomographic image as a region of interest; a motion information gathering section for getting the motion information of the subject at measuring points on the subject based on the signal; a property value calculating section for calculating the property values of target tissues of the subject, specified by the measuring points, by reference to the motion information; and a distribution plotting section, which gets the property measured values and plots a frequency distribution of the property values based on the property values of the target tissues located within the region of interest set by the setting section. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024033 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus which forms a three-dimensional bloodstream image by reference to volume data obtained from a three-dimensional space within a living organism. A modified maximum value detection method is applied along each ray. Search of a maximum value is sequentially executed from a search start point, and at a time point when a predetermined termination condition is satisfied, a maximum value which is being detected at this time point is regarded as a specific maximum value. The specific maximum value is then converted into a pixel value. The specific maximum value is a first peak and is specified even if a higher peak exists after the first peak. A three-dimensional bloodstream image is formed by a plurality of pixel values. In a portion of the three-dimensional bloodstream image in which two bloodstreams cross each other, a bloodstream located on the front side is preferentially displayed. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024034 | RELATIVE POSITION DETERMINATION MEDICAL ULTRASOUND SCANS - Using a conformal array or an ultrasound probe sequentially positioned at different locations, scans of overlapping regions are performed. A fiber optic sensor or light intensity based sensor determines the relative position of the probe or arrays for each of the scans. This relative position simplifies data correlation by limiting the search and/or is used to determine the relative position of the scans or data. The data may be aligned and combined. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024035 | MULTI STAGE BEAMFORMING - Beamforming for N elements in performed in log(N) steps of complexity O(N). The signals measured at each element are treated as a receive beam formed by that element with a beam width equal to the element pattern or the width of the transmit illumination. In each of multiple stages, the number of elements is halved by effectively doubling the pitch. The number of beams formed by each element is doubled by narrowing the beam width by a factor of 2 in sin(θ). Since steering and focusing are separated, a single set of delays are applied to each element signal individually prior to the multi-stage beam forming for each finite depth. The data is in a sector format, but by using two beamforming steps, data in a Vector® format is provided. | 01-22-2009 |
20090030313 | Three Dimensional Diagnostic Ultrasonic Image Display - A three dimensional ultrasonic imaging system acquires 3D image data from a volumetric region and processes the image data to produce a live 3D image of the volumetric region, a 2D image of a face or a central cut plane of the volumetric region, and a 2D image of a cut plane which is orthogonal to the plane of the first 2D image. The two 2D images enable the user to quickly orient the position of the anatomy shown in 3D in the live 3D image. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030314 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a 3D tomographic image data capturing device which captures 3D tomographic image data from a 3D region inside a subject, a region-of-interest setting device which sets a 3D region of interest corresponding to the 3D region in an image memory, a surface image extracting device which extracts data on a surface image, in the 3D region of interest, of a massive tissue included in the 3D region, a stereoscopic display generating device which generates stereoscopic display data, and a display device which displays the stereoscopic display data. The region-of-interest setting device displays a 2D tomographic image of a 2D region including the massive tissue on the display device, allows setting of a marker indicating a periphery of the massive tissue in the 2D tomographic image, and generates the 3D region of interest according to data on the marker's position. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030315 | MEDICAL SYSTEM - A medical system of the invention includes: a first medical apparatus for acquiring first biological information; a second medical apparatus for acquiring second biological information different from the first biological information; a first instruction inputting portion for providing an operational instruction to the first medical apparatus; and a second instruction inputting portion for providing an operational instruction to the second medical apparatus. The first instruction inputting portion has a common instruction inputting portion for providing a common operational instruction of the operational instruction provided to the first medical apparatus and the operational instruction provided to the second medical apparatus. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030316 | IMAGE PLANE STABILIZATION FOR MEDICAL IMAGING - A medical imaging system automatically acquires two-dimensional images representing a user-defined region of interest despite motion. The plane of acquisition is updated or altered adaptively as a function of detected motion. The user-designated region of interest is then continually scanned due to the alteration in scan plane position. A multi-dimensional array is used to stabilize imaging of a region of interest in a three-dimensional volume. The user defines a region of interest for two-dimensional imaging. Motion is then detected. The position of a scan plane used to generate a subsequent two-dimensional image is then oriented as a function of the detected motion within the three-dimensional volume. By repeating the motion determination and adaptive alteration of the scan plane position, real time imaging of a same region of interest is provided while minimizing the region of interest fading into or out of the sequence of images. | 01-29-2009 |
20090036775 | MEDICAL GUIDING SYSTEM - A medical guiding system of the invention includes: a detection portion for detecting and outputting a position and an orientation of an ultrasound transducer; a reference image storage portion for storing reference image data having anatomical positional information of an organ of a human body; and a guide image creation portion for creating, based on the output from the detection portion and the reference image data, a guide image configured of: an anatomical model image of the organ of the human body; an ultrasound tomographic image marker showing a position and an orientation with respect to the model image of the latest ultrasound tomographic image; and an image scan history marker showing a position and an orientation with respect to the model image, of a region where the ultrasound tomographic image has been scanned in the past. | 02-05-2009 |
20090043200 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Using three-dimensional mapping images at different time phases obtained by mapping motion information, a peak value of motion information in a local region is retrieved in each of the time phases. On the basis of the result, a locus line or the like indicative of fluctuations with time in the local peak region is generated and displayed so as to be, for example, superimposed on a mapping image. By observing the locus line on the mapping image displayed, the observer can directly grasp the state of the space-time propagation of mechanical excitement of the heart. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043201 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus includes a random processing device which adds independent random components to a pixel value of a pixel point on each actual frame corresponding to a given time and a pixel value of a pixel point on each actual frame corresponding to a time subsequent to the time respectively thereby to obtain random-processed pixel values and a weighting/adding device which weights/adds the random-processed pixel values thereby to obtain a pixel value of a pixel point on each interpolation frame corresponding to an intermediate time. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043202 | IDENTIFICATION OF A PERSON BASED ON ULTRA-SOUND SCAN ANALYSES OF HAND BONE GEOMETRY - A method for producing a model of bone geometry of a volumetric region of a body is provided. The method comprises scanning the volumetric region using ultrasound and acquiring geometric data associated with bones; identifying points derived from a surface of the bones; organizing the points into separate bone entities and transforming the points so as to position the bone entities in accordance with a normalized template. The model may be used for identifying or verifying the identity of a person. | 02-12-2009 |
20090048515 | BIOPSY PLANNING SYSTEM - Guided biopsy is a commonly used method to remove suspicious tissues from an internal organ for pathological tests so that malignancy can be established. Provided herein are systems and methods (i.e., utilities) that allow for automated application of one or more predefined biopsy target plans to an acquired medical image including without limitation, an ultrasound prostate image. Due to different shapes and sizes of prostates as well as orientation of prostate with respect to an ultrasound probe during image, acquisition a simple prostate model (e.g., ellipse) with a fixed plan may not be sufficient. Accordingly, it has been determined that a deformable shape model with integrated biopsy target locations/sites may be fit to a prostate image to provide improved automated biopsy targeting. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048516 | IMAGE DIAGNOSING DEVICE - An diagnostic imaging apparatus for imaging information changing with time and displaying it in real time, composed of an ultrasonic probe ( | 02-19-2009 |
20090054775 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGING METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a contrast image creating device which transmits each of contrast imaging transmission pulses and creates a contrast image, based on a received signal corresponding contrast imaging transmission pulse; a first reference image creating device which creates a reference image using the received signal corresponding to the contrast imaging transmission pulse; a second reference image creating device which transmits a reference transmission pulse different in frequency from the contrast imaging transmission pulse and creates a reference image, based on a received signal corresponding to the reference transmission pulse; a switching device which selects one of the first reference image creating device and the second reference image creating device and activates the same; and an image display device which displays the contrast image and the reference image side by side or displays the same in superimposed form. | 02-26-2009 |
20090054776 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING 3-D IMAGES - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and a 3-D image data scan method that can continuously display 3-D image data in both a pre-scan mode and a triggered entire volume mode by collecting the volume data of a plurality of volume scan regions of an object from the start of the scan. In the pre-scan mode, a plurality of 3-D sub-regions are set by dividing an object scan region along a direction vertical to the reference scan plane. In a triggered volume mode for collecting volume data, a 3-D scan of a 3-D sub-region including the reference scan plane is performed in preference to other 3-D sub-regions in order to continuously display 2-D image data acquired on the reference scan plane in the pre-scan mode and MPR image data acquired in the entire triggered volume mode from an initial scan time. | 02-26-2009 |
20090054777 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a plurality of transmitter-receiver units each having a probe connector, a transmitter-receiver and a power supply; a plurality of display units each having an image display and a power supply; a plurality of operation units each having an operating part and a power supply; and a control unit. The plural transmitter-receiver units, the plural display units and the plural operation units can be connected to the control unit, and the control unit can control the thus-connected plural transmitter-receiver units, plural display units and plural operation units each independently. | 02-26-2009 |
20090054778 | Volume Rendering Quality Adaptations for Ultrasound Imaging - Rendering quality parameter values are automatically set or adjusted as a function of acquisition ultrasound parameter values. The rendering quality is automatically selected based on the acquisition quality, such as providing for a higher quality or quality rendering for slower acquisitions. More than two rendering states are provided for a respective, more than two different quality settings. | 02-26-2009 |
20090054779 | IMAGE PLANE STABILIZATION FOR MEDICAL IMAGING - A medical imaging system automatically acquires two-dimensional images representing a user-defined region of interest despite motion. The plane of acquisition is updated or altered adaptively as a function of detected motion. The user-designated region of interest is then continually scanned due to the alteration in scan plane position. A multi-dimensional array is used to stabilize imaging of a region of interest in a three-dimensional volume. The user defines a region of interest for two-dimensional imaging. Motion is then detected. The position of a scan plane used to generate a subsequent two-dimensional image is then oriented as a function of the detected motion within the three-dimensional volume. By repeating the motion determination and adaptive alteration of the scan plane position, real time imaging of a same region of interest is provided while minimizing the region of interest fading into or out of the sequence of images. | 02-26-2009 |
20090062648 | Automatic gain control in medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging - Gain is adjusted automatically in ultrasound imaging. The average of signals regardless of type of reflector (e.g., tissue or fluid) is determined, such as from all data in a frame of data representing a scanned region. The gain is set based on the difference between the average and the target. The gain offset is used with or without other gain limitations for analog, digital, or both analog and digital amplifiers. Given less computational expense, a same processor performing image processing functions may be used to also determine gain. A handheld ultrasound scanner with less computation bandwidth may implement the automatic gain adjustment. Given limited space for input devices, a depth gain may be provided without sliders or other depth based gain input. | 03-05-2009 |
20090062649 | SCAN CONVERSION FOR ULTRASONIC IMAGING AND APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A scan conversion method for ultrasonic imaging is disclosed. The method comprises a storage step for storing sample data derived from ultrasonic echo signals into a memory; a conversion step for performing conversion between target coordinate points in a display coordinate system and interpolation coordinate points in a sampling coordinate system; and an interpolation step for interpolating several sample data adjacent to the interpolation coordinate points to obtain the interpolation data at the interpolation coordinate points, wherein the interpolation step includes a nonlinear interpolation substep selected for low-pass filter of the ultrasonic echo signals. When interpolation is conducted along Axis θ of the polar coordinates, 4-point interpolation may be used. The interpolation coefficient may be based on cubic B-spline function, which has relatively uniform low-pass filter effects, thereby reducing noise result from interpolation in ultrasonic image. | 03-05-2009 |
20090062650 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - According to this invention, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is provided which generates a tomographic image of a subject site in a living body, including a region-of-interest setting section which sets a region-of-interest in the tomographic image, a data acquiring section which samples, from one piece of sound ray data within the region-of-interest, pieces of data at at least two positions including a piece of data at one position included in the one piece of sound ray data and a piece of data at at least one position upwardly or downwardly spaced apart from the one position by an interval of a predetermined number of pixels in a depth direction of the one piece of sound ray data, and a blood flow data calculating section which calculates a piece of blood flow data at the one position by performing spatial averaging on the pieces of data sampled by the data acquiring section. | 03-05-2009 |
20090062651 | IMAGE PLANE STABILIZATION FOR MEDICAL IMAGING - A medical imaging system automatically acquires two-dimensional images representing a user-defined region of interest despite motion. The plane of acquisition is updated or altered adaptively as a function of detected motion. The user-designated region of interest is then continually scanned due to the alteration in scan plane position. A multi-dimensional array is used to stabilize imaging of a region of interest in a three-dimensional volume. The user defines a region of interest for two-dimensional imaging. Motion is then detected. The position of a scan plane used to generate a subsequent two-dimensional image is then oriented as a function of the detected motion within the three-dimensional volume. By repeating the motion determination and adaptive alteration of the scan plane position, real time imaging of a same region of interest is provided while minimizing the region of interest fading into or out of the sequence of images. | 03-05-2009 |
20090069681 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPATIAL COMPOUNDING USING PHASED ARRAYS - The present invention is directed to a system and method which makes a phased array look like a curved array for purposes of performing spatial compounding calculations. In one embodiment, the phased array is treated as though it were a curved array by creating both a virtual apex and a virtual radius of curvature. Based on this transformation, standard spatial-compounding resampling tables can be used just as they are with curved arrays. In one embodiment, after the data is compounded to form the target image, certain data is removed prior to the actual display. This removed data represents data generated by virtual rays the prior to the physical skin line of the phased array. | 03-12-2009 |
20090069682 | SIMPLIFIED CONTROLS FOR IMPLEMENTING DEPTH-BASED GAIN CONTROL IN ULTRASOUND SYSTEMS - An improved approach for implementing depth-based gain control is implemented by adjusting the gain at each depth in the image based on a family of stored curves, with each curve in the family specifying the gain adjustment for all depths as a function of depth. A user interface enables the user to select an entire curve at once (as opposed to the prior art approach of using a set of individually and independently adjustable gain controls for each depth range). The selected curve is then used to modify the gain adjustment provided by the default time gain compensation (TGC) curve. | 03-12-2009 |
20090069683 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - A transmission and reception unit controls probes to form an ultrasound beam which intersects a bone and obtains a reception signal. A beam evaluating unit evaluates an intersection state of the ultrasound beam with respect to the bone based on a shape of an envelope of the reception signal. More specifically, the beam evaluating unit determines a quality of the reception signal based on a height and a slope of a hill-like portion, included in the envelope, corresponding to the bone and evaluates the intersection state of the ultrasound beam. | 03-12-2009 |
20090069684 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ULTRASONIC IMAGE - An imaging part transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject and receives reflected waves from the subject, thereby acquiring plural volume data of the subject. A specifying part specifies a surface site included in a face corresponding to the surface of the subject, in each of the plural volume data. A synthesizer executes position matching of the subject shown in each of the plural volume data. The synthesizer couples the plural volume data after position matching, and couples the respective surface sites specified in the respective volume data, thereby generating synthesized volume data. Based on the synthesized volume data, an image generator generates morphology image data showing the morphology of the subject and surface image data showing the coupled surface sites. A display controller controls a display to display a morphology image based on the morphology image data and a surface image based on the surface image data. | 03-12-2009 |
20090069685 | MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - A measurement apparatus measures a spectroscopic characteristic and a structural characteristic of a specimen. At the measurement site of the specimen, a modulation of light from the light source part by an acousto-optical effect and a generation of the ultrasound echo signal simultaneously occur, the light detecting unit detects modulated light that is simultaneously generated, and the ultrasound detecting unit detects the ultrasound echo signal that is simultaneously generated. | 03-12-2009 |
20090082668 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - An imaging part transmits ultrasonic waves to a specific tissue having a tubular morphology in a three-dimensional region and acquires volume data showing the specific tissue. A tomographic image generator generates tomographic image data in a specified cross-section of the specific tissue based on the volume data. A boundary setting part sets a boundary of the specific tissue shown in the tomographic image data. A developed image generator sets a viewpoint at a specified position with respect to the boundary and executes a rendering process on the volume data along a view direction from the viewpoint toward the boundary, thereby generating developed image data in which the specific tissue is developed along the boundary. | 03-26-2009 |
20090082669 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - The average value of sensitivities in each of the image areas (m×n) recognized as a subject is calculated. If the average value of sensitivities is greater than the threshold value, the transmission voltage to the ultrasonic probe is limited according to the difference between the average value of sensitivities and the threshold value. | 03-26-2009 |
20090088637 | MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, MEDICAL IMAGING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE STORAGE APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - In a system for diagnoses of mammary glands and breasts using radiation and ultrasonic waves in combination, images are correlated for easier visual recognition. The system includes an apparatus for acquiring a radiation image of an object projected on a projection surface, acquiring an ultrasonic slice image of the object along a slice surface substantially orthogonal to the projection surface, and generating first image data representing ultrasonic slice images along slice surfaces, second image data representing a radiation image, and location data representing locations of the slice surfaces on the projection surface; an apparatus for correlating and storing those data; and an apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic slice image based on the first image data, and displaying a radiation image, on which a marker indicating a location of the slice surface on the projection surface is shown, based on the second data and the location data. | 04-02-2009 |
20090088638 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an image synthesizing unit for performing the following processings. That is, the image synthesizing unit performs a multiple resolution analysis for the respective images of a plurality of frames by a predetermined transform processing, performs a filter operation processing for each of the coefficients corresponding among the images of a plurality of frames, in each coefficient of each resolution obtained by the multiple resolution analysis, and performs an inverse transform processing of the predetermined transform processing for a result of the filter operation processing to generate an image of one frame. | 04-02-2009 |
20090088639 | Ultrasound device - An ultrasound device is provided. The ultrasound device includes an ultrasound transducer to be moved along an object to be examined and a control device that communicates with the ultrasound device, controls the transmit and receive mode of the ultrasound transducer and processes the ultrasound signals received. The ultrasound transducer is arranged on a robotic arm that can be freely moved in space and controlled in terms of its movement. | 04-02-2009 |
20090093716 | Method and apparatus for evaluation of labor with ultrasound - Movement of an object within an ultrasound volume may be tracked by acquiring at least first and second volumes of ultrasound data comprising imaging data representing an anatomical structure within a patient and at least a portion of an object. The second volume is acquired at a time subsequent to the first volume. A first relationship is identified between the object and the anatomical structure on a first image that is based on the first volume. A second relationship is identified between the object and the anatomical structure on a second image that is based on the second volume. Movement of the object is determined based on at least one of the first and second relationships. | 04-09-2009 |
20090093717 | Automated Fetal Measurement From Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Data - A fetal parameter or anatomy is measured or detected from three-dimensional ultrasound data. An algorithm is machine-trained to detect fetal anatomy. Any machine training approach may be used. The machine-trained classifier is a joint classifier, such that one anatomy is detected using the ultrasound data and the detected location of another anatomy. The machine-trained classifier uses marginal space such that the location of anatomy is detected sequentially through translation, orientation and scale rather than detecting for all location parameters at once. The machine-trained classifier includes detectors for detecting from the ultrasound data at different resolutions, such as in a pyramid volume. | 04-09-2009 |
20090093718 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, RADIOFREQUENCY WAVE CAUTERY TREATMENT DEVICE, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SYSTEM, AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnosis and treatment system includes an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waves, an image generator unit for generating an ultrasonic image based on the echo signals received by the ultrasonic probe, and a biopsy needle for radiating the radiofrequency waves. The ultrasonic diagnosis and treatment system includes a controller unit for alternately performing the transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave by means of the ultrasonic probe and the radiofrequency wave radiation by the biopsy needle. | 04-09-2009 |
20090099449 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR 4D DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS IN AN ULTRASOUND PROTOCOL EXAMINATION - Methods and apparatus for 4D data acquisition and analysis in an ultrasound protocol examination are provided. The method includes acquiring 4D ultrasound scan data during a protocol based examination. The method further includes aligning images formed from the 4D ultrasound scan data while the 4D ultrasound scan data is being acquired to allow the automatic extraction of standard imaging projections. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099450 | Method for displaying a relationship of a measurement in a medical image - The embodiments described herein relate to a method and system for simultaneously displaying relationships of measurements of features associated with a medical image. In one embodiment, a plurality of measurements of features associated with a medical image are provided. Each of the plurality of measurements corresponds to a respective measurement type. Relationships are created between the measurements and references specific to the measurement types, and at least two of the created relationships are simultaneously displayed in a graphical display format. Examples using fetal growth data and time intensity curves are disclosed. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099451 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ULTRASONIC IMAGE - A transmitter transmits ultrasonic waves to an object via an ultrasonic probe. A receiver receives echo signals reflected from the object via the ultrasonic probe. The receiver executes a delaying process on the echo signals in accordance with a plurality of set sound velocities for a delaying process, thereby generating a plurality of reception signals with different set sound velocities. An image generator generates a plurality of image data with the different set sound velocities based on the reception signals with the different set sound velocities. A contrast calculator obtains the contrast of each of the plurality of image data with the different set sound velocities. A selector selects image data with the highest contrast from among the plurality of image data. A display controller controls a display to display an image based on the image data selected by the selector. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099452 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes an image acquisition device for administering a contrast agent and acquiring B-mode image information, an image storing device for storing the B-mode image information during a predetermined imaging time range from after the administration, a first maximum intensity projection device for forming first maximum intensity projection image information using the B-mode image information acquired in a first time range contained in the imaging time range, a second maximum intensity projection device for forming second maximum intensity projection image information using the B-mode image information acquired in a second time range contained in the first time range, a second image formation device for forming a second image based on the second maximum intensity projection image information, an overlaid image generation device for generating an overlaid image in which the second image is overlaid on a first image of the first maximum intensity projection image information. | 04-16-2009 |
20090105589 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ACQUIRING ULTRASONIC ELASTIC IMAGE - [Problem] To select a period suitable for acquiring an elastic image in accordance with variation of the displacement amount of a moving tissue when the elastic image of the moving tissue is acquired, thereby stably acquiring an elastic image of high image quality. | 04-23-2009 |
20090105590 | Apparatus For Two-Dimensional Transducers Used In Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Imaging - A single chip transducer apparatus that includes on-chip electronic circuitry which, when connected properly to a two-dimensional matrix of ultrasonic transducer elements, provides enough information to an external imaging system to form three-dimensional images of the subject of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry provides an amplifier for each transducer element, and then conditions the output of the amplifier in several ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the elements' analog voltages are stored in a sample and hold circuit, and time multiplexed into a high speed line driver that sends many elements data down the interconnect to the system's high speed Analog to Digital converters. In another embodiment, the gain of the amplifiers can be controlled in time to provide aperture translation and time based expansion for translating and focusing image slices in the elevation direction. | 04-23-2009 |
20090105591 | 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, and an image is formed, and then displayed, from the sum of the first order and second order component signals of the received distorted signal. | 04-23-2009 |
20090112089 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING BLADDER WALL THICKNESS AND PRESENTING A BLADDER VIRTUAL IMAGE - An ultrasound transceiver scans a bladder in a three dimensional array to measure the thickness and surface area of the bladder to determine bladder mass. The bladder wall thickness and masses may be determined for anterior, posterior, and lateral locations of the bladder. | 04-30-2009 |
20090124903 | Ultrasound Diagnostic Apparatus and Method of Displaying Ultrasound Image - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises an unit | 05-14-2009 |
20090124904 | Ultrasound System And Method For Forming BC-Mode Image - The present invention relates to an ultrasound system. The ultrasound system includes a control unit, a transmit/receive unit and an image processing unit. The control unit generates first and second control signals for a B-mode scan and a C-mode scan. The transmit/receive unit transmits ultrasound signals along a plurality of scan lines set in a target object and form receive signals based on the ultrasound echo signals. The receive signals include first and second receive signals formed in response to the first and second control signals, respectively. The ultrasound system further includes a storage unit for storing the first and second receive signals. The image processing unit forms a B-mode image and a C-mode image based on the first and second receive signals stored in the storage unit, and combines the B-mode image with the C-mode image to form a BC-mode image. The control unit divides the scan lines into a plurality of scan line groups and generates a third control signal for an alternate B-mode scan along scan lines of the respective scan line groups. The control unit repeatedly generates the second and third control signals. | 05-14-2009 |
20090124905 | Ultrasound System And Method For Forming BC-Mode Image - The present invention relates to an ultrasound system. A control generates a first control signal for a B-mode scan and a second control signal for a C-mode scan. A transmit/receive unit transmits ultrasound signals along a plurality of scan lines set in a target object and form receive signals based on the ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object. The receive signals include first receive signals corresponding to the scan lines and second receive signals corresponding to a portion of scan lines within the color box. The image processing unit forms a B-mode image and a C-mode image based on the first and second receive signals, and combine the B-mode image with the C-mode image to form a BC-mode image. The control unit computes a time ratio of a first time required to form the B-mode image to a second time required to form the C-mode image, and generates a third control signal for a B-mode scan along scan lines, which are not within the color box, based on the time ratio to form third receive signals. The image processing unit forms a B-mode image based on the third receive signals and the second signals. | 05-14-2009 |
20090124906 | Three dimensional mapping display system for diagnostic ultrasound machines and method - An apparatus, system, and method where the ultrasound transducer position registration is automated, calculates the position of each pixel in the ultrasound image in reference to the predetermined anatomical reference points (AR) and can store the information on demand. The graphic interface associated with the ultrasound image allows for the instant display of selected targets position coordinates relative to anatomical reference points, in the ultrasound images. This system would significantly reduce the ultrasound examination time, by eliminating the time consuming manual labeling of images and speeding up the target finding at subsequent examinations, enhance correlation capability with other diagnostic imaging modalities like CT scans, MRI, mammograms, decrease human errors and fatigue, provide an easy, uniform, method of communicating the target position among healthcare providers. | 05-14-2009 |
20090131793 | PORTABLE IMAGING SYSTEM HAVING A SINGLE SCREEN TOUCH PANEL - A portable imaging system is presented. The system includes a single panel display, where the single panel display includes a first portion configured to display an image and a second portion configured as a touch-based user interface. A method of imaging using a portable imaging system, where the portable imaging system includes a single panel display, where the single panel display includes a first portion configured to display an image and a second portion configured as a touch-based user interface, a controls portion, where the controls portion includes one or more buttons configured to aid in performing commonly used functions, is also presented. The method includes displaying an image on the first portion of the single panel display. In addition, the method includes manipulating the image using controls on the touch-based user interface. | 05-21-2009 |
20090131794 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR QUICKLY DETERMINING AN IMAGING REGION IN AN ULTRASONIC IMAGING SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for quickly determining an imaging region associated with the current transmission in an ultrasonic imaging system includes determining a profile of the imaging region to be processed and, in turn, boundaries of that imaging region according to characteristics of the current transmitted sound field and the demand of the imaging mode. The method also includes computing a set of rectangular coordinates of points on the imaging region to be processed according to the determined boundaries. | 05-21-2009 |
20090131795 | Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a probe that transmits ultrasound beams to a body of an object to be examined, and receives echo signals from the said object, a reception unit that receives the echo signals from the probe, a store which stores the received echo signals, readout-range setter which sets at least two predetermined partial readout dynamic ranges which do not completely overlap one another for an overall dynamic range of the echo signals stored in the store, a reader which reads out the echo signals of each of the at least two predetermined partial readout dynamic ranges, and which converts the readout signals of the at least two predetermined partial readout dynamic ranges to data having a display dynamic range of a display, a display which displays the echo signals readout as an image. | 05-21-2009 |
20090143679 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TISSUE FROM AN ENDOCAVITY - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for imaging the mechanical properties of a tissue region from within an endocavity of a patient. The apparatus generally comprises an ultrasound probe, a vibration assembly translationally coupled to probe and operable to vibrate the probe along a vibration plane, and a rotation assembly rotationally coupled to the vibration assembly and operable to rotate the probe and vibration assembly about a selected rotational range. The method generally comprises inserting an ultrasound probe into an endocavity of a patient, vibrating the probe along a vibration plane thereby causing deformational excitement of a tissue region contacted by the probe, capturing a first series of ultrasound images of the tissue region, rotating the vibration plane relative to the tissue region by a selected angular rotation, and capturing a second series of ultrasound images of the tissue region. | 06-04-2009 |
20090143680 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCAN CONVERSION AND INTERPOLATION OF ULTRASONIC LINEAR ARRAY STEERING IMAGING - A method and apparatus for scan conversion and interpolation of linear array steering imaging in an ultrasonic system are disclosed. The method computes the points that are most related to the point to be interpolated in the principal direction of the point spread function and performs interpolation in the principal direction of the point spread function according to the steering angle of the scan lines so as to obtain a more accurate interpolation result. | 06-04-2009 |
20090149756 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A method and apparatus for medical ultrasound imaging. A three dimensional image data of a whole organ is acquired at a first resolution during a cardiac cycle. A three dimensional image data of a sector of the organ is acquired at a second higher resolution during another cardiac cycle. The data are compared so as to allow registration of the sector with respect to the whole organ. | 06-11-2009 |
20090156933 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR RELIABLE 3D ASSESSMENT OF RIGHT VENTRICLE OF THE HEART AND METHOD OF DOING THE SAME - The present invention relates to a method and a system for right ventricular 3D quantification by registering and merging or fusing together several (2-5) 3D acquisitions for an extended field of view in 3D to have the right ventricle in one 3D data set. | 06-18-2009 |
20090156934 | Ultrasound Imaging System Including A Graphic Processing Unit - The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound diagnostic unit and an image processing unit. The ultrasound diagnostic unit transmits ultrasound signals to a target object and forms receive data based on ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object. The image processing unit forms an ultrasound image based on the receive data. The image processing unit includes a graphic processing unit configured to perform at least one of functions including processing the receive data to form image data, performing scan conversion upon the image data to form scan-converted data suitable for display, and rendering and filtering the scan-converted data to form pixel data. | 06-18-2009 |
20090171205 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATING BLOOD VESSELS - A method and system for detecting blood vessels and precisely determining parameters in respect thereof, such as geometry, depth and diameter. Optical imaging, such as IR imaging, is used to obtain a general overview ( | 07-02-2009 |
20090171206 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A peripheral region is detected by using original image data acquired by ultrasound scan. Blend processing is executed in the peripheral region such that a rate of a smoothed image increases and a rate of an original image decreases as a distance from a blood flow region increases. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171207 | ULTRASONIC DIAGONSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Low-resolution image data for recognizing signal components macroscopically is generated, an effective diagnostic component and an ineffective diagnostic component are determined by using the low-resolution image data, and a correction coefficient is decided for every pixel such that the correction coefficient is set to 1 for the effective diagnostic component and the correction coefficient is set to equal to or larger than 0 and smaller than 1 for the ineffective diagnostic component. In addition, correction processing for raising the contrast between the effective diagnostic component and the ineffective diagnostic component by multiplying each pixel value of original image data by a corresponding correction coefficient is executed. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171208 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Multiresolution decomposition of image data before scan conversion processing is hierarchically performed, low-frequency decomposed image data and high-frequency decomposed image data with first to n-th levels are acquired, nonlinear anisotropic diffusion filtering is performed on output data from a next lower layer or the low-frequency decomposed image data in a lowest layer, and filtering for generating edge information on a signal for every layer is performed from the output data from the next lower layer or the low-frequency decomposed image data in the lowest layer. In addition, on the basis of the edge information on each layer, a signal level of the high-frequency decomposed image data is controlled for every layer and multiresolution mixing of the output data of the nonlinear anisotropic diffusion filter and the output data of the high-frequency level control, which are obtained in each layer, are hierarchically performed. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171209 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING ULTRASOUND IMAGES - The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic device. The ultrasound diagnostic device comprises: a storage unit configured to store a plurality of consecutive image frames based on ultrasound echoes reflected from a target object; an image processing unit configured to form preview images of the image frames, wherein the preview images are stored in the storage unit in association with the corresponding image frames; and a user input unit allowing a user to input a selection instruction for selecting one of the preview images, wherein the image processing unit is further configured to read out an image frame corresponding to the selected preview image from the storage unit in response to the selection instruction. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171210 | SONOELECTRIC TOMOGRAPHY USING A FREQUENCY-SWEPT ULTRASONIC WAVE - Sonoelectric tomography to achieve high-resolution bioelectric imaging. Bioelectrical signals originating from various locations in an object are ultrasonically encoded to carry different frequencies that vary with time via a frequency-swept signal or chirp. The frequency-sweeping parameters are chosen so that no frequencies are duplicated in the medium at any given time. The frequency distribution is decoded, for example, by means of the Fourier transformation to recover a bioelectric image with high spatial resolution. The spatial resolution of the image is defined by the ultrasonic frequency parameters, whereas the image contrast is derived from the bioelectric signals. In an embodiment, an ultrasonic transducer transmits a frequency-swept (e.g., chirped) ultrasonic wave into the region of interest in the tissue. The ultrasonic wave may be focused to achieve high transverse resolution within the focal zone. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171211 | 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 which makes variable the frame interval of the RF signal frame data to be outputted, and an elastic image generating section which sets the optimum imaging range for each elastic frame data generated based on the RF signal frame data and generates elastic image. | 07-02-2009 |
20090177086 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY ENHANCING ULTRASOUND IMAGE DATA - Noise may be reduced in ultrasound images that comprise at least a fluid area and a tissue area. The image data comprises pixels having input intensity values. Edge pixels associated with an edge within the tissue area are detected. The input intensity values of at least a portion of non-edge pixels are modulated to be less than the input intensity value of the none-edge pixel to form a selectively enhanced image for display. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177087 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus performs a plurality of times an action to transmit ultrasonic pulses to a subject, receives said plurality of times the reflected ultrasonic pulse train of said ultrasonic pulses reflected from said subject, generates one line of sound ray information by using said plurality of reflected ultrasonic pulse trains, and forms image information in which items of said sound ray information differing in the position or the direction of said transmission and said reception are arrayed. Said ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: a B mode processing unit which forms B mode image information by using any one of said plurality of reflected ultrasonic pulse trains; a kinetic information detecting unit which detects kinetic information on said subject on the basis of said B mode image information; and a motion compensating unit which compensates image information for motions on the basis of said kinetic information. | 07-09-2009 |
20090182233 | Ultrasound System With Integrated Control Switches - An ultrasound imaging system with a digital scanning architecture for configuring connections that transmit pulser timing signals among transducer subelements. The system provides multiple operating states that each generate a different wave pattern. An integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of circuit support cells, each including pulser circuitry for operation of at least one of the subelements. The circuit structure also includes first connections each selectable through one of multiple first access switches, these providing a timing signal to the pulser circuitry in one of the circuit support cells. Some of the support circuit cells further include one or more timing channel select switches providing selectable connections to transmit different pulser timing signals among the first access switches. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182234 | METHOD FOR ASSESSING MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AN ELASTIC MATERIAL - A method for assessing mechanical properties of an elastic material includes obtaining volumetric ultrasound data sets of the elastic material in two different states of compression. First ultrasound image data of a first hypersurface region of interest (ROI) is selected from a first of the data sets, and second ultrasound image data of a second hypersurface ROI is selected from a second of the data sets. The first ultrasound image data and the second ultrasound image data are compared to determine motion within the elastic material. If out of ROI motion of the elastic material is not less than a specified or predetermined amount and if an allowed number of iterations has not been met, the orientation of at least one ROI is changed and a portion of the process is iterated. Otherwise, an indication of motion resulting from the applied compression within the elastic material is displayed. | 07-16-2009 |
20090182235 | INCOHERENT RETROSPECTIVE DYNAMIC TRANSMIT FOCUSING - An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an image with an extended focal range and reduced speckle by transmitting a plurality of beams spaced along an array for multiline reception. The receive multilines of a plurality of transmit beams are spatially aligned with phase adjustment between the respective receive multilines to effect signal alignment, detected and combined. The combined multilines produce the effect of an extended transmit focus so that an image produced using the combined multilines exhibits an extended focal range. Speckle is reduced by nonlinearly combining received multilines produced by different transmit apertures. | 07-16-2009 |
20090187104 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ULTRASOUND IMAGE - A controller makes a scan part scan a three-dimensional first scanning region so as to acquire volume data in the first scanning region and makes the scan part to consecutively scan a second scanning region that is smaller than the first scanning region and is included in the first scanning region more than once so as to consecutively acquire the volume data in the second scanning region. An image generator generates ultrasound image data in the first scanning region including the second scanning region based on the volume data in the first scanning region. Further, the image generator generates new ultrasound image data by updating the volume data in the second scanning region every time volume data in the second scanning region is acquired. The display controller causes a display to update and causes to display an ultrasound image every time new ultrasound image data is generated. | 07-23-2009 |
20090192386 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic probe, a scan controller, a storage unit, and an image generation unit, the scan controller receives a trigger signal every heartbeat period, scans each of a predetermined number of blocks of a particular diagnostic region of a body under examination with an ultrasonic beam a plurality of times in response to the trigger signal. The storage unit converts an acquired reflection signal into image data and stores the image data of an amount corresponding to a period in which the body under examination is fully scanned a plurality of times. The image generation unit selects image data from the image data stored in the storage unit for the respective blocks in accordance with the spatial arrangement order without being restricted by the temporal acquisition order, and generates a full image of the body under examination by connecting the selected image data. | 07-30-2009 |
20090198132 | HAND-HELD ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICE HAVING RECONFIGURABLE USER INTERFACE - A hand-holdable ultrasound machine has a number of user controls. The machine can be switched between at least a first mode wherein controls providing certain functions are in first locations and a second mode wherein the controls are in second locations. The machine may switch between modes in which the controls are positioned for convenient left- or right-handed operation and/or modes in which the controls are positioned for convenient one- or two-handed operation. The controls may be provided on a touch-sensitive display. A hand-holdable ultrasound machine displays images on a display. The images are rotatable. In some embodiments the machine senses a direction of motion and auto-rotates the images in response to the sensed direction. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198133 | ULTRASONOGRAPH, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of measuring a three-dimensional motion of a biological tissue in a short time. An image processor creates volume data based on image data of a B-mode image of a biological tissue and creates image data of a series of tomographic images in time series for the respective two or more sectional positions based on the volume data. A controller displays one tomographic image for each sectional position on a display part. A user operates an operation part to designate a measurement image region on the displayed tomographic image. A displacement calculating part calculates a displacement in time series of the designated measurement image region for each sectional position. A motion information calculating part calculates motion information of the biological tissue based on the displacement of the measurement image region calculated for each sectional position. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198134 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured as follows. Namely, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with a control unit which collets a heart synchronized signal, etc. synchronizing with workings of a heart of a patient, etc., and an image processing unit which detects an overlapped area of the three-dimensional data acquired by ultrasonic scanning from different echo windows, for the three dimensional image data group acquired in the same time phase in synchronization with the heart synchronized signal or aspiration synchronized signal, combines the three-dimensional image data, and generates a panorama three-dimensional image data group consisting of panorama three-dimensional image data which are continued in time and have a display area larger than each of the three-dimensional image data. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198135 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an operating device for an operator to input an instruction, an image display device for displaying an ultrasonic image, a processing device which controls producing the ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by sending and receiving a ultrasonic wave and displaying it, and a table on which a patient lies. Said operating device is provided separately from said image display device, said processing device, and said table. Said table, said image display device, and said processing device are integrally provided on the side where said operating device is not placed with respect to the table. | 08-06-2009 |
20090198136 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image display device that displays an ultrasonic image, and a processing device that controls to generate an ultrasonic image on the basis of an echo signal obtained through the transmission of an ultrasonic wave and to display the ultrasonic image on the image display device. The image display device is mounted separate from the processing device, and attached at a ceiling or a wall of a room, to which the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is installed, through an arm, and the arm has a movable portion for changing the position of the image display device. | 08-06-2009 |
20090203997 | ULTRASOUND DISPLACEMENT IMAGING WITH SPATIAL COMPOUNDING - Artifacts in ultrasound displacement images are reduced by combining multiple component displacement images. For each component displacement image first a pre-displacement ultrasound image is generated from a particular imaging angle. Then a displacement force is applied on the object at a desired displacement angle via an ultrasound or other mechanical force. Then a post-displacement ultrasound image is generated from the same imaging angle. A component displacement image is generated by correlating the pre-displacement and post-displacement ultrasound images. The above steps are repeated for at least one other (imaging angle, displacement angle) pair, and the resulting component displacement images are combined to reduce displacement image artifacts. | 08-13-2009 |
20090203998 | HEART RATE COUNTER, PORTABLE APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR HEART RATE COUNTING - A heart rate counter comprising a light source; a camera arranged in a vicinity if the light source such that light from the light source is able to be registered through living tissue, and arranged to acquire a series of images of the light transmitted through the tissue; and an image processor connected to the camera and arranged to determine a heart rate by photoplethysmography from the series of images is disclosed. Further, corresponding portable apparatus, computer program, and method are disclosed | 08-13-2009 |
20090203999 | System and Method for DICOM Compliant Display of Ultrasound Images in Varying Ambient Light - An ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe receiving echo signals from a subject, and a processor converting echo signals received from the probe to echo data corresponding to an ultrasound image. The system also includes a grayscale mapper transforming the echo data received from the processor to a corresponding value of perception data. The grayscale mapper makes this transformation using a DICOM compliant GSDF calibration curve. The perception data is passed to a transform processor, which also receives an ambient light signal from an ambient light sensor. The transform processor converts the perception values to respective digital driving levels based on the ambient light signal and display characteristics of a display device to which the digital driving levels are applied to maintain optimal image display under varying ambient light conditions. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204000 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image creating unit configured to create an image of an affected area and an image of a puncture needle inserted into a subject by means of an ultrasonic scanning operation, and a monitor configured to display the image of the affected area and the image of the puncture needle created by the image creating unit, wherein the image creating unit displays a tissue expected to be extracted from the affected area as an image on the monitor before the puncture needle is inserted into the affected area. | 08-13-2009 |
20090204001 | ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A base has a plurality of projections or recesses. Each of the projections or recesses corresponds to one channel of vibration elements. Each of the vibration elements has a plurality of MUT elements. Each of the MUT elements transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. A plurality of MUT elements are arranged in each of the projections or recesses. Consequently, each of the vibration elements can transmit and receive ultrasonic waves having radiation surfaces curved along the surfaces of the projections or recesses. | 08-13-2009 |
20090209858 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an ultrasonic (US) imaging system having a transducer, and a controller managing operations of the transducer. The controller can be operative to cause the transducer to transmit a coded ultrasound signal to an object, cause the transducer to receive an altered coded ultrasound signal from the object, decode the altered coded ultrasound signal to attain a desired bandwidth that exceeds an impulse response of the US imaging system, subdivide the attained bandwidth of the decoded ultrasound signal into a plurality of sub-bands, and generate an image for each sub-band from signals included in each sub-band of the decoded ultrasound signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 08-20-2009 |
20090216123 | Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus and Ultrasonic Image Display Method - An image showing the spatial distribution of the hardness of a tissue of an object to be examined from which the influence of the pressure amount is eliminated is displayed. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216124 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes means for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from an object to be examined and capturing a dynamic image of the object. | 08-27-2009 |
20090221916 | Systems and Methods for Elastography Imaging - Methods for obtaining information about the mechanical behaviour of structures associated with mammalian joints and tendons are provided. Embodiments of such methods include creating deformation in a joint structure (such as ligaments and articular cartilage) or tendon of interest, using an ultrasound scanner and a single element or array of elements to acquire sequences of ultrasound data of the joint structure or tendon, estimating one, two or three components of the resulting displacement and strain between a reference frame of ultrasound data and successive frames of ultrasound data, and using a cross-correlation algorithm to estimate the displacement and strain components. This information may be used to inform the design of tissue grafts. Tissue grafts produced using this information are also provided. The same method can be used in situ together with noninvasive or invasive procedures. | 09-03-2009 |
20090240150 | BREAST CANCER SCREENING WITH ADJUNCTIVE ULTRASOUND MAMMOGRAPHY - An adjunctive ultrasound mammography system and associated methods are described, comprising a scanning apparatus for facilitating standardized, repeatable breast ultrasound scans, and further comprising an adjunctive ultrasound display apparatus configured for fast, intuitive viewing of adjunctive ultrasound data concurrently with x-ray mammogram information. In one preferred embodiment, thick-slice ultrasound images are displayed near an x-ray mammogram such that a screening radiologist can quickly view the thick-slice images for assistance in interpreting the x-ray mammogram. Methods for concurrently acquiring and displaying vibrational resonance image (VDI) data are described. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) algorithms that incorporate acoustically-based feature vectors are described, the feature vectors including lateral shadow metrics, vertical shadow metrics, posterior enhancement metrics, and VDI-based metrics. Algorithms are also described that combine x-ray mammogram CAD results with adjunctive ultrasound CAD results without requiring complex image registrations therebetween. Many of the practical, economic, and political barriers to acceptance and integration of ultrasound mammography into existing mass breast cancer screening environments are mitigated. | 09-24-2009 |
20090247873 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, even when the received signal indicating the ultrasonic echo from the artifact is weak such as when the artifact such as the puncture needle is positioned diagonally to the ultrasonic beam, the received signal can be subjected to the signal processing to identify the position of the artifact and provide high visibility of the artifact to an examiner. Thus, for example, from whichever direction the puncture needle is inserted into the body, the position of the puncture needle can be properly recognized. Therefore, puncture can be satisfactorily performed, it is expected to prevent a risk to a patient due to improper insertion into a blood vessel or the like and also avoid misdiagnosis by properly obtaining tissue cell, and further, a reduction in time by simplified operation reduces burden on the patient. | 10-01-2009 |
20090247874 | USER INTERFACE IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments of a user interface in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the ultrasound system comprises a display unit for prompting a user to touch a desired one of hierarchically arranged soft buttons for triggering an execution of the function of the ultrasound system associated with the touched button. The display unit includes a display having a display with touch panel mounted. The display unit is configured to display a touch screen menu together with the ultrasound image on the display. | 10-01-2009 |
20090264757 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BLADDER DETECTION USING HARMONIC IMAGING - Systems, methods, and ultrasound transceivers equipped and configured to execute harmonic analysis and extract harmonic information related to a targeted organ of a subject are described. The methods utilize neural network algorithms to establish improved segmentation accuracy of the targeted organ or structures within a region-of-interest. The neural network algorithms, refined for detection of the bladder and to ascertain the presence or absence of a uterus, is optimally applied to better segment and thus confer the capability to optimize measurement of bladder geometry, area, and volumes. | 10-22-2009 |
20090264758 | Ultrasound Breast Diagnostic System - To provide an ultrasound breast diagnostic system suitable for screening of breast cancer and minimizing the burden on the doctor examining the captured image. An ultrasound breast diagnostic system comprises an ultrasound breast imaging apparatus having a water bath into which left and right breasts can be dipped downward and an ultrasound probe so disposed on the bottom of the water bath to mechanically scan and adapted to three-dimensionally image the whole region of the breasts by transmission/reception of ultrasound wave, a breast voxel data creating device for creating voxel data on the entire breasts from image data acquired by the apparatus, and a display device used for interpretation of images for displaying an image for examination from the past voxel data and present voxel data on the breasts of the same subject created by the device. | 10-22-2009 |
20090270730 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasound probe | 10-29-2009 |
20090270731 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR TISSUE CHARACTERIZATION BY SPECTRAL SIMILARITY OF INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND SIGNALS - A method of characterizing a tissue type of a tissue region includes providing a tissue classifier comprising multiple detector arrays for each of multiple tissue types. Each detector array comprises multiple detectors and each detector comprises multiple tissue type-assigned intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) spectra. A plurality of the tissue type-assigned IVUS spectra of each detector correspond to a tissue type of the detector and a plurality of the tissue type-assigned IVUS spectra correspond to other tissue types. For each of the detector arrays, an input IVUS spectrum of the tissue region is compared to the tissue type-assigned IVUS spectra of each of the detectors in the detector array. For each of the detectors, it is determined whether the input spectrum corresponds to the tissue type of the detector based on the comparisons of the input spectrum to the tissue type-assigned spectra for that detector. For each of the detector arrays, results of the detectors of the detector array are combined to produce an array result. The array results for the detector arrays are combined to provide a tissue characterization of the tissue region from the multiple tissue types. | 10-29-2009 |
20090270732 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - In time phases except a first time phase, a contour tracking part tracks the position of a region of interest based on image data acquired in each of the time phases. A re-tracking part receives correction of the position of the region of interest in a second time phase, and obtains the position of the corrected region of interest in and after the second time phase based on the image data acquired in and after the second time phase. From position information of the region of interest in and before the second time phase and position information of the corrected region of interest in and after the second time phase, a position calculator obtains position information of the region of interest in all the time phases. A computing part obtains motion information of a tissue within the region of interest based on the position information of the region of interest. | 10-29-2009 |
20090275833 | ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME - An ultrasonic probe in which a 3-dimensional position detecting means can be attached detachably to the ultrasonic probe and operability of the ultrasonic probe does not degrade even when the position detecting means is contained in the ultrasonic probe. | 11-05-2009 |
20090275834 | ULTRASONOGRAPH - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes: a transmitting section for driving an ultrasonic probe to transmit an ultrasonic wave toward a measuring region of a subject, including an arterial vascular wall; a receiving section for receiving a reflected wave, produced by getting the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject, at the probe, thereby generating a received signal; a displacement detecting section for calculating the magnitude of displacement of each measuring point in the measuring region on the wall by analyzing the received signal; a tissue-to-present determining section, which defines at least one boundary between tissues included in the measuring region on the wall and which selects one of at least two areas divided by the boundary defined; and a property value calculating section for calculating a property value of the subject based on the magnitude of displacement of each measuring point. The distribution of property values of the measuring points in the area selected by the tissue-to-present determining section is presented as a two-dimensional image. | 11-05-2009 |
20090275835 | MODULAR APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND - A modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus is provided comprising a core unit, system electronics and an I/O port. The core unit comprises a housing and a system electronics package within the housing. The system electronics has one or more concatenated filters, including a front end transmit/receive circuit, a processor, a back end circuit for scan conversion, a system clock and a programmable system memory device. There is at least one I/O port connected to the front end and the back end of the system electronics package and extending through the core unit housing wherein all system data processing information is transmitted or received through the I/O port. | 11-05-2009 |
20090281425 | IMAGE COMPRESSION UNIT, IMAGE DECOMPRESSION UNIT, AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An image compression unit includes a block divider | 11-12-2009 |
20090281426 | ULTRASOUND OBSERVATION APPARATUS - An ultrasound observation apparatus of the present invention is an ultrasound observation apparatus capable of creating a blood flow image of a subject by receiving a reflection signal of a sound output signal transmitted to the subject as an electric signal, and performing various kinds of signal processing for the electric signal, and includes a transmission frequency switching section switching a frequency band of the sound output signal which is transmitted to the subject to a frequency band corresponding to an instruction signal which is outputted from an operation instructing section, and a blood flow color creating section changing a color at a time of visualizing the blood flow image by linking with switching of the frequency band by the transmission frequency switching section. | 11-12-2009 |
20090292205 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprised of an ultrasonic probe; frame data acquiring means for time sequentially acquiring a plurality of RF signal frame data in a process of change in a pressure state of a subject tissue of an object to be examined while pressing the ultrasonic probe on the object tissue; and elasticity information calculating means for deriving a pair of data from RF frame signal data, calculating each place of distortion or elasticity modulus of the object tissue, and generating a plurality of elastic frame data; elastic image construction means for adding the plurality of elasticity frame data and generating an elastic image; and display means for displaying the elastic image, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is further provided with evaluation means for evaluating the reliability of the plurality of the elasticity frame data subjected to adding in accordance with the degree of pressure. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292206 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A tissue-image creating unit creates a tissue image including depth values by volume rendering from three-dimensional tissue data stored in a three-dimensional data storage unit. A blood-flow data converting unit scatters a blood flow in three-dimensional blood-flow data stored in the three-dimensional data storage unit into particles, and converts the three-dimensional blood-flow data into three-dimensional particle data. A blood-flow image creating unit creates a blood-flow image including depth values from the three-dimensional particle data. A composite-image creating unit then creates a composite image by coordinating the order of rendering particles and tissue based on the depth values of respective pixels included in the tissue image and the depth values of respective particles included in the blood-flow image. A display control unit then controls display of the composite image so as to be displayed in order onto a monitor included in an output unit. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299182 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus preferable for creating a sharper image from the signal originating from contrast medium and the signal originating from biological tissues and an ultrasonic image display method are provided. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299183 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer made up of one or more oscillation elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasound to and from a subject; and an ultrasound image observation apparatus including a connecting connector to which the ultrasound probe is detachably connected and a CPU for detecting abnormality in the ultrasound probe connected through the connecting connector. | 12-03-2009 |
20090306504 | IMAGE DISPLAYING METHOD AND MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM - The image display method comprises a three-dimensional image creating step that creates a three-dimensional image based on volume data; a cutting plane setting step that sets a cutting plane that cuts the three-dimensional image at an arbitrary position; and a positional relationship display image creating step that creates a positional relationship display image representing the mutual positional relationship between the three-dimensional image and the cutting plane, in which the opacity of the cutting plane in the positional relationship display image is adjusted so that a portion of the three-dimensional image that is hidden by the cutting plane is visually recognizable through the cutting plane in the positional relationship display image. | 12-10-2009 |
20090306505 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment which displays a high contrast ultrasonic image enhancing the outline structure of an inspection object. More specifically, the motion vector of an object occurring between images used for addition is measured using a captured ultrasonic image, deformation processing is performed on accumulated addition image based on the measurement, and then addition processing is performed by multiplying the acquired image and the accumulated addition image by weighting coefficients. | 12-10-2009 |
20090306506 | Method Of Aquiring Data In The Mouth Of A Patient, Such A Device, An Arrangement Comprising A Dentist's Chair And Such A Device And The Use Of This Device | 12-10-2009 |
20090306507 | Anatomical Feature Extraction From An Ultrasound Liver Image - There is disclosed an embodiment for extracting anatomical features from a 3-dimensional B-mode ultrasound liver image for image registration. A system extracts anatomical features from a 3-dimensional B-mode ultrasound liver image for image registration. An image forming unit forms a 3-dimensional ultrasound liver image based on ultrasound signals reflected from the liver. A diaphragm extracting unit extracts a diaphragm region from the 3-dimensional B-mode ultrasound liver image. A vessel extracting unit extracts vessel regions from the 3-dimensional ultrasound liver image. A diaphragm refining unit refines the extracted diaphragm region with the extracted vessel regions to remove clutters from the diaphragm region. A registration unit extracts sample points from the diaphragm region with the clutters removed and the vessel regions for image registration. | 12-10-2009 |
20090306508 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed herein comprises an ultrasonic probe which generates an ultrasonic beam, a volume data set collecting unit which collects a plurality of volume data sets corresponding to a plurality of three-dimensional scan ranges via the ultrasonic probe, the plurality of three-dimensional scan ranges partly overlapping one another, a region of interest setting unit which sets, in accordance with a user instruction, a region of interest on a first tomogram generated from particular one of the plurality of volume data sets, a tomogram generating unit which generates the first tomogram from the particular volume data set and also generates a second tomogram associated with a section including the region of interest from another volume data set corresponding to the three-dimensional scan range including the region of interest, and a display unit which displays the first tomogram and the second tomogram. | 12-10-2009 |
20090312638 | MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasound measurement system including a handheld display and processing means, an ultrasound transducer, a processing means of a substantially similar weight to the handheld display and processing means, and a transmission cable interconnecting the handheld display and processing means with the ultrasound transducer and processing means, the cable being of sufficient length to provide a means to mechanically locate the system around the neck of a user. | 12-17-2009 |
20090312639 | ACOUSTIC IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method of and apparatus for ultrasound imaging whereby an acoustic transmit signal including at least one transmit acoustic frequency is transmitted such that at least some of the acoustic energy of the pulse is transmitted into a body to be imaged being of material which has a response to the acoustic energy which will produce a demodulation of the transmit pulse to produce a demodulated signal; and an acoustic receive comprising echoes of the demodulated signal is received at a frequency that is approximately equal to the frequency of the demodulated signal. | 12-17-2009 |
20090312640 | ADJUNCTIVE ULTRASOUND PROCESSING AND DISPLAY FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENING - An adjunctive ultrasound mammography system and associated methods are described comprising an adjunctive ultrasound display configured for quick, intuitive, interactive viewing of data derived from volumetric ultrasound scans, the data being displayed near a conventional x-ray mammogram display. Preferred embodiments for navigating among a thick-slice image array, a selected enlarged thick-slice image, and planar ultrasound views are described, including a preferred embodiment in which the planar ultrasound views are updated in real time as a cursor is moved across an active thick-slice image. In one preferred embodiment the thick-slice images are inverted prior to display, with non-breast areas of the image preferably segmented out and reset to dark. The inverted thick-slice images are of more familiar significance to radiologists having years of expertise in analyzing conventional x-ray mammograms. For example, the inverted thick-slice images allow benign features to be more easily dismissed as compared to non-inverted thick-slice images. Preferred embodiments for computing thick-slice image values from the volumetric scan data are also described that emphasize larger mass lesions in the resulting thick-slice images, and that compensate for mass lesions that straddle thick-slice region borders. | 12-17-2009 |
20090318806 | ULTRASONOGRAPH - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes: a transmitting section that generates a drive signal to drive a probe in order to transmit an ultrasonic wave toward a subject to be deformed periodically under stress; a receiving section for receiving an echo, produced when the ultrasonic wave is reflected from the subject, at the probe to generate a received echo signal; a computing section for figuring out a thickness change waveform, representing a variation in distance between two arbitrary measuring points on the subject, based on the received echo signal; and a reference waveform generating section for outputting a reference waveform. The apparatus obtains subject's internal information by comparing the thickness change waveform and the reference waveform to each other. | 12-24-2009 |
20090318807 | ULTRASONOGRAPH - The schedule memory unit | 12-24-2009 |
20090318808 | ULTRASOUND DEVICE AND SYSTEM INCLUDING SAME - An ultrasound device. The ultrasound device is portable and includes a shock and vibration resistant housing, an ultrasound module positioned within the housing, a processor positioned within the housing, and a display communicably connected to the processor. The ultrasound module is configured for transmitting control signals to a transducer, and for digitizing echo signals received from the transducer. The processor is communicably connected to the ultrasound module, and is configured to generate an image based on the digitized echo signals. | 12-24-2009 |
20090318809 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit ultrasound to a test body and receive an echo signal, an image generation unit configured to generate a plurality of tomograms with respect to the test body based on the echo signal, an image memory configured to record the generated tomograms, and a control processor. The control processor performs control such that image processing of extracting a microstructure is performed, using correlation between a tomogram stored in the image memory and a tomogram corresponding to a position of the ultrasonic probe at that point in time. The microstructure-extracted image is displayed on the display part in a predetermined form. | 12-24-2009 |
20090318810 | Operation Control Of An Ultrasound System Based On An Impact Pattern Applied Thereto - There are disclosed embodiments for controlling an operation of an ultrasound system based on an impact applied thereto. In the ultrasound system designed to operate in a plurality of diagnostic modes, a user may be verified based on the impact pattern applied to the ultrasound system. Also, a desirable diagnostic mode of the ultrasound system may be selected and executed based on the impact pattern. The ultrasound system may include an ultrasound diagnostic unit to form ultrasound images based on ultrasound echo signals reflected from a target object. An impact detecting unit may detect impacts applied to the ultrasound diagnostic unit from a user to thereby output impact pattern information. A control unit may control an operation of the ultrasound diagnostic unit based on the impact pattern information so that the diagnostic mode corresponding to the impact pattern information may be executed. | 12-24-2009 |
20090318811 | ULTRA SOUND SYSTEM FOR FORMING STRAIN IMAGES WITH INSTANTANEOUS FREQUENCY - There is provided an ultrasound system for forming strain images by decreasing decorrelation of receive signals, which vary with time or space. More specifically, the decorrelation between the receive signals obtained without and with applying stress to a target object is reduced to decrease an error, which occurs during the calculation of a delay. Also, a center frequency, which varies with depth of a target object, is compensated to form the strain image. | 12-24-2009 |
20090326374 | Ultrasound observation device and method for controlling operation thereof - An ultrasound observation device includes a depth knob and a pulse generator. The depth knob is operated to switch the display depth of an ultrasound image on a monitor. Upon every rotation of the depth knob by a predetermined angle, the pulse generator generates a switching pulse. A control circuit has a waiting time determiner, which determines a waiting time to start signal processing every time the switching pulse is generated. When a subsequent switching pulse is generated within the waiting time, the waiting time determiner calculates an average generation interval of the switching pulses, and determines a new waiting time based on the average generation interval. When the waiting time elapsed without the generation of a subsequent switching pulse, the control circuit recognizes the end of switching operation, and starts a display switching process under the conditions corresponding to the number of the switching pulses generated. | 12-31-2009 |
20090326375 | RECEIVE BEAMFORMER FOR ULTRASOUND - A method of ultrasound receive beamforming includes receiving a first plurality of sensing signals from target tissue, forming a first plurality of digital sensing signals, and data processing the digital sensing signals along a first plurality of data paths to form a first plurality of delayed and apodized digital sensing signals. Data path combining generates data combinations of the delayed and apodized digital sensing signals to include two or more of the delayed and apodized digital sensing signals that originate from different ones of the transducer elements. The data combinations are interpolation filtered using a plurality of interpolation filters to form a second plurality of delayed and apodized digital sensing signals, which are then summed to form an ultrasound receive beamformed signal. The interpolation filters can be interpolation filters in a single shared filter bank, with each interpolation filter providing a different fractional delay. | 12-31-2009 |
20090326376 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING PLACENTAL VOLUME - Method and system for determining a volume of a placenta in utero. The placenta in utero may be modeled as having a convex-concave shape (e.g., like that of a portion of a spherical shell). Volume of the placenta may be determined based on the width (or height) and thickness of the placenta, or based on width, height and thickness of the placenta. Placenta size characteristics may be measured using imaging techniques, such as ultrasound. In one aspect of the invention, a volume of a placenta in utero may be compared to the volume of other placentas for similar gestational age, and a determination regarding whether the placenta volume poses a risk to fetal health may be made. | 12-31-2009 |
20100004537 | PROCEDURES FOR AN ULTRASONIC ARC SCANNING APPARATUS - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods of rapidly obtaining ultrasonic images of the eye using a set of procedural options that can be automated by a positioning mechanism that can be controlled by software. | 01-07-2010 |
20100010347 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING USER INPUT LEFT VENTRICLE POINTS - A method and system for optimizing user input points that identify points within an image of a left ventricle of a heart includes identifying user input points on an image. The user input points include an apical point and left and right basal points positioned proximate to an endocardium of a left ventricle. An adjusted apical point is determined based on at least an autocorrelation of points in the image proximate to the apical point. The adjusted apical point is displayed on the image. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010348 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VISUALIZATION OF AN ULTRASOUND PROBE RELATIVE TO AN OBJECT - Systems and methods for visualization of an ultrasound probe relative to an object are provided. The system includes an ultrasound probe configured to acquire ultrasound data. The system further includes a display configured to display an ultrasound image based on the ultrasound data and a graphical representation of the ultrasound probe in combination with the ultrasound image. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010349 | Image Depth Setting in an Ultrasound System - Embodiments for setting an image depth in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage unit stores a mapping table of image depth information and gestation information. A user input unit receives input information from a user. A control unit retrieves from the storage unit image depth information corresponding to the input information and sets an image depth based on the retrieved image depth information. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010350 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE ACQUISITION METHOD - Real-time display of a three-dimensional ultrasonic image in which there is little time delay, power required for transmission of an ultrasonic wave is reduced, and heterogeneousness of received beams is almost solved is performed by executing multi-beam reception while performing frequency demodulation of a reflected wave obtained as a result of transmission of a frequency-modulated continuous ultrasonic wave to the subject body. As a demodulation method, for example, a multi-phase demodulation method of obtaining the distance resolution in multi-beam reception by performing (multi-phase) demodulation while changing the phases of transmission modulation and reception modulation for every range in the range direction (beam direction). | 01-14-2010 |
20100016719 | ADAPTIVE REGULATION OF ACOUSTIC OUTPUT POWER IN MEDICAL ULTRASOUND IMAGING - Acoustic output power is adaptively regulated in medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging. Given transmit settings, the acoustic power and/or another setting may be altered to avoid violating a limit set by regulation. The limit is based, at least in part, on an assumed attenuation. By measuring the attenuation, such as by identifying a type of tissue, the power and/or limit may be altered or adapt. By accounting for the attenuation in the region to be scanned, a greater output power may be possible while still providing the same level of safety. | 01-21-2010 |
20100016720 | ULTRASONOGRAPH - In an ultrasonograph for obtaining information relating to the inside of a subject's body using an ultrasonic wave transmitted and received by the ultrasonic probe | 01-21-2010 |
20100016721 | ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitting section for driving an ultrasonic probe that sends out an ultrasonic transmitted wave toward a vital tissue; a receiving section for amplifying an ultrasonic reflected wave, produced by getting the ultrasonic transmitted wave reflected by the vital tissue and then received at the ultrasonic probe, to generate a received signal; a reference point shift measuring section for measuring the magnitude of shift of a reference point that has been set on the received signal; a received signal adjusting section for adjusting the position of the received signal in a distance direction according to the magnitude of shift of the reference point; and a shape variation calculating section for determining the magnitudes of positional displacements at multiple measuring points that have been set in the vital tissue by the received signal adjusted. | 01-21-2010 |
20100016722 | FORMATION OF AN ELASTIC IMAGE IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for forming an elastic image in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound data acquisition unit is configured to transmit/receive ultrasound signals to/from a target object to thereby output first ultrasound data. The ultrasound data acquisition unit is configured to transmit/receive ultrasound signals to/from the target object while applying pressure to the target object to thereby output second ultrasound data. A frame image data forming unit is configured to form a first frame image data based on the first ultrasound data. The frame image data forming unit is configured to form a second frame image data based on the second ultrasound data. A processing unit is configured to calculate strain data based on the first and second frame image data. The processing unit is configured to set a reference value based on the strain data. The processing unit is configured to form an elastic image based on the reference value. A control unit is coupled to the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the frame image data forming unit and the processing unit. | 01-21-2010 |
20100016723 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus for generation of image data based on harmonic wave components of ultrasound reception signals. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmission/reception control unit configured to set a plurality of ultrasound transmission/reception directions to an object, an ultrasound probe having a plurality of transducers, a transmission/reception unit configured to produce drive signals of a different polarity for transmission of ultrasound into the object and configured to receive reception signals from the object at the transmission/reception directions, a harmonic wave component extracting unit configured to extract harmonic wave components in the reception signals by performing summation of a plurality of reception signals that is sequentially received through the transmission/reception unit, a reception signals processing unit configured to generate first ultrasound data by performing a logarithmic conversion of a fundamental-wave component included in the reception signals, and to generate second ultrasound data by performing a logarithmic conversion of the harmonic wave components in the reception signals, a subtraction unit configured to perform a subtraction between the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data, and an image data generating unit configured to generate the image data based on the subtracted ultrasound data acquired along each of the transmission/reception directions. | 01-21-2010 |
20100016724 | ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized by including a displacement/strain calculation unit | 01-21-2010 |
20100022877 | ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DEVICE - An ultrasonographic device includes a template conversion unit ( | 01-28-2010 |
20100022878 | Ultrasonic Image Processor - Non-linear processing is performed in which noise reduction (smoothing) is serially performed for original data to reduce high-frequency noise components, the edge enhancement processing is performed for the smoothed image and, after that, noise components are reduced again. Finally, the created image is weighted-combined with the original image. | 01-28-2010 |
20100022879 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - The present invention provides ultrasonic diagnostic equipment for accurately determining a three-dimensional picture generation start depth, independently of a turbidity degree of an amniotic fluid and the like, which exist between a three-dimensional picture generation target such as an fetus and the like and a portion that is not the three-dimensional picture generation target such as a placenta or an uterine wall or the like serving as the obstacle of the fetus. In the present invention, the brightness values in the depth direction of an ultrasonic received signal are cumulated, and the depth direction of the ultrasonic received signal is divided into a plurality of depth zones S | 01-28-2010 |
20100022880 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR TISSUE CHARACTERIZATION AND QUANTIFICATION USING INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND SIGNALS - A method of evaluating at least one tissue type includes providing a tissue classifier comprising multiple detector arrays for each of multiple tissue types. Each detector array comprises multiple detectors and each detector comprises multiple tissue type-assigned intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) spectra. A plurality of the tissue type-assigned IVUS spectra of each detector correspond to a tissue type of the detector and a plurality of the tissue type-assigned IVUS spectra correspond to other tissue types. For each of the detector arrays, an input IVUS spectrum of the tissue region is compared to the tissue type-assigned IVUS spectra of each of the detectors in the detector array. For each of the detectors, it is determined whether the input spectrum corresponds to the tissue type of the detector based on the comparisons of the input spectrum to the tissue type-assigned spectra for that detector. For each of the detector arrays, results of the detectors of the detector array are combined to produce an array result. The array results for the detector arrays are combined to provide a tissue characterization of the tissue region from the multiple tissue types. This is repeated for each region to be characterized. A size of at least one of the tissue types is determined using the tissue characterizations. One or more IVUS images can be displayed with the tissue characterization and an indication of the size of at least one of the tissue types in a selected portion of the image that is displayed. | 01-28-2010 |
20100030077 | ULTRASONOGRAPH - An ultrasonograph comprises a probe | 02-04-2010 |
20100030078 | Medical imaging apparatus - In a medical imaging apparatus for imaging mammary gland and breast while compressing the breast with a compression plate, the posture of an ultrasonic probe relative to the compression plate is kept constant and the moving motion of the ultrasonic probe is stabilized. The apparatus includes: an imaging stage; a compression plate; an ultrasonic probe provided to maintain acoustic connection to the compression plate, for transmitting ultrasonic waves according to drive signals and receiving ultrasonic echoes to output reception signals; an ultrasonic imaging unit for supplying the drive signals to the ultrasonic probe and generating image data based on the reception signals; a detecting unit for detecting a location and/or a posture of the ultrasonic probe relative to the compression plate; and a control unit for controlling the location and/or the posture of the ultrasonic probe based on a detection result of the detecting unit. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030079 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An ultrasound imaging apparatus capable of easily displaying a three-dimensional image included in a region of interest (ROI) is provided. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036247 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - Previously captured three-dimensional image data of a subject from which a reference image is extracted are provided in the form of time-series volume data | 02-11-2010 |
20100036248 | MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE MEASURING METHOD, AND MEDICLA IMAGE MEASURING PROGRAM - [Objective] Providing a medical image diagnostic apparatus which can mitigate an operational burden at the time when measurement processing is performed by use of a medical image. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036249 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTILINE COLOR FLOW AND ANGIO ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A method for multiline ultrasound imaging comprises implementing multiline beamforming with a number of ensembles ( | 02-11-2010 |
20100036250 | Formation Of A Color Map For An Elastic Image - Embodiments for forming a color map necessary for forming an elastic image in an ultrasound system. A transmission/reception (Tx/Rx) unit transmits ultrasound signals to a target object and receives ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object to thereby obtain receive signals. The receive signals include first receive signals obtained before applying a stress to the target object and second receive signals obtained after applying a stress to the target object. An ultrasound data forming unit forms first and second ultrasound data based on the first and second receive signals, respectively. A processing unit computes strains by using the first and second ultrasound data and form a histogram based on the computed strains. The processing unit further clusters the histogram for separation into a plurality of clusters and forms a color map including a plurality of color map regions corresponding to the respective clusters. | 02-11-2010 |
20100041991 | HAPTIC FEEDBACK MEDICAL SCANNING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Devices for use in medical imaging can include a robotic arm ( | 02-18-2010 |
20100041992 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - When displaying a plurality of images in different conformations in relation to information of a tissue motion typified by a heart wall motion, support information which is used to rapidly and easily visually confirm a relative positional correspondence relationship between an MPR image, a polar mapping image, and a three-dimensional image is generated and displayed. A marker indicative of a desired local position is set and displayed as required. Further, a position corresponding to the set or changed marker may not be present on the MPR image. In such a case, the MPR image always including a position corresponding to the set or changed marker is generated and displayed by automatically adjusting a position of an MPR cross section. | 02-18-2010 |
20100041993 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A speckle pattern is removed from each image in such a manner that each image obtained by a multi-resolution decomposition is decomposed into a low-band signal component, a high-band signal horizontal component, a high-band signal vertical component, and a high-band signal diagonal component, the decomposed signal components are subjected to a morphological reconstruction process, and then a multi-resolution reconstruction is performed. | 02-18-2010 |
20100041994 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM ON WHICH ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM IS RECORDED - The average velocity of a tissue is calculated for each frame in accordance with compression/release, and a reference waveform is generated by using the calculated velocity. A time phase in which the average velocity becomes 0 is specified by the reference waveform. In strain computation, time integration is performed for strain computation in a compression period or a release period with reference to the specified stationary time phase. This can properly and automatically visualize how the contraction of the tissue is accumulated from the start of compression or the contraction of the tissue becomes maximum in a compression end time phase in a compression period and how the tissue expands from the start of release or the expansion of the tissue becomes maximum in a release end time phase in a release time phase. | 02-18-2010 |
20100049046 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL OF AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - An ultrasound system includes a display device and a processor module. The display device is configured to display an ultrasound image. At least a portion of the display device includes a touch sensitive portion that is responsive to a touch in each of a plurality of user selectable elements presented on the display device. The processor module is configured to adjust at least one of the ultrasound image and an imaging setting based on the touch in at least one of the user selectable elements of the display device. The ultrasound image and the user selectable elements are concurrently displayed on the display device. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049047 | Formation Of An Elastic Image In An Ultrasound System - Embodiments for forming an elastic image in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound data acquisition unit is configured to transmit/receive first ultrasound signals to/from a target object to output first ultrasound data and to transmit/receive second ultrasound signals for applying an acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) to/from the target object to output second ultrasound data. An image forming unit is configured to form a reference image based on the first ultrasound data and to form an ARFI image based on the second ultrasound data. A processing unit is connected to the ultrasound data acquisition unit and the image forming unit. The processing unit is configured to detect first feature points of the target object in the reference image, to detect second feature points of the target object in the ARFI image and to calculate stress data at each of the first feature points based on the first and second feature points. The processing unit is further configured to form an elastic image based on the stress data. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049048 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which moving images of rapidly moving tissues and organs can be preferably displayed in real time and the lower power consumption can be achieved. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe including plural ultrasonic transducers for transmitting ultrasonic waves toward an object to be inspected according to drive signals and receiving ultrasonic echoes propagating from the object to output reception signals, an image generating unit for supplying the drive signals to the ultrasonic probe and processing the reception signals outputted from the ultrasonic probe to generate image signals representing ultrasonic images, and a display unit including a display of an impulse drive type for displaying the ultrasonic images based on the image signals generated by the image generating unit. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049049 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IMAGING APPARATUS AND BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IMAGING METHOD - A biological information imaging method includes a first measurement step to measure an acoustic wave ( | 02-25-2010 |
20100049050 | HIGHLY CONFIGURABLE MEDICAL ULTRASOUND MACHINE AND RELATED METHODS - An ultrasound machine is operated by executing a protocol. Executing the protocol configures the ultrasound machine, controls for operating the ultrasound machine and a display for the ultrasound machine. Protocols may be defined to provide a streamlined configuration of controls for operating the ultrasound machine, and to provide instructions that guide a user's operation of the ultrasound machine. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049051 | Providing Hospital Information In A Portable Ultrasound System - Embodiments for providing hospital information in a portable ultrasound system are disclosed. The portable ultrasound system includes a position information receiving unit to receive position information of the portable ultrasound system from an external system (e.g., GPS). A storage unit stores a table associating a plurality of diagnostic applications with respective diagnostic departments, and hospital information including hospital location information and diagnostic department information of a plurality of hospitals. A hospital information extracting unit searches the storage unit to find at least one hospital having a diagnostic department corresponding to an executed diagnostic application, and extracts hospital information corresponding to a hospital nearest to the portable ultrasound system among the at least one hospital based on the position information of the portable ultrasound system and the location information of the found hospitals. The portable ultrasound system displays location information on a screen of a display unit based on the extracted hospital information. | 02-25-2010 |
20100056915 | 3D ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC SHAPE ANALYSIS - An ultrasound system and method are described for assessing cardiac performance which is particularly useful for diagnosing heart remodeling. A 3D data set of a surface of the heart is acquired and the principal curvatures determined at one or more points of the surface. A curvature metric is produced which is the difference of the two principal curvatures at each point. Metrics produced from the heart surface acquired at systole have been found to correlate strongly with ejection fraction. | 03-04-2010 |
20100056916 | SYSTEM, DEVICE, METHOD, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM, AND USE FOR IN VIVO IMAGING OF TISSUE IN AN ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE - A system is provided that may be used for locating and diagnosing lesions in the human body in vivo. In some embodiments, once the exact position of a lesion is found, a biopsy may be taken from the lesion using e.g. ultra sound techniques for guidance of the biopsy needle. Use of the system drastically reduces the negative biopsy samples compared to currently used “blind sampling” techniques. This reduces patient discomfort and minimizes infections as the number of biopsy samples is reduced. A method and computer-readable medium is also provided. | 03-04-2010 |
20100056917 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which an ultrasonic image of a puncture needle can be clearly captured. The apparatus includes: a reception signal processing unit for processing reception signals outputted from ultrasonic transducers; a reception beamformer for performing reception focusing processing on the reception signals to generate sound ray signals; an image signal generating unit for generating an image signal based on the sound ray signals; and a scan control unit for controlling a drive signal generating unit such that an ultrasonic beam with an intensity distribution having a center in a first direction is transmitted from a selected first group of ultrasonic transducers, and controls the reception beamformer such that an image signal representing an ultrasonic image in a second direction different from the first direction is generated based on reception signals outputted from a selected second group of ultrasonic transducers which receive ultrasonic echoes. | 03-04-2010 |
20100056918 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - When scanning a three-dimensional region while rotating a scanning plane about a predetermined axis (rotation axis), an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus calculates a motion vector of a motion scanning plane (ultrasonic sectional layer) using ultrasonic image data in the rotation axis and corrects a positional mismatch between the scanning planes using the calculated motion vector. The motion vector is calculated and the positional mismatch between the sectional layers, using at least one frame having a cardiac time phase close to the frame of which the motion should be corrected and being spatially close to the frame, in addition to the frames at the same cardiac time phase as the frame of which the motion should be corrected. | 03-04-2010 |
20100056919 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A normal vector on a regression plane in a reference time phase in a three-dimensional space is defined with regard to a moving tissue typified by a myocardial wall. Orthogonal projection vectors on the regression plane at each vertex (Pij(t)) in each time phase are calculated by using the normal vector on the regression plane, and the angle defined by the orthogonal projection vectors is calculated, thereby acquiring a local rotational angle at each vertex (Pij(t)) in each time phase relative to the reference time phase. | 03-04-2010 |
20100056920 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING ORIENTATION HELP VIEW - The present invention relates to an ultrasound system and a method of providing orientation help (OH). The ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit including an ultrasound probe for transmitting ultrasound signals to a target object and receiving ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object, the ultrasound data acquisition unit being configured to acquire ultrasound data based on the ultrasound echo signals, the ultrasound data acquisition unit being further configured to detect an orientation and a scanning direction of the ultrasound probe; and a processor for forming a volume data based on the ultrasound data and forming an orientation help (OH) view showing a spatial orientation of volume data on a display region, the OH view including a probe orientation marker indicating the detected orientation of the ultrasound probe and a scanning direction marker indicating the detected scanning direction. | 03-04-2010 |
20100069755 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a transmitter section for driving a probe so that a subject is scanned with an ultrasonic beam over a predetermined period of time; a receiver section for receiving, using the probe, an echo resulting from the ultrasonic beam being reflected by the subject, and producing a receive signal for each passage of the predetermined period of time; an image constructing section for producing a tomographic image frame composed of brightness information based on an intensity of the receive signal for each passage of the predetermined period of time, and adjusting brightness of the produced tomographic image frame with a set gain; a gain control section for producing the set gain; and a display section for displaying the tomographic image frame whose brightness has been adjusted. | 03-18-2010 |
20100076311 | THICK-SLICE PROCESSING AND DISPLAY OF INFORMATION FROM A VOLUMETRIC ULTRASOUND SCAN OF A CHESTWARDLY COMPRESSED BREAST - Systems, methods, and related computer program products for acquiring, processing, and displaying breast ultrasound information are described. In one preferred embodiment, a three-dimensional data volume of a sonographic property of a chestwardly compressed breast is acquired, and the data volume is processed to generate a plurality of two-dimensional coronal thick-slice images. Each coronal thick-slice image is representative of the sonographic property within a thick-slice subvolume of the breast substantially parallel to a coronal plane. The thick-slice subvolume has a thickness selected for optimal viewing of terminal ductal lobular unit (TDLU) patterns in a display of the thick-slice images. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076312 | Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and ultrasound diagnostic method - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; a device for determining optimum sound speed values at a lattice point set in a shallower region than a region of interest (ROI) and in the ROI on the basis of an ultrasound detection signal outputted by the ultrasound probe; a device for arithmetically operating a received wave received from the ROI on the basis of the optimum sound speed value; a device for setting an assumed sound speed in the region of interest, obtaining a received wave received from each lattice point on the basis of the assumed sound speed and the optimum sound speed value at the lattice point, and synthesizing received waves at lattice points to obtain a resultant received wave; and a device for determining a local sound speed value in the ROI on the basis of the received wave and the resultant received wave. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076313 | Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and ultrasound diagnostic method - In an ultrasound diagnosis, the inventor has found a characteristic that coincidence of RF data after matching addition or amplitude image data at the small opening are different between those of an isolated point (minute structure), a continuous surface, and a speckle. On the basis of the characteristic, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method which can distinguish and extract the isolated point, the continuous surface, and the speckle and determine a tissue property are provided. | 03-25-2010 |
20100081935 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for collecting correct strain information irrespective of the depth of an object. | 04-01-2010 |
20100087736 | Ultrasound signal processing apparatus and method - According to an aspect of the present invention, since an attenuation factor of ultrasound inside a subject is derived from changes in the phase of an ultrasound echo in a depth direction of the subject, the attenuation factor can be determined simply and conveniently. Accordingly, a plurality of band-pass filters that have different center frequencies, and a signal processing circuit that performs individual detection and logarithmic compression for each band and the like are not required. | 04-08-2010 |
20100094132 | Ultrasound system having a simplified user interface - The present invention is directed to a system and method which allows for a simplified user interface tailored to specific procedures and which allows for mobility and easy sanitation. Advantage is taken of an understanding as to the critical functions that an operator is to perform for a specific range of procedures and tailoring the user input to accommodate only those functions. In one embodiment, the user interface consists of a touch screen and a rotatable knob having positional indents with the indents providing incremental increases or decreases in functionality specific to exams or procedures performed with the sonographic equipment. Using this approach, the complexity normally associated with operating sonographic devices is greatly reduced. The operational controls available from the touch screen are changeable to accommodate different function uses of the sonographic device. | 04-15-2010 |
20100099986 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - In an ultrasonic contrast imaging method in which signals specific to a contrast agent are extracted to form an image, imaging is performed with the following three well-balanced properties: frame rate, spatial resolution, and contrast-agent selectivity. A first chirp signal whose frequency increases with time and a second chirp signal obtained by inverting the first chirp signal about the time axis are used, and they are individually transmitted and received. A decoder having decode filters each adapted for a coded sequence, which is obtained when the chirp signal is decomposed into a pulse signal and a coded sequence, is provided. The decode filters are adapted for echo signals received in response to two chirp signals, respectively, and outputs of the two decode filters are input to a subtractor, whereby the difference therebetween is determined. Thus, contrast-agent selectivity is balanced with spatial resolution. | 04-22-2010 |
20100099987 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE ACQUIRING METHOD AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS DISPLAY METHOD - Volume data are collected by swing scanning in which frames in different field angle settings are mixed by a wide scan set at a wide field angle to image a diagnostic target and an index part for recognizing the position of the diagnostic target and by a narrow scan set at a field angle θ | 04-22-2010 |
20100099988 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus that can perform predetermined input operations without using an operation table or a remote controller. To realize improved ergonomics in an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, predetermined input operations, such as storing moving images or change of scanning mode, can be performed during examinations analyzing physical operations of an ultrasound probe from generated images. An image data analyzing unit acquires movement data of an ultrasound probe by analyzing image data generated by processing the received signals from the ultrasound probe. An operation converting unit converts the acquired movement data to a predetermined input operation data. A system control unit controls each of units in the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus based on the input operation data from the operation converting unit. | 04-22-2010 |
20100099989 | Radiotherapy Treatment Monitoring Using Ultrasound - Methods and systems for assessing the effects of therapy on a patient include obtaining baseline and treatment ultrasound scans of a treatment area of a patient where the treatment ultrasound scans are taken subsequent to the baseline scan and at various times during a course of radiotherapy treatment sessions. The baseline and treatment ultrasounds are compared, and as a result a damage map representing cell death within the treatment area can be constructed. | 04-22-2010 |
20100106022 | CAROTID PLAQUE IDENTIFICATION METHOD - A method of classification of plaques using the gray level distribution of pixels in ultrasonic images of carotid plaques. The method and algorithm classifies plaques into 12 classes. Each class is associated with a different level of risk of developing symptoms. | 04-29-2010 |
20100113929 | High-frequency ultrasonic imaging system and method - Since high-frequency ultrasound provides the advantage of high spatial resolution, it has been applied to relevant fields of medical imaging research. Due to a lack of high-frequency ultrasonic transducer with array structure, the high-frequency ultrasonic transducer must be performed in a fixed depth of focus during scanning. A swept scanning method is typical for flow estimation. However, this method cannot provide the precise flow estimation within the irregular-shaped object, because the focal zone of the above-mentioned transducer just covers a specific depth of focus and the outside the focal area corresponds poor signal to noise ratio. To resolve this problem, the present invention provides a skin scanning method, which can move the transducer along a scanning route parallel to the contour of the irregular-shaped object during scanning. The scanning results show that the skin scanning method improves the accuracy of flow estimation. | 05-06-2010 |
20100113930 | Ultrasonic diagnostic device - In one aspect of the present invention, an object is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device that simultaneously displays an IMT and the elastic indices of a blood vessel to accurately determine, through composite observations, the risk for developing arteriosclerosis. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic device including: an ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasound to a body under test and that receives ultrasonic echo reflected of the body under test to output a reception signal; image data generation means that generates, based on the reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe, image data representing an ultrasonic image on a blood vessel of the body under test; IMT measurement means that measures, based on the image data generated by the image data generation means, an IMT (intima media thickness) of the blood vessel; elastic index measurement means that determines, based on the image data generated by the image data generation means, a value representing an elastic index of the blood vessel; and display means that displays a two-dimensional coordinate system in which the IMT is represented on a first coordinate axis and the value representing the elastic index of the blood vessel is represented on a second coordinate axis. | 05-06-2010 |
20100113931 | Ultrasound System And Method For Providing Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Images - The present invention relates to an ultrasound system and method capable of providing three-dimensional ultrasound images. The ultrasound system of the present invention transmits ultrasound signals to a target object, receives ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object and acquires ultrasound data based on the ultrasound echo signals. The ultrasound system allows a user to input rendering setting information containing information on at least two rendering directions. The ultrasound system forms volume data by using the ultrasound data, renders the volume data along the at least two rendering directions and forms three-dimensional ultrasound images corresponding to the at least two rendering directions. The ultrasound system stores the three-dimensional ultrasound images. The ultrasound system displays the three-dimensional ultrasound images on a display region. | 05-06-2010 |
20100121192 | METHOD FOR IMAGING BLOOD VESSEL, SYSTEM FOR IMAGING BLOOD VESSEL AND PROGRAM FOR IMAGING BLOOD VESSEL - The blood vessel imaging system includes a carriage for moving in a row direction an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged along a column direction and along the row direction. A computer repeats intermittent movement control for the carriage in shorter distance than a row pitch of the ultrasonic transducers along the row direction for each of a plurality of predetermined periods. Three-dimensional image processing or four-dimensional image processing is performed on the basis of a two-dimensional image and position information, the two-dimensional image being generated by making original image information, which is obtained by the ultrasonic transducers, two-dimensional in an ultrasonograph. The computer generates the images of a maximum diameter, a minimum diameter, and the difference between the maximum diameter and the minimum diameter for each measurement site in a carotid artery on the basis of the image processing result. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125199 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING ACOUSTIC RADIATION FORCE IMPULSE IMAGING WITH HIGH FRAME RATE - An ultrasound method and system are provided. The ultrasound system may transmit, to a target tissue, a pushing ultrasound signal for generating of a displacement, using a probe, receive a response signal from the target tissue in correspondence to a tracking ultrasound signal transmitted via the probe, detect displacement information associated with the target tissue using the response signal, and generate the acoustic radiation force impulse image based on the displacement information. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125200 | TRANSESOPHAGEAL ULTRASOUND USING A NARROW PROBE - Transesophageal echocardiography is implemented using a miniature transversely oriented transducer that is preferably small enough to fit in a 7.5 mm diameter probe, and most preferably small enough to fit in a 5 mm diameter probe. Signal processing techniques improve the depth of penetration to the point where the complete trans-gastric short axis view of the left ventricle can be obtained, despite the fact that the transducer is so small. The reduced diameter of the probe (as compared to prior art probes) reduces risks to patients, reduces or eliminates the need for anesthesia, and permits long term direct-visualization monitoring of patients' cardiac function. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125201 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS - Ultrasound is sent and reflected waves are received, and an image is generated based on the reflected waves. Then, each umbilical cord present in the image is respectively specified, and the respective structures continuing into one end of the specified umbilical cords are specified. Each specified structure is identified and displayed on a monitor by color separation, screen division, display switching, etc. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125202 | REGION SETTING FOR INTIMA MEDIA THICKNESS MEASUREMENT IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an ultrasound system and a method of setting an intima-media thickness (IMT) measuring region. The ultrasound system comprises an ultrasound diagnosis unit configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a target object, receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object and form an ultrasound image including a plurality of pixels based on the ultrasound echo signals, each pixel having an intensity of gray level. The ultrasound system further comprises a processor configured to compute intensities of the pixels at each row in the ultrasound image to form a first graph, compute first moving averages of the intensities for first subsets of rows in the ultrasound image by dividing the intensities by a thickness of a blood vessel to form a second graph, compute second moving averages of the intensities for second subsets of rows in the ultrasound image by dividing the intensities by a thickness of a vascular wall to form a third graph, and set an intima-media thickness (IMT) measuring region by using inflection points from the second and third graphs. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125203 | Finding A Standard View Corresponding To An Acquired Ultrasound Image - Embodiments for automatically finding a standard view corresponding to an acquired ultrasound image of a target object in an ultrasound system are disclosed. A mapping table associating information on a plurality of standard views of a target object with predetermined first feature vectors is stored in the storage unit. The predetermined first feature vectors may have been previously calculated from the typical plane images corresponding to the standard views. A processing unit calculates a second feature vector from an acquired ultrasound image, and refers to the mapping table to select one of the first feature vectors closest to the second feature vector. The processing unit extracts information on the standard view corresponding to the selected first feature vector from the mapping table. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125204 | Ultrasound System And Method Of Forming Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Images - The present invention relates to an ultrasound system and a method of forming three-dimensional ultrasound images of a plurality of region of interests (ROIs). The ultrasound system comprises: a user interface configured to receive reference plane selecting information for selecting a reference plane and region of interest (ROI) setting information for setting a plurality of ROIs on the reference plane image; an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a target object and receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object, the ultrasound data acquisition unit being configured to acquire three-dimensional ultrasound data corresponding to the plurality of ROIs based on the ultrasound echo signals; and a processor configured to form a plurality of three-dimensional ultrasound images corresponding to the plurality of ROIs based on the three-dimensional ultrasound data. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125205 | Adaptive Persistence Processing Of Elastic Images - An embodiment for adaptively performing persistence processing on elastic images in an ultrasound system is disclosed. An ultrasound data acquisition unit sequentially acquires a plurality of ultrasound data frames based on ultrasound echo signals reflected from a target object by repeatedly applying and releasing stress to/from the target object. A processing unit calculates inter-frame displacements of the frames between the ultrasound data frames to form elastic images. The processing unit adaptively performs persistence processing on the elastic images in consideration of application or release of the stress to/from the target object. | 05-20-2010 |
20100130858 | Puncture Treatment Supporting Apparatus - [Problems] To provide a puncture treatment supporting apparatus enabling puncture treatment by previously performing puncture simulation and enabling its treatment evaluation. | 05-27-2010 |
20100130860 | MEDICAL IMAGE-PROCESSING DEVICE, MEDICAL IMAGE-PROCESSING METHOD, MEDICAL IMAGE-PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND MEDICAL IMAGE-ACQUIRING DEVICE - A medical image-processing device stores the parameters of window level and window width set by a window conversion part. An opacity curve-setting part sets the settings of the OWL and OWW in an opacity curve based on the stored parameters during volume rendering for volume data. In this way, the medical image-processing device sets the opacity of a three-dimensional image. | 05-27-2010 |
20100130861 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a transmit-receive unit for driving an ultrasonic probe to perform transmission/reception of ultrasound and outputting each echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe, wherein transmit-receive unit causes a first elastic image ultrasonic transmission/reception operation and a second elastic image ultrasonic transmission/reception operation to be performed at predetermined time intervals for obtaining echo signals each used to generate an elastic image of the biological tissue, and causes non-elastic image ultrasonic transmission/reception to be performed for obtaining an echo signal used to generate a non-elastic image related to the biological tissue. An elastic image processing unit calculates a physical quantity related to elasticity of the biological tissue based on the two echo signals generates the elastic image based on the physical quantity, and a non-elastic image processing unit generates the non-elastic image. | 05-27-2010 |
20100130862 | Providing Volume Information On A Periodically Moving Target Object In An Ultrasound System - Embodiments for providing volume information of a periodically moving target object with an ultrasound system are disclosed. An ultrasound data acquisition unit is configured to transmit/receive ultrasound signals from/to a periodically moving target object to thereby form ultrasound data. A processing unit is coupled to the ultrasound data acquisition unit. The processing unit is configured to form volume data including a plurality of frames based on the ultrasound data, set a moving period of the target object based on the volume data, reconstruct the volume data into a plurality of sub-volume data based on the moving period and measure volume of the target object based on the plurality of sub-volume data to thereby form volume information. | 05-27-2010 |
20100130863 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATION OF ANOMALIES IN A BODY SCAN - A body scanning system includes body scan equipment, a marker, and an image processor. The body scan equipment has a scan field and is configured to generate one or more scan images showing features of tissue within a body, with at least part of the body being placed within the scan field. The marker is configured to be disposed at a surface of the body within the scan field and to appear as an image artifact in at least one of the scan images. The image artifact has a profile which distinguishes it from the features of tissue appearing in the scan image(s). The image processor is configured to identify the image artifact in the scan image(s). | 05-27-2010 |
20100137715 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - A scanning part ultrasonically scans a cross section of a subject corresponding to a frame period. The filter processor uses time-series received signals that are obtained from the scanning part corresponding to a plurality of frames to attenuate low-frequency components from the received signals of a plurality of locations within the cross section. The amplitude-comparator compares the amplitudes of the received signals with the amplitudes of the signals for which the low-frequency components have been attenuated, and the signals with smaller amplitudes are output. The image-generator generates morphological images of the subject based on the output signals from the amplitude-comparator. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145196 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD COMBINED WITH THE PRESENCE OF CONTRAST MEDIA IN THE BODY UNDER EXAMINATION - An ultrasound imaging method for use in the presence of contrast agents is disclosed in which acoustic waves are transmitted at a fundamental transmission frequency and are focused on at least one scan line. Acoustic beams reflected from the body under examination and the contrast agents are separated into harmonic and subharmonic components along with the fundamental frequency component. The amplitudes of these components compared to determine whether the reflecting material is either body tissue or the contrast agent. | 06-10-2010 |
20100152585 | Ultrasound System And Method For Forming A Plurality Of Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Images - The present invention relates to an ultrasound system and method capable of forming a plurality of three-dimensional ultrasound images at the time. The ultrasound system comprises: a volume data acquisition unit configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a target object, receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object and acquire ultrasound data based on the received ultrasound echo signals, the volume data acquisition unit being further configured to form a plurality of sets of volume data based on the ultrasound data; and a processor configured to render the plurality of sets of the volume data to thereby form a plurality of three-dimensional ultrasound images. | 06-17-2010 |
20100168574 | Medical Ultrasound Device Having Irradiation Position Checking Function - The present invention is a medical ultrasound device in which an ultrasound pulse is irradiated to a treatment or examination region, provided with ultrasound-wave irradiating means, signal receiving means for receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasound irradiated from the ultrasound irradiating means, signal recording means (memory) for recording a received signal, and comparing means (comparison operation element) for comparing a recorded signal and the received signal. By the device of the present invention, an appropriate treatment or examination position can be checked with high reproducibility. | 07-01-2010 |
20100168575 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICE - An ultrasound imaging device, which can extract nonlinear components efficiently and improve the ultrasound penetration, is provided. | 07-01-2010 |
20100168576 | Light Weight Wireless Ultrasound Probe - A wireless ultrasound probe has a probe case enclosing a transducer array stack, a microbeamformer coupled to the transducer array, an acquisition module, an ultra wideband transceiver, a power circuit, and a rechargeable battery with a total weight of 300 grams or less. Preferably the total weight of these components does not exceed 150 grams, and most preferably the total weight of these components does not exceed 130 grams. The transceiver wirelessly transmits echo information signals to an ultrasound system host where the signals may undergo additional ultrasound signal processing such as further beamforming, image processing and display. The battery is preferably a rechargeable battery and the antenna for the transceiver is located at the end of the probe opposite the transducer stack. | 07-01-2010 |
20100168577 | PERIPHERAL ULTRASOUND DEVICE - A device for acquiring ultrasound-generated data from a patient including a securing system and a probe configured for connection to the securing system, the probe including a base having an interfacing surface, an imaging mechanism adjustable relative to the base and configured to send and receive ultrasound signals along an imaging direction, and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the imaging mechanism relative to the base thereby adjusting the imaging direction. | 07-01-2010 |
20100168578 | System and Method for Combined ECG-Echo for Cardiac Diagnosis - A system and related method for obtaining volumetric cardiac data of a subject. The data is generated by forming a plurality of focused ultrasound images corresponding to a series of ranges, generating myocardial boundary data for each of the plurality of ultrasound images, calculating the area of the region defined by said myocardial boundary data for each of the plurality of ultrasound images, multiplying the area for each of the plurality of ultrasound images by a slice depth corresponding to said ultrasound image to obtain the slice volume of each slice, and summing the slice volumes to obtain a total volume. In an alternative embodiment the system and related method combine an automated volumetric ultrasound system for finding chamber volumes and myocardial thicknesses, with a diagnostic electrocardiogram system to enable simultaneous diagnosis of mechanical and electrical cardiac problems. | 07-01-2010 |
20100174190 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EQUALIZING RECEIVED INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND ECHO SIGNALS - A system and method are disclosed for providing an equalized ultrasound echo signal for the rendering intravascular images. The system includes an ultrasound catheter including an ultrasound transducer probe. An intravascular ultrasound console receives an ultrasound echo signal corresponding to reflections of an ultrasound signal by backscatterers. An ultrasound echo signal time-gain compensation equalizer compensates the ultrasound echo signal according to sub-bands within a frequency response spectrum of the ultrasound echo signal. After applying selective amplifier gains on the sub-bands, the sub-band signals are combined to create an equalized ultrasound echo signal. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174191 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A DYNAMIC 3D ULTRASOUND IMAGE - A system and method thereof for capturing and reconstructing a dynamic 3D ultrasound image of a blood vessel are provided. The present system includes a ultrasound transducer, a motor positioning system, an electrocardiograph, a microprocessor for processing ultrasound images and signals capturing by the ultrasound transducer, and a monitor displaying the dynamic 3D ultrasound image. The motor positioning system controls the ultrasound transducer to capture 2D ultrasound images of the blood vessel at several locations in a predetermined urea. During the capturing process, capturing times, electrocardiograms and 3D locations of those captured 2D ultrasound images are simultaneously recoded. Finally, those captured 2D ultrasound images are reconstructed to the dynamic 3D ultrasound image of the blood vessel according to the time bases based on the phases of the electrocardiograms. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174192 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE PICKING-UP DEVICE - There is provided an ultrasound image picking-up device that can correct a positional shift from a reference image before therapy even with insufficient clarity of an ultrasound image. An image processing system includes a position recognition device | 07-08-2010 |
20100174193 | Comparison Of Ultrasound Data Before And After Medical Treatment - A system and a method of comparing ultrasound data associated with an object of interest before and after the medical treatment and providing the comparison information are disclosed. A plurality of first ultrasound data associated with an object of interest are stored before the medical treatment on the object of interest in the target body and a plurality of second ultrasound data associated with an object of interest are stored after the medical treatment on the object of interest in the target body in a storage unit. Instructions are input from a user for selecting any pair of first ultrasound data and second ultrasound data among a plurality of the first ultrasound data and a plurality of the second ultrasound data, which are stored in the storage unit. From the storage unit, the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data are extracted, and the extracted first ultrasound data and the extracted second ultrasound data are compared to form comparison information. | 07-08-2010 |
20100179427 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can improve operability and diagnosis efficiency. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179428 | VIRTUAL INTERACTIVE SYSTEM FOR ULTRASOUND TRAINING - A virtual interactive ultrasound training system for training medical personnel in the practical skills of performing ultrasound scans, including recognizing specific anatomies and pathologies. | 07-15-2010 |
20100185088 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING M-MODE IMAGES FROM ULTRASONIC DATA - A method for generating an M-mode image based on ultrasonic data representative of a moving object of interest within a body comprises accessing ultrasonic data stored in a memory. The ultrasonic data is representative of movement of the object of interest. A partial M-mode image is determined with a processor based on the ultrasonic data. The partial M-mode image is replicated with the processor to form N partial M-mode images that are the same with respect to each other. An M-mode image is displayed on a display based on the N partial M-mode images. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185089 | 3D QUANTITATIVE-IMAGING ULTRASONIC METHOD FOR BONE INSPECTIONS AND DEVICE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION - The Ultrasonic Tomographical method and system is provided using measurements of time of flight low frequency acoustic waves. Differences in first signal arrival times from plurality of known transmitters' locations to plurality of known receivers' location are used, wherein the transmitters and receivers are at an angle to the surface of the observed object. 3D mapping of the acoustic propagation speed is reconstructed, revealing anatomical details and physiological properties. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185090 | ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can make accurate and highly reliable measurements is provided. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185091 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - As an ROI for display and an ROI for valve observation as well as a projecting direction are input, a volume-rendering processing unit creates a first image in the ROI for display through volume rendering processing, and the ray-tracing processing unit creates a second image in the ROI for valve observation through ray tracing processing. An image compositing unit then creates a composite image by compositing the first image and the second image, and the composite image created by the image compositing unit ( | 07-22-2010 |
20100185092 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, POSITIONAL INFORMATION ACQUIRING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - The analysis image generating unit generates section images from volume analysis data that is collected by sending an ultrasound wave down to a region under the ribs. The right/left identifying unit identifies the right or left breast from cyclic motion components in the section images. The extending direction detecting unit analyzes plane-A images or plane-B images generated from the same volume analysis data, or a plane-C thickness-added MIP image, and detects the rib extending direction. The extending direction detecting unit also determines the position of the ultrasound probe based on the relative displacement of the extending direction. The body mark generating unit generates a body mark from the analysis results obtained by the right/left identifying unit and the extending direction detecting unit. The image synthesizing unit integrates the display image generated by the display image generating unit and the body mark, and displays it on the monitor. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185093 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A REAL-TIME ULTRASOUND SIGNAL WITHIN A TIME WINDOW - A method for acquiring and processing 3D ultrasound data including acquiring partial 3D ultrasound data. The partial 3D ultrasound data is composed of partial 3D ultrasound data frames that are collected by collecting an ultrasound target plane and collecting at least one ultrasound offset plane. The method additionally includes processing the partial 3D ultrasound data. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185094 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND MEDICAL IMAGE DISPLAYING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnosis system, a medical image display apparatus and displaying method that simultaneously acquires virtual endoscopy image data and multi-planar-reconstruction (MPR) image data of a diagnosing target region based on the volume data acquired from an object. Virtual endoscopy image data is generated by setting up a viewing point and a viewing direction on a volume data acquired from the object. A marker is provided on a target region of a lumen organ shown in the virtual endoscopy image data for setting up an observing direction. A reference line started from the volume data is set up along an observing direction. By comparing a voxel value of the volume data that is crossing to the reference line with a prescribed threshold value, a reference point where a surface of the diagnosing target region crosses the reference line is set up to the volume data. MPR image data is generated by extracting each voxel of the volume data corresponded to each of three MPR cross-sectional planes that are mutually orthogonally crossing at the reference point and displayed with the virtual endoscopy image data. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185095 | 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 system further includes ultrasound transducers for transmitting the ultrasonic signal to the organic object through the coupling medium without asserting an image deforming pressure to the organic object. These transducers distributed substantially around a two-dimensional perimeter of the container and substantially at symmetrical angular positions at approximately equal divisions of 360 degrees over a two-dimensional perimeter of the container. The transducers are further movable over a vertical direction alone sidewalls of the container for a real time three dimensional (3D) image data acquisition. The container further includes sidewalls covered with a baffle layer for reducing an acoustic reverberation. | 07-22-2010 |
20100191113 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING WITH REDUCED THERMAL DOSE - An ultrasound imaging method is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of locations within a region of interest, delivering a pulse sequence to two or more of the plurality of locations in a determined order, wherein the pulse sequence comprises a pushing pulse, and a tracking pulse, and applying a motion correction sequence to each of the plurality of locations where the pulse sequence is delivered. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191114 | IMAGE INDICATOR PROVISION IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments of providing image indicators together with an ultrasound image are disclosed. A mapping table including a plurality of objects each associated with examination locations, each of the examination locations being associated with one or more image indicators. The image indicators include a target organ marker indicative of each object, a body axis marker indicative of an anatomical orientation of each object, and an ultrasound beam direction marker indicative of a transmission direction of the ultrasound beam. A processing unit accesses the storage unit to provide the image indicators corresponding to a target object and examination location selected in response to selection instructions inputted by a user. The processing unit further 3-dimensionally rotates the image indicators based on position information of an ultrasound probe. | 07-29-2010 |
20100198067 | Noninvasive Diagnostic System - A method for diagnosing a joint condition includes in one embodiment: creating a 3d model of the patient specific bone; registering the patient's bone with the bone model; tracking the motion of the patient specific bone through a range of motion; selecting a database including empirical mathematical descriptions of the motion of a plurality actual bones through ranges of motion; and comparing the motion of the patient specific bone to the database. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198068 | ROBUST AND ACCURATE FREEHAND 3D ULTRASOUND - Disclosed is a system and method for computing out of plane motion between two ultrasound images. The method identifies regions of fully developed speckle that are common to the two images, computes a correlation coefficient corresponding to the two fully developed speckle image regions, and then computing an elevation distance corresponding to the correlation coefficient. The method exploits the measurable and characterizable relation between inter-image correlation and elevation distance, which may be determined from fully developed speckle regions. The method also identifies regions within the ultrasound images related to structure (e.g., vein or bone), and disregards these regions. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198069 | Simplified Fronto-Sagittal and Two-Dimensional Ultrasound Apparatus Exclusively Intended for Temporo-Mandibular Articulations (ATM) - The invention relates to a simplified fronto-sagittal and two-dimensional ultrasound apparatus exclusively intended for the exploration of the two right and left temporo-mandibular articulations (ATM) at rest or during mandibular movement, in the case of stomatology and traumatology exams. The calculation and the adjustment of the parameters for obtaining a displayed image of the region of the temporo-mandibular articulations is already done during the design step. Accordingly, the invention provides an apparatus with small dimensions and a lower cost relative to traditional ultrasound apparatuses, which will promote its use in medical practices both from a logistic and financial point of view. This exploration method has a low cost, does not require any particular preparation or hospitalisation for the patient, does not include any risks due to X-rays, and has no known side effects. The apparatus includes a quadruple hinged ultrasound probe (right and left) (FIG. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198070 | ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - Provided are an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, which reduce parastic impedances which occurs in upper electrodes and lower electrodes, thereby reducing cross talk. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198071 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - Position coordinate information of each point three-dimensionally forming a tissue corresponding to a diagnosis target at each time phase is obtained, a quantitative value for evaluating the movement of the tissue corresponding to the diagnosis target is calculated by using the position information, and the result is output in a predetermined form. Accordingly, since the quantitative value for evaluating the movement is calculated by using the three-dimensional position coordinate information without converting wall movement information obtained by a three-dimensional tracking process into two-dimensional information, it is possible to provide medical information with a higher degree of precision. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198072 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In the case where a tracking process of a moving tissue performing a contraction movement and an expansion movement and represented by a cardiac wall is performed for one heartbeat from the ED | 08-05-2010 |
20100198073 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD OF ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a unit which sets a display region for displaying a 3D image, a unit which transmits and receives ultrasound waves, a unit which generates volume data, a unit, on the basis of the volume data, which sets an analysis region, a unit, on the basis of the data on the analysis region contained in the volume data, which analyzes a fluctuations in signal intensity over time, a unit, on the basis of the analysis result, which calculates a cardiac cycle, a unit, on the basis of the cardiac cycle and the volume data, which generates data set constructed by data with substantially equal cardiac cycle, and generates data sets corresponding to a plurality of cardiac cycles, and a unit which displays the 3D images based on the data sets as a moving image. | 08-05-2010 |
20100204578 | SUPPORT ARM FOR ULTRASOUND SCANNING - A transducer connects with a support arm. The support arm supports only some of the weight, even in a locked state. By only supporting a portion or less than all of the weight, the support arm allows downward movement or pressure, but less than the pressure applied without any resistance for the gravity acting on the support arm. The pressure maintains contact between the patient and the transducer for scanning. | 08-12-2010 |
20100204579 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic probe, a control unit, a basic image generating unit, a differential image generating unit, and a composite image generating unit. The control unit controls the ultrasonic probe so as to sequentially perform, every scanning line of scanning lines in a scanning region, a transmitting and receiving under a first transmitting/receiving condition, a second transmitting/receiving condition, and a third transmitting/receiving condition. The basic image generating unit generates a first image based on the first transmitting/receiving condition, a second image based on the second transmitting/receiving condition, and a third image based on the third transmitting/receiving condition. The differential image generating unit performs a differential processing based on the first image and the second image to generate a differential image. The composite image generating unit performs a composite processing based on the differential image and the third image to generate a composite image. | 08-12-2010 |
20100204580 | ULTRASOUND BREAST SCREENING DEVICE - An ultrasound breast imaging assembly includes first and second compression plates angled with respect to one another, a breast compression area defined between the first and second compression plates, at least one pivot assembly, and an ultrasound probe. The pivot assembly allows relative motion between the first and second compression plates. The ultrasound probe, which is configured to translate over one of the first and second compression plates, includes an active matrix array (AMA) positioned on one of the first and second compression plates. | 08-12-2010 |
20100204581 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING ORGAN WALL MASS BY THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND - An ultrasound system and method to measure an organ wall weight and mass. When the organ is a bladder, a bladder weight (UEBW) is determined using three-dimensional ultrasound imaging that is acquired using a hand-held or machine controlled ultrasound transceiver. The infravesical region of the bladder is delineated on this 3D data set to enable the calculation of urine volume and the bladder surface area. The outer anterior wall of the bladder is delineated to enable the calculation of the bladder wall thickness (BWT). The UEBW is calculated as a product of the bladder surface area, the bladder wall thickness, and the bladder wall specific gravity. | 08-12-2010 |
20100210944 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and reception focusing processing method - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus realizes reception focusing processing of performing high-accuracy phase-matching and addition on complex baseband signals by using more continuous amounts of delay than those in conventional reception focusing processing. The apparatus includes: a signal processing unit for generating a complex baseband signal based on a reception signal outputted from each of ultrasonic transducers; a first computing unit for obtaining an amplitude value and a phase value of the complex baseband signal; a phase correcting unit for correcting the phase value; a second computing unit for obtaining a real number component or an imaginary number component of the complex baseband signal based on the amplitude value and the corrected phase value; and an adding unit for adding real number components or imaginary number components of complex baseband signals obtained with respect to the ultrasonic transducers to generate a phase-matched and added signal. | 08-19-2010 |
20100210945 | System for Cardiac Ultrasound Image Acquisition - An ultrasound image acquisition device initiates acquisition of anatomical images of a portion of patient anatomy in response to a heart rate related synchronization signal. The ultrasound image acquisition device includes multiple ultrasound transducers for generating sound waves. The ultrasound transducers are arranged in different transducer groups oriented to enable acquisition of different ultrasound imaging information used in generating a single composite ultrasound image. A synchronization processor derives the heart rate related synchronization signal from a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter. The synchronization signal enables adaptive activation of a particular group of the different transducer groups for acquisition of ultrasound imaging information used in generating the single composite ultrasound image. A display processor presents the single composite ultrasound image, acquired by the ultrasound image acquisition device, to a user on a reproduction device. | 08-19-2010 |
20100210946 | BLOOD VESSEL ULTRASONIC IMAGE MEASURING METHOD - A blood vessel ultrasonic image measuring method capable of facilitating the positioning of an ultrasonic probe and acquiring sufficient positioning accuracy is provided. Because of inclusion of an around-X-axis positioning step of causing a multiaxis driving device 26 to position an ultrasonic probe such that distances from respective ultrasonic array probes to the center of a blood vessel are equalized, and an X-axis direction positioning step and an around-Z-axis positioning step of causing the multiaxis driving device to position the ultrasonic probe such that the image of the blood vessel is positioned at the center portion in the width direction of the first short axis image display area G1 and the second short axis image display area G2, the positioning may be performed by using the positions in the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic array probes relative to the blood vessel or the distances of the ultrasonic array probes to the blood vessel and, therefore, the ultrasonic probe may simply and easily be positioned on the blood vessel of a living body with higher accuracy. | 08-19-2010 |
20100217124 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING MULTILINE ACQUISITION WITH HIGH FRAME RATE - An ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe having an array of transducer elements ( | 08-26-2010 |
20100217125 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS DEVICE AND ULTRASONIC PROBE FOR USE IN ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS DEVICE - A structure for adjusting the positional relationship between an ultrasonic transducer and a blood vessel such that an acoustic line from the ultrasonic transducer passes the center of a cross-section of the blood vessel for measuring an elasticity characteristic is provided. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217126 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, METHOD OF DISPLAYING ULTRASONIC IMAGES AND PROGRAM - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store echo data obtained by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from a subject, an image processing unit configured to perform image processing with different image processing parameters with respect to the echo data stored in the storage unit, and a display processing unit configured to generate a plurality of ultrasonic images based on the processed echo data and to display the plurality of ultrasonic images. | 08-26-2010 |
20100222679 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING RISK OF PRETERM DELIVERY - An apparatus for assessing the risk of preterm delivery and the success of induction of labor at term uses a steered ultrasound beam to assess microstructure of the cervix revealed by backscatter power attenuation at a range of angles. It is believed that objective and precise description of cervical microstructure will reveal stage of cervical remodeling an as such may reveal risk of preterm delivery and/or success of labor induction. The backscatter power loss can be combined with elasticity measurements to provide a more precise indication of tissue structure. | 09-02-2010 |
20100222680 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - An image-manipulation receiving unit receives an image manipulation by a user. A viewpoint/mark calculating unit calculates a viewpoint and a display position of a probe mark based on the image manipulation by the user. A mark-notation creating unit creates a probe mark, a front-back distinction mark, a line of indicating position just beneath probe center, a line of indicating scan area, and a quadrangular pyramid mark, as a mark. An image compositing unit then composites a color Doppler image with the marks, and displays them onto a monitor. | 09-02-2010 |
20100228127 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - The invention relates to an ultrasound images acquisition system. First, a first sequence of ultrasound images (I | 09-09-2010 |
20100228128 | Transmit/Receive Isolation For An Ultrasound System - A transmit/receive isolation for an ultrasound system to block a high voltage transmit signal from being propagated to a receiving unit during a transmission period of an ultrasound signal is disclosed. An ultrasound system comprises: a transmitting unit configured to form a plurality of transmit signals; an ultrasound probe configured to convert the transmit signals to a plurality of ultrasound signals, transmit the ultrasound signals to a target object, receive a plurality of echo signals reflected from the target object and form a plurality of receive signals based on the echo signals; a receiving unit; and a switching unit coupled to the transmitting unit, the ultrasound probe and the receiving unit and comprising a plurality of diode bridges each being switchable between first and second states such that the respective transmit signal is blocked from being propagated to the receiving unit when the diode bridge is in the first state and the respective receive signal is allowed to be propagated to the receiving unit when the diode bridge is in the second state. | 09-09-2010 |
20100228129 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A transmission/reception unit transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject via the ultrasonic probe, receives an ultrasonic wave reflected by the subject, and outputs an echo signal corresponding to the received ultrasonic wave. A first volume data generating unit generates first volume data based on the echo signal. A second volume data generating unit generates second volume data by applying, to each voxel contained in the first volume data, three-dimensional filtering with a filtering characteristic corresponding to three-dimensional directivity of the voxel. An image data generating unit generates data of a two-dimensional ultrasonic image based on the second volume data. | 09-09-2010 |
20100234730 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing device ( | 09-16-2010 |
20100240996 | VALVE ASSESSMENT FROM MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING DATA - Heart valve operation is assessed with patient-specific medical diagnostic imaging data. To deal with the complex motion of the passive valve tissue, a hierarchal model is used. Rigid global motion of the overall valve, non-rigid local motion of landmarks of the valve, and surface motion of the valve are modeled sequentially. For the non-rigid local motion, a spectral trajectory approach is used in the model to determine location and motion of the landmarks more efficiently than detection and tracking. Given efficiencies in processing, more than one valve may be modeled at a same time. A graphic overlay representing the valve in four dimensions and/or quantities may be provided during an imaging session. One or more of these features may be used in combination or independently. | 09-23-2010 |
20100240997 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND A CENTESIS SUPPORTING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnosis system and a centesis support controlling method by which positions and directions of a centesis needle traveling to a target region can accurately and easily be determined, including an MPR image data generating unit which generates target image data by setting a prescribed target MPR plane on volume data acquired through 3D scan over a 3D volume including a target region; a centesis needle MPR plane setting unit which generates centesis needle data indicating position and directions of the centesis needle, based on the acquired volume data; a crossing angle detection unit which detects a crossing angle between the target MPR plane and the centesis needle MPR plane including the centesis needle data; and a needling support data generating unit which generates needling support data by composing the target image data and the centesis needle data overlapped with centesis needle image data based on the detected crossin angle. | 09-23-2010 |
20100249591 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING ULTRASOUND MOTION TRACKING INFORMATION - A system and method for displaying ultrasound motion tracking information are provided. The method includes obtaining three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound image data of a scanned object. The 3D ultrasound image data includes motion tracking information. The method further includes transforming the 3D ultrasound image data with the motion tracking information to a two-dimensional (2D) map projection and generating a 2D map based on the 2D map projection. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249592 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPENSATING FOR MOTION WHEN DISPLAYING ULTRASOUND MOTION TRACKING INFORMATION - A system and method for compensating for motion with displaying ultrasound motion tracking information are provided. The method includes obtaining ultrasound image data of an imaged object and determining motion tracking information based on the ultrasound image data. The method further includes compensating for motion of the imaged object based on the determined motion tracking information and generating motion compensated ultrasound image data in combination with motion tracking indicators based on the motion compensation. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249593 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a first storage unit configured to store three-dimensional image data acquired by measuring the organ; a second storage unit configured to store a region name in association with a display method, the region name being the name of a region of the organ and the display method being for displaying the region of the organ; a region retrieval unit configured to retrieve, based on the region name, the region from the three-dimensional image data; and a display unit configured to display a two-dimensional image data; and a display control unit configured to transform, based on the region retrieved by the region unit, the three-dimensional image data of the region into the two-dimensional image for the region and configured to display the two-dimensional image on the display unit using the display method. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249594 | ITERATIVE TIME DELAY VALUES FOR ULTRASOUND BEAMFORMING - An iterative method of computing time delay values for ultrasound receive beamforming. Sensing signals are generated by transducer elements in a transducer array which detect reflected sound waves from a target tissue region for a time sample (n) for a first focal point and at a later time sample (n+1) for a second focal point. Respective time delays are calculated for time sample (n) for sensing signals received from the transducer elements for focusing the reflected sound waves from the first focal point. For the later time sample (n+1), respective time delays are calculated for the sensing signals received from the transducer elements for focusing the reflected sound waves from the second focal point, wherein the respective time delays for time sample (n+1) are computed iteratively from the respective time delays for time sample (n). | 09-30-2010 |
20100249595 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION OF TRACKED ULTRASOUND - A system and method of tracking ultrasound transducers or probes ( | 09-30-2010 |
20100262005 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for performing serial transfer between an ultrasonic probe and an apparatus main body, stable image formation can be performed even when transfer quality is poor while realizing downsizing of the ultrasonic probe. The apparatus includes: (i) an ultrasonic probe including a reception signal processing unit for generating parallel sample data based on reception signals outputted from plural ultrasonic transducers, a parallel/serial conversion unit for converting the parallel sample data into serial sample data, and a communication unit for transmitting the sample data; and (ii) an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body including a storage unit for storing the sample data of at least one frame transmitted from the ultrasonic probe, and an image forming unit for generating an image signal by performing reception focusing processing on the sample data with respect to every one frame read out from the storage unit. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262006 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A pre-memory | 10-14-2010 |
20100268082 | Ultrasound Imaging System - Methods of probing a material under investigation using an ultrasound beam. Echolocation data is generated using a multi-dimensional transform capable of using phase and magnitude information to distinguish echoes resulting from ultrasound beam components produced using different ultrasound transducers. Since the multi-dimensional transform does not depend on using receive or transmit beam lines, a multi-dimensional area can be imaged using a single ultrasound transmission. In some embodiments, this ability increases image frame rate and reduces the amount of ultrasound energy required to generate an image. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268083 | Echolocation Data Generation - Methods of probing a material under investigation using an ultrasound beam. Echolocation data is generated using a multi-dimensional transform capable of using phase and magnitude information to distinguish echoes resulting from ultrasound beam components produced using different ultrasound transducers. Since the multi-dimensional transform does not depend on using receive or transmit beam lines, a multi-dimensional area can be imaged using a single ultrasound transmission. In some embodiments, this ability increases image frame rate and reduces the amount of ultrasound energy required to generate an image. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268084 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus enabling accurate measurement of elasticity information is provided. | 10-21-2010 |
20100268085 | INTERVENTIONAL NAVIGATION USING 3D CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASOUND - A method for interventional navigation using 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging ( | 10-21-2010 |
20100268086 | Intuitive Ultrasonic Imaging System and Related Method Thereof - A hand held ultrasonic instrument ( | 10-21-2010 |
20100274132 | Arranging A Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Image In An Ultrasound System - Embodiments for arranging a 3D (three-dimensional) ultrasound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: a storage unit for storing a plurality of reference position information each corresponding to a plurality of target objects; a user input unit configured to receive input information for selecting a target object; an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from the target object to thereby output ultrasound data; and a processing unit in communication with the storage unit, the user input unit and the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the processing unit being configured to form a 3D ultrasound image based on the ultrasound data and perform position arrangement of the 3D ultrasound image based on reference position information corresponding to the input information. | 10-28-2010 |
20100280375 | Breast Ultrasound Examination Including Scanning Through Chestwardly Compressing Membrane And Processing And Displaying Acquired Ultrasound Image Information - Navigation among breast ultrasound volumes derived from different volumetric ultrasonic scans of a same breast is described. On a display of a breast ultrasound workstation, a first image derived from a first ultrasonic volume is displayed. A user election of a source region of interest (ROI) in the first image is received. A destination ROI within a second ultrasonic volume is identified that at least roughly corresponds to a same locality of tissue in the breast as the source ROI. A second image derived from the second ultrasonic volume and including the destination ROI is displayed, the destination ROI being highlighted. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280376 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An echo signal reflected from a microbubble contrast agent is discriminated from an echo signal generated upon reflection of a nonlinearly propagated transmission pulse from the body tissues without degradation of the axial resolution, by performing transmission/reception twice or less which would hardly decrease the imaging speed. By detecting a difference in phase of the second harmonic component based on the fundamental component included in the echo signal, an echo signal generated upon nonlinear reflection from a microbubble contrast agent is discriminated from an echo signal generated upon linear reflection of a nonlinearly propagated transmission pulse from the body tissues. The phase of the second harmonic component is detected through phase sensitive detection in which the square of the fundamental component is used as a reference wave. Concurrently, a pulse inversion method is used to extract the second harmonic component included in the original echo signal, whereby degradation of the axial resolution is prevented. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280377 | 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 image data of at least one ultrasound imaging mode into a stream of data frames and to convey the stream of data frames via the asynchronous channel. Each data frame includes indication of the ultrasound imaging mode and includes ultrasound-imaging-mode-specific imaging parameters. Other embodiments exist. | 11-04-2010 |
20100286524 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORGANIZING, RECORDING AND DISPLAYING IMAGES IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMS - An ultrasound imaging system includes a video processor receiving coherent echo signals from a beamformer. The video processor converts the coherent echo signals to image data, which are applied to a streaming digital video processor. The system also includes an ECG monitor and processor that obtains an ECG signal and uses the signal to provide heart cycle data indicative of the beginning and end of each of the plurality of heart cycles. The streaming digital video processor converts the image data into streaming digital data, which are divided into the heart cycle sections as indicated by the heart cycle data. The system also includes a digital video disk recorder that records a digital video disk containing the digital video data divided into chapters containing respective heart cycle sections. The recorder may also record chapters of ECG data derived from the ECG signal along with the digital video data. | 11-11-2010 |
20100286525 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of the present invention has: an image generator configured to execute transmission/reception of ultrasound waves to chronologically generate ultrasound image data of plural frames; a multiresolution decomposition part configured to hierarchically perform multiresolution decomposition on the ultrasound image data to acquire first-order to n | 11-11-2010 |
20100286526 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is disclosed. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an image data acquisition unit which transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave on a plurality of cross sections by selected one of ultrasonic scanning while swinging a one-dimensional array probe and ultrasonic scanning using a two-dimensional array probe thereby to acquire image data for each cross section, a reconstruction unit which reconstructs volume data using a plurality of image data acquired by the ultrasonic scanning, an image generating unit which generates at least one first image using the volume data and a plurality of second images corresponding to the cross section scanned by the ultrasonic wave using the plurality of image data acquired by the ultrasonic scanning, and a display unit which displays the first image or the second image selectively, or displays the first image and the second image simultaneously. | 11-11-2010 |
20100292574 | Ultrasound diagnostic system and method for displaying organ - Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic system and method. The ultrasound diagnostic system may receive, from a target object, a response signal corresponding to an ultrasound signal transmitted to the target object, may generate an ultrasound image and at least one organ image by using ultrasound data generated based on the received response signal, and may display the generated ultrasound image and the generated at least one organ image. | 11-18-2010 |
20100298703 | VARIABLE LINE LENGTH SCANNING PATTERNS - Methods and apparatus are provided for improved image acquisition rates in medical imaging compared to that of sector scanning methods using lines of constant length absent variable length lines. An embodiment includes scanning a central angular region of a volume of interest using a plurality of fixed line lengths and scanning outside of the central angular region of the volume of interest using a plurality of variable length lines. | 11-25-2010 |
20100298704 | FREEHAND ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS PROVIDING POSITION QUALITY FEEDBACK - An ultrasound system has an ultrasound transducer equipped with a position marker and a needle equipped with a position marker. The position markers allow the position and orientation of the transducer and needle to be determined. A display depicts an ultrasound image acquired via the transducer and a graphical element representative of a projection of the longitudinal axis of the needle onto a plane of the ultrasound image. The quality of the position and orientation information from the position markers is monitored, and when quality is below a quality threshold the display indicates this fact. | 11-25-2010 |
20100298705 | FREEHAND ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GUIDING FINE ELONGATE INSTRUMENTS - An ultrasound system has an ultrasound transducer equipped with a position marker and a needle equipped with a position marker. The position markers allow the position and orientation of the transducer and needle to be determined. Displays indicating a projection of the longitudinal axis of the needle onto a plane of an ultrasound image acquired via the transducer and displays indicating a projection of a reference position onto a plane of an ultrasound image acquired via the transducer are provided. Displays indicating in real-time whether the needle is substantially within the plane of the ultrasound image are provided. | 11-25-2010 |
20100298706 | RESPIRATORY-GATED THERAPY ASSESSMENT WITH ULTRASONIC CONTRAST AGENTS - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus and method are described for monitoring the progress of therapy for pathology such as lesions, tumors, and metastases by means of contrast agent imaging. A sequence of images are acquired as a bolus of contrast agent infuses the tissue containing the pathology. A contrast wash-in time parameter is calculated for both the tumor and normal tissue, and a ratio is calculated of the two wash-in time parameters (called WITR) which removes the effects of variations in the procedure from one therapy monitoring session to another. A difference curve of the time-intensity curves of the pathology and normal tissue is also produced, which is similarly immune to procedural variations. The motional effects of respiration can be taken into account by detecting the position of a landmark such as the diaphragm in each of the images of the sequence and discarding from processing those which exhibit a change in the position of the landmark relative to the probe. | 11-25-2010 |
20100305441 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC ULTRASOUND IMAGE OPTIMIZATION - A method for automatic image optimization in ultrasound imaging of an object is provided. The method includes transmitting a first ultrasound signal into the object, wherein the signal has a plurality of first signal parameters. The method also includes receiving a first set of electrical signals representing reflections of the first ultrasound signals from the object and processing the first set of electrical signals into a first image. The method evaluates an image quality cost function for the first image to produce a first image quality metric and determines a second plurality of signal parameters based upon the first image quality metric. Similarly, the method includes transmitting a second ultrasound signal into the object, wherein the signal has the second plurality of signal parameters and receiving a second set of electrical signals representing reflections of the second ultrasound signal from the object and processing the second set of electrical signals into a second image. The method also includes evaluating an image quality cost function for the second image to produce a second image quality metric. The method further includes comparing the first image quality metric and the second image quality metric to determine whether a maximized image quality metric has been reached and assigning multiple signal parameters that produced the maximized image quality metric as optimum parameters. The method further includes imaging and displaying the object using an ultrasound signal having the optimum parameters. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305442 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING A DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR CATHETER-BASED IMAGING SYSTEMS - A method of managing catheter data for a catheter-based imaging system includes coupling a catheter to a control module. The catheter includes a memory structure that includes catheter management data. The control module includes a processor. The catheter management data is accessed from the memory structure using the processor. Patient tissue is imaged using control module settings that are selected based, at least in part, on the accessed catheter management data. At least one image is displayed based, at least in part, on the imaged patient tissue. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305443 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEDICAL SCANNING - A hand held ultrasound imaging system with a probe unit having a transducer being adapted to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals and an orientation sensor adapted to sense the rotation of the probe unit, the output of the transducer and of the sensor being combined to produce a set of scanlines having a series of intensity values and a rotation value, the scanlines then being processed to produce a raster image for display on a display unit. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305444 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS, IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD, AND DISPLAY METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, a generating unit, a first housing, a second housing, a display unit, a recognition unit, and a display control unit. The generating unit generates ultrasonic image data. The first housing includes an operation panel for issuing an operation instruction. The second housing is connected to the first housing and includes a screen. The display unit displays a display image on the screen. The display image includes at least one of an image display area for the ultrasonic image and a panel display area for a display panel. The recognition unit recognizes a connection state between the first housing and the second housing. The display control unit changes at least one of display positions, sizes, and shapes of the image display area and the panel display area on the display image in accordance with the recognized connection state. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305445 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND DISPLAYING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes a display unit to display an ultrasonic image, a comparison unit to compare the signal/echo intensity of a cardiac chamber portion of an ultrasonic image with the signal/echo intensity of a myocardial portion of the image, and an indication generating unit to generate a specific indication at a time point when the signal/echo intensity of the cardiac chamber portion changes from a higher value to a lower value than the signal/echo intensity of the myocardial portion or at another time point with reference to the time point. | 12-02-2010 |
20100312111 | ULTRASOUND OPERATION APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND OPERATION SYSTEM, AND CAVITATION SUPPRESSION METHOD - An ultrasound operation apparatus includes an ultrasound transducer; a drive section that drives the ultrasound transducer using a drive signal; a probe that has a proximal end section in which the ultrasound transducer is provided and a distal end section to which ultrasound vibrations are transmitted, and that performs treatment for living tissue by using ultrasound vibrations at the distal end section; a resonance frequency tracking section that drives so as to cause ultrasound vibrations to be generated at a resonance frequency; a detection section that detects a frequency component signal of a frequency component other than a resonance frequency of the drive signal; and a cavitation suppression control section that controls so as to suppress or eliminate cavitations according to the detection result. | 12-09-2010 |
20100312112 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit which generates echo signals associated with scan planes by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object via the ultrasonic probe, an image data generating unit which generate tomogram data respectively corresponding to the scan planes based on the echo signals, a contour line extraction processing unit which extracts contour lines of a specific region from the plurality of tomograms, a contour line processing unit which generates curves respectively corresponding to the extracted contour lines, and a surface image generating unit which generates one-dimensional brightness trains on the curves from the tomograms and generates a surface image expressing the surface unevenness of the specific region with brightness changes by arraying the brightness trains in accordance with the positions of the corresponding scan planes. | 12-09-2010 |
20100324419 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF IMAGING USING THE SAME - A method of registering the position of an object moving in a target volume in an ultrasound imaging system includes capturing a first ultrasound image of a target volume. A second ultrasound image of the target volume is then captured after the capturing of the first ultrasound image. The position of the object in the target volume is identified using differences detected between the first and second ultrasound images. In another aspect, a region of interest in the target volume is determined. A segment of an operational scan range of a transducer of the ultrasound imaging system encompassing the region of interest is determined. The transducer is focused on the segment of the operational scan range during image capture. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324420 | Method and System for Imaging - A method and system of imaging is provided. The system can include an imaging system ( | 12-23-2010 |
20100324421 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe ( | 12-23-2010 |
20100324422 | IMAGE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND IMAGE DIAGNOSIS METHOD - This invention provides a technique to dynamically set an imaging parameter appropriate for observing a region of interest on an object to generate a high-quality echogram while maintaining the operability to change the position and orientation of a probe. A region-of-interest acquisition unit ( | 12-23-2010 |
20100331689 | POST-BEAMFORMING COMPRESSION IN ULTRASOUND SYSTEMS - In an ultrasound imaging system that applies a beamformer to received ultrasound signal samples to form one or more beams represented by arrays of beamformed samples, a method and an apparatus compress each array of beamformed samples independently of the other arrays to form compressed beams. A plurality of analog to digital converters sample multiple analog ultrasound signals produced by a transducer array to provide multiple streams of ultrasound signal samples to the beamformer. The compressed beams are transferred via a digital interface to a signal processor. At the signal processor, the compressed beams are decompressed to form decompressed beams. The signal processor further processes the decompressed beams for diagnostic imaging, such as for B-mode and Doppler imaging, and scan conversion to prepare the resulting ultrasound image for display. This abstract does not limit the scope of the invention as described in the claims. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331690 | Systems and Techniques for Providing Elasticity Graphs - An elastogram device comprises a driver controller including a wave generator, and an amplifier assembly receiving waves from the wave generator for driving an actuator, the amplifier assembly compatible with at least one pneumatic actuator, at least one hydraulic actuator, at least one piezoelectric actuator, and at least one electromechanical actuator, an elastogram processor receiving a wave image from an imaging source and generating an elastogram from the wave image, and a user input and output assembly including a display rendering the elastogram, a user interface providing a plurality of options for selection, the options including selectable parameters to control the wave generator and to generate the elastogram. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331691 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS SUPPORT INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD - Certain embodiments provide an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes acquiring ultrasonic image data corresponding to each time phase in a first interval including at least one contraction and one stretching by scanning a diagnosis region of an object which repeats a contracting motion and a stretching motion, with an ultrasonic wave, accompanying application of a dynamic load including repetitive contraction and relaxation, over the first interval, generating velocity information of the diagnosis region associated with the contracting motion and the stretching motion by using the ultrasonic image data corresponding to each time phase in the first interval, deciding reference information as a reference for a period of the dynamic load by using the velocity information, and generating support information for supporting operation of applying the dynamic load by using the reference period and outputting the information in a predetermined form. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331692 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SETTING SOUND VELOCITY - In one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image creating unit, an image-creation control unit and a display control unit. The image creating unit creates an ultrasound image from data created by adding a reflected wave signal of an ultrasound wave transmitted to an imaging target portion of a subject by using a reception delay time calculated from a set sound velocity set as a sound velocity in the imaging target portion. The image-creation control unit switches a set sound velocity set at a present moment in a variable range, and controls the image creating unit so as to create a plurality of ultrasound images each using a reception delay time corresponding to each of the set sound velocities to be switched. The display control unit controls display such that the ultrasound images created are displayed on a certain display unit. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331693 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND A CONTROL METHOD FOR MEASURING DIAGNOSIS PARAMETERS - An ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus that can display image data acquired at a plurality of measuring positions in panoramic image data and display measured results of diagnosis parameters for each of the measuring positions of the panoramic image data The panoramic image data is generated by combining a plurality of reference image data generated at a plurality of diagnosis target positions. The plurality of measuring positions is designated based on the latest reference image data composing the panoramic image data. Based on Doppler signals acquired through ultrasound transmissions and receptions to and from the plurality of measurement positions, image data is generated. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331694 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS. - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can display various information obtained by acquiring an elasticity image in association with the elasticity image or a biometric simulation image is implemented. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus | 12-30-2010 |
20100331695 | Plaque Characterization Using Multiple Intravascular Ultrasound Datasets Having Distinct Filter Bands - A system and method are disclosed that facilitate generating visual representations of characterized tissue based upon ultrasound echo information obtained from a portion of an imaged body. The system includes a first filter having a first filter band that is applied to a near range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render near range filtered echo information. A second filter, having a second filter band that covers a frequency range of the first filter band, is applied to a far range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render far range filtered echo information. The system furthermore includes a set of characterization criteria that are applied to the near and far range filtered echo information. The characterized near and far range image data are thereafter combined into a single tissue-characterization image. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331696 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY MEASURING THE VOLUME OF URINE IN A BLADDER USING ULTRASOUND SIGNALS - The method of accurately measuring the volume of urine in a bladder includes the steps of; generating a plurality of ultrasound scan planes using the received ultrasound signals; detecting distances between the front and back walls of the bladder for each scan line in the ultrasound scan planes; determining an area of the bladder using the detected distances of the scan lines for each ultrasound scan plane; generating a virtual radius of the bladder using the determined area of the bladder for each ultrasound scan plane; determining a calibration coefficient for each ultrasound scan plane using the detected distances of the scan lines; calibrating the virtual radius of the bladder for each ultrasound scan plane using the calibration coefficient; determining the volume of urine in the bladder by calculating the volume of a sphere of which the radius is the average of the calibrated virtual radii for the ultrasound scan planes. The method can accurately measure the volume of urine in a bladder using ultrasound signals regardless of the detection location on which a transducer is placed. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331697 | ECHOGENIC NEEDLE CATHETER CONFIGURED TO PRODUCE AN IMPROVED ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An echogenic medical device, such as a needle catheter, which produces an improved ultrasonic image of the device, and a method of performing a medical procedure using a device of the invention. One aspect is directed to a catheter which reduces artifacts in the ultrasound image of the catheter. In one embodiment, the catheter has a spherical distal tip. Another aspect of the invention is directed to an echogenic catheter with echogenic portions arranged in an array to facilitate determination by ultrasonic imaging of the rotational orientation of the catheter relative to a desired location within the patient. | 12-30-2010 |
20100331698 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC ELASTICITY INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND ULTRASONIC ELASTICITY INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising: an ultrasonic probe for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave to/from an object; a phasing and summing unit for generating RF signal frame data of a cross-sectional site of the object on the basis of a reflection echo signal measured by the ultrasonic probe; an elasticity calculator for generating frame data of elasticity information representing the degree of hardness or softness of a tissue at each measurement point of the cross-sectional site on the basis of a pair of RF signal frame data acquired in different times; a weighting unit for weighting the elasticity information of each measurement point of the generated elasticity frame data in accordance with the degree of sharpness of a distribution of elasticity information for plural measurement points containing adjacent measurement points; a smoothing unit for smoothing the weighted elasticity information of the plurality of elasticity frame data generated at the different times; and an elasticity image display unit for generating an elasticity image on the basis of the smoothed elasticity frame data and displaying the generated elasticity image on a display unit. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004100 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has an ultrasonic probe for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave to/from an object while the object is pressed, a phasing and adding unit for generating RF signal frame data of a cross-sectional site of the object on the basis of a reflection echo signal measured by the ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic image generating unit for generating an ultrasonic image of the cross-sectional site of the object on the basis of the RF signal frame data, a measurement target setting unit for setting a measurement target to the RF signal frame data or the ultrasonic image, a measurement target position tracing unit for tracing a positional variation of the set measurement target, a displacement image generating unit for generating a graph representing transition of a press state applied to the measurement target on the basis of the positional variation of the measurement target, and a display unit for displaying the generated graph. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004101 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO IDENTIFY AND MEASURE ORGAN WALL BOUNDARIES - Systems and methods are described for acquiring, processing, and presenting boundaries of a cavity-tissue interface within a region-of-interest in an ultrasound image based upon the strength of signals of ultrasound echoes returning from structures within the region-of-interest. The segmentation of boundaries of cavity shapes occupying the region-of-interest utilizes cost function analysis of pixel sets occupying the cavity-tissue interface. The segmented shapes are further image processed to determine areas and volumes of the organ or structure containing the cavity within the region-of-interest. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004102 | ORGANIC PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL, ULTRASONIC OSCILLATOR USING THE SAME, METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE ULTRASONIC OSCILLATOR, ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING DEVICE - Disclosed is an organic piezoelectric material which has particularly excellent heat resistance, while exhibiting excellent transparency, surface gloss, adhesion and piezoelectric characteristics. Also disclosed are an ultrasonic oscillator used in an ultrasonic medical diagnostic imaging device, which is capable of highly sensitively receiving a high frequency wave and suitable for harmonic imaging technique, a method for producing the ultrasonic oscillator, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasonic medical diagnostic imaging device. The organic piezoelectric material is characterized in that the piezoelectric material is formed by laminating two or more films at the same time by a coating process. | 01-06-2011 |
20110015523 | ULTRASOUND OBSERVATION APPARATUS - An ultrasound observation apparatus has an ultrasound probe or an ultrasound endoscope manually moved relative to a subject, and displays a plurality of ultrasound tomographic images in time sequence with the movement. The ultrasound observation apparatus has a control section which, when a first display range is selected, performs control so that images are displayed in a first number of displayed frames per stroke time, which, when a second display range is selected, performs control so that the number of displayed frames per stroke time is smaller than the first number of displayed frames, and which, when a manual scanning mode is selected, performs control so that a predetermined number of frames per stroke time are displayed regardless of whether the display range is the first display range or the second display range. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015524 | ULTRASONOGRAPH - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitting section for driving a probe to send out ultrasonic waves toward a subject one after another; a receiving section for getting an echo, produced as a result of reflection of each ultrasonic wave from the subject, received by the probe, thereby generating a received signal; a tissue tracking section for generating position tracking waveforms, each representing the positional displacement of an associated one of measuring points on the subject, based on the received signals; a boundary detecting section for determining the boundary location of the subject's tissue; a tracking waveform choosing section for choosing at least two position tracking waveforms, including the one associated with the boundary, from the position tracking waveforms by reference to at least one of the waveforms associated with the measuring points, the location of the boundary, and the amplitudes of the received signals; and a tissue attribute value calculating section for calculating a tissue attribute value of the subject using the position tracking waveforms chosen. | 01-20-2011 |
20110021914 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING SCOLIOSIS - A three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging system ( | 01-27-2011 |
20110021915 | Detection of Structure in Ultrasound M-Mode Imaging - Automated detection of structure is provided in ultrasound M-mode imaging. A coarse and fine search for structure is used. For example, a less noise susceptible initial position or range of positions for a given structure is determined. This position is then refined. The coarse positioning and/or the refined position may use machine-trained classifiers. The positions of other structure may be used in either coarse or fine positioning, such as using a Markov Random Field. The structure or structures may be identified in the M-mode image without user input of a location in the M-mode image or along the line. | 01-27-2011 |
20110021916 | ORGANIC PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL, ULTRASONIC OSCILLATOR USING THE MATERIAL, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE ULTRASONIC OSCILLATOR, ULTRASONIC PROBE, AND ULTRASONIC MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING DEVICE - Provided is an organic piezoelectric material which has excellent piezoelectric property, heat resistance property in particular. An ultrasonic oscillator, which is to be used for an ultrasonic medical diagnostic imaging device which can receive high frequencies at high sensitivity and is suitable for harmonic imaging techniques, a method for manufacturing such oscillator, and an ultrasonic probe are also provided. The ultrasonic medical diagnostic imaging device is provided by sing such oscillator, method and probe. The organic piezoelectric material is characterized by containing empty particles having an average particle diameter of 10 μm or less. | 01-27-2011 |
20110021917 | ORGANIC PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL FILM, METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF THE SAME, METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF ULTRASONIC OSCILLATOR USING THE SAME, AND ULTRASONIC MEDICAL IMAGING INSTRUMENT - Disclosed is an organic piezoelectric material film which has little contaminants and has excellent piezoelectric properties. The organic piezoelectric material film is produced by a solution casting process using, as raw materials, a raw material for an organic piezoelectric material and a crushed product which is produced by crushing a material produced by a solution casting process and is mainly composed of an organic piezoelectric material. | 01-27-2011 |
20110021918 | ORGANIC PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL FILM, METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL FILM, METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF ULTRASONIC OSCILLATOR, AND ULTRASONIC MEDICAL IMAGING INSTRUMENT - Disclosed is an organic piezoelectric material film which has little contaminants and has excellent piezoelectric properties. The organic piezoelectric material film is produced by casting a solution of an organic piezoelectric material in an organic solvent and subsequently drying the resulting product. The organic piezoelectric material film has a moisture content of 0.1 mass % or less. | 01-27-2011 |
20110028841 | Setting a Sagittal View In an Ultrasound System - Embodiments for providing a plurality of slice images are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output ultrasound data; and a processing unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data, set a reference slice, a reference point and a window on the volume data based on input information of a user and set a sagittal view for measuring a thickness of a nuchal translucency (NT) of a fetus on the volume data. | 02-03-2011 |
20110028842 | Providing A Plurality Of Slice Images In An Ultrasound System - Embodiments for providing a plurality of slice images are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output ultrasound data; and a processing unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data, the processing unit being configured to set a reference slice, a reference point and a window on the volume data based on input information of a user, the processing unit being configured to set a sagittal view for measuring a thickness of a nuchal translucency (NT) of a fetus on the volume data and set a plurality of slices on the volume data based on the sagittal view, the processing unit being further configured to form a plurality of slice images corresponding to the plurality of slices based on the volume data. | 02-03-2011 |
20110028843 | PROVIDING A 2-DIMENSIONAL CT IMAGE CORRESPONDING TO A 2-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE - There is disclosed a system and method for providing a 2-dimensional CT image corresponding to a 2-dimensional ultrasound image by performing an image registration between a 3-dimensional ultrasound image and a 3-dimensional CT image. The system comprises: a CT image forming unit configured to form a plurality of 3-dimensional CT images for an object of interest inside a target object; an ultrasound image forming unit configured to form at least one 3-dimensional ultrasound image for the object of interest; a processor configured to perform image registration between the 3-dimensional CT images and the at least one 3-dimensional ultrasound image to obtain a first transform function; and a user input unit configured to receive input information from a user, wherein the ultrasound image forming unit is further configured to form a 2-dimensional ultrasound image from the at least one 3-dimensional ultrasound image based on the input information, and wherein the processor is further configured to obtain a plurality of 2-dimensional CT images from the 3-dimensional CT images based on the input information and the first transform function and to detect similarities between the 2-dimensional ultrasound image and the 2-dimensional CT images to select one of the 2-dimensional CT images corresponding to the 2-dimensional ultrasound image. | 02-03-2011 |
20110028844 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING 2-DIMENSIONAL COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY IMAGE CORRESPONDING TO 2-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE - Embodiments for providing a 2-dimensional (D) computerized-tomography (CT) image corresponding to a 2-D ultrasound image through image registration between 3-D ultrasound and CT images are disclosed. An imaging system comprises a CT imaging unit, an ultrasound image forming unit, a storing unit, a processor and a display unit. The processor extracts the 2-D CT image from the 3-D ultrasound-CT registered image by performing a rigid-body transform upon the 3-D ultrasound image and calculating similarities between reference images and the 2-D ultrasound images, wherein the reference images are obtained through the rigid-body transform. | 02-03-2011 |
20110034806 | Systems And Methods For Combined Ultrasound And Electrical Impedance Imaging - A dual imaging probe | 02-10-2011 |
20110034807 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING VESSEL LABELING - There are disclosed embodiments for an ultrasound system for performing vessel labeling. The ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to a target object including vessels, receive an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the target object and form ultrasound data corresponding to the target object; a volume data forming unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data; and a processor configured to form a 3-dimensional ultrasound image based on the volume data, perform vessel segmentation on the 3-dimensional ultrasound image to provide at least one segmented image including at least one segmented vessel, detect at least one vessel junction from the at least one segmented vessel and perform vessel labeling on the at least one segmented image based on the detected at least one vessel junction. | 02-10-2011 |
20110040181 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT - An image processing device acquires an ultrasound B-mode image sequence and creates an evaluation function of a mode of the longitudinal sectional shape of the carotid artery rendered in a frame following the frame that has already been modeled, thereby optimizing the evaluation function. The image processing device estimates and models the position and shape of the longitudinal sectional shape of the carotid artery for the following frame based on the optimization result, and performs the same for the subsequent frames. The image processing device outputs a variation of the carotid artery diameter in response to heartbeats based on the modeling result. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040182 | Ultrasound System Having Variable Lookup Table And Method For Managing Variable Lookup Table - Disclosed is an ultrasound system including a variable lookup table. The ultrasound system includes the variable lookup table, a data acquiring unit to acquire ultrasound data, a lookup table generating unit to generate a variable lookup table according to the acquired ultrasound data, a three-dimensional (3D) rendering unit to perform 3D rendering with reference to the generated variable lookup table, and a display unit to display the 3D rendering result. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040183 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus is configured as follows. Namely, the apparatus includes a first unit configured to generate a first transmission wave for acquisition of a first image with a higher priority on sensitivity than on resolution, a second unit configured to generate a second transmission wave for acquisition of a second image with a higher priority on resolution than on sensitivity, an analysis unit configured to perform multiresolution analysis based on predetermined transform processing on the first image and the second image, a filter unit configured to perform predetermined filter operation for corresponding coefficients of the first image and the second image for each coefficient of each resolution acquired by the analysis unit, and an inverse transform unit configured to generate a composite image of the first image and the second image by performing inverse transform processing of transform processing by the analysis unit. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040184 | METHOD FOR MONITORING OF MEDICAL TREATMENT USING PULSE-ECHO ULTRASOUND - A method for ultrasound imaging of anatomical tissue. A first signal is received from a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected from a location in the anatomical tissue during a first time period. A second signal is received from a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected from the location in the anatomical tissue during a later second time period, following a discrete medical treatment. The second signal is subtracted from the first signal to form a difference signal. The difference signal may be scaled, spatially filtered, then used to generate an indication, the indication showing the effect of the medical treatment in the location in the anatomical tissue. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040185 | REFERENCE DEFORMABLE BODY, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - A reference deformable body the type of which can be identified, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus enabling identification of the type of the reference deformable body, and an ultrasonic diagnostic method are provided. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040186 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - The present invention is made to accurately detect an absolute pressure even when a contact property between an elastic coupler and a body surface of an object is poor. An elastic coupler | 02-17-2011 |
20110040187 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - The invention was made to simplify the operation relating to the detection of an absolute pressure applied to a test body by an ultrasonic probe and thereby to enhance usability. The fact that an elastic coupler has been attached to the ultrasonic wave transmitter/receiver surface and the fact that the elastic coupler is in an initial state with no pressure are detected (S | 02-17-2011 |
20110046486 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE ENHANCEMENT IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing enhanced ultrasound images without lowering a frame rate in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the ultrasound system includes: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit ultrasound beams to a target object along predetermined plural scan line groups of scan lines in an alternative and sequential manner, receive ultrasound echoes reflected from the target object, and provide a plurality of ultrasound frame data, said predetermined plural scan line groups being respectively associated with predetermined steering angles and each of the plurality of ultrasound frame data being produced in response to the transmission of the ultrasound beam along the respective scan line groups; and a processor configured to sequentially form ultrasound images based on the ultrasound frame data and compound the ultrasound images in an interleaving way to form compound images. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046487 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION INDICATIVE OF A CHANGE OF ELASTICITY INFORMATION - Embodiments for providing information indicative of a change in elasticity information of a target object over time in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound data acquisition unit transmits ultrasound beams to a target object and receives ultrasound echoes reflected from the target object to thereby provide plural sets of ultrasound frame data. An image forming unit forms ultrasound images by using the plural sets of ultrasound frame data. An information forming unit defines a region of interest on each of the ultrasound images and compares images within the regions of interest between the neighboring ultrasound images to form elasticity information. The information forming unit forms information indicative of a change in the elasticity information over time. | 02-24-2011 |
20110054316 | Reduction of Multiline Artifacts in Doppler Imaging - Certain embodiments of the present technology provide systems and methods that provide reduction of multiline artifacts in Doppler imaging. Certain embodiments provide for various ensembles of transmit beams at different spatial locations and overlapping receive beams between the locations. Certain embodiments provide for calculating various auto-correlation estimates based on the received beams and then combining the auto-correlation estimates to create an image. In certain embodiments, combining the auto-correlation estimates comprises applying a linear interpolation filter that decreases the weight applied for receive beams that are spatially located further away from the transmit beam. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054317 | TRACKING AND OPTIMIZING GAIN AND CONTRAST IN REAL-TIME FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A system for dynamic optimization of gain and contrast in ultrasound imaging includes an image processor module programmed to dynamically estimate a correction profile in real-time and apply the correction profile to adjust a gain and contrast of image frame data sets. The image processor module is programmed to identify tissue and background regions in an image frame data set, determine an image intensity for each of the tissue and background regions, and formulate a gain profile based on the image intensity of the tissue region to compensate the gain variation of an image. The image processor module is further programmed to calculate an image contrast metric based on the image intensity of the tissue and background regions, and modify a gray map of the image frame data set based on the image contrast metric to adjust the contrast of an image displayed on the display system. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054318 | SETTING AN OPTIMAL IMAGE PARAMETER IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments of setting an optimal image parameter for obtaining an optimal ultrasound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, a processing unit is configured perform an image process upon an ultrasound image to thereby detect a center of a blood vessel from the ultrasound image. The processing unit is configured to set the center of the blood vessel as an optimal focal point position. The processing unit is configured to calculate a plurality of steering angles, a plurality of transmit (Tx) frequencies and a plurality of sound speeds. The processing unit is further configured to form a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to each of the steering angles, the Tx frequencies and the sound speeds based on the ultrasound data, detect a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a number of edge points of the blood vessel and a contrast difference between pixels for each of the second ultrasound images to thereby detect an optimal steering angle, an optimal Tx frequency and an optimal sound speed. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054319 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF SLICE PLANE IMAGES - There is disclosed an embodiment for providing a plurality of slice plane images by setting the plurality of slice planes on volume data. An ultrasound data acquisition unit forms ultrasound data of a target object. A processor forms volume data based on the ultrasound data. A user interface receive a first user instruction for setting a reference plane in the volume data, a second user instruction for setting a reference point on the reference plane and a third user instruction for providing information on a plurality of slice planes. The processor sets a plurality of slice planes, each being orthogonal to the reference plane and including the reference point and forms a plurality of slice plane images. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054320 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, transmission unit, reception unit, control unit, adjustment unit, automatic setting unit, switching unit, manual setting unit, correction unit, and generating unit. The adjustment unit adjusts transmission/reception conditions for repeated ultrasonic transmission/reception in accordance with an instruction from the user. The automatic setting unit sets the first gain for correcting an echo signal in accordance with the adjusted transmission/reception conditions. The switching unit switches between activating and stopping the operation of the automatic setting unit. The manual setting unit sets the second gain for correcting an echo signal in accordance with an instruction from the user. The correction unit corrects an echo signal with the first or second gain. When the adjustment unit adjusts a transmission/reception condition while the automatic setting unit stops operation, the correction unit corrects an echo signal with the second gain. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054321 | METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZATION OF BREATHING SIGNAL WITH THE CAPTURE OF ULTRASOUND DATA - A method for producing an ultrasound image comprises monitoring the subject's respiration cycle or waveform, acquiring ultrasound data from the subject, producing an ultrasound image from the received ultrasound data received during the time when the subject's motion due to breathing had substantially stopped. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054322 | Microembolic signals detection during cordiopulmonary bypass - In a method of detecting microemboli in a patient, an echography probe is applied to a selected location of the patient. An ultrasonic signal is sensed with the echocardiography probe. The ultrasonic signal is processed with a processor to determine a systemic embolic load in the selected location. A representation of a systemic embolic load indicated by the ultrasonic signal is presented to a user. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054323 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN ULTRASOUND SPATIAL COMPOUND IMAGE CONSIDERING STEERING ANGLE - Embodiments for providing an ultrasound spatial compound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object based on a plurality of steering angles corresponding to a plurality of frames to output a plurality of ultrasound data; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the processing unit being configured to set a reference steering angle corresponding to each of the frames, calculate a steering angle corresponding to each of the frames by using a sequence based on the reference steering angle, perform scan conversion upon the ultrasound data to form the frames, and perform spatial compound imaging upon images of spatially overlapped regions in the frames to form an ultrasound spatial compound image. | 03-03-2011 |
20110054324 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE PLANE IMAGES FOR A PLURALITY OF VIEWS - Embodiments for forming multiple plane images for a target object in an ultrasound system are disclosed. A processor forms volume data indicative of the target object by using ultrasound data. The processor is configured to: set a reference plane in the volume data; detect a falx contour and a contour of a cerebrum in the reference plane and an entire contour of the brain in the volume data; normalize the volume data by using the falx contour, the cerebrum contour and the entire contour of the fetal brain; and set multiple planes with respect to the reference plane in the volume data. The processor forms plane images corresponding to the respective multiple planes by using the volume data. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060223 | PROVIDING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE BASED ON AN ELLIPSOIDAL REGION OF INTEREST IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing a 3D (three-dimensional) ultrasound image based on an ellipsoidal region of interest (ROI) are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output a plurality of ultrasound data; a user input unit configured to receive input information; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit and the user input unit, the processing unit being configured to form volume data based on the plurality of ultrasound data, set an ellipsoidal ROI on the volume data based on the input information and render volume data corresponding to the ellipsoidal ROI to thereby form a 3D ultrasound image. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066031 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PERFORMING MEASUREMENT ON THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE - Embodiments for providing an ultrasound system of performing a 3D measurement, comprise: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a target object and receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object to acquire ultrasound data; a user interface configured to receive input data from a user; and a processor configured to form a 3D-ultrasound image based on volume data derived from the ultrasound data, establish two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image based on the input data, generate connection data among the established two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image, and measure distances among the established two or more points based on the input data and the connection data. | 03-17-2011 |
20110071396 | ULTRASONIC PROBE, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic probe is provided with a CMUT chip having a plurality of transducer elements that change electromechanical coupling coefficients or sensitivities in accordance with a bias voltage to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, an electric conducting layer formed on the ultrasonic irradiation side of the CMUT chip, an acoustic lens arranged on the ultrasonic irradiation side of the CMUT chip, an insulating layer formed in the direction opposite to the ultrasonic irradiation side of the acoustic lens, a housing unit that stores the CMUT chip in which the electric conducting layer and the insulating layer are fixed with an adhesive and the acoustic lens, wherein the insulating layer is formed by the material that includes at least either silicon oxide or paraxylene to prevent a solvent of the adhesive from soaking into the adhered portion. | 03-24-2011 |
20110077516 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic equipment which executes ultrasound scanning over a two-dimensional or three-dimensional region in a subject, includes a cross-section detecting unit which detects an MPR position corresponding to at least one predetermined reference cross-section of the heart by use of at least one volume data obtained by executing ultrasound scanning over the three-dimensional region containing at least a portion of the heart of the subject, an image generating unit which generates an MPR image corresponding to the MPR position, a display unit which displays the MPR image, and an image acquisition unit which executes ultrasound scanning over the two-dimensional region in the subject under the reference of the MPR position to obtain at least one two-dimensional image regarding the two-dimensional region. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077517 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - An ultrasonic probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer array having a plurality of channels. Each channel contains a pair of a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer. The first ultrasonic transducer transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave of a fundamental frequency, and outputs a first reception signal. The second ultrasonic transducer receives a harmonic wave, and outputs a second reception signal. In a normal mode, composite reception signals in which the first reception signals and the second reception signals are added on a pair basis are inputted to a reception circuit. Due to a resonant circuit, a fundamental component of the composite reception signals is inputted to the reception circuit. In a THI mode, only a second harmonic component of the second reception signal is transmitted to the reception circuit due to the resonant circuit. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077518 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method for calculating elasticity index - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is composed of an ultrasonic probe, a processor, and a monitor. The ultrasonic probe has multiple ultrasonic transducers arranged in one-dimension or two-dimensions. The adjacent L ultrasonic transducers are selected as a group. The group shifts in a state that the adjacent groups partly overlap with each other. The L ultrasonic transducers transmit and receive ultrasonic waves during the formation of the group. Multiple scan lines of echo data are acquired per transmission. The processor forms multiple frames of cross-sectional images for the same object of interest. A displacement amount of an organ is obtained using multiple frames. Based on an elasticity index calculated using the displacement amount, an elasticity index image in which the organ is colored is generated and displayed on a monitor in associated with a color map showing a relation between the elasticity index and the color. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077519 | Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and signal processing method thereof - The presently disclosed subject matter is intended to correctly determine an ambient sound velocity at each level of pixels or line images constituting an ultrasound image, and construct a high-precision ultrasound image. A region-of-interest setting unit sets a region of interest on an ultrasound image. A transmission focus control unit gives a transmission focus instruction, so that a transmitting circuit performs transmission focusing on the region of interest. A set sound velocity specification unit specifies a set sound velocity used to perform reception focusing on RF data. A focus index calculation unit performs reception focusing on the RF data for each of a plurality of set sound velocities to calculate the focus index of the RF data. An ambient sound velocity determination unit determines the ambient sound velocity of the region of interest on the basis of the focus index for each of the plurality of set sound velocities. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077520 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic diagnostic method - An ultrasonic probe has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (UTs). Each UT transmits ultrasonic waves and receives echo waves. In a B/A coefficient acquisition mode, every time a transmission of the ultrasonic waves and reception of echo waves takes place, ultrasonic waves for heating are transmitted to heat an object of interest. An HI processor calculates a non-linear B/A coefficient based on a harmonic component of a detection signal from the UT. The HI processor acquires information of changes in the B/A coefficient while the object of interest is heated with the ultrasonic waves for heating. A DSC displays the information of the B/A coefficient together with an ultrasonic image on a monitor. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077521 | Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and signal processing method thereof - A region-of-interest and grid point setting unit is configured to set a region of interest (ROI) within an object and grid points to be measured within the ROI in the depth direction. An intra-region-of-interest sound velocity calculation unit is configured to calculate ambient sound velocities at the grid points at respective depths of the ROI. A local sound velocity determination unit is configured to compare the values of an ambient sound-velocity distribution table for each plurality of assumed local sound velocities with the values of the ambient sound velocities calculated by the intra-region-of-interest sound velocity calculation unit, extract an ambient sound-velocity distribution table for assumed local sound velocities having the smallest error, and determine the assumed local sound velocities of the extracted ambient sound-velocity distribution table as local sound velocities in the ROI. | 03-31-2011 |
20110082371 | MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic, apparatusi in accordance with the invention includes: an image information obtaining section configured to obtain multiple medical images in which a living tissue of a subject to be tested is imaged; and an image recognition calculation section configured to obtain motion information of the living tissue from pixel values of medical images at different time phases of the obtained multiple medical images and classify the medical images into predetermined types based on the motion information. | 04-07-2011 |
20110082372 | ULTRASONIC APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with a boundary extraction unit ( | 04-07-2011 |
20110087101 | System and Method for Determining a Transfer Function - A system and method is provided for using ultrasound data backscattered from vascular tissue to estimate the transfer function of a catheter (including components attached thereto—e.g., IVUS console, transducer, etc.). Specifically, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a computing device is electrically connected to a catheter and used to acquire RF backscattered data from a vascular structure (e.g., a blood vessel, etc.). The backscattered ultrasound data is then used, together with an algorithm, to estimate the transfer function. The transfer function can then be used (at least in a preferred embodiment) to calculate response data for the vascular tissue (i.e., the tissue component of the backscattered ultrasound data). In a second embodiment of the present invention, an IVUS console is electrically connected to a catheter and a computing device and is used to acquire RF backscattered data from a vascular structure. The backscattered data is then transmitted to the computing device, where it is used to estimate the catheter's transfer function and to calculate response data for the vascular tissue. The response data and histology data are then used to characterize at least a portion of the vascular tissue (e.g., identify tissue type, etc.). | 04-14-2011 |
20110087102 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus executes B-mode scanning and color Doppler mode scanning on a scanning region associated with an interior of the womb of a pregnant woman via an ultrasonic probe. A first generating unit generates first color Doppler mode data and generates first B-mode data. A specifying unit specifies a specific region including at least one of an amniotic fluid region and a fetus region based on one of a signal intensity distribution and a luminance distribution of the first B-mode data. A second generating unit generates second color Doppler mode data by deleting a specific data from the first color Doppler mode data. The specific color Doppler mode data corresponds to the specific region. A display unit displays a color Doppler mode image and a first B-mode image while superimposing the color Doppler mode image and the first B-mode image. | 04-14-2011 |
20110098565 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICE - A transmission/reception beamformer output provided with point spread functions having different wave number vector directions is used to obtain a compound image that is highly isochronous and sufficiently blurring-resistant. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098566 | THICK-SLICE ULTRASOUND IMAGES DERIVED FROM ULTRASONIC SCANS OF A CHESTWARDLY-COMPRESSED BREAST OF A SUPINE PATIENT - 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 and convenient navigation on and among coronal thick-slice images is described. In one preferred embodiment, a nipple marker is displayed the coronal thick-slice image representing a projection of a nipple location thereupon. A convenient breast icon is also displayed including a cursor position indicator variably disposed thereon in a manner that reflects a relative position between the cursor and the nipple marker. Preferably, the breast icon is configured to at least roughly resemble a clock face, the center of the clock face representing the nipple marker location. Bookmark-centric and CAD-marker-centric navigation within and among thick-slice images is also described. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098567 | THREE DIMENSIONAL PULSED WAVE SPECTRUM ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND THREE DIMENSIONAL PULSED WAVE SPECTRUM DATA GENERATION METHOD - Disclosed are a three-dimensional (3D) pulsed wave (PW) spectrum ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a 3D PW spectrum data generating method. The 3D PW spectrum ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus forms a sample gate in a 3D format by using a two-dimensional (2D) array probe, and generates 3D PW spectrum data by using the formed 3D sample gate. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098568 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD USING ULTRASOUND AND ABERRATION CORRECTION METHOD - An ultrasound image forming method comprises a first step of receiving a first signal reflected from the object, a second step of obtaining an aberration correction value based on the first signal thus received, a third step of receiving a second signal reflected from the object when a second ultrasound corrected based on the aberration correction value is transmitted to the object, and a fourth step of forming an image from the aberration correction value and the second signal. The center frequency of the second ultrasound is between 0.5 MHz and 20 MHz, the center frequency of the first ultrasound is between 3/16 and 9/20 of the center frequency of the second ultrasound. By this method, an accurate aberration correction value can be obtained and an ultrasound imaging with high resolution can be achieved even if aberrations are large and difficult to correct. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098569 | Method and Apparatus for Standardizing Ultrasonography Training Using Image to Physical Space Registration of Tomographic Volumes from Tracked Ultrasound - A clinical and training apparatus that collects and processes physical space data while performing an image-guided procedure on an anatomical area of interest includes a calibration probe, a tracked ultrasonic probe, a wireless tracking device that tracks the ultrasonic probe in space and an image data processor. The physical space data provides three-dimensional coordinates for each of the physical points. The image data processor includes a memory holding instructions. The instructions include determining registrations used to indicate position in image space and physical space; using the registrations to map into image space, image data describing the physical space of the tracked ultrasonic probe and the anatomical area of interest; and constructing a three-dimensional (3D) volume based on ultrasonic image data. The apparatus includes a storage medium that stores a plurality of 3D volumes acquired by the image data processor for later retrieval. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098570 | Method and system for simultaneously displaying relationships of measurements of features associated with a medicine image - The embodiments described herein relate to a method and system for simultaneously displaying relationships of measurements of features associated with a medical image. In one embodiment, a plurality of measurements of features associated with a medical image are provided. Each of the plurality of measurements corresponds to a respective measurement type. Relationships are created between the measurements and references specific to the measurement types, and at least two of the created relationships are simultaneously displayed in a graphical display format. Examples using fetal growth data and time intensity curves are disclosed. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another. | 04-28-2011 |
20110105900 | Transducer Unit Incorporating an Acoustic Coupler - The present invention relates to a transducer unit for an ultrasonic breast imaging system, in which an acoustic coupler is employed which comprises a frame in which a transducer is mounted. The frame is open at one end, and a surface of the transducer is exposed at the open end. The frame and exposed transducer surface are put under compression against the surface of a compression plate with a gasket, or similar, providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween. A thin layer of acoustic couplant is provided between the transducer surface and the compression plate. The frame defines a chamber around the nonexposed surface of the transducer, the chamber housing an acoustic couplant. | 05-05-2011 |
20110105901 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND ULTRA-SONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A computer | 05-05-2011 |
20110105902 | PROCESSING DEVICE FOR ULTRASONIC TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGE - A free-moving piece (jellyfish sign) having a high probability of separation in the near future in an unstable plaque is clearly displayed. Ultrasonic tomographic images ( | 05-05-2011 |
20110105903 | ORGANIC PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL, ULTRASONIC VIBRATOR, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL APPLICATION - This invention provides an organic piezoelectric material for constituting an ultrasonic vibrator, which has excellent piezoelectric properties and is suitable in high-frequency and broad bands, an ultrasonic probe using the organic piezoelectric material, and an ultrasonic image diagnosis apparatus for medical application. The organic piezoelectric material is a film-shaped organic piezoelectric material and is characterized in that the organic piezoelectric material is produced by a process comprising performing heat treatment at a temperature at or above room temperature and at or below a temperature of 10° C. below the melting point of the organic piezoelectric material while applying tension and subsequently performing relaxation treatment in a period between the completion of the heat treatment and the time when the material has been cooled to room temperature. | 05-05-2011 |
20110105904 | WIRELESS ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, WIRELESS ULTRASONIC PROBE, AND PROBE AUTHENTICATION METHOD - A wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus ( | 05-05-2011 |
20110112401 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS DEVICE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM - An ultrasonic diagnosis device includes a diagnostic image generation unit ( | 05-12-2011 |
20110112402 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM, STORAGE MEDIUM AND ULTRA-SONOGRAPH - A computer | 05-12-2011 |
20110112403 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR MONITORING, CONTRACTIONS AND/OR A BIRTH PROCESS AND/OR THE PROGRESS AND/OR POSITION OF A FETUS - A method of monitoring a pregnant woman by identifying a moving organ in the woman and tracking or monitoring a movement of said organ using ultrasound. Optionally, the identifying is non-imaging. Optionally or alternatively, the moving organ is part of a fetus and a position of a head is optionally calculated form a heart position which is directed detected. | 05-12-2011 |
20110112404 | 3-D QUANTITATIVE-IMAGING ULTRASONIC METHOD FOR BONE INSPECTIONS AND DEVICE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION - The invention is a differential 3D Quantitative-Imaging Ultrasonic Tomography method for inspecting a layered system that is comprised of a heterogeneous object embedded in a volume of space that comprises layers having an acoustic impedance gradient between the layers providing non-linear beams travels. A transducer grid is attached to the surface of the layered system in a unilateral manner. By sequentially changing the distance between transmitter and receiver the fastest travel times of the ultrasonic oscillations are measured. A differential approach provides from the data the longitudinal wave velocities values for each elementary volume that make up an inspected volume. These values are used to construct two and three-dimensional maps of the longitudinal wave velocity values distribution in the inspected volume and the porosity values distribution in the heterogeneous object. By applying statistical treatment to the obtained data the longitudinal wave velocity in the inspected material matrix part is estimated. | 05-12-2011 |
20110118603 | Spinous Navigation System and Associated Methods - The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method for accessing a spinal disc. In an embodiment, a system for accessing a spinal disc disposed within internal body structures includes a sonar probe. The sonar probe emits sound waves into the internal body structures to create return signals. The system also includes a retractor and a monitoring system. The monitoring system includes an ultrasound imaging screen. The ultrasound imaging screen displays images of the internal body structures from the return signals. The ultrasound imaging screen provides a visual identification of a nerve when disposed in the internal body structures. | 05-19-2011 |
20110118604 | PROVIDING AN ULTRASOUND SPATIAL COMPOUND IMAGE IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing an ultrasound spatial compound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object based on a plurality of steering angles to thereby output a plurality of ultrasound data for obtaining a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to the steering angles; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the processing unit being configured to form the ultrasound images based on the ultrasound data, decompose each of the ultrasound images into a low pass image having a low frequency component and a high pass image having a high frequency component, perform a blending process of removing a seam artifact upon the low pass image and the high pass image for each of the ultrasound images, form a plurality of restoration images by composing the blended low pass image and the high pass image, and form an ultrasound spatial compound image based on the restoration images. | 05-19-2011 |
20110125016 | FETAL RENDERING IN MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND - A fetal skeleton is rendered with medical diagnostic ultrasound. Ultrasound scans of fetal skeleton may acquire data at a rate sufficient to avoid some fetal movement artifacts as compared to magnetic resonance or computed tomography. To better visualize the fetal skeleton, the ultrasound data is used to segment the fetal bone from tissue. By extracting this information, a skeleton in three dimensions is determined. Information representing internal bone locations may be used for fetal bone imaging. Without repeating the segmentation and without adjustments for volume thickness, the skeleton may be visualized from different orientations. A volumetric or surface rendering is performed, allowing addition of lighting queues not available with MIP or other projection rendering free of segmentation. The lighting queues may better indicate actual size and orientation of bones relative to each other on the rendered image. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125017 | Systems and Methods for 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 operation. Thus, multiple receivers allow sampling of fine features of reflected signals that would be considered beyond the resolution associated with the operating signal. Use of multiple receivers also provides an effective sampling rate that is greater than the sampling rate of an individual receiver. Similar advantages can be obtained using multiple transmitters. Such advantageous features can be used to obtain high resolution images of objects in a medium in applications such as ultrasound imaging. Sub-Nyquist sampling is discussed. Accounting for the effects of refraction on pathlengths as a signal passes between two regions of different sound speed allows improved calculation of focus distances. Extending the analysis to account for additional layers or sub-layers allows further improvement. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125018 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE PROCESSING BASED ON MOTION DEGREE OF ULTRASOUND PROBE - Embodiments for processing ultrasound images based on a motion degree of an ultrasound probe in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the ultrasound system includes: an ultrasound acquisition unit including an ultrasound probe for transmitting ultrasound signals to a target object and receiving echo signals, the ultrasound acquisition unit being configured to form a plurality of ultrasound data based on the echo signals; and a processing unit coupled to the ultrasound acquisition unit and configured to form first to N | 05-26-2011 |
20110125019 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM AND DISTORTION 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 pressure applied to the subject, and a phase difference between the received signals with and without application of pressure, based upon the properties stored in the storage arrangement with and without pressure applied to the subject, a computer for calculating a displacement of each measurement point, and a strain distribution of tissue of the subject due to application of pressure, based upon the correlation coefficient and phase difference calculated by the correlation computer, and a display for displaying the strain distribution. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125020 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING PROBE OPERATION GUIDE - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention including a storage unit that stores reference three-dimensional volume data of an examinee obtained by an image pickup device, an ultrasonic probe that is inserted in a body cavity of the examinee and can perform ultrasonic scanning in a radial direction, an ultrasonic image generating unit that generates an ultrasonic tomographic image on the basis of a reflection echo signal from the ultrasonic probe, a position detector that detects a position and a posture of the ultrasonic probe on the basis of a sensor attached to the ultrasonic probe, an image generating unit that generates a scanning position mark representing an ultrasonic scanning position on a tomographic plane parallel to a travel direction of the ultrasonic probe from the reference three-dimensional volume data of the storage unit on the basis of an output of the position detector, and a display unit that displays the ultrasonic tomographic image and the scanning position mark. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125021 | ACOUSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS WITH HANDS-FREE CONTROL - An acoustic imaging apparatus ( | 05-26-2011 |
20110130661 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CHANGE TREND IMAGE - There is disclosed an embodiment for providing a change trend image. An ultrasound data acquisition unit transmits ultrasound signal to a target object and receives echo signal reflected from the target object to sequentially acquire a plurality of ultrasound data. A processor is connected to the ultrasound data acquisition unit. The processor sequentially extracts feature values from the plurality of ultrasound data, allocates colors corresponding to each feature value and forms a change trend image with the colors indicative of a change trend of the extracted feature values over time. | 06-02-2011 |
20110130662 | ULTRASOUND 3D SCANNING GUIDANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION METHOD AND DEVICE, AND ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - An ultrasound 3D scanning guidance and reconstruction method includes a scanning step for performing a multi-point scanning on an organ to obtain a plurality of 3D images, each 3D image containing corresponding feature information, and a reconstructing step for reconstructing a 3D image of the whole organ from these 3D images. | 06-02-2011 |
20110137168 | PROVIDING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE BASED ON A SUB REGION OF INTEREST IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing a three-dimensional ( | 06-09-2011 |
20110137169 | MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, A MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - A medical image processing apparatus that acquires a medical image and additional information associated with the medical image. The medical image processing apparatus reduces a display size of the medical image using a first size-reduction rate, and reduces a display size of the additional information using a second size-reduction rate. The medical image processes apparatus then combines the size-reduced medical image and the size-reduced additional information into a thumbnail composite image, and displays the thumbnail composite image. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137170 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasound signal to a diagnosis target and receives the reflected ultrasound signal from the diagnosis target to generate an ultrasound image. The ultrasound image to be displayed on a screen is divided into plural division regions, and filtering is performed for the respective division regions based on blood-flow information at plural division positions on the diagnosis target corresponding to the respective division regions to provide the filtered result as the ultrasound image. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137171 | PROVIDING AN ULTRASOUND SPATIAL COMPOUND IMAGE IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing an ultrasound spatial compound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to output first ultrasound data and a plurality of sets of second ultrasound data corresponding to a region of interest (ROI); a user input unit configured to receive input information for defining the ROI; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit and the user input unit, the processing unit being configured to form volume data based on the plurality of sets of second ultrasound data, compare the first ultrasound data with the volume data to detect geometric information therein, form a two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound image based on the first ultrasound data, and a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound image and a second 3D ultrasound data based on the volume data in consideration of the geometric information, and perform a spatial compound upon the 2D ultrasound image, the first 3D ultrasound image and the second 3D ultrasound image based on the geometric information to form an ultrasound spatial compound image. | 06-09-2011 |
20110144495 | Perfusion Imaging of a Volume in Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound - A volume is scanned with ultrasound for determining perfusion. A volume is scanned with a more rapid technique for tracking a sub-volume, and the tracked sub-volume is scanned for contrast agent detection with a less rapid technique. For example, a single pulse technique or B-mode scanning is used to track a region over one or more cycles, the location of the tracked region is predicted, and multiple pulse contrast agent detection is performed for the sub-volume at the predicted location. The combinations of scanning provide for real-time or higher temporal resolution reperfusion information at the appropriate tissue. Using a separate scan for motion tracking may provide a more robust prediction of the sub-volume location and a better visualization of the results (e.g., orientation within the organ). In other embodiments, tracking is based on a B mode image derived from the multi-pulse data. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144496 | IMAGING METHOD FOR MICROCALCIFICATION IN TISSUE AND IMAGING METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING BREAST CANCER - An imaging method for microcalcification displays microcalcification distribution by acquiring and overlapping a photoacoustic image of microcalcification and an ultrasonic image of tissue. The image acquired by the present invention, in comparison to images acquired by ultrasonic and X-ray mammography, has advantages in no speckle noises, higher optical contrast, higher ultrasonic resolution, and so on. The present invention also has advantage in safety by adopting a light source having no ionizing radiation. An imaging method for diagnosing breast cancer is also herein disclosed. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144497 | ULTRASONIC 3-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION METHOD AND ULTRASONIC WAVE SYSTEM THEREOF - Disclosed are systems and methods for reconstructing a three-dimensional ultrasound image. The method may include generating a two-dimensional image having various directivities in a frequency space based on plane wave data; manipulating the generated two-dimensional image to generate three-dimensional image data; and reconstructing a three-dimensional ultrasound image by performing an inverse fast Fourier transformation on the three-dimensional image data. The method may further include using a fast Fourier transformation, a lookup table, back-projection, filtering, de-noising, compressed sensing, and/or the projection-slice theorem. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144498 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, a medical image display apparatus includes a storage unit storing data of a three-dimensional image, a slice image generating unit generating three slice images associated with three slices from the three-dimensional image, a display unit displaying the three slice images respectively in three display areas, an ROI marker generating unit generating three ROI markers to be respectively superimposed on the displayed three slice images, the three ROI markers corresponding to a single ROI, an operation unit performing operation of changing relative positions between the three slice images and the three ROI markers, and a display control unit controlling move the three slice images in the three display areas in accordance with the operation of changing the relative positions and fix the three ROI markers at center positions of the three display areas. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144499 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SELECTING SLICE IMAGE FROM THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE - Various embodiments of ultrasound system and method of selecting a 2D slice image from a 3D ultrasound image are provided. One embodiment of the ultrasound system comprises: a 3D ultrasound image acquisition unit configured to acquire a 3D ultrasound image of a target object; a 2D slice image selection unit including a control volume unit, the 2D slice image selection unit being configured to be rotated and/or moved by an operator; and a processor coupled to the 3D ultrasound image acquisition unit and the 2D slice image selection unit. At least one selection plane is formed by the control volume unit as a reference plane to select at least one 2D slice image from the 3D ultrasound image. The processor is configured to extract at least one 2D slice image corresponding to the at least one selection plane from the 3D ultrasound image. The 3D ultrasound image or the at least one selection plane are rotated and/or moved together with the control volume unit. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144500 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING COORDINATES OF SCANNED SURFACE THEREOF - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store information about the contour of an object to be examined and information about the position of a specified region of the ultrasonic image of the object both corresponded to a body contour model coordinate system and a coordinate calculating unit configured to correspond the object coordinate system to the body contour model coordinate system according to the information about the position of the specified region of the object, associating with each other the object coordinate system and the body contour model coordinate system used when comparing an ultrasonic tomographic image based on ultrasonic tomographic data stored in an image storage unit with a real-time ultrasonic tomographic image scanned by an ultrasonic probe, and thereby calculating the coordinates of the scanned plane of the real-time ultrasonic tomographic image in association with the object coordinate system. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144501 | ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DEVICE - When a tomographic image is displayed, the operator of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is allowed to know the timing to optimize the image quality and decide by him- or herself whether optimization needs to be done now or not. | 06-16-2011 |
20110152684 | FAST ANATOMICAL MAPPING USING ULTRASOUND IMAGES - A method for three-dimensional (3D) mapping includes acquiring a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonic images of a cavity in a body of a living subject, the 2D images having different, respective positions in a 3D reference frame. In each of the 2D ultrasonic images, pixels corresponding to locations within an interior of the cavity are identified. The identified pixels from the plurality of the 2D images are registered in the 3D reference frame so as to define a volume corresponding to the interior of the cavity. An outer surface of the volume is reconstructed, representing an interior surface of the cavity. | 06-23-2011 |
20110152685 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FOCUS POSITION OF ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a transmission section which is a transducer drive section capable of transmitting ultrasound at a predetermined focus position from an ultrasound transducer, and a CPU which is a display region changing section capable of changing a display region to be displayed on a monitor in an ultrasonic image; and controls the transmission section, which is the transducer driving section, in accordance with the change result to change the focus position of the ultrasound. | 06-23-2011 |
20110152686 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING - An ultrasound imaging system (UIS) comprises a user interface (UIF) that allows an operator to request visual aid. In response to a request for visual aid, a controller (CTRL) retrieves from a database a visual representation of a preferred manner of applying a probe to a patient, and causes a display device (DPL) to render the visual representation. Preferably, but not necessarily, the controller (CTRL) detects a step of a workflow protocol program (WPP) that is being carried out. The controller (CTRL) then selects from the database a visual representation pertaining to the step that is being carried out. | 06-23-2011 |
20110152687 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - Even when a region of interest (ROI) is changed on a frozen image, an elasticity image of ROI after the change can be displayed without executing re-measurement. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus | 06-23-2011 |
20110160585 | ULTRASOUND FOR NAVIGATION THROUGH PSOAS MUSCLE - Imaging technology may be used to navigate highly innervated tissue, such as the psoas muscle, while maintaining the neural structures intact. An ultrasound transducer may be introduced into the tissue and an image may be consulted to assess the proximity of the transducer to neural structures. Alternate embodiments contemplate an expanded array of surgical applications and alternate imaging technologies. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160586 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MULTI-FREQUENCY IMAGING OF PATIENT TISSUE USING INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMS - A method for imaging patient tissue using an intravascular ultrasound image includes inserting a catheter into a patient blood vessel. The catheter includes at least one transducer configured and arranged for insertion into a lumen of the catheter. Acoustic signals are transmitted from the at least one transducer along a series of scan lines towards patient tissue between incremental rotations of the at least one transducer. The transmitted acoustic signals include first acoustic signals having first frequency bandwidths centered at a first center frequency and second acoustic signals having second frequency bandwidths centered at a second center frequency. Corresponding echo signals reflected from patient tissue are received, transformed, processed, and displayed. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160587 | VOLUMETRIC MEASUREMENT AND VISUAL FEEDBACK OF TISSUES - Apparatus and methods for assessing tissue characteristics such as the dimensions and volume of an osteolytic lesion are disclosed. The apparatus may utilize ultrasound to provide visual and volumetric feedback related to a lesion or other tissue. Further the apparatus may be utilized to determine whether the lesion has been completely removed and filled with the appropriate amount of graft material. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160588 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a control section that performs control such that an ROI is displayed on a screen upon input of a predetermined command. The ROI is for displaying a flow mode image of a region including a start point and an end point of a puncture path of a puncture needle that appears on a screen of an ultrasound image when the puncture needle is protruded from an ultrasound probe. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160589 | DYNAMIC TRACKING OF SOFT TISSUE TARGETS WITH ULTRASOUND IMAGES - Apparatus and methods of dynamically tracking a soft tissue target with ultrasound images are described. An apparatus includes an ultrasound imager coupled to a robotic arm. A method includes acquiring a first ultrasound (US) image of a patient with an ultrasound imager, determining a quality metric of the first US image, and adjusting one or more imaging parameters of the ultrasound imager if the quality metric of the acquired first US image is less than a quality threshold. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160590 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that constructs and displays a 3-dimensional elastic image showing the hardness or softness of a biological tissue of an object to be examined, and a method of displaying an ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized by being provided with an elastic image constructing unit ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110166453 | HANDHELD FORCE-CONTROLLED ULTRASOUND PROBE - A handheld ultrasound probe includes force detection and feedback to permit control and/or characterization of applied forces. The probe may, for example, be operated to maintain a substantially constant applied force over a period of use independent of a user's hand position, or to measure applied forces that might contribute to deformation of an imaging subject. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166454 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND DATA PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasonic probe for transmitting an ultrasonic beam to an examinee and receiving a reflection echo signal from the examinee, a beam forming unit for supplying the ultrasonic probe with a signal for making the ultrasonic probe transmit an ultrasonic beam, and a data converter for digitalizing the reflection echo signal to obtain echo data, and converting the echo data to ultrasonic image data including a setting unit that sets measurement mode data of the ultrasonic image data in the echo data, and a controller that creates a data set while appending the measurement mode data and the echo data, transferring the data set to the data converter, makes the data converter analyze the measurement mode data in the data set, and controls the data converter so that echo data in the data set are converted to ultrasonic image data on the basis of the analyzed measurement mode data. | 07-07-2011 |
20110172531 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit, a volume data generating unit, a projected image generating unit, a two dimensional region-of-interest setting unit, a specifying unit, a calculation unit and a three-dimensional region-of-interest determination unit. The specifying unit specifies cells on rays which pass through the respective pixels in the | 07-14-2011 |
20110172532 | AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF SCAN ANGLE, SCAN DEPTH AND SCAN SPEED IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound data acquisition unit, which is responsive to predetermined scan angle, scan depth and scan speed, configured to repeatedly transmit an ultrasound signal to a target object and receive an ultrasound echo reflected from the target object to form a plurality of ultrasound frame data sets. It also includes a processing unit configured to form a plurality of volume data sets each having a plurality of frames based on the plurality of ultrasound frame data sets and form at least two 2-dimensional ultrasound images based on the volume data sets. The processing unit is further configured to detect contours of the target object from the 2-dimensional ultrasound images and adjust the predetermined scan angle, scan depth and scan speed based on the detected contours. | 07-14-2011 |
20110172533 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, a ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprises an ultrasonic scanning unit configured to scan a region including at least part of a liver of an object with an ultrasonic wave and acquire an echo signal associated with the liver, an image generating unit configured to generate an ultrasonic image of the liver based on an echo signal associated with the liver, and a calculation unit configured to calculate at least one of a first index indicating an irregularity degree of the liver and a second index indicating an irregularity feature of the liver by using the ultrasonic image of the liver. | 07-14-2011 |
20110172534 | PROVIDING AT LEAST ONE SLICE IMAGE BASED ON AT LEAST THREE POINTS IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing at least one slice image based on at least three points are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to output ultrasound data; a user input unit configured to receive input information for setting at least three points on a three-dimensional ultrasound image from a user; and a processing unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data, render the volume data to form the three-dimensional ultrasound image, set the at least three points on the three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the input information, set at least one slice on the three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the at least three points and form at least one slice image corresponding to the at least one slice. | 07-14-2011 |
20110172535 | 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 cycle motion. A series of images acquired during a particular resting period may be represented as a three-dimensional volume image, and the comparison of volume images from adjacent cardiac resting periods enables three-dimensional volume image modulation analysis which may be presented for a user as a moving volume image of the objects of interest within the field of view. | 07-14-2011 |
20110172536 | GENERATION OF STANDARD PROTOCOLS FOR REVIEW OF 3D ULTRASOUND IMAGE DATA - An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system ( | 07-14-2011 |
20110178404 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - Provided are an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that constructs and displays a 3-dimensional elastic image showing the hardness or softness of a biological tissue in an object to be examined, and a method of displaying an ultrasonic image. | 07-21-2011 |
20110178405 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including means that acquires a three-dimensional ultrasonic signal of an internal organ of an examinee, means that sets a direction of a two-dimensional standard cross-section of the internal organ; means that adjusts display parameter of an image of a site which an examinee intends to observe, means that generates a two-dimensional standard cross-sectional image from the three-dimensional ultrasonic signal on the basis of the set direction of the two-dimensional standard cross-section of the internal organ, means that generates an observation cross-sectional image and a rendering image from the three-dimensional ultrasonic signal on the basis of the display parameters of the adjusted image, and display means that combines and displays the two-dimensional standard cross-sectional image, the observation cross-sectional image and the rendering image. | 07-21-2011 |
20110184289 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with the invention includes: an ultrasonic probe in which multiple ultrasonic vibrators for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave are arranged; a transmitter configured to provide an electric signal to each of the vibrators in the ultrasonic probe, the transmitter providing a square wave signal having any multiple frequency components to the each of the vibrators, causing the vibrators to form an ultrasonic beam; a receiver configured to receive a reception signal obtained by transmitting the ultrasonic beam; and a signal processor configured to form an ultrasonic image based on the reception signal. | 07-28-2011 |
20110184290 | PERFORMING IMAGE PROCESS AND SIZE MEASUREMENT UPON A THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for performing an image process and a size measurement upon a three-dimensional ultrasound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: a user input unit configured to receive input information for setting at least one seed point on a two-dimensional ultrasound image from a user; an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object including a plurality of objects of interest and output ultrasound data; and a processing unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data, form the two-dimensional ultrasound image and a three-dimensional ultrasound image based on volume data, detect at least one object of interest corresponding to the input information from the three-dimensional ultrasound image, and perform an image process and a size measurement of the detected object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image. | 07-28-2011 |
20110184291 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, AND MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a data acquisition unit configured to ultrasonically scan a three-dimensional area including a predetermined region of an object and acquire volume data associated with the three-dimensional area, a calculation unit configured to cut the volume data at at least one plane and calculate a full-scale contour of a slice of the predetermined region and a full-scale planned surgical line used for surgical operation of the predetermined region, and an output unit configured to output at least one of the full-scale contour of the slice of the predetermined region and the full-scale planned surgical line. | 07-28-2011 |
20110190632 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPRATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Disclosed herein is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic image processing method. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmission unit; An ultrasonic probe emits; An ultrasonic reception unit; An image processing unit; A sound velocity determination unit; and A control unit. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the actual sound velocity of a reflected wave is estimated, so that high-quality ultrasonic images can be provided, and the time required for the estimation of a sound velocity can be reduced. | 08-04-2011 |
20110190633 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, setting unit, associating unit, and registering unit. The storage unit stores 2D or 3D first time series image data and second time series image data over a predetermined period. The setting unit sets a first ROI on the first image data and a second ROI on the second image data for each of a plurality of phases in the predetermined period in accordance with a user instruction or by image processing. The associating unit associates the set first ROI with the set second ROI for each of the plurality of phases. The registering unit registers the first image data and the second image data for each of the plurality of phases based on a relative positional relationship between the first ROI and the second ROI which are associated with each other. | 08-04-2011 |
20110190634 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - In general, according to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image generating unit configured to generate medical images from a multislice which covers an area including the heart of an object. Each slice is almost perpendicular to the long axis of the heart. Each medical image is a short-axis image of the heart. A series of medical images captured at different times correspond to each slice. The embodiment generates a polar map associated with myocardial motion indices from a plurality of medical images. A polar map is segmented into segments. The embodiment calculates the average value of motion indices for each segment. The utility of an average value depends on the range covered by each segment. This embodiment matches the boundary of a segment with the position of a vein. This prevents a deterioration in the utility of average values due to the influences of veins. | 08-04-2011 |
20110196236 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUTOMATED GESTATIONAL AGE ASSESSMENT OF FETUS - An ultrasound system includes a transducer array comprising a multiplicity of transducer elements configured to acquire image data of an object, a display system for displaying an image of the object based on the acquired image data, and an image processor module. The image processor module is programmed to calculate the curvature of the image, and identify an object feature based on the calculated curvature and based on known feature tendencies of the object. | 08-11-2011 |
20110201932 | METHOD OF CHARACTERIZING TISSUE OF A PATIENT - A method for characterizing tissue of a patient, including receiving acoustic data derived from the interaction between the tissue and the acoustic waves irradiating the tissue; generating a morphology rendering of the tissue from the acoustic data, in which the rendering represents at least one biomechanical property of the tissue; determining a prognostic parameter for a region of interest in the rendering, in which the prognostic parameter incorporates the biomechanical property; and analyzing the prognostic parameter to characterize the region of interest. In some embodiment, the method further includes introducing a contrast agent into the tissue; generating a set of enhanced morphology renderings of the tissue after introducing the contrast agent; determining an enhanced prognostic parameter from the enhanced morphology renderings; and analyzing the enhanced prognostic parameter. | 08-18-2011 |
20110201933 | POINT SOURCE TRANSMISSION AND SPEED-OF-SOUND CORRECTION USING MULTI-APERTURE ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging system and methods of use are provided with any number of features. In some embodiments, a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound energy to and from separate physical ultrasound apertures. In some embodiments, a transmit aperture of a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit an omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a first point source through a target region. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with a single receiving aperture. In other embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with multiple receiving apertures. Algorithms are described that can combine echoes received by one or more receiving apertures to form high resolution ultrasound images. Additional algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the ultrasound system to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body. | 08-18-2011 |
20110201934 | LOW VOLTAGE ULTRASOUND SYSTEM WITH HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSDUCERS - An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system has a low voltage ultrasound signal path including front-end circuitry which drives probe signal conductors with low voltage transmitters and has low voltage receivers or preamplifiers with inputs coupled to the signal conductors. The transmit high voltage is produced in the system main frame and coupled by the probe cable to high voltage transmitters in the probe, which have low voltage inputs coupled to the signal conductors and outputs coupled to the elements of the transducer array. The transmit/receive switches are located in the probe and coupled in parallel with the high voltage transmitters. | 08-18-2011 |
20110201935 | 3-D ULTRASOUND IMAGING - In an ultrasound imaging system (UIS), an ultrasound scanning assembly (USC) provides volume data (VD) resulting from a three-dimensional scan of a body (BDY). A feature extractor (FEX) searches for a best match between the volume data (VD) and a geometrical model (GM) of an anatomical entity. The geometrical model (GM) comprises respective segments representing respective anatomic features. Accordingly, the feature extractor (FEX) provides an anatomy-related description (ARD) of the volume data (VD), which identifies respective geometrical locations of respective anatomic features in the volume data (VD). In a preferred embodiment, a slice generator (SLG) generates slices (SX) from the volume data (VD) based on the anatomy-related description (ARD) of the volume data (VD). | 08-18-2011 |
20110208057 | SUBJECT INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - A subject information processing apparatus having a first device array for transmitting/receiving an elastic wave; a first signal processor for generating a tomographic image from a signal received by the first device array; a second device array for receiving an elastic wave which is generated by irradiating light onto a subject; and a second signal processor for generating a three-dimensional image from a signal received by the second device array. The first device array transmits/receives the elastic wave diagonally with respect to a surface of the subject so that a region in the subject where the tomographic image is obtained and a region in the subject where the three-dimensional image is obtained overlap. | 08-25-2011 |
20110208058 | Applying Renyi Entropy To Detect Changes In Scattering Architecture - A method for imaging a region of interest (ROI) within a body. The method includes applying ultrasound energy to the ROI, receiving ultrasound data for the ROI in response to the applied ultrasound energy, executing a moving window analysis on the received ultrasound data to generate a plurality of windows of information, applying a Renyi entropy signal receiver to each of the generated windows to generate Renyi entropy data, and presenting an image of the ROI based on the Renyi entropy data. | 08-25-2011 |
20110213249 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which can measure a time difference of motion between a plurality of sites of a cardiac muscle for the heart of a fetus is provided. On a tomographic image of the heart, a user sets a plurality of observation points. Each observation point is tracked, and a plurality of displacement waveforms representing a temporal displacement of the plurality of observation points are generated. A time difference between a plurality of representative points is calculated between the plurality of displacement waveforms. Such a time difference is displayed as a numerical value or as a graph. The representative point is a peak point, a zero-cross point, an inflection point, or the like. The plurality of observation points are set along conduction pathways in the heart for the electric signal. | 09-01-2011 |
20110213250 | 3-D ULTRASOUND IMAGING WITH VOLUME DATA PROCESSING - In an ultrasound imaging system, an ultrasound scanning assembly (USC) provides volume data (VD) resulting from a three-dimensional scan of a body (BDY). A region of interest detector (RDT) detects a region within the volume data (VD) characterized by a variation of at least one data parameter, which exceeds a margin. A slice generator (SLG) may then generates-slices (SX) from the region that has been detected. These slices (SX) can be displayed on a display device (DPL). | 09-01-2011 |
20110218436 | MOBILE ULTRASOUND SYSTEM WITH COMPUTER-AIDED DETECTION - A mobile ultrasound scanning system with computer-based detection methods is disclosed, comprising: ( | 09-08-2011 |
20110218437 | Devices, Systems, and Methods for Field of View Control in Imaging Systems - Devices, systems, and methods for controlling the field of view in imaging systems are provided. For example, in one embodiment an imaging system includes a flexible elongate sized and shaped for use within an internal structure of a patient, an imaging transducer positioned within the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, and a monitor positioned within the distal portion of the flexible elongated member and configured to generate a feedback signal indicative of a position of the imaging transducer relative to the transducer's motion profile. The imaging system may also include a controller in communication with the monitor and configured to adjust a control signal based on the feedback signal in order to achieve a desired field of view for the imaging transducer. | 09-08-2011 |
20110218438 | ULTRASOUND APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME - An ultrasound apparatus includes an ultrasound probe and a probe positioning device operably connected to the ultrasound probe. The probe positioning device is configured to provide one of an orientation and a position of the ultrasound probe during ultrasound imaging. | 09-08-2011 |
20110218439 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND DEVICE, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An ultrasonic image processing method and device, and an ultrasonic image processing program which can correspond to analytical methods different depending on a region or the purpose of a diagnosis or treatment. The ultrasonic image processing method comprises an image data creation step which stores a detection result obtained by irradiating a subject with ultrasonic waves by an irradiating section and detecting an ultrasonic signal from the subject by a detecting section and creates at least two-frame image data different in detection timing on the basis of the stored detection result, a motion vector distribution image creation step which creates a motion vector distribution image on the basis of a predetermined motion vector analysis through the use of a plurality frames of the image data, and a conversion step which converts a vector distribution image to a scalar distribution image on the basis of a plurality of established regions of interest (ROI). | 09-08-2011 |
20110218440 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD IN ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the invention includes: an ultrasonic probe that transmits an ultrasonic beam to a subject and receives reflected echo signals from the subject; a beam forming section that supplies a driving signal causing the ultrasonic probe to transmit the ultrasonic beam; a data conversion section that converts echo data obtained by digitalizing the reflected echo signals into ultrasonic image data; and a display that displays ultrasonic images based on the converted ultrasonic image data, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a process configuration text which is capable of rewriting a plurality of signal processes executed by the data conversion section and the execution order of the plurality of signal processes in a general language, and wherein the data conversion section includes a controller that executes the plurality of signal processes on the echo data based on the description of the process configuration text to thereby convert the echo data into the ultrasonic image data. | 09-08-2011 |
20110224546 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR SCANNING OBJECT INSIDE HUMAN BODY AND METHOD FOR OPERATING 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Provided is a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system and a 3D ultrasound system operating method that may obtain 3D ultrasound data with respect to an object inside a human body to determine an accurate sagittal view. The 3D ultrasound system may include a scanner to generate ultrasound data including image data generated by scanning an object inside a human body, a processing unit to detect a center point of the object from the generated ultrasound data, and to generate, on the ultrasound data, a virtual plane on which the detected center point is placed, and a controller to rotate the ultrasound data based on the image data included in the virtual plane and to determine a sagittal view with respect to the object. | 09-15-2011 |
20110224547 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND DRIVE VOLTAGE SETTING METHOD FOR ULTRASOUND PROBE THEREOF - An ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus and a method for setting an ultrasound drive voltage by which appropriate probe motion parameters are established by individually estimating temperature changes which occur due to a plurality of heat sources existing within the probe. By individually storing or correcting relative temperature change data associated with motion parameters due to a plurality of heat source elements, an optimum driving voltage for the ultrasound transducers is set. Since a transmission drive voltage is larger than the conventional drive voltage can be set under a permissible probe temperature, image diagnosis can be improved. | 09-15-2011 |
20110224548 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SIGNAL OF ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including: an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit an ultrasonic beam to an examinee, and receive a reflected echo signal from the examinee; a beam forming unit configured to supply the ultrasonic probe with a driving signal for transmitting an ultrasonic beam; a data converter configured to conduct a plurality of signal processing on echo data obtained by digitizing the reflected echo signal to convert the echo data to ultrasonic image data; and a display unit configured to display an ultrasonic image based on the converted ultrasonic image data. | 09-15-2011 |
20110224549 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ULTRASONIC IMAGES - When a series of plural data processes are processed by different processors, the need to harmonize the processing cycles between the respective processors and adjust the processing time is obviated. The invention includes a data conversion section | 09-15-2011 |
20110224550 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING STANDARD IMAGE DATA FOR THE ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM - An ultrasound diagnostic system of the invention includes: an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives an ultrasound wave to and from an object; 3D position detection means configured to detect the position and inclination of a position sensor with respect to the object, the position sensor being mounted on the ultrasound probe; storage means configured to acquire and store 3D image data acquired by the ultrasound probe scanning on the body surface of the object and the position and inclination of the position sensor detected by the 3D position detection means; standard image data setting means configured to divide the 3D image data stored in the storage means into a plurality of slice image data and sets image position information and inclination information of a predetermined standard image data structure to the respective slice image data based on the position and inclination information of the position sensor detected by the 3D position detection means; and standard image data generation means configured to generate 3D standard image data by adding the image position information and inclination information set by the standard image data setting means to the respective slice image data. | 09-15-2011 |
20110237946 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND BREAST IMAGING - An apparatus for ultrasonic mammography includes: an array of ultrasonic transducers and signal processing means for converting the output of the transducer array into three dimensional renderings of anatomical features; and, an applicator device having a first side conformable to the contour of the transducer array and a second side configured to accept the breast, the applicator device further containing a quantity of fluid sufficient to surround and stabilize the breast during examination without substantially altering the breast from its natural shape. | 09-29-2011 |
20110237947 | 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 target tissue in surrounding tissue; segmenting, monitoring and tracking the target tissue during the surgical procedure; and facilitating proper planning and execution of the surgical procedure, even where the surgical environment is noisy and the target tissue is isoechoic. | 09-29-2011 |
20110237948 | ULTRASOUND PROBE FOR USE WITH DEVICE PERFORMING NON-CONTACT RESPIRATORY MONITORING - An ultrasound probe designed for use with a monitoring system performing non-contact respiratory and cardiac monitoring is described. The ultrasound probe may be used with smart phones and tablet computing devices or standalone monitoring devices to capture respiratory and cardiac function in a monitored subject. The probe may come equipped with a hinged stand and utilize a number of different interface connections to communicate with the monitoring device. | 09-29-2011 |
20110237949 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING CARPAL TUNNEL USING ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A system and method is provided for using dynamic ultrasonic imaging to analyze a subject's carpal tunnel and generate risk factors indicative of the health of the subject's subsynovial connective tissue and the subject's risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. The system and method uses speckle imaging techniques to track dynamic structures within the carpal tunnel and statistical analysis techniques to compare the properties of these dynamic structures of the subject to those of normal subjects and subjects having carpal tunnel syndrome. | 09-29-2011 |
20110245669 | System for Cardiac Condition Detection and Characterization - A system monitors and characterizes internal elasticity of a blood vessel to detect abnormality. A catheter system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection, comprises an ultrasound device for emitting ultrasound wave signals within patient anatomy and acquiring corresponding ultrasound echo signals. A signal processor processes the ultrasound echo signals to, determine a signal indicating displacement of a tissue wall over at least one heart cycle and identify a displacement value in the displacement signal. The displacement value indicates a tissue wall displacement occurring at a point within a heart cycle. A comparator compares the tissue wall displacement value with a threshold value to provide a comparison indicator. A patient monitor, in response to the comparison indicator indicating the tissue wall displacement value exceeds the threshold value, generates an alert message associated with the threshold. | 10-06-2011 |
20110245670 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic image generating section, a head mounted display (HMD), and an orientation measurement section. The ultrasonic probe has two-dimensionally arranged ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasonic image generating section generates a 2D ultrasonic image representing a cross section of a three-dimensional area inside of a patient's body. The HMD has an orientation sensor for outputting signals corresponding to motion of the HMD and a projector for projecting images and the like within the view of an operator Op. The orientation measurement section measures rotation direction and rotation angle of the operator Op's head (HMD). A plurality of cross sections of the three-dimensional area inside of the patient's body for which the 2D image is generated is preliminary set, and the generated 2D ultrasonic image is switched according to the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the HMD. | 10-06-2011 |
20110245671 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An ultrasound imaging method comprises the steps of: transmitting respective ultrasonic waves from a plurality of ultrasound transducers, arranged in an array, of an ultrasound probe; determining respective propagation times of the ultrasonic waves inside a cranium corresponding to each ultrasound transducer based on ultrasonic echoes from a bone structure inside the cranium; determining respective delay correction quantities corresponding to each ultrasound transducer based on said determined propagation times; transmitting respective ultrasonic waves toward a subject from each ultrasound transducer while correcting wavefront disorder of the ultrasonic waves arising due to a thickness distribution of the cranium by said determined delay correction quantity; and generating an ultrasound image based on ultrasonic echoes received from the subject. | 10-06-2011 |
20110245672 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A first ultrasound pulse is applied to biological tissue to create shear waves in the biological tissue, a focused ultrasound pulse is transmitted into the biological tissue, one or more ultrasound signals is received from the biological tissue, and shear waves are detected in the biological tissue based on the received one or more ultrasound signals. At least one propagation property associated with the detected shear waves is determined, and the determined at least one propagation property is displayed. | 10-06-2011 |
20110245673 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an image creating unit, a motion-vector calculating unit, a corrected-image creating unit, and a control unit. The image creating unit creates a plurality of ultrasound images in time series; and the motion-vector calculating unit calculates a motion vector of a local region between two successive ultrasound images (a first image and a second image) in time series among the ultrasound images created by the image creating unit. The corrected-image creating unit then creates a corrected image corrected from the second image, based on a component of a scanning line direction of ultrasound in the motion vector calculated by the motion-vector calculating unit. The control unit then performs control so as to cause a certain monitor to display the corrected image created by the corrected-image creating unit. | 10-06-2011 |
20110245674 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An ultrasound imaging method comprises the steps of: transmitting a prescanning ultrasonic beam toward a subject and measuring an ultrasonic echo from a bone structure inside a cranium in advance; determining a transfer function of an ultrasonic wave in the cranium based on the measured said ultrasonic echo; transmitting an imaging ultrasonic beam toward the subject; generating a cancelling ultrasonic beam having an opposite phase as an ultrasonic echo reflected by the inner surface of the cranium due to said imaging ultrasonic beam, based on said transfer function; receiving an ultrasonic echo from the subject while cancelling said ultrasonic echo from the bone structure inside the cranium by transmitting the cancelling ultrasonic beam in accordance with the ultrasonic echo from the bone structure inside the cranium due to said imaging ultrasonic beam; and generating an ultrasound image of the subject. | 10-06-2011 |
20110245675 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a data acquisition unit configured to scan a three-dimensional region in a subject having a contrast agent injected therein over a predetermined period by using ultrasonic waves and to thereby acquire ultrasonic data concerning the three-dimensional region over the predetermined period, a volume data generation unit configured to generate first volume data in each time phase in an analysis period by using the ultrasonic data concerning the three-dimensional region over the analysis period in the predetermined period and to generate second volume data indicative of contrast agent temporal information about the analysis period and third volume data indicative of a contrast agent characteristic amount at each position in the three-dimensional region in the analysis period, and an image generation unit configured to generate a projected image by using the second volume data and the third volume data. | 10-06-2011 |
20110251488 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING SYSTEM PARAMETER INFORMATION - Methods and systems for displaying system parameter information are provided. One method includes determining a value for a system parameter using the ultrasound system and comparing the determined value to a defined value for a system processing guideline using a processor of the ultrasound system. The method further includes providing system parameter confirmation information based on the comparing when the determined value is not within the defined value. | 10-13-2011 |
20110257528 | DIAGNOSTIC SONOGRAPHIC SYSTEM FOR ECHOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF HUMAN ORGANS AND METHOD OF SIMULATING SURGERY USING SAME - A diagnostic sonographic system for echographic exploration of human organs includes a transducer assembly comprising a first transducer module including a first sound wave generation and transmission member and a first echo receiver, a second transducer module including a second sound wave generation and transmission member and a second echo receiver, and a through hole between the first and second transducer modules; and an image processing assembly for receiving echoes from the first and second echo receivers and processing and transforming same into a digital image. A method of simulating surgery using same is also provided. | 10-20-2011 |
20110257529 | ULTRASONIC APPARATUS FOR MEASURING A LABOR PROGRESS PARAMETER - An apparatus ( | 10-20-2011 |
20110257530 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS - When a subject is pressed by a plate and an acoustic wave is received by a probe via the plate, the acoustic wave is refracted because of the difference between a sound velocity in the subject and a sound velocity in the plate. When the refraction is not considered, a reduction in resolution occurs. A correction table or a correction formula for correcting image distortion associated with refraction is provided. After image information is acquired, new image information is acquired in accordance with the correction table or the correction formula, and is displayed. | 10-20-2011 |
20110263981 | METHOD FOR MEASURING IMAGE MOTION WITH SYNTHETIC SPECKLE PATTERNS - A method for measuring motion from biological imaging data including collecting non-carrier data images; patterning the non-carrier data images with synthetic carrier properties; and processing the patterned non-carrier data images with a carrier based motion tracking technique to generate images representing motion measurements. The method preferably converts images lacking a carrier signal to ones with a synthetic carrier signal such that highly accurate and robust speckle tracking can be achieved. | 10-27-2011 |
20110263982 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The ultrasonic sensor includes, on the same substrate, transmitter elements, receiver elements, a potential controller for receiver electrodes of the receiver elements, and a connection switching unit for the receiver electrodes and the potential controller. During the ultrasound transmission period of the transmitter elements, the connection switching unit connects the potential controller and the receiver electrodes. During the reception period of the receiver elements, the connection switching unit disconnects the potential controller and the receiver electrodes. | 10-27-2011 |
20110263983 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM WITH REMOTE CONTROL AND METOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - An ultrasound imaging probe includes a body portion having a rigid section defining at least part of a cavity; a first electromechanical actuator located in the body portion; a second electromechanical actuator located in the body portion; a flexible portion coupled to the body portion, the flexible portion comprising a plurality of articulating elements; a distal part coupled to the flexible portion and defining at least another part of the cavity; and an ultrasonic sensor array situated in the distal part, A controller provides control signals, where a first force transmitting member is coupled to the first electromechanical actuator and at least one of the plurality of articulating elements so as to transfer a force from the first electromechanical actuator to at least one of the articulating elements; and a second force transmitting member is coupled to the second electromechanical actuator and at least another of the plurality of articulating elements so as to transfer a force from the second electromechanical actuator to the other articulating element of the plurality of articulating in response to the control signals from the controller. The controller may be configured to electronically steer a beam from the ultrasonic sensor array in response to a manual manipulation of a joystick by a user to provide volumetric imaging in three dimensions. | 10-27-2011 |
20110270086 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING WITH RAY CASTING AND SOFTWARE-BASED IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION - Systems and methods are presented for increasing the frame rate of real-time 3D ultrasound imaging. In one embodiment, the frame rate for generating a pseudo-shaded 2D projection image may be increased by controlling the image reconstruction process. Rather than beamforming, scan converting, and interpolating a 3D voxelized data set of an entire scanned volume, only samples required for generating the 2D projection image may be reconstructed. The element data measured from each transducer array element may be combined to directly reconstruct those 3D image samples required by the volume rendering algorithm to generate the 2D projection image. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270087 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS - An apparatus for ultrasonic diagnosis including a probe configured to transmit ultrasonic waves and to receive reflected ultrasonic waves, an image generator configured to generate an ultrasonic image based on the reflected waves, an image synthesizing unit configured to generate a synthetic image in which a puncture guideline, which indicates a passing line of a puncture needle inserted from a puncture adapter attached to the probe, is superposed on the ultrasonic image, a display area adjusting unit configured to adjust a display area of the synthetic image based on the passing line of the puncture needle, and a display controller configured to display the synthetic image on a monitor based on the display area adjusted by the display area adjusting unit. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270088 | ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic probe is constituted by ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in a direction. A beam forming unit forms acoustic field sensitivity modulated in a direction substantially orthogonal to scan lines in a subject by focusing an ultrasonic wave on a sequence of sampling points existing along the scan lines, and applying delay and apodization on a transmission/reception signal of each of the ultrasonic transducer elements. A detecting unit detects displacements at each sampling point in a direction tangential to the scan lines and in a direction tangential to curves substantially orthogonal to the scan lines by arithmetic between reception signals for the sampling point at different time points. Each curve of the curves substantially orthogonal to the scan lines is constituted by a sequence of points for which a total of times taken for ultrasonic pulses to reach from two points fixed to the ultrasonic probe is substantially the same. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270089 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING A PATIENT - A system for managing a patient is disclosed and can include a patient interface adapted to obtain ultrasound information about the patient, a provider interface adapted to facilitate communication between the system and a provider, and a controller in communication with the patient interface and the provider interface, the controller including a clinical management module adapted to receive the ultrasound information and to recommend a clinical management strategy based upon the ultrasound information. A method of presenting a clinical management strategy is also described including obtaining information regarding a condition of a patient, developing a determinant reflecting the condition, and presenting a user with a clinical management strategy on an output device. | 11-03-2011 |
20110275937 | ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING METHOD - An ultrasound probe diagnosing apparatus which diagnoses an ultrasound probe having an array of a plurality of ultrasound transducing elements on the basis of how the ultrasound probe receives reflected ultrasound waves from a test object placed to face the ultrasound probe, includes a part which detects a posture of the ultrasound probe with respect to the test object by comparing reflected ultrasound signals received by at least some of the plurality of ultrasound transducing elements, and a presenting part which presents information based on the detected posture. | 11-10-2011 |
20110282202 | DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ULTRASOUND APPARATUS - A display system and method of a 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound apparatus is provided. A display system of a 3D ultrasound apparatus includes a first display unit and a second display unit. The first display unit scans a side image of an object in a human body and displays the side image in a first area on a screen. The second display unit scans a top image of the object and displays the top image in a second area different from the first area on the screen. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282203 | REFLECTANCE-FACILITATED ULTRASOUND TREATMENT AND MONITORING - A method comprising providing a reflective region at a far side of tissue of a subject is provided. The method includes assessing whether the reflective region is in a desired location, by means of acoustic sensing; and in response to assessing that the reflective region is in the desired location, activating an ultrasound transducer to ablate the tissue by applying ultrasound energy to a near side of the tissue, such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy is reflected by the reflective region onto the tissue of the subject. Other embodiments are also described. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282204 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit, an echo processing unit configured to generate complex data based on the echo signals, a phase shifting unit configured to shift a phase of each ensemble data constituted by N complex data associated with the same depth on the same ultrasonic raster in accordance with a reference phase, an interpolation processing unit configured to interpolate ensemble data associated with an interpolated raster between adjacent ultrasonic rasters based on the phase-shifted ensemble data, and an image data generation unit configured to generate image data based on the phase-shifted ensemble data and the interpolated ensemble data. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282205 | PROVIDING AT LEAST ONE SLICE IMAGE WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing at least one slice image with additional information are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to acquire ultrasound data of a living body; a user input unit configured to receive input information for setting at least three points on a three-dimensional ultrasound image from a user; and a processing unit being configured to form the three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the volume data, set the at least three points on the three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the input information, set at least one slice on the three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the at least three points and form at least one slice image corresponding to the at least one slice and additional information corresponding to positions of the at least three points based on the volume data and the input information. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282206 | DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS, DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASONIC APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE DISPLAYING APPARATUS - The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiments includes a display unit, an input unit, and a display control unit. The display unit includes a display area in which a medical image and a menu in relation to the medical image are displayed. The input unit receives input to the display area. The display control unit displays different menus in the display area in accordance with the input received by the input unit. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282207 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a slice image generation unit, a three-dimensional image generation unit, a display unit, a setting unit, an updating unit, and a changing unit. The slice image generation unit generates the data of slice images based on a volume data. The three-dimensional image generation unit generates the data of a three-dimensional image based on the volume data. The display unit displays the slice images and the three-dimensional image. The setting unit sets the vector on the first slice image of the displayed slice images in accordance with an instruction from an operator. The updating unit updates the displayed three-dimensional image based on the vector. The changing unit changes the position of a slice of a remaining slice image of the displayed slice images to a position where the slice intersects the vector and is perpendicular to the slice of the first slice image. | 11-17-2011 |
20110288414 | 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 a full-field-only environment. Two-dimensional thick-slice images computed from a three-dimensional data volume are used to facilitate efficient archiving for a breast imaging session, the two-dimensional thick-slice images corresponding to slab-like subvolumes of the breast. Clinician data overload problems that can arise from the existence of large amounts of three-dimensional full-field breast image data are reduced. Archive space is also preserved while still providing sufficient information data for future reference purposes. Related adjunctive full-field workflow methods are also described. The described embodiments are applicable to FFBU imaging and other full-field breast imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, PET, and others. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288415 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING AN ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe, a location sensor that detects a location of the ultrasound probe, and a location calculation device configured to calculate a location of echo data in a first three-dimensional coordinate system having a certain point as an origin based on the probe location. A deformation calculation device performs a deformation calculation to deform a shape of the body tissue in either an ultrasound image or a medical image captured by a medical imaging apparatus other than the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to a shape of the body tissue of the other image. A display image control device performs a coordinate conversion between the coordinate system of the ultrasound image and a coordinate system of the medical image and displays a deformed image based on the deformation calculation and the other image about a same cross-section on a display device. | 11-24-2011 |
20110295119 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - An ultrasound probe and an ultrasound imaging system include a plurality of transducer elements arranged in an array. The plurality of transducer elements are organized to form a transmit aperture and a receive aperture. The ultrasound probe and ultrasound imaging system include a plurality of summing nodes. The ultrasound probe and ultrasound imaging system include a set of receive switches associated with each of the transducer elements in the receive aperture. Each set of receive switches is configured to selectively connect the associated transducer element to any one of the plurality of summing nodes. | 12-01-2011 |
20110295120 | 3D ULTRASOUND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound apparatus and a method for operating the same are provided. A 3D ultrasound apparatus includes a first processor, a second processor and a controller. The first processor determines a start point from an image data obtained by scanning an object in a human body. The second processor extracts a top image of the object from the image data based on the start point. The controller controls a sagittal view of the object by rotating the image data, using the top image. | 12-01-2011 |
20110295121 | 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - A 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system and a method for operating a 3D ultrasound system are provided. A 3D ultrasound system includes an extractor, a processor, and a controller. The extractor scans an image of an object in a human body, and extracts a region of interest (ROI) image in an inputted ROI with respect to a selected image. The processor detects edges from a plurality of side images of the object with respect to the ROI image. The controller measures the thickness of the image using the detected edges. | 12-01-2011 |
20110301460 | SELF-ADMINISTERED MEDICAL ULTRASONIC IMAGING SYSTEMS - A medical ultrasonic transducer guiding system capable of being used by unskilled users, comprising a moveable guidance platform configured with actuators and position sensors enabling an ultrasonic transducer to be repositioned in multiple positions about a patient's body. The system may be affixed to a patient's body by vacuum or straps, and will be controlled by at least one microprocessor and associated positioning software. The device software receives transducer location information and directs the position of the ultrasonic transducer depending upon a preset algorithm, or upon direction from a remote operator. The system also has electronic circuitry to drive the ultrasonic transducer, as well as circuitry to receive the ultrasonic echo information back from the transducer, and image reconstruction hardware and software to assemble one or more images showing the interior of the patient's body. The system may be remotely operated over a network such as the Internet. | 12-08-2011 |
20110301461 | SELF-ADMINISTERED BREAST ULTRASONIC IMAGING SYSTEMS - An ultrasonic breast examination system suitable for use by unskilled users, comprising a patient positioning platform with a patient positioning image sensor, and a moveable ultrasonic transducer guidance device. The transducer guidance device can be a fluid filled container with a flexible side or bottom, and a mechanism to automatically move an ultrasonic transducer over the breast. The system will be controlled by at least one microprocessor, associated software, and an optional touch sensitive display screen. The system may use an image sensor to properly position the patient so that the transducer guidance device may be properly positioned proximate to the patient's breast. The touch sensitive display screen is designed to allow the system to be directly operated by an unskilled patient. The system will often be connected to a network, such as the Internet, so that remote operators may interpret breast ultrasound images and optionally control the system. | 12-08-2011 |
20110301462 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus which generates a plurality of volume data over a predetermined period, executes setting of a position of at least one MPR slice relative to volume data, of the plurality of volume data, which corresponds to a first time phase, and sets positions of MPR slices corresponding to the at least one set MPR slice with respect to remaining volume data, executes segmentations of at least part of the heart into a plurality of segments, executes three-dimensional tracking processing, and optimizes the position of the MPR slice which is set in a predetermined time phase, based on the positions of the plurality of segments, and optimizes positions of the MPR slices set for the remaining volume data in association with the optimization. | 12-08-2011 |
20110301463 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus includes one or a plurality of ultrasonic probes, a scanning unit configured to scan inside an object with ultrasonic waves through the ultrasonic probe, an image generation unit configured to generate an ultrasonic image based on an output from the scanning unit, and a display unit configured to display the ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus further includes a posture detection unit configured to detect the posture of the display unit and a control unit configured to control the scanning unit to change a scanning condition in response to a change in the detected posture of the display unit. | 12-08-2011 |
20110301464 | HOME ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - In embodiments of the present invention, an ultrasound system includes an ultrasound machine, which may be located in a hospital, clinic, vehicle, home, etc., coupled to a remotely located diagnosis station via a communication network. For some embodiments, the ultrasound machine includes an application-specific scan head that has identification information that allows the home ultrasound machine to notify a user whether the attached scan head is appropriate for the type of examination to be performed. For other embodiments, a first stage of beamforming is conducted in reconfigurable hardware and a second stage of beamforming is conducted in programmable software digital signal processor. The diagnosis station may transfer information associated with a scanning protocol for the ultrasound examination to the ultrasound machine via the communication network, and the ultrasound machine may transfer measurement values acquired during the ultrasound examination to the diagnosis station via the communication network. | 12-08-2011 |
20110306882 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PAIRING A WIRELESS DEVICE WITH A SYSTEM THROUGH A CHARGE CRADLE - A system and method for pairing an X-ray system with a wireless device is provided. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a unique pairing code with control circuitry that controls the operation of the X-ray system, providing the unique pairing code to the wireless device in the form of a pulse sequence and receiving a wireless signal indicative of the unique pairing code from the wireless device. The wireless device is then paired and enabled for use with the X-ray system. | 12-15-2011 |
20110306883 | PROVIDING AN ELASTIC IMAGE IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing an elastic image are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a living body to output ultrasound data corresponding to a plurality of frames while applying compression to the living body; and a processing unit configured to extract frames from a(n−1) | 12-15-2011 |
20110306884 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a physical quantity calculation unit configured to calculate a physical quantity relating to an elasticity of body tissue based on ultrasound echo data, a physical quantity average unit configured to calculate an average value of physical quantities in an elastic image of the body tissue generated based on the calculated physical quantity, a comparison value calculation unit configured to calculate a comparison value for each pixel by comparing a physical quantity for each pixel of the elastic image with the average value, and an index value calculation unit configured to calculate an index value relating to an elasticity of a predetermined region in the elastic image based on the comparison values. | 12-15-2011 |
20110306885 | Method and Apparatus to Produce Ultrasonic Images Using Multiple Apertures - A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from the echoes received by the single omnidirectional transducer is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. Specular reflections are attenuated by using even a single omnidirectional receiver displaced from the insonifying probe. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces. Since lateral resolution is determined primarily by the aperture defined by the end elements, it is not necessary to fill the entire aperture with equally spaced elements. In fact, gaps can be left to accommodate spanning a patient's ribs, or simply to reduce the cost of the large aperture array. Multiple slices using these methods can be combined to form three-dimensional images. | 12-15-2011 |
20110319760 | MONITORING SYSTEM - A portable ultrasound monitoring system having an array of electroacoustic transducers, each transducer is constructed and arranged to emit an ultrasound wave when powered with an electric excitation signal and generate an electric reception signal when impinged by a reflected ultrasound wave. The monitoring system also has a generating means for generating the electric excitation signals and a receiving means for receiving the electric reception signals. A supporting means for supporting the portable ultrasound monitoring system is also provided. The supporting means has a fastening means for temporarily fastening at least the array of electroacoustic transducers to a body under examination in a predetermined position for performing an examination. | 12-29-2011 |
20110319761 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a data acquisition unit configured to scan a region which includes at least part of a heart of an object and acquire ultrasonic data associated with the region, a curve acquisition unit configured to acquire temporal change curves of a wall motion parameter associated with a plurality of regions of the heart by using the ultrasonic data associated with the region to be scanned and a value acquisition unit configured to acquire an index value associated with cardiac wall motion by calculating a difference value of the wall motion parameter of two arbitrary regions, of the plurality of regions of the heart, at each phase in an analysis period by using temporal change curves associated with the two arbitrary regions, calculating a total sum of the difference values in the analysis period, and normalizing the total sum with a predetermined value. | 12-29-2011 |
20110319762 | INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND DETECTION OF BLOOD-FLOW DISTRIBUTION IN AN ARTERIAL WALL - A system and method for quantitative determination of density of vasa vasorum in an arterial wall that utilizes a detection of temporal and/or spatial displacement of blood-flow with the use of intravascular ultrasound system. Locations of extrema in the spatial distribution can be identified to detect vascular defects. The system and method support a clinically-useful application for early detection of indicators of diseases, such as coronary atherosclerosis. | 12-29-2011 |
20120004550 | Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and ultrasonic diagnosis method - An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe which includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers which transmit ultrasonic waves to an object, receive the ultrasonic waves reflected by the object, and output ultrasonic detection signals; a reception time calculating device which calculates at least one of a reception time and a reception wave at each of elements corresponding to lattice points set in a shallower region than a region of interest in the object; an image generating device which generates an image at a lattice point in the region of interest, based on a hypothetical sound velocity set in the region of interest and the calculated one of the reception time and the reception wave; an image analyzing device which analyzes the generated image; and a local sound velocity calculating device which calculates a local sound velocity in the region of interest, based on a result of the image analysis. | 01-05-2012 |
20120004551 | Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and ultrasonic diagnosis method - An ultrasonic diagnosis method of one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter: transmitting ultrasonic waves to an object through an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and outputting ultrasonic detection signals after receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected by the object; calculating at least one of a reception time and a reception wave at each of respective elements corresponding to two or more lattice points at different depths in the object with respect to the ultrasonic probe; and calculating a local sound velocity which is a sound velocity in a local region, using calculated one of the reception time and the reception wave. | 01-05-2012 |
20120004552 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a change amount calculating unit, an estimating unit and a control unit. The change amount calculating unit is configured to calculate amount of change of a pattern of each of a plurality of local regions among a plurality of ultrasound images generated along time series based on a reflected wave of an ultrasound wave transmitted by an ultrasound probe. The estimating unit is configured to estimate a position of a rotation axis of a scanning cross-section in each ultrasound image based on the amount of change of the pattern of each of the plurality of local regions calculated by the change amount calculating unit. The control unit is configured to superimpose the rotation axis estimated by the estimating unit on each ultrasound image and displays the same on a monitor. | 01-05-2012 |
20120004553 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND STORAGE MEDIUM - The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiments includes an ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit, a tomographic image generating unit, an analyzing unit, and an analysis result display controller. The ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit is configured to transmit ultrasonic beams in multiple directions and is configured to receive echo signals of the multiple directions. The tomographic image generating unit is configured to generate a tomographic image in accordance with each of the directions of the ultrasonic beams. The analyzing unit is configured to compare echo signals of corresponding spatial positions in the tomographic images generated by the tomographic image generating unit with respect to each of the directions of the ultrasonic beams, and is configured to perform an analysis based on the comparison. The analysis result display controller is configured to display the analysis result obtained by the analyzing unit onto the displaying unit. | 01-05-2012 |
20120010507 | ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER ARCHITECTURE HAVING NON-TRANSITORY LOCAL MEMORY STORAGE MEDIUM FOR STORING 2D AND OR 3D/4D IMAGE DATA - The embodiments of the probe additionally include at least one non-transitory local memory storage unit or medium for storing 2D and or 3D/4D imaging data that is received at the probe. The term, “non-transitory” memory storage units or medias is synonymous with “non-volatile” memory storage units or media and is used to distinguish the term from volatile electrical devices such as random access memory (RAM) or buffer memory (BF) that hold ephemeral electrical signals. Similarly, the term, “local” memory storage units or medium is used to distinguish the term, “central” memory storage units or media that are located in the processing unit to which the probe is connected. In contrast, the non-transitory local memory storage units or media are directly coupled or connected to the probe independent of the processing unit. | 01-12-2012 |
20120010508 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION OF DATA IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Methods and systems for controlling communication of data in an ultrasound system are provided. One method includes receiving ultrasound data from a plurality of channels of an ultrasound probe in an ultrasound system and digitally demodulating the received ultrasound data such that a data transfer rate of the digitally demodulated ultrasound data is lower than a data transfer rate of the received ultrasound data. The method further includes processing the digitally demodulated ultrasound data, wherein the processing is performed using a processor of the ultrasound system. | 01-12-2012 |
20120016241 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - In an ultrasonic diagnostic device S according to the present invention, a reference signal generation unit | 01-19-2012 |
20120022375 | ACOUSTIC DEVICE FOR ULTRASONIC IMAGING - The present invention relates to an acoustic device for ultrasonic imaging of an object ( | 01-26-2012 |
20120022376 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL IMAGING - A device configured for performing a spatial scan of a patient's breast. The device comprises a substantially hollow housing having a substantially conical surface between a top and a substantially hollow base. The substantially hollow housing is sized and shaped for covering at least a portion of a breast. The device further comprises a scanning device for performing a scan while being maneuvered in a scanning pattern adjacent to the substantially conical surface. The distance between the top and the substantially hollow base is less than 5 centimeters. | 01-26-2012 |
20120029356 | Efficient architecture for 3D and planar ultrasonic imaging - synthetic axial acquisition and method thereof - An improved device and method for collecting data used for ultrasonic imaging. The data is gathered over numerous transmit and echo receive cycles, or iterations and combined into a synthetic acquisition representing a complete echo characteristic acquisition. At each iteration, only a portion, or subset, of the echo characteristic is sampled and stored. During the iterations, the portion of the echo characteristic that is measured and sampled is varied by changing the relative sampling instants. That is, the time offset from the transmission to the respective sampling instant is varied. The sample sets representative of the entire echo characteristic are then compiled from the multiple subsets of the ultrasonic transmissions. | 02-02-2012 |
20120035477 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS - An ultrasound image having a good image quality is generated in the neighborhood of a puncture needle without lowering the image quality of the whole ultrasound image. A first echo signal received by transmitting first ultrasonic waves focused on an imaging target position and a second echo signal received by transmitting second ultrasonic waves having the depth of the focal point positioned at a uniform position are obtained, the weights of the first echo signal and the second echo signal are determined according to the focal point positions of the respective ultrasonic waves, and weighted addition is performed to generate a corrected image. | 02-09-2012 |
20120035478 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND AN ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a decomposition unit, a filtering unit, a level control unit and a mixing unit. The decomposition unit hierarchically performs multi-resolution decomposition of the ultrasonic image data and acquires low-frequency decomposed image data with first to n-th levels and high-frequency decomposed image data with first to n-th levels. The filtering unit calculates a filter coefficient using the high-frequency decomposed image data and uses the filter coefficient to perform nonlinear anisotropic diffusion filtering on the low-frequency decomposed image data or output data and generate edge information on a signal. The control unit controls a signal level of the high-frequency decomposed image data. The mixing unit acquires ultrasonic image data by hierarchically performing multi-resolution mixing of output data of the filtering unit or output data from a next lower layer and output data of the high-frequency level control unit. | 02-09-2012 |
20120035479 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs an image signal generating operation with respect to an ultrasound signal transmitted to and reflected from a target through a host computer and a control method thereof are provided. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a probe including at least one transducer to transmit an ultrasound signal to a target, to receive the ultrasound signal reflected from the target, and to transduce the received ultrasound signal into an analog signal, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to convert the analog signal output from the probe into a digital signal, a compression unit to compress the digital signal output from the A/D converter, and a host computer to decompress the digital signal compressed by the compression unit and to perform beamforming. | 02-09-2012 |
20120035480 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention sends out an ultrasonic wave toward a subject and receives the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject, thereby generating the subject's tomographic image. The apparatus includes: a receiving section | 02-09-2012 |
20120035481 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND MAPPING - An automated medical system comprises a first instrument assembly including a first ultrasound transducer having a first transducer field of view that transmits and receives ultrasound signals in imaging planes disposed circumferentially about a guide instrument, and a second instrument assembly including a second ultrasound transducer having a second transducer field of view coupled to one of a second flexible guide instrument and a working instrument. A computing system is operatively coupled to the respective first and second transducers and configured to determine a relative spatial orientation of the respective first and second transducers based at least in part on detecting a signal transmitted by one of the first and second transducers and received by the other of the first and second transducers, the received signal having an amplitude indicating the receiving one of the transducers is in the field of view of the transmitting one of the transducers. | 02-09-2012 |
20120041311 | AUTOMATED THREE DIMENSIONAL ACOUSTIC IMAGING FOR MEDICAL PROCEDURE GUIDANCE - A system and method of three dimensional acoustic imaging for medical procedure guidance includes receiving ( | 02-16-2012 |
20120041312 | Method for Improving Image Quality of Ultrasonic Image, Ultrasonic Diagnosis Device, and Program for Improving Image Quality - In an ultrasonic diagnosis device, while a signal component is preserved, a factor of degrading image quality such as a flicker of a noise is suppressed. An input image is separated into a signal component image and a noise component image. After frame synthesis processing is performed on the noise component image, the signal component image is synthesized with the noise component image having undergone the frame synthesis. Thus, the noise is suppressed. Otherwise, after the input image is separated into the signal component image and noise component image, the frame synthesis processing is performed on the signal component image. The noise component image is then synthesized with the signal component image having undergone the frame synthesis. Thus, discernment of a signal can be improved. | 02-16-2012 |
20120041313 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING DEVICE - The absolute pressure inside the heart with respect to heartbeat time phase is measured non-invasively or with minimal invasion. An ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising: a pressure sensor that detects artery pressure non-invasively; a reference pressure computation part that converts the artery pressure into absolute reference pressure with respect to a reference point; a spatial pressure difference calculation part that calculates a spatial pressure difference between the reference point and a location distinct from the reference point; and an absolute pressure computation part that calculates intracardiac absolute pressure using a shape image, the reference pressure, and the spatial pressure difference. | 02-16-2012 |
20120046549 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MEASURING FETAL RIB - Disclosed are an ultrasound system of measuring a number of ribs of a fetus and a method thereof. The ultrasound system of measuring the number of ribs of the fetus in three dimensions may include a setting unit that is used by a user, to set a portion where the number of ribs is measured in an ultrasound image, as a region of interest (ROI), a measuring unit to measure the number of ribs in the set ROI by using an auto rib extracting algorithm, and a display unit to display the measured number of ribs. | 02-23-2012 |
20120046550 | ULTRASOUND STRAIN IMAGING - Embodiments for providing a strain image in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processing unit sets windows on a pre-compression frame and a post-compression frame, and performs a correlation operation between the first and second frames within the windows to compute displacements for a third frame, wherein the processing unit selects at least one of previously set windows at an (N-i) | 02-23-2012 |
20120065508 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A TARGET IMAGE - An ultrasound imaging system and method include acquiring ultrasound data of an anatomical structure, generating a live image based on the ultrasound data, and displaying the live image. The system and method include displaying a target image of the anatomical structure. The system and method include comparing the live image to the target image. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065509 | ULTRASOUND METHOD AND PROBE FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC NOISE CANCELLATION - A method of ultrasound imaging includes acquiring ultrasound data with a plurality of transducer elements. The ultrasound data includes a plurality of signals. The method includes detecting an electromagnetic noise signal during the process of acquiring the ultrasound data. The method also includes modifying the plurality of signals based on the electromagnetic noise signal to generate a plurality of noise-cancelled signals. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065510 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING QUALITY-OF-FIT - An ultrasound imaging system and method include generating an image from ultrasound data of an anatomical structure and fitting a model to the image, the model including a standard view of the anatomical structure. The system and method include calculating a quality-of-fit of the image to the model. The system and method include displaying an indicator based on the quality-of-fit of the image to the model. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065511 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEDICAL IMAGE SEARCHING - An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging system and catheter with an intuitive interface for rapid operator interaction using acquired medical images. In an embodiment, an IVUS imaging system and catheter are used to acquire a sequence of a specific area of interest in the human anatomy, for example, tomographic images of a coronary artery. The IVUS imaging system displays at least one tomographic image of the area of interest. The IVUS imaging system generates and displays at least one longitudinal image, wherein the longitudinal image represents a cut-plane of the sequence of tomographic images. The IVUS imaging system further includes a touch screen, wherein the system recognizes touch movements to facilitate searching the sequence of images. Touch movements in a longitudinal direction may pan the longitudinal image in the longitudinal direction. Touch movements in the transverse direction may rotate the cut-plane of the longitudinal image. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065512 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSNG APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus Which comprises a volume data acquisition unit configured to acquire volume data by scanning a three-dimensional region including at least part of a fetus with an ultrasonic wave, a detection unit configured to detect NT data which corresponds to an NT region of the fetus and a longitudinal direction of the NT region with reference to an image which is generated by using the volume data and corresponds to a predetermined sagittal slice including the NT region, a measurement unit configured to measure thicknesses with respect to positions in the NT region and a line-of-sight direction with reference to the longitudinal direction and an image generation unit configured to generate an image indicating at least one of thicknesses of the NT region. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065513 | 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR EXTENDING VIEW OF IMAGE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - A 3D ultrasound system and a method for operating the same. The 3D ultrasound system includes a scanning unit which generates a plurality of volume images with respect to an object by using ultrasound signals; a processor which identifies a first point with respect to a first volume image from among the plurality of volume images and identifies a second point with respect to a second volume image from among the plurality of volume images; and a control unit which overlaps the first and second volume images based on the first and second points. | 03-15-2012 |
20120071759 | VIRTUAL IMAGE FORMATION METHOD FOR AN ULTRASOUND DEVICE - Disclosed are ultrasound devices and methods for use in guiding a subdermal probe during a medical procedure. A device can be utilized to guide a probe through the probe guide to a subdermal site. In addition, a device can include a detector in communication with a processor. The detector can recognize the location of a target associated with the probe. The processor can utilize the data from the detector and create an image of a virtual probe that can accurately portray the location of the actual probe on a sonogram of a subdermal area. In addition, disclosed systems can include a set of correlation factors in the processor instructions. As such, the virtual probe image can be correlated with the location of the actual probe. | 03-22-2012 |
20120071760 | RECONFIGURABLE MEDICAL ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER ARRAYS WITH PREPROCESSING - The embodiments of the probe include a preprocessing unit that is directly connected to a first predetermined number of the receiving elements for preprocessing the channel signals to generate preprocessed channel signals as well as a switch unit that is connected to the preprocessing unit for connecting the preprocessed channel signals into a predetermined number of output channel signals. In the above embodiments, the second predetermined number is smaller than the first predetermined number. In addition, the embodiments of the probe also include an analog-to-digital converter connected to the switch unit for converting the output channel signals into digital signals, and a dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter is related to a ratio between the second predetermined number and the first predetermined number. | 03-22-2012 |
20120078100 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR COMBINING IMAGES OF VARIOUS ANGLES AND METHOD FOR OPERATING ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Provided are an ultrasound system and a method for operating the ultrasound system, which may irradiate an ultrasonic beam at various angles, may process a reflected ultrasonic echo signal to generate partial images, and may combine the partial images. The ultrasound system may include a beam irradiating unit to irradiate an ultrasonic beam onto an object at different irradiation angles for each frame, an image processing unit to process a reflected and returned ultrasonic echo signal to generate a partial image, and an image combining unit to combine and render the partial images generated at different irradiation angles for each frame to extend an angle of view of the object. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078101 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING SLICE OF OBJECT AND METHOD THEREOF - Provided are an ultrasound system for displaying a slice of an object and a method thereof, which may extract a plurality of slice images from a volume image obtained by scanning the nuchal translucency of a fetus, may determine, as an effective slice image, a slice image having a meaningful measurement value among values measured in each of the extracted slice images, and may identify a risk of Down syndrome of the fetus using the measurement value in the effective slice image. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078102 | 3-DIMENSIONAL (3D) ULTRASOUND SYSTEM USING IMAGE FILTERING AND METHOD FOR OPERATING 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Provided are a 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system using image filtering and a method for operating the 3D ultrasound system. The 3D ultrasound system using image filtering may include a scanning unit to generate a volume image of an object, a detecting unit to detect a contour line in each of ‘n’ first slice images extracted from the volume image, ‘n’ being a natural number, and a rendering control unit to correct the ‘n’ first slice images into ‘n’ second slice images by removing a non-feature region based on the contour line, and to combine and render the ‘n’ second slice images. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078103 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, ULTRASOUND IMAGE GENERATION APPARATUS, AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE GENERATION METHOD - The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, ultrasound image generation apparatus and method transmit ultrasound waves to a subject into which a puncture tool is inserted, receive reflected waves reflected from the subject and the puncture tool, and generate echo signals of time-sequential frames based on the received reflected waves, and generate an ultrasound image of the subject based on the generated echo signals. These apparatus and method generate a differential echo signal between time-sequential frames from the echo signals, perform a tip detection process based on the differential echo signal to thereby detect at least one tip candidate including a tip end of the puncture tool, highlight a tip candidate of the puncture tool detected to thereby generate a tip image, and display the tip image of the highlighted puncture tool so as to be superimposed on the generated ultrasound image. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078104 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an ultrasonic image, a first calculation unit which calculates directions of edges in a local region in the ultrasonic image, sizes of the edges in the local region, and directional uniformity of the edges in the local region, a second calculation unit which calculates a composite coefficient by using the sizes of the edges and the directional uniformity of the edges, a third calculation unit which calculates a filtering coefficient for a region corresponding to the local region based on the composite coefficient, and a filtering unit which performs filtering processing for sharpening or smoothing the ultrasonic image with respect to the ultrasonic image by using the filtering coefficient. | 03-29-2012 |
20120083695 | CONTINUOUS TRANSMIT FOCUSING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging method comprises: providing a probe that includes one or more transducer elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves; generating a sequence of spatially distinct transmit beams which differ in one or more of origin and angle; determining a transmit beam spacing substantially based upon a combination of actual and desired transmit beam characteristics, thereby achieving a faster echo acquisition rate compared to a transmit beam spacing based upon round-trip transmit-receive beam sampling requirements; storing coherent receive echo data, from two or more transmit beams of the spatially distinct transmit beams; combining coherent receive echo data from at least two or more transmit beams to achieve a substantially spatially invariant synthesized transmit focus at each echo location; and combining coherent receive echo data from each transmit firing to achieve dynamic receive focusing at each echo location. | 04-05-2012 |
20120083696 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM FOR RECONSTRUCTING INTRA-TUBULAR-STRUCTURE IMAGE - A tubular structure, such as a blood vessel, of a subject is extracted from each of a three-dimensional image representing the tubular structure and a three-dimensional intra-tubular-structure image that has been generated from plural tomographic images of the tubular structure obtained by performing tomography on the tubular structure plural times from the inside of the tubular structure along a path in the tubular structure. Further, an arbitrary range in one of the tubular structure extracted from the three-dimensional image and the tubular structure extracted from the three-dimensional intra-tubular-structure image is correlated with a corresponding range in the other one of the tubular structures. Further, a projection three-dimensional image is generated by projecting an image of a specific structure included in the range in the three-dimensional intra-tubular-structure image into the correlated range in the three-dimensional image. | 04-05-2012 |
20120083697 | System and Method for Determining a Position of an Object - A system is disclosed for determining a position and a change in the position of an anatomical structure. The system utilizes a surgical navigation system and a substrate that is capable of being removably mounted to an outer surface of a patient's body. The substrate includes a sensor that is tracked by the surgical navigation system and a positional device that determines the position of an anatomical structure relative to the sensor. The concatenation of the position of the sensor and the relative position of the anatomical structure allows a global position of the anatomical structure to be determined by a computer system and displayed to the user. | 04-05-2012 |
20120083698 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS MEASURING METHOD THEREFOR - Disclosed is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with an imaging unit configured to obtain an ultrasonic image of a carotid artery portion of an object to be examined, a parting line calculation unit configured to set at least one threshold value and calculate a parting line for segmenting the ultrasonic image into multiple regions, an intima-media thickness calculation unit configured to specify a direction for searching the multiple regions, search an intima-media region in the specified direction based on the brightness, draw multiple curves based on the position acquired by the search and positional information on the carotid artery portion in the ultrasonic image, and calculate the intima-media thickness from the distance between the multiple curves. | 04-05-2012 |
20120089025 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus which observes an inside of a body of a subject based on ultrasound waves reflected from the inside of the body and obtained using an ultrasound probe, includes: a B-mode image generation unit which generates a B-mode image, based on the reflected ultrasound waves; a blood flow image generation unit which generates, based on the reflected ultrasound waves, a blood flow image representing a region of the body in which blood flows; a lumen contour extraction unit which extracts a lumen contour of a blood vessel, based on the blood flow image; a provisional adventitia contour setting unit which sets a provisional adventitia contour containing the lumen contour; and an adventitia contour extraction unit which extracts an adventitia contour of the blood vessel, using the B-mode image, and using the provisional adventitia contour as a first initial contour. | 04-12-2012 |
20120089026 | BREAST ULTRASOUND SCANNING TEMPLATE - 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. | 04-12-2012 |
20120089027 | Method and apparatus for ultrasonic detection and imaging of hemodynamic information, particularly venous blood flow information - A method for ultrasonic detection and imaging of hemodynamic information includes the steps of transmitting ultrasonic pulses into a body, which are generated by an array of electro-acoustic transducers arranged in a predetermined order and design; receiving reflected pulses with an array of receiving electro-acoustic transducers, which generate receive signals upon stimulation of the reflected pulses, the succession of pulses transmitted to or received from the body being focused along one or more scan lines; generating a Doppler frequency shift signal resulting from the reflection of pulses transmitted by a blood flow into a vessel intersected by the scan line, in a point and along the scan line, or along a direction of propagation of a pulse; determining the direction of blood flow velocity from the average frequency value of Doppler shift frequencies; and displaying the direction of blood flow velocity by graphical and/or chromatic representation differentiating opposite directions. | 04-12-2012 |
20120095338 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM PARAMETER OPTIMIZATION VIA FUZZY LOGIC - An ultrasound scanner is equipped with one or more fuzzy control units that can perform adaptive system parameter optimization anywhere in the system. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises a plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems configured to generate an ultrasound image, the plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems including a transmitter subsystem, a receiver subsystem, and an image processing subsystem; and a fuzzy logic controller communicatively coupled with at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems. The fuzzy logic controller is configured to receive, from at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems, input data including at least one of pixel image data and data for generating pixel image data; to process the input data using a set of inference rules to produce fuzzy output; and to convert the fuzzy output into numerical values or system states for controlling at least one of the transmit subsystem and the receiver subsystem that generate the pixel image data. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095339 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe, an image producer, a monitor, a position designating unit for designating a target position when paracentesis is performed, an insertion position calculating unit for calculating an insertion position from information on the target position designated by the position designating unit and a predetermined insertion angle and an insertion position display unit for displaying the insertion position calculated by the insertion position calculating unit. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus ensures that a puncture needle inserted from a position away from an ultrasound probe to reduce the insertion angle so as to be imaged at a higher definition can also reach a target site. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095340 | Intravascular Ultrasound Pigtail Catheter - An IVUS pigtail catheter is provided. The IVUS pigtail catheter includes an array of transducers for performing intravascular ultrasound imaging and a pigtail end portion for performing angiographic imaging. The IVUS pigtail catheter facilitates both IVUS imaging and angiographic imaging without the need to exchange catheters. This allows surgical procedures performed using the IVUS pigtail catheter to be faster, more accurate, and less complicated. Methods of utilizing the IVUS pigtail catheter are also provided. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095341 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment acquires first and second volume data by scanning a three-dimensional region including the lumen of an object in a B mode and a blood flow detection mode with ultrasonic waves, sets a viewpoint and a plurality of lines of sight with reference to the viewpoint in the lumen, determines a line of sight, of the plurality of lines of sight, on which data corresponding to an intraluminal region, tissue data corresponding to the outside of the lumen, and blood flow data outside the lumen are arranged. The apparatus controls at least a parameter value attached to each voxel of the tissue data existing on the determined line of sight. The apparatus generates a virtual endoscopic image based on the viewpoint by using the first volume data including voxels whose parameter values are controlled and the second volume data. | 04-19-2012 |
20120101382 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING ULTRASONIC BEAM DIRECTION AND METHOD FOR OPERATING ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Provided are an ultrasound system and a method for operating the ultrasound system, which may calculate a direction of an ultrasonic beam in real time and may adjust the ultrasonic beam based on the calculation result. The ultrasound system may include a probe to emit an ultrasonic beam to an object, a processor to measure a first reflection angle of the ultrasonic beam at a predetermined point in the object, a mapping table to map the measured first reflection angle to the predetermined point and to record mapping data, and a controller to determine an emission angle of the ultrasonic beam to the predetermined point based on the first reflection angle recorded in the mapping table, and to control the probe to emit the ultrasonic beam at the determined emission angle. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101383 | 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR INTUITIVE DISPLAYING TO CHECK ABNORMALITY OF OBJECT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Provided are a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system and a method for operating the 3D ultrasound system, which are capable of intuitively displaying the abnormality of an object by determining a grade by comparing measurement data obtained by measuring ultrasound data relating to the object and displaying the measurement data in a different way based on the determined grade. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101384 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes: a transmitting and receiving section, which drives a probe repeatedly to send out ultrasonic waves toward a subject and which makes the probe receive reflected echoes produced by having the ultrasonic waves reflected by the subject, thereby generating received signals; a color flow mapping signal processing section for sequentially generating, based on the received signals, blood flow velocity data about a portion of each frame representing the blood flow of the subject; a persistence processing section for performing persistence processing on the blood flow velocity data of each frame; a tomographic image signal processing section for generating B-mode tomographic image frame data based on the received signals; and an image synthesizing section for synthesizing together the persistence-processed blood flow velocity data and the B-mode tomographic image frame data. The persistence processing section makes an aliasing decision based on the blood flow velocity data of the current frame and the persistence-processed blood flow velocity data of an earlier frame that precedes the current frame, and changes a persistence coefficient dynamically according to a result of the aliasing decision and based on those blood flow velocity data of the current and earlier frames. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101385 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND SOUND SPEED CORRECTION METHOD - In order to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a sound speed correction method capable of performing sound speed correction without affecting real-time efficiency, the present invention is characterized in that a reference sound speed image signal is acquired by setting a reference sound speed and a different sound speed image signal is acquired by setting a different sound speed from the reference sound speed and that sound speed correction information is acquired by correcting reference sound speed information based on the reference sound speed image signal using different items of sound speed information based on the different sound speed image signal. | 04-26-2012 |
20120108968 | Tissue Density Quantification Using Shear Wave Information in Medical Ultrasound Scanning - Tissue density is quantified using shear wave information in medical ultrasound scanning. Measurements of the tissue reaction to shear waves indicate tissue density. For example, shear wave velocity is linked with density using clinical study information. The shear wave velocity in a region, over the entire tissue, or at various locations is used to determine a corresponding density or densities. The tissue density information is used for categorization, estimation of disease risk, imaging, diagnosis, or other uses. The tissue may be breast tissue or other tissue. | 05-03-2012 |
20120108969 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING NON-UNIFORM ROTATION DISTORTION IN ULTRASOUND IMAGES - A method for generating an ultrasound image includes receiving an image frame having consecutive ultrasound scan lines obtained using a rotating ultrasound imaging arrangement and determining first and second cross-correlation values for a plurality of the scan lines. For each individual scan line, the first cross-correlation value includes a cross-correlation coefficient between a first subframe of consecutive scan lines including the individual scan line and a second subframe of scan lines shifted from the first subframe by a first integer value. The second correlation value includes a cross-correlation coefficient between the first subframe and a third subframe of scan lines shifted from the first subframe by a second integer value. The method further includes evaluating, individually for multiple scan lines, whether that scan line exhibits non-uniform rotation distortion using at least one of the first and second cross-correlation values. A correction for non-uniform rotation distortion is applied. | 05-03-2012 |
20120108970 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACING MOVEMENT OF TISSUE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits an ultrasound wave to a target object in sequence and receives the ultrasound wave as ultrasound data reflected from the target object including a blood vessel. A first memory unit stores the received ultrasound data. An image generation unit generates an ultrasound image as a sectional image of the blood vessel. A display unit displays the ultrasound image. A region of interest (ROI) setting unit sets a plurality of ROIs on an inner wall and an outer wall of the blood vessel at a designated time. The ROIs are generated from the ultrasound data. A tracing unit traces movement of tissue in the target object corresponding to the ROIs set from the designated time to sequentially following thereafter. A second memory unit stores information of the movement of the tissue for a predetermined duration. | 05-03-2012 |
20120108971 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACING MOVEMENT OF TISSUE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits an ultrasound wave to a target object and receives the ultrasound wave as ultrasound data reflected from the target object including a long axis direction blood vessel. An image generation unit generates an ultrasound image as a sectional image of the blood vessel. A region of interest (ROI) setting unit sets a first ROI on a vertical straight line at a right angle to the long axis direction and a second ROI on a wall of the blood vessel displayed at a designated time. A tracing unit traces movement of tissue in the target object corresponding to the first and second ROIs from the designated time to sequentially following thereafter by a gradient method using a spatial brightness gradient. A second memory unit stores information of the movement of the tissue for a predetermined duration. | 05-03-2012 |
20120108972 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACING MOVEMENT OF TISSUE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits an ultrasound wave to a target object and receives the ultrasound wave as ultrasound data reflected from a certain region of the target object including a blood vessel, an image generation unit that generates an ultrasound image as a sectional image of the certain region, and a region of interest setting unit that sets a region of interest including a plurality of divided regions in the ultrasound image at a designated time. The region of interest is generated from the stored ultrasound data. The apparatus further includes a tracing unit that traces movement of tissue in the target object corresponding to the divided regions from the designated time to sequentially following thereafter, and a movement measuring unit that measures a movement distance of the tissue at a predetermined time based on the traced movement of the tissue. | 05-03-2012 |
20120108973 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an edge information calculation unit calculates edge information based on a generated ultrasonic image. An edge filter unit generates a filtered image from the ultrasonic image by applying a filter having filter characteristics corresponding to the calculated edge information to the ultrasonic image. An edge enhancement unit generates an enhanced image from the filtered image by increasing the brightness value, of the filtered image, which corresponds to the edge information. A high brightness suppression unit generates a composite image of the enhanced image and the ultrasonic image in accordance with a compositing ratio corresponding to the brightness value of the enhanced image. | 05-03-2012 |
20120116224 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A system and method for ultrasound imaging includes acquiring volumetric data of a volume of interest with an ultrasound imaging system. The system and method includes acquiring planar data with the ultrasound imaging system during the process of acquiring the volumetric data, the planar data including data of a plane through the volume of interest. The system and method includes displaying a reference image based on the planar data during the process of acquiring the volumetric data. The system and method also includes displaying an image based on the volumetric data. | 05-10-2012 |
20120116225 | METHOD FOR GENERATING TRANSVERSE ELASTIC WAVES, AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACQUIRING IMAGES USING TRANSVERSE ELASTIC WAVES - The present invention relates to a method for generating transverse elastic waves, a method and apparatus for acquiring images using the transverse elastic waves. The present disclosure provides a technique for generating transverse elastic waves by focusing the ultrasonic waves respectively on a number of focal points which are virtually present in a viscoelastic medium and also become wave sources of the transverse elastic waves, and controlling the generated transverse elastic waves to have peak positions with their overlapping points residing and translating in two line segments extending in parallel or at an acute angle to facilitate increasing elastic deformations of the viscoelastic medium to an appropriate level, and thus acquiring images with improved accuracy in the viscoelastic medium. | 05-10-2012 |
20120116226 | Method and Apparatus to Visualize the Coronary Arteries Using Ultrasound - A non-invasive screening technique for visualizing coronary arteries which overcomes the problems of visualizing the curved arteries by projecting the three dimensional volume of the arteries onto a two dimensional screen. Blood-filled areas such as the coronary arteries and veins, are highlighted to contrast with other nearby tissues using non-linear classification and segmentation techniques. Data is gathered as a sequence of 2D slices stored as a 3D volume. Software interpolates voxels intermediate to the slices. Wiener filtering or LMS spatial filtering can be implemented on each 2D scan to improve lateral resolution and reduce noise prior to the use of the scan data with the classification and segmentation algorithms. A traditional handheld ultrasound probe is employed to enable the technician to locate the area of interest, but a gyroscopic stabilizer is added to minimize unwanted variation on two axes of rotation. | 05-10-2012 |
20120116227 | ULTRASONIC BLOOD VESSEL INSPECTING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic blood vessel inspecting apparatus provided with a longitudinal cross sectional blood vessel image generating portion configured to generate a longitudinal cross sectional image of a blood vessel located below a skin of a live body, on the basis of reflected wave signals of an ultrasonic wave by using an ultrasonic probe placed on the skin of said live body, includes: an index value calculating portion configured to calculate an index value indicative of a degree of clarity of an image which represents an intima-media complex of said blood vessel and which exists within said longitudinal cross sectional image of the blood vessel. | 05-10-2012 |
20120123265 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE ENHANCEMENT BASED ON ENTROPY INFORMATION - Embodiments for enhancing an image quality of an ultrasound image based on entropy information in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound data acquisition unit acquires multiple ultrasound data, and a processing unit forms entropy information based on the multiple ultrasound data and adaptively perform data processing for image enhancement upon the multiple ultrasound data based on the entropy information. The processing unit forms multiple ultrasound images based on the multiple ultrasound data with the data processing performed. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123266 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PREVIEW IMAGE - There is disclosed an embodiment for providing a preview image. An ultrasound data acquisition unit transmits and receives ultrasound signals to and from a target object to acquire a plurality of ultrasound data. A processor forms volume data by using the plurality of ultrasound data. The processor further sets a plurality of rendering directions corresponding to a plurality of geometries and renders the volume data along the plurality of respective rendering directions to form a plurality of preview images. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123267 | THREE DIMENSIONAL FETAL HEART IMAGING BY NON-ECG PHYSIOLOGICAL GATED ACQUISITION - An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system acquires 3D data sets of the fetal heart by use of a gating signal synthesized from detected motion of the fetal heart. A sequence of temporally different echo signals are acquired from a location in the anatomy where motion representative of the heart cycle is to be estimated, such as a sample volume in the fetal carotid artery or an M line through the fetal myocardium. A heart cycle signal is synthesized from the detected motion and used to gate the acquisition of fetal heart image data at one or more desired phases of the fetal heart cycle. In an illustrated embodiment 3D data sets are acquired from multiple subvolumes, each over the full fetal heart cycle, then combined to produce a live 3D loop of the beating fetal heart. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123268 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICE - Spurious response resulting from a high-order vibration mode that occurs when the cell shape of a capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer is anisotropic is reduced. Assuming that a ratio between a long direction (l) and a short direction (w) of a diaphragm forming a capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer is a representative aspect ratio (l/w), the representative aspect ratio is set to a value at which a dip of 6 dB or greater would not be formed within a transmit and receive bandwidth of a probe. Alternatively, the representative aspect ratio is so set that there would be six or more vibration modes for which the value obtained by dividing the frequency of a vibration mode having an odd number of anti-nodes by a fundamental mode frequency would be 2 or less. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123269 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONIC SCANNER - The present disclosure provides a precise performance three-dimensional ultrasound scanner that is lightweight for an easy hold by suggesting a novel constitution of a swing mechanism wherein an arrangement of the drive motor perpendicular to the swing axis requires a smaller capacity motor and eliminating a backlash. The swing mechanism includes: an arm holder connected to a rotational axis of the motor; an arm connected to the arm holder so that the arm swings within a certain angular range; a link, attached to the arm, for moving in unison with the arm; a shaft, connected to the link, for transmitting a rotary power of the arm to the transducer unit. The swing mechanism can be operated using the smaller capacity motor and eliminates the need for a pulley, gear or belt eliminating backlashes to promote implementation of lightweight precision three-dimensional ultrasound scanners. | 05-17-2012 |
20120130242 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONCURRENTLY DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF IMAGES USING AN INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - An intravascular ultrasound imaging system includes an imaging core insertable into a catheter lumen. The imaging core includes at least one transducer disposed at a distal end of a driveshaft. The at least one transducer transmits acoustic signals and transforms received echo signals to electrical signals. The at least one transducer rotates about a longitudinal axis of the catheter and moves longitudinally along a patient blood vessel as the at least one transducer transmits the acoustic signals. A control module is coupled to the imaging core. The control module includes a processor that processes received electrical signals from the at least one transducer. The processor uses the received electrical signals to generate a plurality of cross-sectional images captured along least a portion of the patient blood vessel. A display coupled to the processor concurrently displays at least two of the plurality of cross-sectional images. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130243 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING AND DISPLAYING BODY LUMEN BIFURCATIONS - A method for generating an ultrasound image includes receiving a sequence of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data obtained as an IVUS imager moves through a body lumen; identifying at least one bifurcation of the body lumen from the sequence of IVUS data; determining a bifurcation angle between two branches of the body lumen; and displaying a longitudinal view of the body lumen using the IVUS data and incorporating the bifurcation angle to angularly align portions of the longitudinal view corresponding to the two portions of the body lumen. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130244 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ENLARGED IMAGE - Embodiments of providing an enlarged image, without degradation of image quality are disclosed. The ultrasound system includes an ultrasound data acquisition unit, a user input unit and a processor. The ultrasound data acquisition unit is configured to acquire ultrasound data representative of a target object. The user input unit is configured to receive user input information. The processor is configured to extract ultrasound data corresponding to the user input information from the acquired ultrasound data, perform a decimation process on the extracted ultrasound data based on a zoom ratio corresponding to the user input information and form an enlarged image corresponding to the zoom ratio by using the decimated ultrasound data. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130245 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND REGION-OF-INTEREST - Disclose is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which transmits/receives an ultrasonic wave to/from a region including a carotid artery of an object, images an ultrasonic image, and comprises a thickness measurement unit configured to measure the thickness of an intima-media complex from the ultrasonic image, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus being provided with a region-of-interest setting unit configured to scan the ultrasonic image and set a region of interest including the intima-media complex on the ultrasonic image on the basis of the degree of concentration of contour slate points of the carotid artery, wherein the thickness measurement unit measures the thickness of the intima-media complex on the basis of boundaries within the set region of interest. | 05-24-2012 |
20120136252 | PERFORMING ADAPTIVE FRAME AVERAGE PROCESS IN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - There are provided embodiments for performing a frame average process based on a change of a frame rate are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to sequentially acquire ultrasound data corresponding to a living body; and a processing unit configured to sequentially form a plurality of ultrasound images based on the ultrasound data, estimate a frame average coefficient corresponding to a change of a frame rate based on an i | 05-31-2012 |
20120136253 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to improve picture quality of images by automatically adjusting image parameters, and a control method thereof are provided. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an image signal processor to perform envelope detection processing on ultrasound image data, and an image parameter processor to calculate a Time Gain Compensation (TGC) parameter from the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data, adjust the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data based on the TGC parameter, and calculate a Dynamic Range (DR) parameter from the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data adjusted based on the TGC parameter to apply the DR parameter to the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data. | 05-31-2012 |
20120136254 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN ULTRASOUND IMAGE OPTIMIZED FOR POSTURE OF A USER - Embodiments of an ultrasound system for detecting a posture of a user and providing an optimal ultrasound image for the posture of the user are disclosed. The ultrasound system includes a display unit including a sensing unit installed in one side of a monitor. The sensing unit detects a position of a user, a distance between the user and the monitor, a height of the user with respect to the monitor and a viewing angle of the user toward the monitor to thereby form and output sensing signals corresponding thereto. The ultrasound system further includes a processing unit coupled to the sensing unit. The processing unit forms the ultrasound image by using ultrasound data and performs optimal image processing for the posture of the user upon the ultrasound image based on the sensing signals. | 05-31-2012 |
20120136255 | TISSUE MALIGNANT TUMOR DETECTION METHOD AND TISSUE MALIGNANT TUMOR DETECTION APPARATUS - To detect a malignant tumor more accurately by detecting a feature of a cancerous tumor pulsation more appropriately, a tissue malignant tumor detection method according to the present invention includes: segmenting, into blocks, a region scanned with ultrasound (S | 05-31-2012 |
20120143058 | PROPAGATION-MEDIUM-MODIFICATION-BASED REVERBERATED-SIGNAL ELIMINATION - Acquired echo data is corrected to reduce content from ultrasound that has undergone at least one reflection off the probe surface, for example, to reduce corresponding reverberation artefacts from imaging. In some embodiments, the propagation medium, i.e., layer or adjoining layers, through which the reverberation occurs, is, after a set of echo radiofrequency data ( | 06-07-2012 |
20120150036 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING A THREE DIMENSIONAL VOLUME - A method of ultrasound imaging includes acquiring plural groups of ultrasound data sets in an imaged volume that at least partially encompasses an object. The groups of ultrasound data sets include ultrasound image data obtained by transmitting one or more ultrasound pulses from one or more transducer elements into different zones of the imaged volume. The method also includes arranging the ultrasound data sets into one or more temporal groups based on when the ultrasound data sets are acquired. The ultrasound data sets in each temporal group are acquired during a common time period. The method further includes constructing a three-dimensional image of the object based on the ultrasound data sets in at least one of the temporal groups. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150037 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING AN ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe, a location sensor that detects a location of the ultrasound probe, and a location calculation device configured to calculate a location of echo data in a first three-dimensional coordinate system having a certain point as an origin based on the probe location. A deformation calculation device performs a deformation calculation to deform a shape of the body tissue in either an ultrasound image or a medical image captured by a medical imaging apparatus other than the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to a shape of the body tissue of the other image. A display image control device performs a coordinate conversion between the coordinate system of the ultrasound image and a coordinate system of the medical image and displays a deformed image based on the deformation calculation and the other image about a same cross-section on a display device. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150038 | ULTRASOUND PROBE - An ultrasound probe which transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject, receives ultrasonic echoes generated by reflection of the ultrasonic waves on the subject and outputs ultrasound image signals includes a case having a grip portion set therein and functional units disposed in the case. The functional units include an ultrasonic wave-generating unit, at least one integrated circuit board and a battery. The battery disposed in the case at a position corresponding to the grip portion ensures the safety of operators from heat generated in the at least one integrated circuit board and the like. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150039 | ULTRASOUND VOLUME PROBE NAVIGATION AND CONTROL METHOD AND DEVICE - An ultrasound volume probe navigation and control method is provided. The method includes acquiring scan data in a three-dimensional scan mode, forming a navigation view based on a three-dimensional matrix formed by the scan data in beam space, determining a critical area on the navigation view, and navigating and controlling the ultrasound volume probe based on whether a blood vessel is in the critical area. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150040 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ADAPTIVELY CONTROLLING A FRAME INTERVAL BETWEEN ULTRASOUND SCANNING FRAMES FOR AN ULTRASOUND ELASTICITY IMAGING SCAN - An apparatus, system and method for adaptively controlling a frame interval between ultrasound scanning frames of an ultrasound elasticity imaging scan. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting ultrasound beams to a subject during an ultrasound elasticity imaging scan, and a receiver for receiving ultrasound beam echoes from the subject responsive to transmitted ultrasound beams. The system also includes a processor for processing a plurality of the ultrasound beam echoes to determine a strain variation of the tissue undergoing strain, calculating a value for an ultrasound scanning frame interval adapted for imaging the tissue undergoing the determined strain variation, and setting the value of the ultrasound scanning frame interval for acquiring ultrasound elasticity images of the tissue undergoing the determined strain variation. | 06-14-2012 |
20120157843 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO SELECT SYSTEM SETTINGS AND PARAMETERS IN PERFORMING AN ULTRASOUND IMAGING PROCEDURE - A selector system to select one of a series of transducer probes to perform an ultrasound imaging procedure is provided. The selector system includes a user interface, and a controller in communication to receive input and generate graphic illustrations at the user interface. The controller includes a processor to execute a series of programming instructions stored in a computer readable medium. The programming instructions instruct the processor to perform acts that include instructing the processor to request a series of input data at the user interface, receiving at the processor the series of input data from the interface, instructing the processor to automatically calculate a selection of one of the series of transducer probes in response to receiving the series of input data received at the user interface, and generating a graphic illustration of the selection of the one of the series of transducers to show at the user interface. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157844 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ILLUSTRATE ULTRASOUND DATA AT INDEPENDENT DISPLAYS - An ultrasound imaging system is provided that comprises a beamformer, a first processor, and a second processor. The beamformer receives an ultrasound image data acquired by a transducer probe. The first processor processes the ultrasound image data communicated from the beamformer so as to create a first illustration at a first interface to show to a user of the ultrasound imaging system. The second processor processes the ultrasound image data communicated from the beamformer so as to create a second illustration at a second interface to show to a patient of the ultrasound imaging system. The first processor performs different processing steps compared to the second processor such that the first illustration at the first interface is different than the second illustration at the second interface. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157845 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOTION-COMPENSATED ULTRASOUND IMAGING - An ultrasound imaging system and method include acquiring first ultrasound data, the first ultrasound data comprising data of a first plane through a structure of interest. The ultrasound imaging system and method include tracking the motion of a landmark based on the first ultrasound data. The ultrasound imaging system and method acquiring second ultrasound data, the second ultrasound data including data of a second plane through the structure of interest, the second plane being distinct from the first plane, where the position of the second plane is adjusted to track the motion of the landmark. The ultrasound imaging system and method also includes generating an image based on the second ultrasound data. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157846 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND PORTABLE ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS THEREOF - An exemplary ultrasonic diagnostic system includes a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a cloud computing system. The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensing unit, a front-end circuit, a data compression unit and a communication unit. The ultrasonic sensing unit is configured to sense a signal reflected from a measured object. The front-end circuit is configured to perform a pre-processing on an output of the ultrasonic sensing unit. The data compression unit is configured to receive an output of the front-end circuit and determine whether to perform a data compression process on the output of the front-end circuit according to a selected result. The communication unit is configured to receive an output of the data compression unit and further transmit the output of the data compression unit to the cloud computing system. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157847 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING BEAM-FORMING BASED ON SAMPLING DATA - Embodiments of performing beam forming processing based on sampling data in an ultrasound system are disclosed. The ultrasound system includes an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to form a receive signal based on an ultrasound signal reflected from a target object, perform an analog-to-digital conversion on the receive signal to form sampling data, select pixels, which the respective sampling data are used as pixel values thereof among the plurality of pixels, cumulatively assign the corresponding sampling data to the selected pixels and perform beam forming upon the cumulatively assigned sampling data for the respective pixels to form receive-focused data. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157848 | PERFORMING RECEIVE-FOCUSING BASED ON MID-POINT ALGORITHM IN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - There are provided embodiments for changing initial values of a mid-point algorithm to calculate a constant delay value throughout depths based on a sample volume and performing a receive-focusing based on the constant delay value. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to calculate a constant delay value throughout depths based on a sample volume by using a mid-point algorithm, transmit ultrasound signals to a living body, receive ultrasound echo signals from the living body and form digital signals based on the ultrasound echo signals, the ultrasound data acquisition unit being further configured to apply the constant delay value to the digital signals to acquire ultrasound data corresponding to a high pulse rate frequency Doppler image of the sample volume. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157849 | Ultrasound Guided Probe Device and Method of Using Same - The present invention is directed to devices and methods for use in ultrasound guiding of percutaneous probes during medical procedures. The ultrasound devices of the present invention include an ultrasound transducer The devices can also include means and methods for imaging a virtual probe overlaying the sonogram formed by the ultrasound device such that a real time image of the probe approach to the target may be observed during and after probe placement. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157850 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic device that is able to generate images with high sensitivity for structures and unnoticeable artifacts. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an image-capturing part, a calculating part, and a composition part. The image-capturing part deflects ultrasound waves at a plurality of different deflection angles to transmit ultrasound waves to a subject, receives echo signals from the subject, and generates a plurality of ultrasound image data in which the deflection angles of the ultrasound waves are different in each. The calculating part obtains, based on the plurality of ultrasound image data, the trend of the angular dependence of the plurality of ultrasound image data on the deflection angles. The composition part changes the weights of the plurality of ultrasound image data in accordance with the trend of the angular dependence, and composes the plurality of ultrasound image data. | 06-21-2012 |
20120165671 | IDENTIFICATION OF OBJECTS IN ULTRASOUND - An apparatus and method for identifying objects in an ultrasound image that includes acquiring ultrasound information from a catheter, locating the ultrasound information to a three-dimensional cardiac model having two or more distinct anatomic objects, displaying at least one of the distinct anatomic objects from the cardiac model within a visual representation of the ultrasound information, and identifying the at least one of the distinct anatomic objects within the visual representation of the ultrasound information using the identifier provided for that object in the three-dimensional cardiac model. | 06-28-2012 |
20120165672 | REFINEMENT OF AN ANATOMICAL MODEL USING ULTRASOUND - A method of displaying the influence of an aspect of a model includes acquiring a two-dimensional echocardiogram having a variable intensity; relating the two-dimensional echocardiogram to a plurality of mapping points, the mapping points existing in a three-dimensional model space; determining a degree of influence value for a mapping point; and displaying the mapping point with a visual attribute that corresponds to the determined degree of influence value. | 06-28-2012 |
20120165673 | METHOD OF DISPLAYING DIAGNOSTIC IMAGE, IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, AND MEDICAL IMAGE SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING THE SAME - A method of displaying a diagnostic image is provided. The method includes setting an examination target of a subject, dividing the examination target into a plurality of examination regions, detecting whether a signal region indicated by a signal transmitted from a probe collides with each of the plurality of examination regions, calculating a collision frequency of each of the plurality of examination regions, based on a result of the detecting, and displaying a diagnostic image that indicates a sectional view of the subject and includes information indicating a degree of the collision frequency of each of the plurality of examination regions included in the sectional view, based on the calculation result. | 06-28-2012 |
20120165674 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a motion information generating unit and a control unit. The motion information generating unit generates first motion information on cardiac wall motion of at least one of a left ventricle and a left atrium and second motion information on cardiac wall motion of at least one of a right ventricle and a right atrium, on the basis of a first volume data group and a second volume data group; generates first correction information and second correction information by correcting the first motion information and the second motion information such that the first motion information and the second motion information are substantially synchronized with each other, and generates a motion information image in which the first correction information and the second correction information are arranged along the time axis. The control unit controls to display the motion image information. | 06-28-2012 |
20120172724 | AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION OF INTRACARDIAC DEVICES AND STRUCTURES IN AN INTRACARDIAC ECHO CATHETER IMAGE - An intracardiac imaging system configured to display electrode visualization elements within an intracardiac echocardiography image where the electrode visualization elements represent intracardiac electrodes in close proximity to the plane of the image. The system further allows cross sections of tissue structures embodied in intracardiac echocardiography images to be modeled within a visualization, navigation, or mapping system when automatically segmented to generate shell elements for modifying the modeled tissue structures. | 07-05-2012 |
20120172725 | COLOR FLOW GAIN ADJUSTMENT METHOD AND DEVICE - A color flow gain adjustment method and device, and a color ultrasound imaging system using the device are disclosed. | 07-05-2012 |
20120172726 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic diagnostic device includes the following: a transmission/reception unit ( | 07-05-2012 |
20120179037 | WIRELESS ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION IN AN ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - A wireless ultrasound imaging system includes plural probes, at least one access point device, and a processing subsystem. Each of the probes has at least one transducer element that is configured to emit ultrasound pulses into one or more imaged bodies and receive echoes of the pulses. The probes are configured to generate ultrasound data based on the echoes and to wirelessly transmit the ultrasound data. The access point device is configured to wirelessly receive the ultrasound data from the probes. The processing subsystem is communicatively coupled with the at least one access point device. The processing subsystem receives the ultrasound data from the probes and creates one or more images based on the ultrasound data. In one aspect, a plurality of the probes is configured to concurrently acquire the ultrasound data. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179038 | ULTRASOUND BASED FREEHAND INVASIVE DEVICE POSITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD - In one embodiment, an interventional guidance method includes generating an ultrasound image of a subject anatomy of interest. The method also includes superimposing on the ultrasound image a visual indication of at least one of projection of a position of an interventional device, trajectory of the interventional device, and a location at which the interventional device will intercept an ultrasound imaging plane. The interventional guidance method also includes dynamically altering an aspect of the superimposed visual indication during a interventional procedure. The dynamic altering includes altering a dynamic indication of a trajectory of the interventional instrument transverse to the imaging plane or an interception location of the trajectory of the interventional instrument with the imaging plane. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179039 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VIDEO RECORDS OF USE OF MEDICAL ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMS - Methods and apparatus for producing a video record of a use of a medical ultrasound system are provided. An ultrasound image video signal and a synthetic display element signal produced by an ultrasound system are encoded as at least one data stream. The at least one data stream is stored in a multimedia container file. The ultrasound video signal and synthetic display element signal may be encoded as different data streams. In some embodiments, the ultrasound video signal and synthetic display element signal are combined in a single video signal, which is encoded as a video data stream. In some embodiments, a subject image video signal is produced by a camera, and this signals is encoded and stored with an associated ultrasound image video signal in a video container. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179040 | REFERENCE IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD FOR ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasonic image is captured by an ultrasonic probe. A reference image is obtained by extracting a tomographic image corresponding to the scan plane of the ultrasonic image from volume image data that is pre-obtained by a diagnostic imaging apparatus and that is stored in a volume-data storing unit. The ultrasonic image and the reference image are displayed on the same screen. In this case, of the reference image, a portion corresponding to the view area of the ultrasonic image is extracted and the resulting reference image having the same region as the ultrasonic image is displayed as a fan-shaped image. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179041 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus has acoustic transducers; and an image processing unit which calculates intensity of acoustic waves irradiated from regions inside a subject respectively by processing received signals, which are output from the acoustic transducers, by a Fourier-domain method. The image processing unit includes: a coefficient memory which stores coefficients computed in advance, the coefficient being a value determined only by a position of the acoustic transducer, position of the region and a time of receipt of the acoustic wave; a multiplier unit which multiplies the received signal of the acoustic transducer by the corresponding coefficient; and a voxel memory which accumulates multiplication results of the multiplier unit for each region. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179042 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR MEASURING INITMA-MEDIA COMPLEX THICKNESS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes: an ultrasonic signal processing section, which performs transmission processing for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward a subject's blood vessel by driving a probe and reception processing for generating a received signal based on the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject's blood vessel and received at the probe; a tomographic image processing section, which generates a tomographic image based on the received signal; a boundary detecting section, which detects the lumen-intima and media-adventitia boundaries of the blood vessel based on the received signal or the tomographic image; a vascular wall thickness calculating section, which calculates, as a vascular wall thickness value, the interval between the lumen-intima and media-adventitia boundaries detected by the boundary detecting section; a reliability determining section, which determines the reliability of the vascular wall thickness value by a signal feature of the received signal or an image information feature of the tomographic image at a location on the lumen-intima and/or media-adventitia boundaries detected; and a control section, which decides, in accordance with the decision made by the reliability determining section, that the vascular wall thickness value be defined as an intima-media thickness. | 07-12-2012 |
20120184851 | REFERENCE IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD FOR ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasonic image is captured by an ultrasonic probe. A reference image is obtained by extracting a tomographic image corresponding to the scan plane of the ultrasonic image from volume image data that is pre-obtained by a diagnostic imaging apparatus and that is stored in a volume-data storing unit. The ultrasonic image and the reference image are displayed on the same screen. In this case, of the reference image, a portion corresponding to the view area of the ultrasonic image is extracted and the resulting reference image having the same region as the ultrasonic image is displayed as a fan-shaped image. | 07-19-2012 |
20120184852 | REFERENCE IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD FOR ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasonic image is captured by an ultrasonic probe. A reference image is obtained by extracting a tomographic image corresponding to the scan plane of the ultrasonic image from volume image data that is pre-obtained by a diagnostic imaging apparatus and that is stored in a volume-data storing unit. The ultrasonic image and the reference image are displayed on the same screen. In this case, of the reference image, a portion corresponding to the view area of the ultrasonic image is extracted and the resulting reference image having the same region as the ultrasonic image is displayed as a fan-shaped image. | 07-19-2012 |
20120184853 | System and Method for Characterizing Tissue Based Upon Split Spectrum Analysis of Backscattered Ultrasound - A system and method are disclosed that facilitate characterizing vascular plaque tissue based upon spectral analysis of intravascular ultrasound echo signal segments. In particular, split spectrum analysis of an integrated backscatter parameter introduces a spectral resolution component to parameterization of received intravascular ultrasound echo signal segments. The resulting parameter values for each of multiple bands within a larger frequency band supported by an ultrasound system are applied to plaque tissue characterization criteria to render a plaque tissue characterization corresponding to the corresponding ultrasound echo signal segments. | 07-19-2012 |
20120190984 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM WITH OPACITY SETTING UNIT - There are provided an ultrasound system with an opacity setting unit capable of setting opacity corresponding to rendering of volume data throughout depth. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises an opacity setting unit configured to receive input information for setting opacity corresponding to rendering of volume data throughout the depth. | 07-26-2012 |
20120197123 | Systems and Methods for Determining Global Circumferential Strain in Cardiology - Systems and methods for determining circumference and a percent change in circumference of a structure are provided. Certain methods include receiving first and second sets of at least three vertical plane images of a structure about a long axis of the structure that were acquired at first and second points in time, respectively. Data points from each of the images of each of the sets that define a contour of the structure are identified. The circumference of the structure at a horizontal plane of the structure at the first and second points in time using identified data points positioned on the horizontal plane is estimated. A percent change between the estimated circumference of the structure at the first point in time and the estimated circumference of the structure at the second point in time is determined. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197124 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises: an ultrasound probe that has a transducer array transmitting an ultrasonic beam toward a subject and receiving an ultrasonic echo by the subject to output reception signals; a diagnostic apparatus body that is connected to the ultrasound probe by wireless communication and generates an ultrasound image on the basis of the reception signal output from the transducer array; at least one power receiving terminal that is arranged at the ultrasound probe and electrically connected to respective parts in the ultrasound probe; and a power supply unit that is capable of being attached to an operator's body and is detachably connected to the power receiving terminal so as to perform power supply to the respective parts in the ultrasound probe. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197125 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - As one illustrative embodiment, a first calculator obtains a first power value, which is the sum of the absolute value of a plurality of data obtained by a plurality of transmissions. A velocity-vector calculating unit obtains the velocity vector based on a plurality of data. A second calculator obtains a second power value, which is the absolute value of the velocity vector. A post-filter processor comprises one or more post-filter processes to determine the power value, and in the one or more post-filter processes, a power value other than the power value used in obtaining the threshold value for determination is selected as the power value at each observation point and the selected power value is determined based on the threshold value for determination. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197126 | Ultrasound Imaging Device - An ultrasound imaging apparatus includes a transmitter which transmits an ultrasound pulse to a subject, a receiver which receives ultrasound coming from the subject, and a signal processor to process a received signal at the receiver and generate image data. The receiver has a predetermined reception band, and the ultrasound pulse transmitted by the transmitter has one frequency band with a frequency peak. Each of an upper limit frequency and a lower limit frequency of the one frequency band is set to be values which make a low frequency harmonic component and a high frequency harmonic component produced by the ultrasound pulse be within the reception band. The signal processor generates image data by using a nonlinear component of at least one of the low frequency and high frequency harmonic component received by the receiver. | 08-02-2012 |
20120203104 | PORTABLE IMAGING SYSTEM WITH REMOTE ACCESSIBILITY - A portable ultrasound imaging system is provided. The system includes a probe for acquiring ultrasound image data. A memory stores the acquired ultrasound image data. A processor generates an image based on the stored ultrasound image data. A presentation layer is provided for remotely accessing the generated image to display the generated image at a remote location. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203105 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE PRODUCING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasound probe including a transducer array, a transmitter for transmitting an ultrasonic beam from the transducer array toward a subject, an image producer for producing an ultrasound image based on a reception signal outputted from the transducer array having received ultrasonic echoes from the subject, a temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature of the ultrasound probe, a channel selector for selecting simultaneously available channels for reception from a plurality of channels of the ultrasound probe, and a controller for controlling the channel selector so as to reduce a number of selected simultaneously available channels for reception as the internal temperature of the ultrasound probe detected by the temperature sensor increases and as a measuring depth decreases. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203106 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the embodiment includes an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound waves to and from a subject, and generates and displays images of the inside of the subject based on the reception results from the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a memory, a detector, a selection part, and a processor. The memory stores association information that associates positions in real space with examination conditions including image quality conditions and/or application type. The detector detects the position of the ultrasound probe in real space. The selection part selects examination conditions corresponding to the detected position based on the association information. The processor performs processing based on the selected examination conditions. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203107 | ULTRASOUND MEASURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Provided are an ultrasound measuring device that uses multiple ultrasound probes to acquire a plurality of images and synthesizes the same to produce a synthesized image of a subject, as well as a control method thereof. The ultrasound measuring device includes: multiple ultrasound probes having sensors to detect relative positions between the probes; and a control part that uses a plurality of signals transmitted from the multiple ultrasound probes to generate a plurality of image signals and uses position information between respective pairs of the multiple ultrasound probes, which position information is transmitted from the corresponding sensors, to compensate for an error relating to the corresponding image signals from the plurality of image signals. | 08-09-2012 |
20120209119 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmission driver which transmits an ultrasonic beam from a transducer array toward a subject; reception signal processors which process reception signals output from the transducer array having received an ultrasonic echo; an image producer which produces image data based on the processed reception signals to produce an ultrasound image; a region detector which detects a region including a high rate change portion, which changes at a rate equal to or higher than a predetermined value, from the ultrasound image as a first measurement region; a controller which controls the transmission driver and the reception signal processors such that transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves are intermittently performed to decrease a frame rate in a second measurement region, where the high rate change portion is not included, less than in the first measurement region. | 08-16-2012 |
20120215108 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACKING TUMOR FOR ULTRASOUND THERAPY AND ULTRASOUND THERAPY SYSTEM - Apparatuses and methods for tracking a tumor for ultrasound therapy, and an ultrasound therapy system for performing ultrasound therapy are provided. The apparatus includes: a marker registration unit which registers at least one marker corresponding to a location of the tumor based on at least one location and feature of at least one lesion generated in at least one portion of the tumor designated by a therapeutic ultrasonic apparatus; a marker tracking unit which tracks the at least one registered marker from a medical image of the tumor during an ultrasound therapy and provides tracking results; and a marker renewing unit which, when at least one lesion is newly generated, renews the at least one registered marker based on at least one location and feature of the at least one newly generated lesion. | 08-23-2012 |
20120215109 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM - When an amount of visceral fat is measured using ultrasonic waves during medical examination of metabolic syndrome, three contact positions are defined on the surface of the abdominal region, and three distances inside the living body are measured by bringing a probe into contact with the surface of the abdominal region at the contact positions. Specifically, three measurement paths having a starting point at the center of the descending aorta are set, and the distances from the center to a surface of the fat layer adjacent to the surface of the body (inner surface of the subcutaneous layer) in the measurement paths are observed. An approximate area of a visceral fat region can be determined from the three distances and two angles defined by the three measurement paths, and an index value is calculated on the basis of the area. A probe holder having three holding portions is desirably used. | 08-23-2012 |
20120220872 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound probe includes a piezoelectric section to transmit and receive ultrasound, wherein the piezoelectric section includes a plurality of laminated piezoelectric layers each of which includes piezoelectric members and non-piezoelectric members both of which are arranged alternately in parallel to each other in an arrangement direction, and wherein the arrangement direction of the piezoelectric members and the non-piezoelectric members in at least one piezoelectric layer of the plurality of laminated piezoelectric layers is different from that in other one piezoelectric layer of the plurality of laminated piezoelectric layers. | 08-30-2012 |
20120220873 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING IMAGE INDICATOR - Embodiments of an ultrasound system for outputting an ultrasound image through an ultrasound examination are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises an ultrasound probe, a sensor unit, a processor unit and an input unit. The ultrasound probe transmits and receives an ultrasound beam to and from the examination portion of a target object. The sensor unit is disposed in the ultrasound probe and detects a posture and/or a position of the ultrasound probe to form posture information and/or position information of the ultrasound probe. The processor unit moves an image indicator corresponding to the posture information and/or the position information. The image indicator includes an ultrasound beam direction marker that is indicative of a transmission direction of the ultrasound beam transmitted from the ultrasound probe to the target object. The input unit is configured to control the processor unit. | 08-30-2012 |
20120220874 | System and Method for Equalizing Received Intravascular Ultrasound Echo Signals - A system and method are disclosed for providing an equalized ultrasound echo signal for the rendering intravascular images. The system includes an ultrasound catheter including an ultrasound transducer probe. An intravascular ultrasound console receives an ultrasound echo signal corresponding to reflections of an ultrasound signal by backscatterers. An ultrasound echo signal time-gain compensation equalizer compensates the ultrasound echo signal according to sub-bands within a frequency response spectrum of the ultrasound echo signal. After applying selective amplifier gains on the sub-bands, the sub-band signals are combined to create an equalized ultrasound echo signal. | 08-30-2012 |
20120220875 | Mobile Architecture Using Cloud for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Disease Classification - Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT) is the most common type of inflammation of the thyroid gland and accurate diagnosis of HT would be advantageous in predicting thyroid failure. The application presents three tier architecture for image-based diagnosis and monitoring application using Cloud is described. The presentation layer is run on the tablet (mobile device), while the business and persistence layer runs on a single cloud or distributed on different Clouds in a multi-tenancy and multi-user application. Such architecture is used for automated data mining application for diagnosis of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT) Disease using ultrasound. | 08-30-2012 |
20120220876 | Processing of Medical Signals - The present invention is directed to a system and method in which real-time ubiquitous imaging is feasible in local areas, such as inside a clinic, hospital room or doctor office. This is achieved by designing a wireless network having a central processing server with, for example, distributed broadband acquisition and video bus capability. Remote access is possible using store-and-forward image transfer over a wide area network. With these capabilities, a physician can use a handheld transducer (such as an ultrasound transducer) as a basic tool to facilitate diagnostic decisions similar to the way a stethoscope is used today. | 08-30-2012 |
20120226159 | ULTRASONIC SCANNING SYSTEM AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE ENHANCEMENT METHOD - An ultrasonic measurement system comprises a processor configured for enhancing a received ultrasonic signal, where the received ultrasonic signal is a frequency domain signal. The enhancing involves deconvolving the received ultrasonic signal to yield a filtered signal, determining autoregressive extrapolation parameters based on frequency amplitude fluctuations of the filtered signal within a frequency range over which a corresponding reference signal has a high signal-to-noise ratio, and carrying out an autoregressive spectral extrapolation of the filtered signal using the autoregressive extrapolation parameters to yield an enhanced ultrasonic signal. | 09-06-2012 |
20120226160 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE PRODUCING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises: an ultrasound probe which performs transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams using a transducer array according to a mode selected by an operator from a low image quality mode and a high image quality mode, and which processes reception signals outputted from the transducer array in reception signal processors to generate digital reception data; a diagnostic apparatus body for producing an ultrasound image based on the reception data transmitted from the ultrasound probe and displaying the produced ultrasound image on a monitor; a temperature detecting unit for detecting an internal temperature of the ultrasound probe, and an uptime manager for calculating an uptime in the high image quality mode based on the internal temperature of the ultrasound probe detected by the temperature detecting unit to display the calculated uptime on the monitor. | 09-06-2012 |
20120226161 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONFIGURING ULTRASOUND SYSTEMS FOR ULTRASOUND EXAMINATIONS - A method for configuring an ultrasound system for an examination comprises displaying a plurality of examination categories for selection by a user, receiving a user-selected examination category, identifying any probes connected to the ultrasound system, determining which of the connected probes are suitable for the user-selected examination category, for each suitable connected probe, displaying an indication identifying the suitable connected probe for selection by the user, receiving a user-selected probe identification, and, activating a selected probe indicated by the user-selected probe identification for data acquisition. | 09-06-2012 |
20120232390 | DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD - A diagnostic apparatus and method is provided. A diagnostic apparatus includes a region of interest (ROI) detection unit configured to detect at least one ROI in a diagnostic image formed according to an echo signal returned from a subject, an emphatic image generation unit configured to generate an emphatic image, and a display unit configured to display the generated emphatic image. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232391 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE PRODUCING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a plurality ultrasound probes, an apparatus body for producing an ultrasound image based on the reception data obtained by one of the ultrasound probes, a connection selector for selectively switching a connection between the ultrasound probes and the apparatus body, an interruption detector for detecting interruption of ultrasound examination, and a controller for causing the apparatus body to display a selection screen for selecting one of the ultrasound probes to be subsequently used when the interruption detector detects interruption of ultrasound examination, wherein when an operator selects one of the ultrasound probes to be subsequently used from the displayed selection screen, the controller controls the connection selector to connect the selected ultrasound probe with the apparatus body. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232392 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is provided which includes an ultrasound probe performing ultrasound transmission and reception in different directions and a diagnostic apparatus body combining images different in the direction of transmission and reception to produce an ultrasound image. At least one of ultrasound images to be combined is changed depending on the set region of interest (ROI) to an image of the depth corresponding to the ROI. When an acoustic coupler is attached, the depth of at least one of ultrasound images to be combined is increased. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is capable of improving the image quality of the ROI and obtaining efficient high-definition ultrasound images reaching a predetermined depth when the acoustic coupler is attached. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232393 | Ultrasound system and signal processing unit configured for time gain and lateral gain compensation - The present invention provides an ultrasound system, which comprises: a signal acquiring unit to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and acquire an echo signal reflected from the object; a signal processing unit to control TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC (Lateral Gain Compensation) of the echo signal; a TGC/LGC setup unit adapted to set TGC and LGC values based on TGC and LGC curves inputted by a user; and an image producing unit adapted to produce an ultrasound image of the object based on the echo signal. The signal processing unit is further adapted to control the TGC and the LGC of the echo signal based on the TGC and LGC values set by the TGC/LGC setup unit. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232394 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a three-dimensional data generation unit which generates three-dimensional data for each region in the body of a subject based on reflected waves reflecting back from the body of the subject after ultrasound waves have been transmitted towards the body of the subject; a measurement image selection unit which respectively selects, for each region, one of the two-dimensional cross-sections that compose the three-dimensional data, as a measurement reference image used for measuring a length of each region in the body of the subject; a measurement calculation unit which measures a length of each region in the body of the subject using the respectively selected measurement reference image, and calculates an estimated weight of the subject using the measured lengths; and a display unit which outputs the estimated weight thus calculated. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232395 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes a signal transmission section, which supplies a driving pulse to a transducer in order to transmit an ultrasonic transmission signal to an object and transmits to the object a non-inverted component and an inverted component of an ultrasonic waveform, and a signal processing section, which removes a fundamental wave component by adding received signals from the object. The signal transmission section includes a switching section which changes an output period within a half period of the transmission signal according to at least one of a load connected to the signal transmission section and amplitude, a frequency, and a wave number output from the transmission circuit. | 09-13-2012 |
20120238874 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE PRODUCING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a region-of-interest setting unit for setting a region of interest in the B mode image, an abdominal wall detector for detecting an abdominal wall of the subject in the B mode image, a controller for controlling a transmission circuit and a reception circuit to transmit a ultrasonic beam emitted from the transducer array and so steered as to enter the abdominal wall detected by the abdominal wall detector vertically with forming transmission focuses respectively at a plurality of points set in and near the region of interest to obtain reception data for measuring a sound speed, and a sound speed calculator for calculating local sound speeds in the region of interest based on the obtained reception data for measuring a sound speed. | 09-20-2012 |
20120238875 | Embedded Motion Sensing Technology for Integration within Commercial Ultrasound Probes - An ultrasound system including an ultrasound machine and an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound transducer, ultrasound circuitry, a six degree of freedom (6-DOF) sensor, and a probe housing. The probe housing encases the ultrasound transducer and the 6-DOF sensor. By embedding motion-sensing technology directly within the housing of the ultrasound transducer, the position and orientation of the ultrasound probe can be tracked in an automated manner in relation to an indicator mark on the ultrasound screen. This allows assisting technologies to mitigate human error that arises from misalignment of the transducer indicator. | 09-20-2012 |
20120245465 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING INTERSECTION INFORMATION ON A VOLUMETRIC ULTRASOUND IMAGE - A method and system for displaying intersection information on a volumetric ultrasound image are provided. One method includes accessing ultrasound information corresponding to a volume dataset and identifying a location of one or more surfaces intersecting the volume dataset. The method further includes colorizing a rendered image of the volume dataset based on the identified locations of the intersection of the one or more surfaces and displaying a rendered volume dataset with one or more colorized intersections. | 09-27-2012 |
20120245466 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CAPTURING MEDICAL IMAGING DATA - A portable medical image capturing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of transducers that are enabled to capture medical imaging data of a patient. The plurality of transducers are placed on an enclosure. The plurality of transducers capture the medical imaging data when the enclosure is held close to the patient. Further, the apparatus includes a communications module to transmit the medical imaging data of the patient to a remote data processing unit. The remote data processing unit is enabled to enhance the captured medical imaging data of the patient. | 09-27-2012 |
20120253196 | ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION METHOD - The ultrasound examination apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is an ultrasound examination apparatus for observing an inside of a body of a living subject and includes: a transmitting probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to an inside of an examination target which is a part of the living subject; a receiving probe that detects microscopic displacement on a surface of the examination target without contact with the examination target, to detect reflected ultrasonic waves which are the to ultrasonic waves reflected from the inside of the examination target; | 10-04-2012 |
20120259224 | Ultrasound Machine for Improved Longitudinal Tissue Analysis - An ultrasound machine provides for segmentation of tissue structure that may track isolated tissue structures over multiple frames of data taken over time. Analysis of the isolated tissue structure permits better discrimination of small differences between tissue structures such as may indicate tissue damage or disease. | 10-11-2012 |
20120259225 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE PRODUCING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a region of interest setting unit for setting a region of interest containing at least part of a liver and at least part of a kidney in a B mode image, a controller for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic beams to obtain reception data for measuring a sound speed, a sound speed map producer for producing a sound speed map of a liver region based on the reception data for measuring a sound speed, and a hepatorenal contrast calculator for calculating an average luminance in the liver region and an average luminance in a kidney region of the region of interest and calculating a hepatorenal contrast based on the calculated average luminances. | 10-11-2012 |
20120265074 | PROVIDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE BASED ON THREE-DIMENSIONAL COLOR REFERENCE TABLE IN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - There are provided embodiments for a three-dimensional ultrasound Image based on a three-dimensional color reference table. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises: a storage unit for storing a three-dimensional color reference table for providing colors corresponding to at least one of intensity accumulation values and shading values throughout depth; and a processing unit configured to form volume data based on ultrasound data corresponding to a target object and perform ray-casting on the volume data to calculate intensity accumulation values and shading values throughout the depth, the processing unit being further configured to apply colors corresponding to the at least one of the calculated intensity accumulation values and the calculated shading values based on the three-dimensional color reference table. | 10-18-2012 |
20120271173 | AUTOMATIC ULTRASONIC SCANNING SYSTEM AND SCANNING METHOD THEREOF - An exemplary automatic ultrasonic scanning system and a scanning method of the same are disclosed. The automatic ultrasonic scanning system includes a multi-axis robot arm, an ultrasonic scan head disposed on the multi-axis robot arm, a control circuit for controlling the multi-axis robot arm, a three-dimensional image capturing apparatus and a computer. The computer senses a tested object through the three-dimensional image capturing apparatus, creates a three-dimensional shape of the tested object, and plans a three-dimensional scanning path according to the three-dimensional shape. According to the three-dimensional scanning path the computer further controls the multi-axis robot arm to perform a multi-axis motion through the control circuit, so as performs a three-dimensional scan on the tested object through the ultrasonic scan head, and constructs an ultrasonic image according to a reflected ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic scan head consequently. | 10-25-2012 |
20120277588 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FUSING SENSOR AND IMAGE DATA FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL VOLUME RECONSTRUCTION - An imaging system for generating three-dimensional (3D) images includes an imaging probe for acquiring two-dimensional (2D) image data of a region of interest. A sensor is coupled with the imaging probe to determine positional data related to a position of the imaging probe. A position determination module utilizes the image data acquired with the imaging probe and the positional data determined by the sensor to calculate a probe location with respect to the acquired 2D image data. An imaging module is configured to reconstruct a 3D image of the region of interest based on the 2D image data and the determined probe locations. | 11-01-2012 |
20120277589 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasound diagnostic device includes: an ultrasound probe which transmits ultrasound toward a tested subject by a plurality of transducers and obtains a received signal; a beam forming section for adding the received signal for each of the transducers with matching a phase of the received signal; an image processing section which generates an image data; a coherent factor calculation section which calculates a coherent factor which represents a ratio of a coherent sum to an incoherent sum; a coherent factor correction section which corrects the coherent factor so as not to be smaller than a predetermined value; and a signal correction section which correct the received signal after having been subject to the adding, by multiplying the received signal after having been subject to the adding by the coherent factor corrected by the coherent factor correction section as a coefficient. | 11-01-2012 |
20120277590 | BEAMFORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - A beamforming method includes generating a control signal for implementing a delay time for each of a plurality of transducers of each of a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) transducer-arrays, transmitting the control signal to a plurality of driving units respectively corresponding to the plurality of 2D transducer-arrays via an interposer that electrically connects the plurality of 2D transducer-arrays to each other, and driving each 2D transducer-array of the plurality of 2D transducer-arrays with a corresponding driving unit of the plurality of driving units according to the control signal transmitted via the interposer. | 11-01-2012 |
20120289830 | METHOD AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM FOR IMAGE-GUIDED PROCEDURES - A method and ultrasound imaging system for image-guided procedures includes collecting first position data of an anatomical surface with a 3D position sensor. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes generating a 3D graphical model of the anatomical surface based on the first position data. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes acquiring ultrasound data with a probe in position relative to the anatomical surface. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes using the 3D position sensor to collect second position data of the probe in the position relative to the anatomical surface. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes generating an image based on the ultrasound data and identifying a structure in the image. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes registering the location of the structure to the 3D graphical model based on the first position data and the second position data. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes displaying a representation of the 3D graphical model including a graphical indicator of the structure. | 11-15-2012 |
20120289831 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACING MOVEMENT OF TISSUE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits an ultrasound wave to a target object and receives the ultrasound wave as ultrasound data reflected from a certain region of the target object including a blood vessel, an image generation unit that generates an ultrasound image as a sectional image of the certain region, and a region of interest setting unit that sets a region of interest including a plurality of divided regions in the ultrasound image at a designated time. The region of interest is generated from the stored ultrasound data. The apparatus further includes a tracing unit that traces movement of tissue in the target object corresponding to the divided regions from the designated time to sequentially following thereafter, and a movement measuring unit that measures a movement distance of the tissue at a predetermined time based on the traced movement of the tissue. | 11-15-2012 |
20120289832 | Illumination Methods And Systems For Improving Image Resolution Of Imaging Systems - Method and systems for improving resolution of imaging systems, such as a microscope or a medical ultrasonic scanner, are provided. The resolution of the microscope is improved by reducing direct illumination of unrelated regions of an object under examination. According to an aspect of the present invention, a method is provided to reduce the direct illumination of the unrelated regions in a detectable region such as a cone of light that otherwise could generate substantial noises. In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided that focuses the illumination beams such that the width of the projected beam spot is narrowed, preventing the generation of a large amount of noise. In particular, the width of the illumination beam is narrowed such that the size of the projected illumination beam is smaller than the field of view of the microscope. In another aspect of the invention, a system according to the principles of the present invention is provided, wherein the illumination beam of light is such arranged that the overlap of the path of the illumination beam of light and the detectable region is reduced. | 11-15-2012 |
20120296212 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an extracting unit, a detecting unit, and a display controlling unit. The extracting unit extracts a cervical image region that is a region including the cervical region from an ultrasonic image of a fetus obtained by transmissions and receptions of ultrasonic waves. The detecting unit detects a dorsal body surface region that is a region that is related to a dorsal body surface of the fetus from the ultrasonic image. The display controlling unit controls to display an enlarged image including an enlarged image of the cervical image region in a region other than the dorsal region in the ultrasonic image on a display device. | 11-22-2012 |
20120296213 | ULTRASOUND FOR LOCATING ANATOMY OR PROBE GUIDANCE - A hand-held apparatus can be used to assist in guiding a probe or locating a particular anatomical target in a subject. The apparatus can include an ultrasonic transducer located on or within a housing and configured to generate ultrasonic energy directed into tissue of a subject and configured to receive a portion of the ultrasonic energy reflected by a target located within the tissue. In an example, the apparatus can include a motion tracking circuit configured to provide information indicative of a motion of the hand-held apparatus to the processor circuit, and a display configured to present information about a location of the target with respect to a portion of the hand-held apparatus, the information about the location determined by the processor circuit using the obtained information indicative of the ultrasonic energy reflected by the target and the information indicative of the motion of the hand-held apparatus. | 11-22-2012 |
20120302885 | PROVIDING A MEASURING ITEM CANDIDATE GROUP FOR MEASURING SIZE OF A TARGET OBJECT IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing an elastic image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: a user input unit configured to receive user input information from a user; a storage unit configured to store a mapping table associating measuring item information on a plurality of measuring items with a plurality of applications; an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to acquire ultrasound data corresponding to the target object; and a processing unit configured to form an ultrasound image based on ultrasound data and detect a contour of the target object in the ultrasound image in response to the user input information, the processing unit being further configured to extract at least one of measuring items corresponding to the user input information and the contour from the storage unit to form a measuring item candidate group. | 11-29-2012 |
20120302886 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including: an ultrasound probe to acquire a received signal via transmitting and receiving an ultrasound to and from a subject; an image generating section to generate an ultrasound image data based on the received signal acquired via said ultrasound probe; an output image generating section to generate output image data in such a manner that the output image data becomes a predetermined output size, by performing an image size changing process with respect to the ultrasound image data; a comparison image generating section to generate comparison image data by changing an image size of the output image data so that the comparison image data has an image size same as an image based on the ultrasound image data; and an image correction section to perform correction of the output image data, based on a difference between the comparison image data and the ultrasound image data | 11-29-2012 |
20120310091 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - The transmitting section of an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus outputs a square pulse signal to allow a transducer to generate transmission ultrasound. The transmitting section sets the duty ratio of a pulse signal so that one of peaks of the first step response of the transducer which is generated when a change is made to voltage of the pulse signal overlaps with one of peaks of the second step response of the transducer which is generated when another change is made to the voltage of the pulse signal. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310092 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING MEDICAL IMAGE THEREOF - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is provided. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an input device configured to receive an input to display a cross-section of a reference medical image, wherein the reference medical image identifies a location of the cross-section in relation to a subject, and includes a characteristic region, and a reference medical image display control device configured to display the cross-section of the reference medical image based on volume data of the reference medical image previously acquired, the cross-section displayed according to the input. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310093 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE PRODUCING METHOD AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - Provided are an ultrasound image producing method and an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus that can quickly decide the presence or the absence of influence of refraction, can shorten the time taken for measurement or calculation, can perform measurement or calculation with a small error, and can calculate accurate local sound velocity values. A lattice is set in a region-of-interest, environmental sound velocity values of two or more lattice points located at different positions in a scanning direction of ultrasonic waves are measured as preliminary sound velocity measurement, and main sound velocity measurement that calculates local sound velocity values in lattice points is performed when the difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the measured environmental sound velocity values is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310094 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus adapted for vascular wall elastic modulus measurement comprises an ultrasound probe, an actuation controller, an image producer, a region-of-interest setter, and a storage unit. The apparatus sets a region of interest, incorporates ultrasonic wave transmission/reception for obtaining an ultrasound image including the region of interest into ultrasonic wave transmission/reception for obtaining an ultrasound image of the region of interest at a predetermined timing, and stores the obtained two ultrasound images in association with each other, which makes the region of interest easier to find in an ultrasound image for diagnosis, and allows a satisfactory follow-up. | 12-06-2012 |
20120316442 | Hypothesis Validation of Far Wall Brightness in Arterial Ultrasound - Automated IMT system hypothesize that far wall of the common carotid artery has the highest intensity. In this current application, we verify that this hypothesis holds true for B-mode or RF-mode longitudinal ultrasound images of the carotid wall. The methodology consists of generating the composite image (arithmetic sum of images) from the database by first registering the carotid image frames with respect to a nearly straight carotid artery frame from the same database using (a) B-spline based non-rigid registration and (b) affine registration. Prior to registration, we segment the carotid artery lumen using a level set based algorithm followed by morphological image processing. The binary lumen images are registered and the transformations are applied to the original grayscale CCA images. These B-mode or RF-mode ultrasound images are then used for IMT computation using automated methods which hypothesize that far wall has the brightest intensity distribution. | 12-13-2012 |
20120323121 | VARIABLE POWER SAVING PROCESSING SCHEME FOR ULTRASOUND BEAMFORMER FUNCTIONALITY - In general, embodiments of the ultrasound imaging system save power in relation to a predetermined active aperture and or a predetermined update depth. With respect to a predetermined active aperture, the imaging system saves power by reducing or turning off a predetermined portion of the receive electronics when the predetermined receive electronics portion is not operating in relation to the active aperture range. That is, in a first power saving mode, the predetermined receive electronics portion operates only when it is collecting and or processing the data inside the active aperture range. Furthermore, with respect to a predetermined update depth, the imaging system saves power by reducing the operational frequency as the predetermined receive electronics portion collects or process the data from a deeper area. That is, in a second power saving mode, the predetermined receive electronics portion operates less frequently when it is collecting and or processing the data from the middle or far range than the near range. Lastly, the imaging system saves power by modifying the operation as the predetermined receive electronics portion collects or process the data depending upon the active aperture and or the update depth. That is, in a third power saving mode, the predetermined receive electronics portion operates at least less frequently when it is collecting and or processing the data from the outside the active aperture and or at a far update depth. In other words, the third power saving mode is a hybrid or combination of the first and second power saving modes. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323122 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasound image diagnostic device including: a transducer to output transmission ultrasound toward a subject by a drive signal and also to output a reception signal by receiving reflection ultrasound from the subject; a noise output section in which when the transducer receives the reflection ultrasound, a voltage containing noise is applied to the transducer to amplify the reception signal by a stochastic resonance phenomenon; a harmonic extracting section to extract a harmonic component from the reception signal; and an image processing section to generate ultrasound diagnostic image data of an interior of the subject based on the harmonic component extracted by the harmonic extracting section, wherein the noise output section applies a voltage containing noise such that the harmonic component is amplified by the stochastic resonance phenomenon to the transducer. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323123 | ULTRASONIC ANECHOIC IMAGING - This invention relates to a method of ultrasonically imaging a region of interest that may contain anechoic and/or hypoechoic echoes. | 12-20-2012 |
20120330157 | CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE, SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR - Aspects of the present invention are directed to apparatuses, arrangements, systems and methods for collecting information using one or more modalities. As consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes first and second scanning mirror arrangements having different scanning axes and respectively facing different directions. The first scanning mirror arrangement directs source light and image light in two paths, and the second scanning mirror arrangement directs image light from a target to the first scanning mirror arrangement. The first and second scanning mirror arrangements cooperatively scan source light from the first scanning mirror and via the second scanning mirror to target locations with at least two degrees of freedom, and direct image light from the target locations. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330158 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an operation unit that arbitrarily specifies a cross-section; a specified cross-section tomographic image constructing unit that cuts and constructs a tomographic image of the specified cross-section from tomographic volume data that is stored in the volume data storing unit; a specified cross-section elastic image constructing unit that cuts and constructs an elastic image of the specified cross-section from elastic volume data that is stored in the volume data storing unit; and a display unit that displays in parallel the tomographic image and the elastic image that are constructed by the specified cross-section tomographic image constructing unit and the specified cross-section elastic image constructing unit. | 12-27-2012 |
20130006112 | Apparatus and method for non-invasively locating blood vessels - An apparatus ( | 01-03-2013 |
20130006113 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT - An ultrasound diagnostic equipment is equipped with an ultrasound probe which transmits an ultrasound wave toward an inner part of a subject and receives the ultrasound wave reflected with a particle body in the subject and acquires a received signal to displays internal body information in the subject based on the received signal. The ultrasound diagnostic equipment includes: an acquisition section to acquire the received signal for each of ultrasound waves of which frequencies differ; an intensity ratio calculation section to calculate an intensity ratio of the ultrasound wave for each of frequencies; and a display section to display the information on the intensity ratio. | 01-03-2013 |
20130012819 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING ULTRASOUND ELEVATION COMPOUNDING - A method for generating a spatially compounded image includes acquiring ultrasound information from two or more scan planes, wherein the scan planes are mutually offset by a spatial distance, and wherein at least one of the scan planes is non-planar such that the spatial distance between the scan planes is a function of depth, and combining the information from the scan planes to generate a compounded image. A system and non-transitory computer readable medium are also described herein. | 01-10-2013 |
20130012820 | VOLUMETRIC ULTRASOUND IMAGE DATA REFORMATTED AS AN IMAGE PLANE SEQUENCE - An ultrasound probe acquires a | 01-10-2013 |
20130018264 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGINGAANM Gerard; OlivierAACI HortenAACO NOAAGP Gerard; Olivier Horten NOAANM Rabben; Stein IngeAACI HortenAACO NOAAGP Rabben; Stein Inge Horten NOAANM Ziegler; Andreas MichaelAACI HortenAACO NOAAGP Ziegler; Andreas Michael Horten NO - An ultrasound imaging system and method include displaying a first sequence of images generated from first ultrasound data, where the first ultrasound data includes volumetric ultrasound data. The system and method include selecting an acquisition target from the first sequence of images and automatically configuring an acquisition parameter based on the selected acquisition target. The system and method include implementing the acquisition parameter to acquire second ultrasound data of the acquisition target. The system and method include displaying a second sequence of images generated from the second ultrasound data, wherein the second sequence of images is of a higher frame rate than the first sequence of images. | 01-17-2013 |
20130018265 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING ULTRASOUND IMAGEAANM KIM; Yun-taeAACI Hwaseong-siAACO KRAAGP KIM; Yun-tae Hwaseong-si KRAANM Kim; Jung-hoAACI Yongin-siAACO KRAAGP Kim; Jung-ho Yongin-si KR - A method of processing an ultrasound image includes generating a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images from three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound volume data of an object to be diagnosed, generating a plurality of tissue edge images of an edge of at least one tissue component in the object to be diagnosed based on values of a plurality of pixels forming each of the 2D ultrasound images generated from the 3D ultrasound volume data, and generating a 2D ultrasound image from which a noise component has been removed by discriminating the edge of the at least one tissue component from a position of the noise component based on a difference between a similarity of the edge of the at least one tissue component in the tissue edge images and a similarity of the noise component in the tissue edge images. | 01-17-2013 |
20130018266 | LAMINATED PIEZOELECTRIC BODY, LAMINATED PIEZOELECTRIC BODY MANUFACTURING METHOD, AND ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE USING LAMINATED PIEZOELECTRIC BODYAANM Nishikubo; YuichiAACI TokyoAACO JPAAGP Nishikubo; Yuichi Tokyo JPAANM Ohnuma; KenjiAACI TokyoAACO JPAAGP Ohnuma; Kenji Tokyo JPAANM Morita; KiyokazuAACI TokyoAACO JPAAGP Morita; Kiyokazu Tokyo JPAANM Suzuki; KenjiAACI TokyoAACO JPAAGP Suzuki; Kenji Tokyo JPAANM Kodama; HidekazuAACI TokyoAACO JPAAGP Kodama; Hidekazu Tokyo JPAANM Date; MunehiroAACI TokyoAACO JPAAGP Date; Munehiro Tokyo JP - In a laminated piezoelectric body, a laminated piezoelectric body manufacturing method, an ultrasound transducer, and an ultrasound diagnostic device according to the present invention, a plurality of mutually laminated piezoelectric bodies are electrically connected in parallel to each other, and each of the plurality of piezoelectric bodies arranges an orientation of residual polarization or a crystal axis that is related to an electrical displacement or a sign of an electric field due to a direct piezoelectric effect in a direction which reduces sensitivity in a first resonance mode and increases sensitivity in a second resonance mode of a higher order than the first resonance mode with respect to an axis of a first-level piezoelectric body on a fixed end-side. | 01-17-2013 |
20130066208 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLED SCANNING, IMAGING, AND/OR THERAPY - A method and system for three dimensional scanning, imaging and/or therapy are provided. In accordance with one aspect, an exemplary method and system are configured to facilitate controlled scanning within one-degree of freedom. For example, an exemplary method and system can enable multiple two-dimensional image planes to be collected in a manner to provide an accurate and computationally efficient three-dimensional image reconstruction while providing the user with a user-friendly mechanism for acquiring three-dimensional images. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the positioning system comprises a guide assembly configured to provide pure rectilinear or rotational motion of the probe during scanning operation, and a position sensing system configured to detect the direction and position of the probe during scanning. | 03-14-2013 |
20130066209 | ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic probe includes a piezoelectric element including a support body, a lower electrode layer, first and second piezoelectric layers, and an upper electrode layer. The support body has an opening section and a displacement section covering the opening section on one side of the support body. The lower electrode layer is disposed on the one side of the support body and continuously extending from an inside to an outside of the opening section when viewed in a plan view along a thickness direction of the support body. The first piezoelectric layer is disposed on the lower electrode layer and positioned inside of the opening section when viewed in the plan view. The upper electrode layer is disposed on the first piezoelectric layer. The second piezoelectric layer is disposed on the lower electrode layer and positioned outside of the opening section when viewed in the plan view. | 03-14-2013 |
20130072795 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR USER INTERACTIONS DURING ULTRASOUND IMAGING - An ultrasound imaging apparatus configured with a touch screen display that includes an image area displaying at least a portion of an ultrasound image. The image area of the touch screen is configured to receive touch input. In response to the touch input, the ultrasound image can be adjusted, manipulated, edited, processed and/or measured. For example, certain properties of the ultrasound image can be quantified or determined, and used to intelligently identify a context-sensitive function to be invoked as a response to the touch input in the image area Thus, the control buttons in the control area can be simplified; and the user interface is more user friendly than a conventional user interface for ultrasound imaging. | 03-21-2013 |
20130072796 | ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic probe includes a substrate having an opening section, a support film disposed on the substrate, a piezoelectric body disposed on the support film at the opening section, first and second resin sections, and a communicating section. The first resin section is disposed at a position overlapping the opening section in the plan view and spaced apart from the support film with the liquid being arranged therebetween. The communicating section is connected to the first resin section. The second resin section is connected to the communicating section to house the liquid flowing in through a communication hole of the communicating section. At least portions of the first and second resin sections are configured to deform such that a first liquid filled volume formed between the first resin section and the support film and a second liquid filled volume formed by the second resin section are changed. | 03-21-2013 |
20130072797 | 3D ULTRASOUND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound apparatus and a method for operating the same are provided. A 3D ultrasound apparatus includes a first processor, a second processor and a controller. The first processor determines a start point from an image data obtained by scanning an object in a human body. The second processor extracts a top image of the object from the image data based on the start point. The controller controls a sagittal view of the object by rotating the image data, using the top image. | 03-21-2013 |
20130079637 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING ACOUSTIC INFORMATION PRESENTATION - An ultrasound imaging system includes receive circuitry configured to receive an ultrasound echo from structure in a medium being scanned with the ultrasound imaging system, an acoustic processor configured to process the ultrasound echo and generate an acoustic signal indicative of the ultrasound echo, an acoustic output device configured to acoustically present the acoustic signal, and an acoustic diffuser configured to receive and diffuse the presented acoustic signal. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079638 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE GENERATING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound transducer unit having inorganic piezoelectric elements arranged in layer form and organic piezoelectric elements arranged in layer form, the inorganic piezoelectric elements and the organic piezoelectric elements being stacked on each other with a first acoustic matching layer provided therebetween, a transmission circuit for transmitting ultrasound from the inorganic piezoelectric elements through the organic piezoelectric elements serving as a second acoustic matching layer, a reception circuit for using the organic piezoelectric elements as non-resonant reception devices to receive an ultrasonic echo and thereby obtain reception signals and processing the reception signals so as to generate sample data, and an image generating unit for generating an ultrasound image based on the sample data generated by the reception circuit. | 03-28-2013 |
20130085390 | ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER, ULTRASOUND PROBE, AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - Object is that an output sound pressure at transmission or an output voltage at reception of a predetermined higher resonance component becomes higher than those of the primary resonance component. The piezoelectric material layer | 04-04-2013 |
20130085391 | PROBE COVER, ULTRASONIC PROBE, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - A probe cover is provided. The probe cover is configured to be detachably attached to an ultrasonic probe and cover plural switches on a surface of the ultrasonic probe, the probe cover including a depression portion by which an operator can depress at least some of the plural switches when the probe cover is attached to the ultrasonic probe. | 04-04-2013 |
20130085392 | SETTING AN OPTIMAL IMAGE PARAMETER IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments of setting an optimal image parameter for obtaining an optimal ultrasound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, a processing unit is configured perform an image process upon an ultrasound image to thereby detect a center of a blood vessel from the ultrasound image. The processing unit is configured to set the center of the blood vessel as an optimal focal point position. The processing unit is configured to calculate a plurality of steering angles, a plurality of transmit (Tx) frequencies and a plurality of sound speeds. The processing unit is further configured to form a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to each of the steering angles, the Tx frequencies and the sound speeds based on the ultrasound data, detect a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a number of edge points of the blood vessel and a contrast difference between pixels for each of the second ultrasound images to thereby detect an optimal steering angle, an optimal Tx frequency and an optimal sound speed. | 04-04-2013 |
20130090559 | DIAGNOSTIC IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE SYSTEM, AND BEAMFORMING METHOD - A diagnostic image generating apparatus, a medical image system, and a beamforming method are provided. The diagnostic image generating apparatus includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit a modulated transmission signal to a subject, a reception beamforming unit configured to form a reception beam by beamforming echo signals reflected from the subject, a point spread function (PSF) estimating unit configured to estimate a PSF for each region according to the formed reception beam, a filtering unit configured to filter the formed reception beam according to the estimated PSF, and a diagnostic image generating unit configured to generate a diagnostic image according to the filtered reception beam. | 04-11-2013 |
20130090560 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION METHOD, DEVICE THEREFOR, AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - In order to acquire high resolution ultrasound images while maintaining an appropriate frame rate in ultrasound diagnostic devices, the disclosed method generates high resolution ultrasound images by performing image reconstruction on the basis of multiple ultrasound frame images captured along a time series and the magnitudes of positional shifts, or forms high resolution ultrasound images by performing image reconstruction on the basis of multiple ultrasound frame images acquired by controlling the ultrasound probe and varying scan orientation or scan focal length frame by frame. | 04-11-2013 |
20130090561 | ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic probe which has high propagation efficiency of ultrasound and can obtain a high resolution ultrasonic diagnostic image, the ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transducer including: a piezoelectric body which generates ultrasound; and a first matching layer which is disposed in a predetermined direction as seen from the piezoelectric body and is for performing acoustic matching between the piezoelectric body and a subject, wherein the first matching layer includes a plurality of matching regions which have a uniform thickness in the predetermined direction, are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and include at least two matching regions having frequency characteristics of ultrasound transmittance different from each other. | 04-11-2013 |
20130096434 | METHODS FOR ACQUISITION AND DISPLAY IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING - In general, the invention provides methods for use in the acquisition and display of ultrasound images. In particular, the invention provides methods for displaying ultrasound images using gating of ultrasound acquisition based on subject respiration and/or triggering ultrasound acquisition based on subject ECG. The methods may be employed with any suitable ultrasound system. | 04-18-2013 |
20130109969 | SAMPLING METHOD, APPARATUS, PROBE, RECEPTION BEAMFORMING APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM PERFORMING THE SAMPLING METHOD | 05-02-2013 |
20130109970 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD | 05-02-2013 |
20130116565 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DETERMINING A TIME INTENSITY CURVE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is provided. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an image data generation unit configured to generate image data corresponding to one frame of a subject, based on sound ray data acquired by transmitting ultrasound to the subject, a high intensity image determination unit configured to compare strength of sound ray data corresponding to the one frame with a predetermined value and determine whether the one frame is a high intensity image, a setting unit configured to set a region of interest onto an image based on the image data generated by the image data generation unit, and a time intensity curve arithmetic unit configured to eliminate sound ray data corresponding to the region of interest in the high intensity image and perform an arithmetic operation on a time intensity curve in which pixel values of the region of interest set by the setting unit are made consecutive. | 05-09-2013 |
20130123630 | Adaptive Image Optimization in Induced Wave Ultrasound Imaging - Adaptive image optimization is provided in induced wave ultrasound imaging. The values for various transmit and receive parameters may be set adaptively. Based on feedback from use with a given patient, the values are set to better optimize signal-to-noise ratio, off-time, tracking accuracy or other consideration. Transmit frequency, F-number, line spacing, tracking pulse repetition frequency, line sampling count, and/or push pulse amplitude values may adapt. | 05-16-2013 |
20130123631 | System and Method of Characterizing Vascular Tissue - A system and method is provided for using backscattered data and known parameters to characterize vascular tissue. IVUS data is transmitted to a computing device and used to create an IVUS image. The blood vessel is then cross-sectioned and used to identify its tissue type and to create a corresponding image (i.e., histology image). A region of interest (ROI) is then identified on the histology image. The computing device identifies a corresponding region on the IVUS image. After the corresponding region is identified, the IVUS data that corresponds to this region is identified. Signal processing is then performed and at least one parameter is identified. The identified parameter and the tissue type is stored in a database. In another embodiment of the present invention, the characterization application is adapted to use the parameters stored in the database to identify a tissue type or a characterization thereof. | 05-16-2013 |
20130123632 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus including an ultrasound probe which outputs transmission ultrasound waves toward a subject by a driving signal and which outputs received signals by receiving reflection ultrasound waves from the subject and a transmitting unit which generates the transmission ultrasound waves by the ultrasound probe by outputting the driving signal, and the transmitting unit generates the driving signal of square wave having a waveform in which a standard pulse signal where a pulse cycle is 2T is combined with two first pulse signals of same polarity having a pulse width A (A05-16-2013 | |
20130123633 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORMING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system capable of providing a plurality of M-mode images corresponding to M-mode lines without moving a probe. A volume data forming and reconstructing unit of the present invention forms volume data based on the ultrasound echo signals, the volume data forming and reconstructing unit being configured to determine a beat period of the moving object and reconstruct the volume data based on the beat period. A processor forms at least one reference image based on the reconstructed volume data and one or more M-mode images corresponding to one or more M-mode lines set on the reference image and a display unit displays the reference image, the M-mode lines and the M-mode images. | 05-16-2013 |
20130131513 | RECANALIZING OCCLUDED VESSELS USING RADIOFREQUENCY ENERGY - A method and systems for treating chronic total occlusions, particularly those that are difficult to treat, is disclosed. In this approach, recanalizing the CTO is achieved using a combined antegrade and retrograde approach. The proximal end of the occlusion is penetrated using an antegrade wire, using a traditional approach. Using collateral vessels, the distal end of the occlusion is crossed in a retrograde fashion. By appropriately maneuvering each member and applying radiofrequency energy between the proximal and distal ends of the occlusion, a continuous channel is created. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131514 | BEAMFORMING METHOD, BEAMFORMING APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM PERFORMING THE BEAMFORMING METHOD - A beamforming apparatus includes a storage for storing a plurality of basis vectors obtained from a beamforming coefficient of a previously-measured echo signal; a weight calculator for calculating a weight to be applied to an echo signal reflected from a target; and a synthesizer for applying the weight to the echo signal reflected from the target and synthesizing signals to which the weight is applied. | 05-23-2013 |
20130137982 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CORRECTING ULTRASOUND IMAGES BY USING INTEREST INDEX MAP - A method of correcting ultrasound images, the method including the operations of, by an ultrasound output unit, outputting an ultrasound signal to a target object; obtaining an mechanical index (MI) map indicating a correlation between depth values according to a travel direction of the ultrasound signal, and MI values by the ultrasound signal; and adjusting a gain value of an ultrasound echo signal corresponding to the ultrasound signal by using a reverse MI map that is obtained by reversing the MI map, so as to allow the MI values, which are displayed on the MI map, to be a virtually constant MI value with respect to the depth values. | 05-30-2013 |
20130137983 | DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A diagnosis apparatus and a method of operating the diagnosis apparatus. The diagnosis apparatus includes a probe for transmitting an ultrasonic wave signal to a subject and receiving a response signal; a data generating unit for generating image data of a plurality of frames, based on the response signal; a reliability determining unit for determining whether the image data is reliable by estimating a motion of the probe, based on the image data; a diagnosis unit for generating diagnosis data about the subject by using elastography, based on the image data; and a display device for displaying an image, based on the image data. | 05-30-2013 |
20130137984 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an image forming unit which forms an ultrasound image that corresponds to an echo signal received from a subject to which a contrast medium has been administered; a region of interest setting unit which sets, in a target region corresponding to target tissue on the ultrasound image formed by the image forming unit, a first region of interest and a second region of interest which are two regions different from each other; a feature value extraction unit which extracts, as a feature value, a difference in brightness between the first region of interest and the second region of interest set by the region of interest setting unit; and a type determination unit which determines, based on the feature value extracted by the feature value extraction unit, a type of the target tissue. | 05-30-2013 |
20130144167 | LESION DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND METHOD USING LESION PERIPHERAL ZONE INFORMATION - A lesion diagnosis apparatus is provided. The lesion diagnosis apparatus using lesion peripheral zone information includes a region division unit configured to divide a region based on lesions or organs included in a medical image, a region exclusion unit configured to exclude regions including lesions or organs other than a diagnostic target lesion among regions divided by the region division unit, and a peripheral region determination unit configured to determine regions other than a diagnostic region among remaining regions other than regions excluded by the region exclusion unit, as peripheral regions for lesion diagnosis. | 06-06-2013 |
20130144168 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes a memory unit and a converting unit. The memory unit stores therein conversion information, for each ultrasonic probe, converting a coordinate of an attachment position of a position sensor attached to an ultrasonic probe into a coordinate of a predefined position on a surface for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves on the ultrasonic probe. When the ultrasonic probe is replaced with another ultrasonic probe, the converting unit acquires conversion information corresponding to the replacing ultrasonic probe and uses the conversion information thus acquired to convert the coordinate of the attachment position of the position sensor attached to the replacing ultrasonic probe into the coordinate of the predefined position. | 06-06-2013 |
20130144169 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND SIGNAL PROCESSING UNIT CONFIGURED FOR TIME GAIN AND LATERAL GAIN COMPENSATION - The present invention provides an ultrasound system, which comprises: a signal acquiring unit to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and acquire an echo signal reflected from the object; a signal processing unit to control TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC (Lateral Gain Compensation) of the echo signal; a TGC/LGC setup unit adapted to set TGC and LGC values based on TGC and LGC curves inputted by a user; and an image producing unit adapted to produce an ultrasound image of the object based on the echo signal. The signal processing unit is further adapted to control the TGC and the LGC of the echo signal based on the TGC and LGC values set by the TGC/LGC setup unit. | 06-06-2013 |
20130150718 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGING AN ENDOMETRIUM - An ultrasound imaging system and method for ultrasound imaging. The ultrasound imaging system includes a probe, a display device and a processing unit in electronic communication with the probe and the display device. The processing unit is configured to identify and display an image of an endometrium. The method includes acquiring ultrasound data, selecting a range of depths, acquiring 3D ultrasound data from within the range of depths, calculating an average image, identifying an image that is the closest fit to the average image, and displaying the image. | 06-13-2013 |
20130150719 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ultrasound imaging system and method for ultrasound imaging. The method includes generating a volume-rendered image from three-dimensional ultrasound data. The volume-rendered image is colorized with at least two colors according to a depth-dependent color scheme. The method includes displaying the volume-rendered image. The method includes generating a planar image from the three-dimensional ultrasound data, where the planar image is colorized according to the same depth-dependent color scheme. The method includes displaying the planar image. | 06-13-2013 |
20130150720 | 3-DIMENSIONAL ELASTIC IMAGE GENERATION METHOD AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - In order to improve the continuity of the image qualities in the minor-axis direction of plural sets of elastic frame data that constitute elastic volume data and generate a high-quality 3-dimensional elastic image, regarding each elastic frame data constituting elastic volume data, a noise frame interpolation unit subjects plural sets of elastic frame data including said elastic frame data and adjacent in a swing direction to synthesis processing, generates the elastic volume data from the synthesized plural sets of elastic frame data, and volume renders the elastic volume data to generate a 3-dimensional elastic image. The noise frame interpolation unit stores plural sets of elastic volume data, subjects plural sets of elastic frame data at corresponding swing angle positions among the stored plural sets of elastic volume data to synthesis processing to generate synthetic elastic frame data and elastic volume data from the synthesized plural sets of elastic frame data. | 06-13-2013 |
20130158402 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ESTIMATING GESTATION AGE OF A FETUS - Methods, systems and computer program products for estimating the gestational age of a fetus are provided. According to one embodiment, the method generates a component image from a segmented ultrasound image of a fetal head. The component image includes one or more edges. The method then identifies a third ventricle within the component image. The method estimates a length of a bi-parietal diameter, based at least in part on the orientation of the third ventricle. Thereafter, the method estimates the gestational age of the fetus. | 06-20-2013 |
20130165785 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APERTURE SELECTION IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A method for controlling an ultrasound imaging system includes defining a sample volume gate on a two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound image, the sample volume gate defining a location at which flow is to be estimated, automatically calculating a SNR for an initial transmit and receive steering position (aperture location) and aperture size, automatically calculating a SNR for a different second transmit and receive steering position (aperture location) and aperture size, automatically comparing the SNR for the first set of apertures to the SNR for the second set of apertures, and automatically adjusting the steering angle and an aperture size of an ultrasound probe's transmit and receive events based on the comparison. | 06-27-2013 |
20130165786 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTICAL POWER AND DATA TRANSMISSION IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING - An ultrasound system includes an optical conduit adapted to transmit an optical signal between a first end of the optical conduit and a second end of the optical conduit. The ultrasound system also includes a console coupled to the first end of the optical conduit and having an optical power source adapted to generate the optical signal. Further, the ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe coupled to the second end of the optical conduit and having power conversion circuitry adapted to receive the optical signal and to convert the optical signal into electrical power. | 06-27-2013 |
20130165787 | CUFF AND METHOD OF OBSERVING A TISSUE UNDER PRESSURE BY USING THE SAME - A cuff includes: a belt-like body which is adapted to be wrapped around a desired region of a living body; a fixing portion which is provided in the body, and which is configured to fix the body in a state where the body is adapted to be wrapped around the region of the living body; a pressurizing portion which is provided in the body, and to which a fluid pressure is to be supplied to be inflated to pressurize the region of the living body; and an ultrasonic transmissive portion which is provided in the body, and through which an ultrasonic wave for observing a tissue in the region of the living body is transmissible. | 06-27-2013 |
20130165788 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a first calculation unit calculates a first feature amount concerning an edge direction in a specific region. A second calculation unit calculates a second feature amount concerning an edge intensity or a brightness value in the specific region. A storage unit stores filter characteristics. The each filter characteristic is associated with a first feature amounts range and a second feature amounts range which ultrasonic images suitable for the each filter characteristic may have. A selection unit selects a filter characteristic corresponding to both the calculated first feature amount and the calculated second feature amount. An image filter unit applies an image filter having the selected filter characteristic. | 06-27-2013 |
20130165789 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a data acquisition unit, an image generation unit, a calculation unit, a determination unit and a measurement unit. The data acquisition unit acquires a plurality of ultrasonic data. The image generation unit generates a plurality of ultrasonic images by using the plurality of ultrasonic data. The calculation unit calculates a feature amount for determining a shift between the two-dimensional section and a central axis of a target blood vessel. The determination unit determines an optimal image from the plurality of ultrasonic images based on the feature amount. The measurement unit measures an intima-media thickness of the target blood vessel by using the optimal image. | 06-27-2013 |
20130165790 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a method of controlling the same are provided herein. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a probe having a connector, provided with a shaft, and a probing part, the probing part being connected to the connector through a cable so as to irradiate ultrasound waves to an object to be examined and receive the ultrasound waves reflected from the object, a main body connected with the probe so as to create an image of the object, which corresponds to the ultrasound waves received to the probing part of the probe, a coupling assembly to detect contact between the main body and the connector and to fix the connector to the main body by automatically driving the shaft of the probe, and a controller to control driving of the coupling assembly when the contact between the main body and the connector is detected. | 06-27-2013 |
20130172746 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING BODY MARKER AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS THEREFOR - A method of providing a body marker, the method including when an ultrasound image of a target body is acquired by using a probe, acquiring an image of a testee including information regarding a location of the probe; generating a body marker indicating a location of the target body based on the image of the testee including the information regarding the location of the probe; and mapping the body marker to the ultrasound image of the target body and storing a mapped result. | 07-04-2013 |
20130172747 | ESTIMATING MOTION OF PARTICLE BASED ON VECTOR DOPPLER IN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - There are provided embodiments for estimating the motion of at least one particle by using vector Doppler. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: a processing unit configured to form vector information of a target object based on ultrasound data corresponding to the target object, form a plurality of Doppler mode images based on the vector information, set at least one particle on the Doppler mode images based on input information of a user, and estimate a motion of the at least one particle based on the vector information. | 07-04-2013 |
20130172748 | PROVIDING USER INTERFACE IN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - There are provided embodiments for providing a user interface for performing a filtering process upon a vector Doppler image. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: a processing unit configured to form vector information of a target object based on ultrasound data corresponding to the target object and form a user interface for performing the filtering process upon the vector Doppler image based on the vector information. | 07-04-2013 |
20130172749 | PROVIDING DOPPLER SPECTRUM IMAGES CORRESPONDING TO AT LEAST TWO SAMPLE VOLUMES IN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - There are provided embodiments for providing Doppler spectrum images corresponding to at least two sample volumes. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: a processing unit configured to form at least two Doppler spectrum images corresponding to at least two sample volumes based on ultrasound data corresponding to the at least two sample volume, the processing unit being further configured to perform an image process for connecting the at least two sample volumes to the at least two Doppler spectrum images. | 07-04-2013 |
20130172750 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE USING SAME - In order to obtain a high-resolution ultrasound diagnostic image while reducing the back side reflection of a ultrasound irradiated to the side opposite to the ultrasound transmission direction of an ultrasound transmission/reception device, disclosed is an ultrasound probe, wherein a substrate is provided thereon with a cavity, insulation layers having the cavity therebetween, and an upper layer electrode and a lower layer electrode having the cavity and the insulation layers therebetween, so as to form an ultrasound vibration element, the substrate is held by a backing with a low-modulus member therebetween, and a direct voltage and a alternating voltage are applied between the electrodes to vibrate the ultrasound vibration element, and wherein a mechanical impedance by the substrate and the low-modulus member has a substantially equal value as an acoustic impedance of the backing. | 07-04-2013 |
20130178740 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - A method of providing an ultrasound image includes: obtaining an ultrasound image of an object; detecting a plurality of layers having different sound speeds based on the ultrasound image; and displaying information about boundaries of the plurality of layers. | 07-11-2013 |
20130178741 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ULTRASOUND VOLUME IMAGE DATA PROCESSING - A method for ultrasound volume image data processing comprising acquiring ultrasound volume image data in a scan volume in which a line-like object is located, locating a position of the line-like object based on the ultrasound volume image data, defining a slab boundary box surrounding the line-like object based on the position of the line-like object, and rendering a region surrounded by the slab boundary box. | 07-11-2013 |
20130184585 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING MEDICAL IMAGE THEREOF - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is provided. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an input device configured to receive an input to display a cross-section of a reference medical image, wherein the reference medical image identifies a location of the cross-section in relation to a subject, and includes a characteristic region, and a reference medical image display control device configured to display the cross-section of the reference medical image based on volume data of the reference medical image previously acquired, the cross-section displayed according to the input. | 07-18-2013 |
20130184586 | ULTRASOUND AND SYSTEM FOR FORMING AN ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An ultrasound system and a method of forming an ultrasound image by selectively extracting ultrasound data necessary for forming the ultrasound image from stored ultrasound data are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system includes a storage unit configured to store ultrasound data acquired from an object; and a processor configured to selectively extract ultrasound data necessary for forming a target ultrasound image from the ultrasound data stored in the storage unit, and to form the target ultrasound image by using the extracted ultrasound data. | 07-18-2013 |
20130184587 | PROBE DEVICE, SERVER, SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSING ULTRASOUND IMAGE, AND METHOD OF PROCESSING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - A probe device, a server, a system for diagnosing an ultrasound image, and a method of processing an ultrasound image. The system includes: a probe device for transmitting an echo signal received from a transducer to a server; a server for executing an ultrasound image diagnostic application. Ultrasound image data is generated by using the echo signal received from the probe device; and an electronic device including a display unit for receiving and displaying the ultrasound image data generated by the ultrasound image diagnostic application of the server. | 07-18-2013 |
20130190624 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING AN ULTRASOUND IMAGE - A method for displaying an ultrasound image on a display device is provided. Image signals are generated with an ultrasound probe during examination of an item under examination with ultrasound and are transferred to a data processing device. The image signals are displayed by the data processing device as an ultrasound image on a display device. In order to make it easier for an operator to observe the ultrasound image, by means of an orientation detection device, a change in orientation of the display device in space is detected and an associated change in orientation signal is provided to the data processing device and the orientation of the ultrasound image on the display device is changed by the data processing device as a function of the change in orientation of the display device in space. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided. | 07-25-2013 |
20130204135 | FILTERING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUPRESSION OF NON-STATIONARY REVERBERATION IN ULTRASOUND IMAGES - The present technology is generally directed to filtering systems and methods for suppression of reverberation artifacts in ultrasound images. In some embodiments, a method of obtaining a filtered ultrasound image includes taking a first ultrasound image of a target tissue using an applicator. At least a portion of the applicator is moved such that the reverberation artifact ultrasound path length changes relative to the first position of the applicator. A second ultrasound image of the target tissue is then taken. The first and second ultrasound images are synthesized using at least one filtering method. The filtering method attenuates or removes reverberation artifacts in the synthesized ultrasound image. | 08-08-2013 |
20130225999 | GESTURE COMMANDS USER INTERFACE FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMS - The embodiments of the ultrasound imaging diagnostic apparatus include at least one non-touch input device for receiving a predetermined gesture as an input command. An optional sequence of predetermined gestures is inputted as an operational command and or data to the embodiments of the ultrasound imaging diagnostic apparatus. A gesture is optionally combined with other conventional input modes through devices such as a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a button, a panel switch, a touch command screen, a foot switch, a trackball, and the like. | 08-29-2013 |
20130226000 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - Provided is an ultrasonic image generating apparatus that may generate an ultrasonic image by using an ultrasonic transducer which has a wideband frequency transfer characteristic or an ultra-wideband frequency transfer characteristic, such as a micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT). A pulse generator of the ultrasonic image generating apparatus may generate a first ultrasonic pulse having a first center frequency and a first bandwidth and a second ultrasonic pulse having a second center frequency and a second bandwidth. The ultrasonic transducer may simultaneously transmit the first ultrasonic pulse and the second ultrasonic pulse. | 08-29-2013 |
20130231563 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - An apparatus and method for generating an ultrasonic image are provided. The apparatus includes a transceiver configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal to an object, and receive an echo signal. The apparatus further includes a beam former configured to perform beamforming on the received echo signal to generate image data. The apparatus further includes a point spread function (PSF) estimator configured to update a PSF of the ultrasonic signal at each multiscale level to update the image data. | 09-05-2013 |
20130237825 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment transmits an ultrasonic wave into a predetermined region including a diagnosis target of an object, receives a reflected wave from the predetermined region, and acquires ultrasonic image data based on the reflected wave and comprises a correction unit which executes tone correction of the ultrasonic image data, and in the tone correction, the correction unit calculates a histogram associated with brightness of the image data and calculates a brightness distribution range corresponding to the diagnosis target and a tone correction function using the histogram. | 09-12-2013 |
20130245446 | Plaque Characterization Using Multiple Intravascular Ultrasound Datasets Having Distinct Filter Bands - A system and method are disclosed that facilitate generating visual representations of characterized tissue based upon ultrasound echo information obtained from a portion of an imaged body. The system includes a first filter having a first filter band that is applied to a near range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render near range filtered echo information. A second filter, having a second filter band that covers a frequency range of the first filter band, is applied to a far range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render far range filtered echo information. The system furthermore includes a set of characterization criteria that are applied to the near and far range filtered echo information. The characterized near and far range image data are thereafter combined into a single tissue-characterization image. | 09-19-2013 |
20130245447 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An imaging part acquires a plurality of ultrasound image data by sequentially imaging the subject with ultrasound waves. A display controller causes a display to display, side by side, a plurality of ultrasound images based on the plurality of ultrasound image data acquired by the imaging part. | 09-19-2013 |
20130253321 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe, a storage controller, and an output controller. The ultrasonic probe is configured to perform three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning under transmission/reception control. The storage controller is configured to control data generated by the three-dimensional scanning performed by the ultrasonic probe so as to be stored in a predetermined memory as a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional data generated by two-dimensionally scanning a plurality of predetermined cross-sections each of whose positions is continuously changed along a predetermined direction in a region of the three-dimensional scanning. The output controller is configured to control a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image data based on the pieces of two-dimensional data stored in the predetermined memory so as to be output as moving image data to a predetermined output unit. | 09-26-2013 |
20130253322 | BREAST MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - A breast measurement apparatus comprises a receptacle for surrounding a breast; a plurality of optical fibers for irradiating the breast with examination light and detecting transmitted scattered light from the breast; an inner image generation unit for generating an optical CT image concerning the breast according to a detection signal of the transmitted scattered light; an ultrasonic probe, arranged so as to face the inside of the receptacle, for scanning the breast with an ultrasonic wave and receiving a reflected wave from the breast; an image generation unit for generating an ultrasonic image concerning the breast according to the reflected wave; and a mechanism for injecting and discharging a liquid interface agent into and from the inside of the receptacle. | 09-26-2013 |
20130253323 | USER INTERFACE IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments of a user interface in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the ultrasound system comprises a display unit for prompting a user to touch a desired one of hierarchically arranged soft buttons for triggering an execution of the function of the ultrasound system associated with the touched button. The display unit includes a display having a display with touch panel mounted. The display unit is configured to display a touch screen menu together with the ultrasound image on the display. | 09-26-2013 |
20130261459 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OBTAINING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - A method of obtaining an ultrasound image, the method including: obtaining a bio cycle of an examinee comprising at least one section; setting an ultrasound mode corresponding to each of the at least one section of the bio cycle or a beam forming method; transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object of the examinee according to the set ultrasound mode or beam forming method, receiving an echo signal from the object, and obtaining ultrasound data; and generating an ultrasound image of the object by using the obtained ultrasound data. | 10-03-2013 |
20130261460 | ULTRASONIC PROCESSING APPARATUS AND PROBE SUPPORTING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic processing apparatus includes a probe, a supporting unit that is provided at an angle perpendicular to a beam direction of the probe, a rotation mechanism that is provided between the probe and the supporting unit, and a guide that supports the rotating operation of the probe by the rotation mechanism. | 10-03-2013 |
20130261461 | ULTRASONIC TREATMENT APPARATUS - Arrhythmia is treated with a simple treatment. Provided is an ultrasonic treatment apparatus including a long, thin probe to be inserted into a body, the probe having a contact surface that is brought into contact with tissue in the body and an ultrasonic generating device that radiates ultrasonic waves into the tissue through the contact surface; and a signal detecting portion that is provided at the contact surface of the probe and detects an electrical signal from the tissue. The ultrasonic generating device generates ultrasonic waves focused at a position on the other side of the contact surface from the ultrasonic generating device, the position being away from the contact surface in a direction intersecting the contact surface. | 10-03-2013 |
20130261462 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS DEVICE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM - An ultrasonic diagnosis device includes a diagnostic image generation unit ( | 10-03-2013 |
20130267849 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE GENERATING DEVICE, ULTRASOUND IMAGE GENERATING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - This ultrasound image generating device comprises an ultrasound probe which transmits ultrasound into a subject, receives reflected sound, and outputs an ultrasound detection signal, said ultrasound image generating device generating a topographical image which represents a shape. The ultrasound image generating device further comprises: a sound speed value computation unit which computes a sound speed value in a region of interest in the topographical image; and a degree of reliability information generation unit which generates degree of reliability information of the sound speed value on the basis of the sound speed value corresponding to the region of interest. | 10-10-2013 |
20130267850 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ULTRASONIC EXAMINATION OF THE BREAST - The invention provides a system and method for limited view ultrasound imaging of a 2D section or a 3D volume of a body part. Ultrasound sensors configured are spatially or temporally arrayed in a limited view circular arc or over at least part of a concave surface such as a hemisphere. A processor calculates from detected ultrasound radiation a beam forming (BF) functional and calculates from the free amplitudes a point spread function (PSF). A filter g(k) is calculated from the Fourier transform H | 10-10-2013 |
20130274604 | COLOR FLOW IMAGING METHOD, AND ULTRASONIC DEVICE THEREFOR - A color flow imaging method and an ultrasonic imaging system are provided. The ultrasonic imaging system includes: a transceiver unit configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave signal for acquisition of a C-mode image to a subject and receive an ultrasonic wave echo signal reflected from the subject; a storage unit configured to store the received echo signal; a control unit configured to output an interpolated signal by interpolating ensembles of at least one scan line for acquisition of the C-mode image identified based on the received echo signal; and an image processor configured to form the C-mode image based on the interpolated signal and to output the C-mode image on a display unit. | 10-17-2013 |
20130281856 | Tongue Imaging in Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound - Tongue imaging is provided in medical diagnostic ultrasound. Ultrasound data is processed to enhance the information from the tongue. The enhancement increases signal from the tongue, decreases other signals, or both. The resulting image may more clearly present the tongue or tongue surface for feedback to a patient or review by a speech therapist. | 10-24-2013 |
20130281857 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER, ULTRASONIC PROBE, AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus include a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged in at least one column; individual electrodes provided on at least one surface of top and bottom surfaces of each of the piezoelectric elements; side electrodes extending toward one side surfaces of the piezoelectric elements from the individual electrodes; and a side electrode substrate including wiring lines that are bonded to the one side surfaces of the piezoelectric elements and are electrically connected to the side electrodes, respectively. | 10-24-2013 |
20130281858 | METHOD FOR INCREASING DEPTH OF FIELD AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM USING THE SAME - An ultrasound imaging system and methods thereof are provided. A method includes transmitting a plurality of energy signals coded by a first asymmetric phase element toward an object to be imaged, receiving a plurality of echo signals from the object to be imaged, respectively coding the received signals with a second asymmetric phase element, and reconstructing an image data set with an extended depth of field by decoding the received signals. The ultrasound imaging system includes a transmitter transmitting energy signals coded by a first asymmetric phase element toward an object to be imaged, and a receiver receiving echo signals from the object to be imaged, respectively coding the received signals with a second asymmetric phase element, and reconstructing an image data set with an extended depth of field by decoding the received signals. | 10-24-2013 |
20130289406 | Ultrasonographic Systems For Examining And Treating Spinal Conditions - The present disclosure is directed to an ultrasonographic imaging system for examining and treating spinal conditions. In some examples, the system includes an ultrasound transducer probe configured to captured an ultrasound image, an ultrasound processor configured to receive data from the ultrasound transducer probe, a video capture card configured to receive the digital image from the ultrasound processor, an image processing system configured to process the digital image, the image processing system further including an image restoration module, an algorithm module, and a visualization module, a plurality of optical targets and a display device. | 10-31-2013 |
20130289407 | 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR EXTENDING VIEW OF IMAGE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE 3D ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - A method of operating a 3D ultrasound system, the method including generating a first volume image and a second volume image of an object by using ultrasound signals; determining a first anatomical plane and at least one second anatomical plane that is different from the first anatomical plane from each of the first volume image and the second volume image; matching polygonal templates to the at least one second anatomical plane of each of the first volume image and the second volume image; and overlapping axis of the first anatomical planes of the first volume image and the second volume image and overlapping the first volume image and the second volume image based on energy of a polygonal template matched to the at least one second anatomical plane of the first volume image and energy of a polygonal template matched to the at least one second anatomical plane of the second volume image. | 10-31-2013 |
20130289408 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE, ULTRASOUND IMAGE CAPTURE METHOD, ULTRASOUND IMAGE CAPTURE PROGRAM - Provided is a technology which quantitatively measures blood flow in the vicinity of circulatory organs. An ultrasound image capture device according to the present invention removes an image portion corresponding to an organ shape by taking the difference of a multi-frame ultrasound image, and thereafter computes a measured value of a blood flow velocity vector on the basis of a plurality of images at different timings (as per FIG. | 10-31-2013 |
20130296704 | Apparatus and Methods for Low-Cost Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging and for Crossing Severe Vascular Occlusions - An intravascular ultrasound catheter system is provided and enables a simplified, economical technique for ultrasound visualization of a blood vessel. The catheter may include a park ablation system for crossing chronic total occlusions and severe stenoses. The catheter is advanceable and is oriented entirely under manual control of the clinician and the application of radiofrequency energy for spark erosion of the stenosis also is controlled manually by the clinician. The system enables the clinician to observe an ultrasound image sufficiently to determine where to orient the ablation electrode so as to reduce the risk of dissection or perforation of the blood vessel. The ultrasound image is generated in response to manual rotation of the catheter and the ablation spark is generated only when the physician is satisfied as to the orientation of the electrode within the vessel. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296705 | Method and System for Imaging, Diagnosing, and/or Treating an Area of Interest in a Patient's Body - A method and system for imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating an area of interest in a patient's body is provided. More particularly, a manually steered “rapid exchange” type catheter for a system for imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating an area of interest in a patient's body is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body configured to be introduced to an area of interest in a patient's body, a device for imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating the area of interest contained within the catheter body, and a manual steering device attached to the imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating device to allow an operator to manually steer the imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating device, wherein the catheter is configured to be mounted on a commercially available guidewire. | 11-07-2013 |
20130303909 | LASER-INDUCED ULTRASONIC WAVE APPARATUS AND METHOD - Laser-induced ultrasonic wave apparatuses and methods of generating images using the same. The laser-induced ultrasonic wave apparatus includes a laser source which irradiates a laser beam to a target object and a thermoelastic material; a thermoelastic material which converts the laser beam to a first ultrasonic wave and irradiates the first ultrasonic wave to the target object; and a receiving unit which receives an echo acoustic wave of the first ultrasonic wave and receives a second ultrasonic wave generated by the target object due to the laser beam. | 11-14-2013 |
20130303910 | Device, System and Method for Flow Imaging in the Body Using a Swept Transducer - An ultrasound imaging system is disclosed. The system comprises an ultrasound emitter and receiver movably disposed within an elongate member, an actuator coupled to the emitter, and a control system. The actuator moves the emitter through a path comprising at least a portion of an arc. The control system controls the emission of a sequence of pulses from the emitter and receives from the receiver ultrasound echo data associated with the sequence of pulses emitted along the path. The control system processes the ultrasound echo data to generate a cross-sectional image of an internal structure based on echo amplitude data and echo velocity data. | 11-14-2013 |
20130303911 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND SIGNAL PROCESSING UNIT CONFIGURED FOR TIME GAIN AND LATERAL GAIN COMPENSATION - The present invention provides an ultrasound system, which comprises: a signal acquiring unit to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and acquire an echo signal reflected from the object; a signal processing unit to control TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC (Lateral Gain Compensation) of the echo signal; a TGC/LGC setup unit adapted to set TGC and LGC values based on TGC and LGC curves inputted by a user; and an image producing unit adapted to produce an ultrasound image of the object based on the echo signal. The signal processing unit is further adapted to control the TGC and the LGC of the echo signal based on the TGC and LGC values set by the TGC/LGC setup unit. | 11-14-2013 |
20130310690 | BREAST ULTRASOUND SCANNING AND DIAGNOSIS AID SYSTEM - Provided herein is a breast ultrasound scanning and diagnosis aid system. The scanning aid system is capable of aiding positioning and tracking the scanned breast ultrasound images and suspicious tumor ultrasound images so that the doctor can be easily informed of the scanned positions of the breast ultrasound images and the suspicious tumor ultrasound images. The diagnosis aid system selects at least one representative, breast ultrasound images with tumor characteristics, segments a suspicious tumor region, and acquires a plurality of characteristic parameters in association with tumor tissues from the suspicious tumor region so as to provide a diagnostic suggestion. With the use of the present invention, the positions of suspicious tumors can be acquired from the positioning data of the breast ultrasound images, and tumor diagnosis accuracy can be improved by selecting an ultrasound image with tumor characteristics. | 11-21-2013 |
20130324850 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERFACING WITH AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Systems and methods for enabling a user to interact with a medical imaging system using a touch screen display are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a touch screen display associated with the medical imaging system may receive input from a user based on a position of a contact point of the user with the touch screen display. The contact point may be located within a primary imaging area displaying images captured by the medical imaging system on the touch screen display. Based on the received input, a cursor may be displayed on the touch screen display within the primary imaging area in a particular position relative from the position of the contact point that is different than the position of the contact point. | 12-05-2013 |
20130331698 | SUPERRESOLUTION IMAGING OF SCATTERERS IN PULSE-ECHO IMAGING - In ultrasound B-scan imaging or other pulse-echo imaging, an inverse filter solution eliminates both the speckle phenomenon and the poor resolution dependency on the pulse length and width to produce SURUS (super-resolution ultrasound) images. The pulse shapes have stable inverses, derived by use of the standard Z-transform and related properties. | 12-12-2013 |
20130331699 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS - Even when electroacoustic conversion elements with high nonlinearity are employed, a nonlinear imaging is carried out with extracting more nonlinear components. An ultrasonic wave beam is transmitted twice from the transmitter to an identical position on the imaging target, and the signal processor performs computation on the reception signals obtained in every transmission performed twice, thereby extracting a nonlinear component included in the reception signals. In one transmission out of the transmission performed twice, the transmitter delivers the transmission signal to all of multiple electroacoustic conversion elements for driving the electroacoustic conversion elements, and in the other transmission, the transmission signal is delivered selectively only to a part of the multiple electroacoustic conversion elements for driving the electroacoustic conversion elements. | 12-12-2013 |
20130331700 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND MEASUREMENT METHOD USING SAME - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present disclosure is configured so that a probe including transducers is connectible thereto and performs predetermined measuring processing on a subject's region of interest. The apparatus includes a controller, which performs transmission processing, in which an ultrasonic wave is transmitted toward the subject including the region of interest by driving the probe, and received signal processing, in which frames are generated based on the probe's received signals representing the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject including the region of interest, a number of times at mutually different times, thereby generating multiple frames, which selects at least two frames under measurement to be subjected to measurement from the multiple frames, which extracts measurable ranges, where the measuring processing can be carried out, based on respective received signals obtained from the region of interest represented in the at least two frames under measurement, and which combines those measurable ranges together to perform predetermined measuring processing on the region of interest. | 12-12-2013 |
20130338502 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER ELEMENT PACKAGE, ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER ELEMENT CHIP, PROBE, PROBE HEAD, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER ELEMENT PACKAGE - An ultrasonic transducer element package includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a support body, and first and second ultrasonic transducers. The first substrate has first and second openings that are aligned in a first direction. The second substrate has a third and fourth openings that are aligned in the first direction. The support body supports the first and second substrates. The first and second substrates are aligned in a second direction that intersects with the first direction, with a space therebetween. The first and Second ultrasonic transducer elements are configured at the first and second openings respectively. | 12-19-2013 |
20130338503 | Apparatus and Methods for Detection of a Removable Cap on an Ultrasound Probe - An ultrasound imaging device including the ability to determine when a component, such as a removable probe cap, is attached to a portion of an ultrasound probe. Such a cap is employed in one embodiment to act as a spacer component to provide a standoff for the probe head. Detection of probe cap attachment to the ultrasound probe enables the resultant ultrasound image to be adjusted automatically by the ultrasound imaging system. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system comprises an ultrasound probe, a cap or other component that is attachable to the probe, and a component attachment detection system for detecting attachment of the component to the probe. Once the cap is detected, an aspect of an ultrasound image produced by the imaging system is modified, such as cropping the image to remove undesired portions of the cap, such as the spacer component. | 12-19-2013 |
20130338504 | NON-CONTACT OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR DETECTING ULTRASOUND WAVES FROM A SURFACE - A system for detecting pressure, acoustic or ultrasound waves within an entity having a surface including the steps of attaching a signal converting material to the surface. The waves are generated by direct ejection from the surface, generation via energy deposition on the surface, generated spontaneously or, generated by directing light energy to the light absorbing target. The absorbing target subsequently generates acoustic pressure waves. The acoustic waves propagate to the surface of the entity and the signal converting material, wherein the acoustic pressure waves create vibrations in the signal converting material; and detecting the waves in the signal converting material with an optical detection system. Information about the absorbing target is obtained by the absorbing target reflecting the waves. The signal converting material can be a gel-like material containing optical elements, a multi-layer patch, or other material. | 12-19-2013 |
20140018681 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING BREAST TUMOR DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ultrasound imaging breast tumor detection and diagnostic system and method is disclosed. The method uses the system to acquire a plurality of 3D breast ultrasound images, and then to cut out multiple regions from the 3D breast ultrasound images using a 3D means shift algorithm, and then to acquire the mean grayscale value (MGV) of each region, and then to classify the regions to groups subject to the mean grayscale value (MGV), and to merge each of the regions of the darkest group with adjacent regions of the similar grayscale into a respective suspicious tumor tissue full region, and then to recognize each suspicious tumor tissue full region to be a tumor tissue region or non-tumor tissue region. Thus, using region as the basic computing unit, tumor tissues are quickly recognized from the 3D breast ultrasound images. | 01-16-2014 |
20140018682 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC IMAGE RENDERING METHOD - The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is equipped with: a gradient calculating section that calculates gradients of the volume data voxel values; a feature calculating section that calculates the feature values of the voxels on the basis of the gradients and the direction of the ultrasonic beam and calculates a feature space on the basis of the feature values; an object-voxel determining section that determines the voxels that correspond to the object on the basis of the feature space; a voxel removing section that removes voxels that are closer to the probe than the object; and an ultrasonic image generating unit that generates ultrasonic images that correspond to the object from the volume data from which the voxels closer to the probe have been removed. | 01-16-2014 |
20140024939 | PORTABLE ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - A portable ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives an ultrasound wave to and from a subject; a processing unit being connected to the ultrasound probe and including a generating unit that generates image data of the subject on the basis of an ultrasound signal received by the ultrasound probe; a display controlling unit that exercises control so as to cause the image data to be displayed by an information terminal being connected to the processing unit and having a display unit; and an identifying unit that performs an identifying process on the basis of identification information of the information terminal. The display controlling unit exercises control so that the information terminal displays a diagnosis image area while varying the size thereof relative to the size of the display unit, in accordance with a result of the identifying process by the identifying unit. | 01-23-2014 |
20140024940 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND SENSOR SELECTION APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a probe switching unit and a sensor selection unit. The switching unit switches an ultrasonic probe to be used for ultrasonic transmission/reception among a plurality of ultrasonic probes to which sensors configured to detect positions and directions in a predetermined space are respectively attached. The selection unit selects, when the switching unit performs switching between probes, a sensor attached to an ultrasonic probe to be used for ultrasonic transmission/reception from the respective sensors upon the switching based on a change in at least one of a position and a direction specified from a detection result from each of the sensors. | 01-23-2014 |
20140031688 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring motion data for a region-of-interest (ROI). The system and method includes calculating a quality parameter based on the motion data, wherein the quality parameter represents an amount of unwanted motion in the ROI. The system and method includes performing an action based on the quality parameter. | 01-30-2014 |
20140031689 | IMAGE PROCESSING MODULE, ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS USING THE IMAGE PROCESSING MODULE, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE GENERATION METHOD USING THE ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An image processing module includes a beamforming unit configured to provide a beamformed signal based on an input signal; a point spread function (PSF) database comprising at least one two-dimensional point spread function obtained based on at least one situational variable of the beamformed signal; and an image generation unit configured to select at least one two-dimensional point spread function from the point spread function database and perform deconvolution using the beamformed signal and the selected at least one two-dimensional point spread function to generate an image of a target portion of an object. | 01-30-2014 |
20140031690 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING BLOOD VESSEL - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus which detects a target blood vessel of a subject based on reflected ultrasound waves obtained, using an ultrasound probe, from the subject, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including: a B-mode image generation unit which generates a tomographic image of the subject, based on the reflected ultrasound waves; a blood flow image generation unit which generates blood flow information indicating a blood flow region of the subject in the tomographic image, based on the reflected ultrasound waves; and a blood flow region determination unit which determines whether or not the blood flow region corresponds to the target blood vessel, by analyzing the blood flow information generated by the blood flow image generation unit. | 01-30-2014 |
20140031691 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - A diagnostic coordinate system has first through third axes based on a major axis and a minor axis of a follicle, the origin being the position of the center of gravity of the follicle. The diagnostic coordinate system is translated with respect to an XYZ display coordinate system, rotating the diagnostic coordinate system until the first axis corresponding to the major axis of the follicle overlaps the X-axis where the angle with the first axis is smallest, and rotating until the second axis corresponding to the minor axis of the follicle overlaps the Z-axis where the angle with the second axis is smallest. A tomographic image of the follicle is formed by an image in a plane that includes the Z and X axes, an image in a plane that includes the Y and Z axes, and an image in a plane that includes the X and Y axes. | 01-30-2014 |
20140039317 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound waves; and a controlling unit that causes the ultrasound probe to perform a first ultrasound scan to obtain information related to motion of a moving object within a first scanned region and that, as a second ultrasound scan to obtain information about a tissue form within a second scanned region, causes the ultrasound probe to perform an ultrasound scan in each of sectioned regions into which the second scanned region is divided, in a time-division manner between the first ultrasound scans. As the first ultrasound scan, the controlling unit causes the ultrasound scan to be performed according to a method for obtaining the information related to the motion of the moving object by which a high pass filtering process is performed along a frame direction on reception signals obtained from scanning lines structuring the first scanned region. | 02-06-2014 |
20140039318 | Automated detection of suspected abnormalities in ultrasound breast images - A method and system for processing and displaying breast ultrasound information is described. A 2D feature weighted volumetric coronal image as a “guide” or “road map” is generated from the 3D ultrasound data volume to represent the 3D dataset with the goal of emphasizing abnormalities within the breast while excluding non-breast structures, particularly those external to the breast such as ribs and chest wall. | 02-06-2014 |
20140046185 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR USER INTERACTIONS DURING ULTRASOUND IMAGING - An ultrasound imaging apparatus configured with a touch screen display and computer aided measurement and/or diagnosis capability. In response to a touch input, image parameters for the computer aided measurement and/or diagnosis are determined from an analysis of the ultrasound image. A touch screen user interface allows the user to further adjust the parameters and/or other system parameters for the computer aided measurement and/or diagnosis in an interactive way. The computer aided measurement can be used directly for the computer aided diagnosis for improved accuracy and user experience. | 02-13-2014 |
20140046186 | BONE SURFACE IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION USING ULTRASOUND - An ultrasonic transducer element can configured to generate ultrasonic energy directed into tissue of a subject and configured to receive a portion of the ultrasonic energy reflected by a target located within the tissue. The ultrasonic transducer can include a surface configured to provide or receive the ultrasonic energy, the surface including an area of greater than or equal to about 4λ | 02-13-2014 |
20140058262 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING METHOD - An object information acquiring apparatus is provided that includes: a plurality of receiving elements which receive an acoustic wave that propagates from an object, and which convert the acoustic wave to a reception signal; an adaptive beamformer that performs adaptive beamforming of adjusting reception directionality in accordance with the reception signal in use of the reception signal; a delay-and-sum beamformer that performs delay-and-sum beamforming having preset directionality in use of the reception signal; an amplitude modulator that uses one output signal of one of the adaptive beamformer and the delay-and-sum beamformer, to perform amplitude modulation on an output signal of the other one of the beamformers; and a generator that, on the basis of a signal outputted by the amplitude modulator, generates image data on the interior of the object. | 02-27-2014 |
20140066768 | Frequency Distribution in Harmonic Ultrasound Imaging - Frequency variation is used in frequency compounding. A phase inversion harmonic image is compounded with a downshift harmonic image. The depths for downshifting fractional harmonics are determined based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the harmonic information at a given harmonic. The depth for transition between one type of harmonic imaging (e.g., phase inversion) and another (e.g., downshifted harmonic) is determined based on a similarity of the one type with noise. Weights used for frequency compounding are determined based on a difference between noise and one of the types of data to be compounded, and spatially steering angles. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066769 | BREAST ULTRASOUND SCANNING DEVICE - An apparatus and a method are disclosed for obtaining ultrasound images of a patient's breast that is chestwardly compressed with a template that is essentially planar and rotates relative to the breast while one or more ultrasound transducers moving with the template take 2D images of the breast through one or more respective radially oriented slots in the template, preferably through a membrane that is porous to a gel. The 2D images are processed into slice images representing breast slices of desired thicknesses and orientation that are displayed alone or with some of the 2D images, preferably pairs of orthogonally disposed 2D images. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066770 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND IMAGE ACQUISITION METHOD USING ULTRASONIC WAVES - This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a probe position information obtaining section which obtains information about the position of a probe that has gotten a received signal from each point; a feature extracting and computing section which generates, based on the received signal with which the positional information has been associated, information to compose a three-dimensional image including a object of measurement; a feature data comparing section which stores information to compose a three-dimensional image that was gotten in the past and information about the position of the object of measurement, of which the characteristic was measured in the past, compares the information to compose the three-dimensional image that was gotten in the past to information to compose a three-dimensional image being gotten currently, and gets the positional information of the object of measurement, of which the characteristic was measured in the past, incorporated into the information to compose the three-dimensional image being gotten currently; and an image display processing section which performs processing to display a three-dimensional image based on the information to compose the three-dimensional image being gotten currently, the positional information of the object of measurement, of which the characteristic was measured in the past and which has been incorporated by the feature data comparing section, and information about the current position of the probe. | 03-06-2014 |
20140073925 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - An apparatus for generating a 3D ultrasonic color image of a fetus based on skin color of a mother includes a sample image acquisition unit acquiring a sample image by photographing a skin of a pregnant woman, a 2D color map generator generating a 2D color map based on the sample image, a probe irradiating ultrasonic signals into the pregnant woman and receiving reflected ultrasonic echo signals, a volume data generator generating 3D volume data based on the ultrasonic echo signals, and a controller generating a 3D ultrasonic color image of the fetus by applying values of the 2D color map to a 3D ultrasonic image obtained by volume rendering of the 3D volume data. | 03-13-2014 |
20140081142 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a measurement position-orientation determination unit, a judgment unit and a property measurement unit. The measurement position-orientation determination unit determines a measurement target region for measuring a property of a vascular wall, based on a 3D image of a blood vessel generated from transverse tomographic images acquired by scanning of an ultrasound probe in a longitudinal direction, and also determines a measurement position and measurement orientation of the ultrasound probe for acquiring a longitudinal tomographic image including the measurement target region. The judgment unit judges whether a current position and current orientation of the ultrasound probe differ from the measurement position and measurement orientation respectively by no greater than a threshold value, and when judging affirmatively causes the apparatus to acquire the longitudinal tomographic image. The property measurement unit measures the property based on the longitudinal tomographic image. | 03-20-2014 |
20140088425 | SINGLE CHIP AND HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A single chip includes an analog module, an ultrasound imaging module, a wireless network module, a switch circuit and a central processing unit (CPU). The ultrasound imaging module controls an ultrasound front end, and the wireless network module controls a radio-frequency (RF) front end. The CPU controls the switch circuit to electrically connect the analog module to the ultrasound imaging circuit or the wireless network module. | 03-27-2014 |
20140088426 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE PRODUCING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a determining unit adapted to determine a depth position of a boundary of the intima-media complex at the clear boundary sound ray, and ascertain a depth position of the boundary of the intima-media complex at the unclear boundary sound ray; and an calculator adapted to calculate an intima-media complex thickness based on the depth positions of the boundary of the intima-media complex, wherein the determining unit performs pattern matching on a sound ray signal corresponding to the unclear boundary sound ray by using a sound ray signal corresponding to a clear boundary sound ray lying adjacent to the unclear boundary sound ray as a reference signal, thereby ascertaining the depth position of the boundary of the intima-media complex at the unclear boundary sound ray. | 03-27-2014 |
20140088427 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in which an ultrasonic wave is transmitted toward a subject by an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound image is generated by a diagnostic apparatus body based on reception data thus obtained and an examination is performed based on the ultrasound image, including a display unit on which a plurality of examination portions corresponding to a series of examinations relating to ultrasound diagnosis are displayed in an order of time series in a single screen at a time, and a controller which highlights an examination portion corresponding to an examination being executed among the plurality of examination portions in the display unit, in which each of the plurality of examination portions is displayed as a body mark which indicates an examination position by the ultrasound probe. | 03-27-2014 |
20140088428 | ULTRASOUND APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD OF THE ULTRASOUND APPARATUS - An information providing method which is implementable by using an ultrasound apparatus includes obtaining ultrasound image data which relates to an object; displaying, on a first area of a screen, a gain setup window for setting a gain of the obtained ultrasound image data; receiving a gain which is set by a user on the gain setup window; and displaying, on a second area of the screen, an ultrasound image of the object to which the set gain is applied. | 03-27-2014 |
20140100461 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a data acquisition unit configured to execute ultrasonic scanning for a tissue region throughout a predetermined period and acquire a plurality of image data respectively corresponding to phases in the predetermined period; a positional information acquisition unit configured to acquire positional information of a region of interest in the tissue region at least one phase in the period by executing tracking processing using at least part of the plurality of image data; a shape information calculation unit configured to calculate shape information corresponding to the region of interest at least one phase in the period by using positional information of the region of interest at the at least one phase; and an output unit configured to output the shape information at the at least one phase. | 04-10-2014 |
20140107485 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING VOLUME IMAGE - A method of generating a volume image. The method includes: acquiring a sound generated by a cyclically moving object; classifying the acquired sound into periods corresponding to cyclic motions of the cyclically moving object; generating sub-volume images corresponding to predetermined regions of a plurality of regions that a cyclically moving object has been divided into by transmitting ultrasound signals towards the cyclically moving object and receiving response signals reflected from the cyclically moving object, at every period; and generating a volume image of the object by connecting the generated sub-volume images to one other. | 04-17-2014 |
20140128737 | VECTOR INTERPOLATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AN ULTRASONIC WAVE IMAGE - An apparatus and method for a vector interpolation of an ultrasound image are provided. The apparatus includes a probe, beam former, demodulator and interpolation processor. The probe converts an electric signal into an ultrasound signal, transmits the ultrasound signal to an object, and converts a reflected ultrasound signal from the object into a reflected electric signal. The beam former forms a receive-focused signal based on the electric signal converted from the reflected ultrasound signal by the probe. The demodulator demodulates the receive-focused signal for forming I data corresponding to in-phase components and Q data corresponding to quadrature-phase components. And the interpolation processor performs a vector interpolation with 1:M weighting (M is a natural number) between different complex-valued signals, based on the I data and the Q data. | 05-08-2014 |
20140135625 | ULTRASOUND DEVICES METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Ultrasound methods, devices, and systems are described which support a useful compromise in terms of spatial resolution and temporal resolution for capturing motion in tissue structures. Tissue engineering articles, methods, systems, and devices which employ ultrasound to deliver biological agents to selected regions of a tissue scaffold, deliver mechanical stimulation to cells growing in a tissue scaffold, and enhance the perfusion of fluids through tissue scaffolds. | 05-15-2014 |
20140148700 | COLOR FLOW GAIN ADJUSTMENT METHOD AND DEVICE - A color flow gain adjustment method and device, and a color ultrasound imaging system using the device are disclosed. | 05-29-2014 |
20140155748 | ULTRASOUND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF A PATIENT'S BONE TISSUE - An apparatus ( | 06-05-2014 |
20140155749 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND CONTROL PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An ultrasonic image display apparatus is provided. The ultrasonic image display apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe configured to move while in contact with a test object and configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from the test object to obtain echo signals from a three-dimensional region of the test object, a parameter calculation section configured to calculate a parameter related to a moving velocity of the ultrasonic probe, a data generation section configured to generate data based on the echo signals of a plurality of frames, by selecting the frames in accordance with the parameter calculated by the parameter calculation section so that the echo signals of the frames used for generating the data are acquired within a required range, and a display section configured to display an ultrasonic image generated based on the data. | 06-05-2014 |
20140155750 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORMING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system capable of providing a plurality of M-mode images corresponding to M-mode lines without moving a probe. A volume data forming and reconstructing unit of the present invention forms volume data based on the ultrasound echo signals, the volume data forming and reconstructing unit being configured to determine a beat period of the moving object and reconstruct the volume data based on the beat period. A processor forms at least one reference image based on the reconstructed volume data and one or more M-mode images corresponding to one or more M-mode lines set on the reference image and a display unit displays the reference image, the M-mode lines and the M-mode images. | 06-05-2014 |
20140163373 | ULTRASONIC OBSERVATION APPARATUS, OPERATION METHOD OF THE SAME, AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An ultrasonic observation includes a frequency analyzer that analyzes a frequency of an echo signal received from an ultrasonic probe for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected from the subject, to calculate a frequency spectrum, a feature data calculator that calculates feature data reflecting a frequency spectrum shape specific to an artificial material, and an artificial material-highlighted image data generator that generates, based on the feature data, an image in which the artificial material is highlighted. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163374 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an aspect includes an ultrasound probe and a processing apparatus. The ultrasound probe is configured so that a contact face thereof to be in contact with a subject for the purpose of adhering thereto is formed so as to have a shape that can be fitted to a projection part of the subject. The processing apparatus processes a reflected-wave signal of an ultrasound wave that is transmitted from the ultrasound probe attached to the subject toward the subject. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163375 | 3-D Ultrasound Imaging Device and Methods - An ultrasound cover for use with an ultrasound imaging system, a method of examining a patient with ultrasound, and an ultrasound diagnostic system. The ultrasound cover includes a central layer configured to conform to a shape of a patient's body and a plurality of ultrasound sensors positioned within the central layer. The ultrasound cover is positioned on a patent to be examined and conformed to the shape of the patient's body. RF ultrasound signals are acquired from the plurality of sensors and a 3-D model of the patient created from extracted echoes. The cover may be used with a diagnostic system that includes a computer configured to compare ultrasound data to a orthopedic-specific dataset to locate bony boundaries. | 06-12-2014 |
20140163376 | THREE DIMENSIONAL MAPPING DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND MACHINES AND METHOD - An apparatus, system, and method where the ultrasound transducer position registration is automated, calculates the position of each pixel in the ultrasound image in reference to the predetermined anatomical reference points (AR) and can store the information on demand. The graphic interface associated with the ultrasound image allows for the instant display of selected targets position coordinates relative to anatomical reference points, in the ultrasound images. This system would significantly reduce the ultrasound examination time, by eliminating the time consuming manual labeling of images and speeding up the target finding at subsequent examinations, enhance correlation capability with other diagnostic imaging modalities like CT scans, MRI, mammograms, decrease human errors and fatigue, provide an easy, uniform, method of communicating the target position among healthcare providers. | 06-12-2014 |
20140180105 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTIPATH PROCESSING OF IMAGE SIGNALS - The invention generally relates to intravascular imaging system and particularly to processing in multimodal systems. The invention provides an imaging system that splits incoming image data into two signals and performs the same processing step on each of the split signals. The system can then send the two signals down two processing pathways. Methods include receiving an analog image signal, transmitting the received signal to a processing system, splitting the signal to produce a first image signal and a second image signal, and performing a processing operation on the first image signal and the second image signal. The first and second signal include substantially the same information as one another. | 06-26-2014 |
20140180106 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD, AND MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - Various types of sub-preset conditions corresponding to a selected mother preset condition are read out from a preset condition storage unit which stores at least a plurality of mother preset conditions set concerning image data acquisition conditions and various types of sub-preset conditions set by updating all or some of the image data acquisition conditions included in each of the mother preset conditions. A sub-preset condition suitable for ultrasonic examination on the object is selected from the readout various types of sub-preset conditions. An image data acquisition condition is initialized based on the selected mother preset condition with respect to each unit related to generation of the image data. The image data acquisition condition is updated by using the selected sub-preset condition. Image data is generated based on a reception signal in ultrasonic transmission/reception using the updated image data acquisition condition. | 06-26-2014 |
20140187948 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGE RENDERING - Systems and methods for ultrasound image rendering are provided. One system includes a user interface having a display configured to display ultrasound images for a volume data set and a content detection module configured to detect an object within the volume data set. The system also includes an image-processing module configured to receive ultrasound signals from a diagnostic probe and process the signals to generate the ultrasound images. The image-processing module is further configured to locally change an opacity function of the displayed ultrasound image based on the detected object to change an opacity of a subset of voxels in the volume data set. | 07-03-2014 |
20140187949 | Systems and Methods For Interventional Procedure Planning - A method of deploying an interventional instrument is performed by a processing system. The method comprises receiving an image of an anatomic structure from an imaging probe. The image has an image frame of reference. The imaging probe is extendable distally beyond a distal end of a guide catheter. The distal end of the guide catheter has a catheter frame of reference. The method further includes receiving location data associated with a target structure identified in the image. The received location data is in the image frame of reference. The method further comprises transforming the location data associated with the target structure from the image frame of reference to the catheter frame of reference. | 07-03-2014 |
20140194738 | Method for Focused Acoustic Computed Tomography (FACT) - A method for acoustic tomography within a patient may include generating a focused ultrasonic signal using a transducer is provided; the ultrasonic signal forming a path within the patient. The method includes directing the ultrasonic signal on a spot within the patient; scanning the spot in a predetermined pattern about a volume within the patient; receiving an ultrasonic echo in the transducer; converting the ultrasonic echo into a voltage; selecting a frequency band from the voltage; amplifying the voltage in the selected frequency band with a processing circuit; and generating an image of the volume within the patient structure utilizing the amplified voltage. A method for recanalization of a blood vessel including the above acoustic tomography steps is also provided. | 07-10-2014 |
20140200454 | IMAGE GENERATION SYSTEM - An image generation system is provided, the system generating an ultrasound image and a photo-acoustic image of an object and including a dual-wavelength laser source, an optical filter, and an optical-based ultrasound sensor. The laser source generates a first laser pulse with a first wavelength or a second laser pulse with a second wavelength. The optical filter almost completely absorbs the energy of the first laser pulse and by the photo-acoustic effect, generates and transmits an ultrasound to the object so the object scatters and reflects the ultrasound. The second laser pulse almost completely penetrates the optical filter and is transmitted to the object so the object absorbs the energy of the second laser pulse, generates and sends a photo-acoustic signal. The optical-based ultrasound sensor receives the ultrasound and the photo-acoustic signal to generate the ultrasound image and the photo-acoustic image of the object. | 07-17-2014 |
20140206998 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME - Provided is an object information acquiring apparatus including elements with which an acoustic wave is transmitted to and received from an object and converted into a plurality of received signals, a processor that acquires a power intensity signal of the inside of the object, and a corrector that corrects the power intensity signal, the processor being configured to calculate correlation values of frequency components, perform frequency average processing on a correlation matrix that is a set of the plurality of calculated correlation values to acquire a first power intensity signal, and reduce variance of elements in the diagonal direction of the correlation matrix to acquire a second power intensity signal, and the corrector being configured to output a power intensity signal subjected to correction processing. | 07-24-2014 |
20140221835 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus which displays an ultrasound image on a display screen of a display unit based on ultrasound image data. The ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus includes a touch panel and a control unit. The control unit is able to execute a vertical display mode to display two ultrasound images aligned vertically on the display screen and a horizontal display mode to display two ultrasound images aligned horizontally on the display screen. In each display mode, the control unit sets operation reception regions aligned vertically or horizontally on the touch panel. When the control unit detects an operation of touching one of the operation reception regions, the control unit sets an ultrasound image displayed in the touched side to a selected state. | 08-07-2014 |
20140221836 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus includes an ultrasound probe, a display unit, a touch panel and a control unit. The touch panel is disposed in such a way as to be superposed on a display screen of the display unit. The control unit (i) displays a body mark representing a body part of a subject on the display screen, (ii) sets an operation receivable region on the touch panel in such a way as to be suitable for the displayed body mark, (iii) detects a touched point in the operation receivable region and (iv) performs display position setting to control the display unit to display a probe mark representing the ultrasound probe in form according to the detected touched point. | 08-07-2014 |
20140236012 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus is provided which easily recreates test conditions same as the past, comprising scanner, signal processor, display controller, storage, detector, collator, and controller. Scanner scans a subject with ultrasound waves through ultrasound probe. Storage previously stores first relevant information in which operation of the scanner, the signal processor, or the display controller in past test is related to a first relative position which is the relative position of ultrasound probe for the subject in the same past test. Detector detects a second relative position which is the present relative position of ultrasound probe for the subject. Collator collates the first relative position and the second relative position detected by the detector. Controller controls the scanner, the signal processor or the display controller based on the operation related to the first relative position, when the first relative position and the second relative position are matched in collation. | 08-21-2014 |
20140243670 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FETAL IMAGE RENDERING - Certain embodiments provide an image data processing apparatus, comprising a data receiving unit configured to receive image data that is representative of a fetus, a color determination unit for determining a color based on a property of a parent of the fetus, and a rendering unit configured to render using the determined color an image of at least part of the fetus from the image data. | 08-28-2014 |
20140243671 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRIFT COMPENSATION - An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring motion data from a motion sensing system on a probe while acquiring ultrasound data with the probe. The system and method includes acquiring probe motion data with a motion sensing system, acquiring probe position data with a position sensing system and calculating a drift compensation using the probe motion data and the probe position data. | 08-28-2014 |
20140249416 | PULSE OFFSET ULTRASONIC IMAGING - A diagnostic ultrasound image of a region of interest (ROI) of a body is formed by transmitting into the ROI at least a first and a second ultrasound pulse, in which the second pulse is phase-shifted relative to the first pulse by an amount other than 0 or a multiple of 180 degrees. Discretized receive signals from the pulses are interleaved to form a resultant operating signal that is detected and beamformed as the operating signal. | 09-04-2014 |
20140249417 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE CONTROL METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic device to which an ultrasound probe is connectable, measuring an IMT of a vascular wall in a carotid artery, including: a transmission unit supplying a transmission signal to the probe for causing ultrasound transmission along a longitudinal cross-section of the carotid artery; a reception unit receiving a signal based on a reflected ultrasound received by the probe, and generating a reception signal; a vascular feature calculation unit extracting position information from the reception signal, including at least one of: piece positions for vascular wall pieces; and a relative relationship between piece positions, and detecting a boundary between a CCA and a CCA bulb according to variation in the position information with respect to the longitudinal direction of the carotid artery; a ROI determination unit determining a ROI defining an IMT measurement range with respect to the boundary; and an IMT measurement unit measuring the IMT. | 09-04-2014 |
20140257104 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A system and method for assembling a 3D ultrasound image representation from multiple two-dimensional ultrasound images utilises a magnetic position detection system to detect the ultrasound probe position and allow mapping of the multiple two-dimensional ultrasound images into a three-dimensional frame of reference. The magnetic position detection system may use magnetic markers positioned on the subject or fixed in space around the subject. The position detection may use magnetic model fitting, look-up table, triangulation or distance measurement techniques to determine the position of the ultrasound probe relative to the magnetic markers. The ultrasound probe includes a magnetometric detector to detect the field generated by the magnetic markers. | 09-11-2014 |
20140276059 | EXTERNALLY IMAGING A BODY STRUCTURE WITHIN A PATIENT - The invention generally relates to methods of imaging a body structure using an ultrasound device that is external to a patient's body. In certain aspects, the methods of the invention involve providing an ultrasound device that is external to a patient's body, and externally imaging a body structure within the patient using the external ultrasound device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276060 | ULTRASONIC MEASURING DEVICE, ULTRASONIC IMAGE DEVICE, AND MEASURING METHOD - An ultrasonic measuring device can acquire inclination information regarding an ultrasonic probe and notify the user if the ultrasonic probe is inclined. The ultrasonic measuring device includes an emission unit that performs ultrasound emission processing, a reception unit that performs ultrasonic echo reception processing, and a processing unit that performs ultrasonic measurement control processing. The processing unit acquires inclination information regarding the ultrasonic probe based on a reception signal resulting from ultrasonic echoes from an interface between the test subject and an ultrasonic measurement sheet, or resulting from ultrasonic echoes from the ultrasonic measurement sheet. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276061 | System and Method for Identification of Breast Ductal Network - An imaging system induces an increased visibility of the fluid-containing ducts of the breast to enhance the imaging of the ducts, to improve differentiation of the ducts from the surrounding tissue and to detect lesions present within the duct. The imaging system includes a noninvasive fluid visibility increasing module configured for increasing the visibility of a fluid contained within one or more ducts of the breast and an increased fluid visibility detector configured for detecting the one or more ducts having increased fluid visibility to identify the one or more ducts within the ductal system of the breast. The imaging system further includes an image processor capable of rendering a three-dimensional map of the ductal system of the breast. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276062 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasound diagnostic device to which an ultrasound probe is connectable, measuring an IMT of a vascular wall in a carotid artery, includes: a transmission-reception processing unit supplying a transmission signal causing the ultrasound probe to transmit an ultrasound to short-axis cross-sections along the carotid artery, and receiving a signal based on a reflected ultrasound and generating a reception signal for frames at each position; a two-dimensional image generation unit generating two-dimensional images corresponding to the frames; a bulb boundary detection unit measuring a perimeter or area of the vascular wall in each image, and detecting a boundary between a CCA and a CCA bulb from the perimeter or area; and position information indicating a position where each image is acquired; a ROI determination unit determining a ROI defining an IMT measurement range with respect to the boundary; and an IMT measurement unit measuring the IMT within the images. | 09-18-2014 |
20140296711 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING DIRECTION INFORMATION OF OBJECT - Disclosed are an ultrasound system and method of providing direction information of an object of a fetus. The ultrasound system includes an ultrasound data acquirer that transmits an ultrasound signal to an object including a fetus, and acquires ultrasound data by receiving an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object, a processor that generates an ultrasound image with the ultrasound data, a display that displays the ultrasound image on a screen, and a user input unit that receives a user command for setting position information of the fetus corresponding to a posture of the fetus based on the ultrasound image. The processor sets direction information, indicating the posture of the fetus, on the screen in response to the user command. | 10-02-2014 |
20140309531 | ULTRASONIC OBSERVATION APPARATUS, OPERATION METHOD OF THE SAME, AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An ultrasonic observation apparatus includes: a region of interest setting unit capable of setting information on a region of interest; a focus point calculation unit that divides the region of interest into a plurality of partial regions of interest according to the number of focus points in the region of interest, calculates a focus point in each of the partial regions of interest, and determines a transmission timing according to calculation results; a transmitting and receiving unit that performs a transmission-and-reception of an ultrasonic wave which is focused on the focus point; a frequency analysis unit that calculates a plurality of frequency spectra by analyzing the received ultrasonic wave with reference to the focus point; a feature data extracting unit that approximates the frequency spectra to extract feature data thereof; and an image processing unit that generates ultrasonic image data having a display mode corresponding to the feature data. The focus point calculation unit does not set a focus point according to the number of focus points in the partial regions of interest including the focus point for the B-mode image. | 10-16-2014 |
20140316270 | ACOUSTIC IMAGE GENERATION APPARATUS AND PROGRESS DISPLAY METHOD IN GENERATING AN IMAGE USING THE APPARATUS - In an acoustic image generation apparatus with a probe having an ultrasonic transducer, providing a scanning length setting part that sets a target scanning length in a scanning process of the probe, a coordinate obtaining part that sequentially obtains a coordinate of the probe in real space, a scanned length calculation part that calculates a scanned length based on the coordinate obtained by the coordinate obtaining part, a progress level display generation part that generates a progress level display that indicates progress of the scanning process based on the target scanning length and the scanned length, and a display part that displays the progress level display. | 10-23-2014 |
20140316271 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING IMAGE INDICATOR - Embodiments of an ultrasound system for outputting an ultrasound image through an ultrasound examination are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises an ultrasound probe, a sensor unit, a processor unit and an input unit. The ultrasound probe transmits and receives an ultrasound beam to and from the examination portion of a target object. The sensor unit is disposed in the ultrasound probe and detects a posture and/or a position of the ultrasound probe to form posture information and/or position information of the ultrasound probe. The processor unit moves an image indicator corresponding to the posture information and/or the position information. The image indicator includes an ultrasound beam direction marker that is indicative of a transmission direction of the ultrasound beam transmitted from the ultrasound probe to the target object. The input unit is configured to control the processor unit. | 10-23-2014 |
20140316272 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus is provided capable of preventing visibility of the ultrasound image from being impaired when piercing a puncture needle. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the embodiments includes an image processor and a display controller. The image processor generates an ultrasound image based on echo signals received by the ultrasound probe. The display controller causes a display unit to display, along with the ultrasound image, a marker which indicates allowable change range for the orientation of the puncture needle defined by the guide mechanism for guiding the puncture needle to the puncture target part. | 10-23-2014 |
20140323865 | ENHANCED ULTRASOUND DEVICE AND METHODS OF USING SAME - In one aspect, an enhanced ultrasound device may generally comprise an ultrasound probe including a housing and at least one transducer element disposed within the housing. The ultrasound probe may be configured to generate ultrasound image signals associated with an object being imaged. In addition, the device may include an acoustic receiver associated with the ultrasound probe. The acoustic receiver may be configured to generate auscultation signals associated with sounds generated by the object as the object is being imaged using the ultrasound probe. | 10-30-2014 |
20140336511 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND MEDICAL PICTURE PROJECTION APPARATUS - Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and a medical picture projection apparatus are provided, simply operating the apparatus in a less loaded posture without losing the variety of operation functions, comprising: an ultrasound probe; signal processor; a display controller; a projector; storage; a determining unit; and a controller. The ultrasound probe scans a subject using ultrasound waves. Signal processor applies signal processing on a first output signal from the ultrasound probe. The display controller causes displaying images based on second output signal from signal processor. The projector projects pictures. Storage preliminarily stores first related information associating an area corresponding to a picture with the operation content among the ultrasound probe, signal processor, the display controller, and the projector. The determining unit determines whether or not at least one part of an object is located within the area indicated in first related information. The controller is based on determination results from determining unit and first related information. | 11-13-2014 |
20140336512 | HIGH FREQUENCY, HIGH FRAME-RATE ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - A system for producing an ultrasound image comprises a scan head having a transducer capable of generating ultrasound energy at a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz), and a processor for receiving ultrasound energy and for generating an ultrasound image at a frame rate of at least 15 frames per second (fps). | 11-13-2014 |
20140336513 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING METHOD AND DEVICE - Method and device for performing ultrasonic imaging on a region of interest are disclosed. The method comprises: emitting a first ultrasonic pulse and receiving a first ultrasonic echo signal; emitting a second ultrasonic pulse and receiving a second ultrasonic echo signal; emitting a third ultrasonic pulse and receiving a third ultrasonic echo signal; extracting echo signal components from the first ultrasonic echo signal, the second ultrasonic echo signal and the third ultrasonic echo signal; and producing an ultrasonic image of the region of interest according to the echo signal component; wherein, amplitude weighting of the third ultrasonic pulse is equal to the sum of amplitude weightings of the first ultrasonic pulse and the second ultrasonic pulse in magnitude. The method processes and modulates the plurality of ultrasonic echo signals, so as to separate nonlinear components and linear components in the ultrasonic echo signals. | 11-13-2014 |
20140343429 | Ultrasound Imaging Console - An ultrasound imaging system includes a beamformer ( | 11-20-2014 |
20140350404 | METHOD FOR VISUALIZING BLOOD AND BLOOD-LIKELIHOOD IN VASCUALAR IMAGES - Computer-implemented methods for use in improving the diagnostic quality of images, including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images, are disclosed. The methods include using a non-linear, probabilistic classifier algorithm to analyze a plurality of spatiotemporal features of RF backscatter and to produce a blood likelihood map or blood probability map that corresponds to the original IVUS image. The methods disclosed herein allow for visualizing both static and dynamic characteristic of a vessel either by producing a transparency modulated color overlay of the blood likelihood map without altering the underlying IVUS image or by processing the IVUS image based upon the blood likelihood map to better distinguish between static and dynamic components of the vessel. | 11-27-2014 |
20140358001 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS METHOD AND APPARATUS USING THREE-DIMENSIONAL VOLUME DATA - Disclosed are an ultrasound diagnosis method and apparatus. The ultrasound diagnosis method and apparatus acquire volume data from an object, cut the volume data in a predetermined direction to decide on a reference plane, detect a long bone included in the volume data by using the reference plane, and extract long bone volume data including the detected long bone from the volume data to display the long bone volume data, thereby diagnosing the object. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358002 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERACTIVE DISPLAY OF THREE DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGES - A medical imaging system comprises a three dimensional (3D) ultrasound system and a 3D holographic display system. The ultrasound system generates 3D ultrasound data that can be used to construct a 3D image of a patient. The display system displays the image in a 3D holographic form and comprises a touchless input interface that allows a user to control the display from within a sterile field while performing a medical procedure. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358003 | DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND APPARATUS - In the diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, moving average processing is successively performed on a frame series with frame sets obtained from three kinds of frames, A, B, and C, as units, thereby successively generating compound frames. Each compound frame has a central sub-region and multiple peripheral sub-regions. In order to match the gain between the multiple sub-regions when generating each compound frame, a special compounding condition is applied to individual peripheral sub-regions. Specifically, processing that redundantly substitutes the same data value for multiple elements in the compounding computation equation is performed. Using such a spatial compounding, differences in gain between multiple sub-regions can be eliminated or reduced. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358004 | SIMULTANEOUS ULTRASONIC VIEWING OF 3D VOLUME FROM MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS - An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system scans a volumetric region of a body. A clinician defines a three dimensional region of interest within the volumetric region. The three dimensional region of interest is viewed from two different viewing directions to give the clinician a sense of the structure, makeup, and orientation of the region of interest. The three dimensional region of interest can be viewed from viewing directions in 180° opposition to each other, orthogonal, or at an intermediate angle. Manipulation of one view of the three dimensional region of interest causes both views to change, as if the clinician were manipulating both views simultaneously in the same way. | 12-04-2014 |
20140364733 | TIME REVERSAL AND PHASE COHERENT MUSIC TECHNIQUES FOR SUPER-RESOLUTION ULTRASOUND IMAGING - Systems and methods for super-resolution ultrasound imaging using a windowed and generalized TR-MUSIC algorithm that divides the imaging region into overlapping sub-regions and applies the TR-MUSIC algorithm to the windowed backscattered ultrasound signals corresponding to each sub-region. The algorithm is also structured to account for the ultrasound attenuation in the medium and the finite-size effects of ultrasound transducer elements. A modified TR-MUSIC imaging algorithm is used to account for ultrasound scattering from both density and compressibility contrasts. The phase response of ultrasound transducer elements is accounted for in a PC-MUSIC system. | 12-11-2014 |
20140371590 | BIOLOGICAL OPTICAL MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, a biological optical measurement apparatus includes a light emission unit, plural detectors, an image acquisition unit, and a calculation unit. The light emission unit is arranged on a surface of a subject and configured to substantially vertically emit light from an emission surface of the light emission unit to the surface of the subject. The plural detectors are arranged on a surface of a subject and configured to substantially vertically emit light from an emission surface of the light emission unit to the surface of the subject. The image acquisition unit acquires an image with respect to the subject. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371591 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING MID-SAGITTAL PLANE BY USING ULTRASOUND IMAGE AND APPARATUS THEREOF - Provided are a method and apparatus for automatically detecting a mid-sagittal plane of an object by using an ultrasonic image. The method includes obtaining an ultrasonic image for detecting the mid-sagittal plane; detecting a face of the object from the ultrasonic image; detecting a landmark from the detected face; detecting landmark information which includes at least one of brightness and a form of the detected landmark; and detecting a mid-sagittal plane of the object by using the landmark information. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371592 | MOBILE ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - A mobile ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising: a battery ( | 12-18-2014 |
20140371593 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasound diagnostic device for measuring a carotid artery wall property includes a transmission-reception processor, a transverse cross-sectional image generator, a transverse cross-sectional image selector, and a relative angle calculator. The transmission-reception processor performs transmission and reception processing of ultrasound with respect to the carotid artery. The transverse cross-sectional image generator generates transverse cross-sectional images based on reception signals for carotid artery cross-sections at different positions. Each generated image depicts a carotid artery transverse cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction. The transverse cross-sectional image selector selects a specific image among the generated images that depicts ICA and ECA cross-sections. The relative angle calculator calculates relative angle of the ultrasound probe with respect to the carotid artery in a plane parallel to the carotid artery transverse cross-section, based on coordinates of the ICA and ECA cross-sections in the specific image. | 12-18-2014 |
20140378836 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING REFERENCE IMAGE CORRESPONDING TO ULTRASOUND IMAGE - Provided are an ultrasound system and a method of providing a reference image corresponding to an ultrasound image of a target. The ultrasound system includes: a storage unit configured to store a plurality of images corresponding to respective targets; and a processor configured to generate an ultrasound image which depicts the target included in a subject by using ultrasound data acquired from the subject, extract at least one reference image corresponding to the ultrasound image from among the plurality of images, and control a display of the reference image extracted. | 12-25-2014 |
20140378837 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an abdominal image generator, an ultrasonic image generation unit, a specifier, and a display controller. The abdominal image generator generates an abdominal image graphically representing the abdomen of a mother. The ultrasonic image generation unit generates an ultrasonic image based on a reflected wave signal received by an ultrasonic probe put on the abdomen of the mother. The specifier specifies the position of the ultrasonic probe on the abdominal image. The display controller causes superimposed display of the ultrasonic image on the position on the abdominal image thus specified in accordance with the echo direction of the ultrasonic probe. | 12-25-2014 |
20150011881 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an ultrasound probe including a piezoelectric device which transmits and receives ultrasound, n layers of acoustic matching layers provided on a front side of the piezoelectric device, n layers meaning two layers or more, an acoustic lens which is provided on a front side of the acoustic matching layers and an acoustic reflecting layer which is provided on a back side of the piezoelectric device. | 01-08-2015 |
20150011882 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an acquisition unit acquiring pieces of ultrasound image data at different deflection angles; a calculation unit calculating coefficients corresponding to respective positions in ultrasound image data corresponding to a certain deflection angle based on signal or pixel values corresponding to the respective positions in at least one piece of ultrasound image data corresponding to a deflection angle other than the certain deflection angle; a multiplication unit multiplying, by the coefficients, signal or pixel values corresponding to the respective positions in the piece of ultrasound image data corresponding to the certain deflection angle, or signal or pixel values corresponding to the respective positions in image data obtained by compounding ultrasound image data corresponding to respective deflection angles including the certain deflection angle; and a control unit causing a display unit to display an image based on the signal or pixel values multiplied by the coefficients. | 01-08-2015 |
20150011883 | IMAGING SYSTEM FOR IMAGING A PERIODICALLY MOVING OBJECT - The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a periodically moving object. An assigning unit ( | 01-08-2015 |
20150018681 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE-PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF PROCESSING MEDICAL IMAGES - Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprises an image generator, a first structural information acquirer, a second structural information acquirer, and a synthesizer. The image generator generates, based on ultrasound waves transmitted and received in accordance with a plurality of transmission and reception conditions, sets of image data whose images represent at least partially a common area for each of the transmission and reception conditions. The first structural information acquirer acquires tissue-structure information indicative of tissue structures depicted, respectively, in the sets of image data. The second structural information acquirer acquires common structural information indicative of a tissue structure common in the sets of image data, based on the tissue-structure information. The synthesizer changes the method of image-synthesis applied on the sets of image data, a different method for each of the image areas distinguished based on the common structural information, and generates composition image data based on the sets of image data. | 01-15-2015 |
20150018682 | ULTRASONIC BONE MOTION TRACKING SYSTEM - A computerized bone motion tracking system according to one exemplary embodiment is configured to: provide a non-invasive means for accurate measurement and tracking of the motion of a bone using a volumetric ultrasound transducer and a three dimensional position measurement system; provide relative measurements of one bone relative to another bone of a joint; decompose relative joint motion into specific components; and measure joint instability and range of motion. | 01-15-2015 |
20150018683 | ULTRASONIC PROBE HAVING AUXILIARY MONITOR MOUNTED THEREON, AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE COMPRISING SAME - Disclosed are an ultrasonic probe having an auxiliary monitor mounted thereon and an ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising the same. According to the present invention, the ultrasonic diagnostic device includes: an ultrasonic probe for scanning ultrasonic waves, converting the returned ultrasonic waves into an electric signal, and outputting, on an auxiliary monitor mounted on one side thereof, a part of or the entire image corresponding to the converted electric signal; a main body of the ultrasonic diagnostic device which is provided with the converted electric signal; and a display device which is provided with the image corresponding to the electrical signal from the main body of an ultrasonic diagnostic device so as to output the entirety of the provided image, wherein the ultrasonic probe comprises an injection device for sucking from or injecting blood or an injection liquid into a predetermined target point within the image outputted on the auxiliary monitor. | 01-15-2015 |
20150018684 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image acquirer, a volume information calculator, a wall motion information calculator, a time change rate calculator, an extremum detector, and an index calculator. The image acquirer acquires ultrasonic image data including data for a left ventricle. The volume information calculator calculates time-series data of volume information of the left ventricle. The wall motion information calculator calculates time-series data of wall motion information of the left ventricle. The time change rate calculator calculates time-series data of the time change rate of volume information (first time-series data) and time-series data of the time change rate of wall motion information (second time-series data). The extremum detector detects extremums in early diastole of the first time-series data and the second time-series data (first extremum and second extremum). The index calculator calculates an index using the first extremum and the second extremum. | 01-15-2015 |
20150025383 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed herein are an ultrasonic imaging apparatus which is capable of accurately and quickly estimating a Point Spread Function (PSF) is usable for restoring ultrasonic images, and a control method which is executable by the ultrasonic imaging apparatus. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: a probe; a receive beamformer configured to beamform an ultrasonic signal and to output the beamformed ultrasonic signal; a Point Spread Function (PSF) database configured to store a PSF which is acquired based on a situational variable, and a phase parameter which is determined based on the situational variable, for the beamformed ultrasonic signal; and an image generator configured to select the PSF and the phase parameter from the PSF database based on the beamformed ultrasonic signal, and to perform deconvolution using an estimated PSF based on the selected PSF and the selected phase parameter in order to generate an image. | 01-22-2015 |
20150025384 | ULTRASOUND MEDICAL APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - In embodiments of an ultrasound medical apparatus, main body part includes ultrasound transducer and is inserted into lumen of subject. First and second blocking parts are inserted into lumen and capable of substantially occluding lumen by changing dimensions. First blocking part is arranged at the opposite side to insertion opening across main body part, and is provided, on surface of insertion opening side, with shieldable opening. Second blocking part is arranged at insertion opening side across main body part, and is provided with path penetrating itself. Fluid supplying part supplies fluid in a state in which its tip part is arranged inside first blocking part through opening to enlarge dimension, and supplies fluid in a state in which tip part is arranged in path to enlarge dimension of second blocking part. Liquid supplying part supplies liquid into space between first and second blocking parts. | 01-22-2015 |
20150025385 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING DEVICE - According to a method of adaptive signal processing, compensation for deterioration of image quality caused by wavefront distortion is provided in an ultrasound imaging apparatus, with a low computing amount and with a precision. The elements | 01-22-2015 |
20150025386 | PORTABLE DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND APPARATUS - In order to provide technology for limiting the deterioration of hardware in a portable diagnostic ultrasound apparatus without increasing user workload, internal processing of the portable diagnostic ultrasound apparatus is controlled according to the opening or closing of the cover case in which the monitor is disposed. In particular, when the cover case is closed, not only is output of ultrasonic waves stopped but processing that is being executed inside the apparatus is appropriately terminated and the power is turned off. When so doing, processing that is being executed is interrupted and cancelled and processing that is waiting to be executed is cancelled. The cancelled information is stored in a storage device. | 01-22-2015 |
20150032004 | ULTRASONIC PROBE, SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME, AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - Provided are an ultrasonic probe, a system including the same, and an operation method thereof. The ultrasonic probe may include a probe head comprising a transducer configured to receive a signal and a first storage configured to store information, and a probe body comprising an image processor configured to generate an ultrasonic image with the signal received from the probe head, wherein the transducer and the image processor are electrically connected to each other by a coupling between the probe head and the probe body, and wherein the transducer and the image processor are separated from each other by a separation between the probe head and the probe body. | 01-29-2015 |
20150038846 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image obtaining unit, a contour position obtaining unit, a volume information calculating unit, and a controlling unit. The image obtaining unit obtains a plurality of groups of two-dimensional ultrasound image data each of which is generated by performing ultrasound scans, the ultrasound scans being performed on each of a plurality of predetermined cross-sectional planes, and performed for predetermined time. The contour position obtaining unit obtains, by performing a tracking process over the predetermined time period, time-series data of contour positions, the contour positions being either one of, or both of, a cavity interior and a cavity exterior of a predetermined site. The volume information calculating unit calculates, on a basis of a plurality of the time-series data of contour positions, volume information of the predetermined site. The controlling unit exercises control so as to output the volume information. | 02-05-2015 |
20150045667 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND DATA PROCESSING METHOD - In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasonic wave transmitter/receiver transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam to a subject to generate reception data using ultrasonic wave transmission/reception elements arranged in one direction; the delay correction unit corrects a delay time of the reception data to align a phase of the reception data; the reception aperture range determination unit determines a reception aperture range of reception data, which is used when producing an ultrasound image from reception data after correction of the delay time, based on a signal value of the reception data after correction of the delay time in an arrangement direction of the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception elements; and the image producer produces an ultrasound image by performing phase matching addition of the reception data after correction of the delay time corresponding the reception aperture range and performing data processing. | 02-12-2015 |
20150051490 | ULTRASOUND SCANNING - A system for ultrasound scanning includes an ultrasound transducer assembly configured to generate ultrasound scan data indicative of surface features of bony anatomy. The system includes a deformable cuff that transmits ultrasound when filled with an ultrasound-conductive medium. The system also includes a transference mechanism configured to move the ultrasound transducer assembly relative to the deformable cuff along a path while maintaining contact between the ultrasound transducer assembly and the cuff. The transference mechanism is also configured to generate position data indicative of different positions of the ultrasound transducer assembly along the path. | 02-19-2015 |
20150051491 | ULTRASOUND APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD OF THE ULTRASOUND APPARATUS - An information providing method which is implementable by using an ultrasound apparatus includes obtaining ultrasound image data which relates to an object; displaying, on a first area of a screen, a gain setup window for setting a gain of the obtained ultrasound image data; receiving a gain which is set by a user on the gain setup window; and displaying, on a second area of the screen, an ultrasound image of the object to which the set gain is applied. | 02-19-2015 |
20150057545 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE, ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE PROGRAM - An ultrasound diagnostic device | 02-26-2015 |
20150065881 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a communicator configured to receive a signal from an ultrasound probe including a plurality of sensors, and a controller configured to acquire a plurality of data sets corresponding to sensing results of the plurality of sensors from the signal, and perform a predetermined operation corresponding to a combination of the plurality of data sets. | 03-05-2015 |
20150065882 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - An ultrasound probe connected to various diagnostic apparatuses and a method of operating the ultrasound probe. The includes transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving a response signal reflected from the object; acquiring information regarding a diagnostic apparatus connected to the ultrasound probe; determining a type of data that may be processed by the diagnostic apparatus based on the information regarding the diagnostic apparatus; generating transmission data corresponding to the determined type of data from the response signal; and transmitting the transmission data to the diagnostic apparatus. | 03-05-2015 |
20150073275 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmitter, a generator, and an output controller. The transmitter transmits, from an ultrasound probe, push pulses that cause displacement of body tissue according to an acoustic radiation force and transmits, from the ultrasound probe, tracking pulses for observing the displacement of body tissue, which is caused according to the push pulses, in a given scanning area. The generator generates transmission area image data displaying a position to which the push pulses are transmitted. The output controller outputs the generated transmission area image data such that the transmission area image data is superimposed onto medical image data that contains the transmission area. | 03-12-2015 |
20150080727 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING USING APPARENT POINT-SOURCE TRANSMIT TRANSDUCER - An apparent point-source transmit transducers comprises a substantially constant-thickness shell of piezoelectric material in a shape of a spherical-section. Such transducers may be sized such that a single apparent point-source transmit transducer may produce ultrasound waveforms with substantial energy in a medium to be imaged. Use of such transducers in three-dimensional ping-based imaging may permit deeper and higher quality imaging than may be possible with conventional transducers. | 03-19-2015 |
20150080728 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a scan converter module generates display frame data from received frame data using a conversation table adapted to the specific display resolution of a display device. Received frame data is stored in a first frame memory, and display frame data is stored in a second frame memory. A control unit selects the conversion table corresponding to the specific display resolution of the display device from among a group of conversion tables. An address converter generates an address set corresponding to a display address using the selected conversion table. Interpolation is then performed based on the echo data specified by this. | 03-19-2015 |
20150080729 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a method of producing an ultrasound image capable of accurately determining the boundary of an intima-media complex in an ultrasound image and measuring an intima-media thickness with high precision are provided. A candidate vascular wall boundary point determiner determines one or more candidate vascular wall boundary points based on a sound ray signal extending in a scanning direction in an ultrasound image. A boundary determiner determines a vascular wall boundary point from among the candidate vascular wall boundary points based on a third evaluation value and determines a vascular wall boundary, the third evaluation value being calculated based on a first evaluation value representing accuracy of each of the determined candidate vascular wall boundary points as a vascular wall boundary point and a second evaluation value representing similarity between the sound ray signal and the adjacent sound ray signal. | 03-19-2015 |
20150087982 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LESION DETECTION IN ULTRASOUND IMAGES - A method is provided for detecting lesions in ultrasound images. The method includes acquiring ultrasound information, determining discriminative descriptors that describe the texture of a candidate lesion region, and classifying each of the discriminative descriptors as one of a top boundary pixel, a lesion interior pixel, a lower boundary pixel, or a normal tissue pixel. The method also includes determining a pattern of transitions between the classified discriminative descriptors, and classifying the candidate lesion region as a lesion or normal tissue based on the pattern of transitions between the classified discriminative descriptors. | 03-26-2015 |
20150087983 | Echolocation Data Generation - Methods of probing a material under investigation using an ultrasound beam. Echolocation data is generated using a multi-dimensional transform capable of using phase and magnitude information to distinguish echoes resulting from ultrasound beam components produced using different ultrasound transducers. Since the multi-dimensional transform does not depend on using receive or transmit beam lines, a multi-dimensional area can be imaged using a single ultrasound transmission. In some embodiments, this ability increases image frame rate and reduces the amount of ultrasound energy required to generate an image. | 03-26-2015 |
20150087984 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - An object information acquiring apparatus of the present invention includes a receiver that receives an ultrasound echo and a photoacoustic wave, a scanner of the receiver, a processor that generates structural distribution information and functional distribution information, and a controller that causes a display to display each of the distribution information items. The controller causes, during the period in which the receiver receives the photoacoustic wave from a partial region formed of at least a part of the object and in which the processor generates the functional distribution information on the partial region, the display to sequentially display the structural distribution information generated by the processor on the basis of the ultrasound wave reflected from the partial region as the scanner moves the receiver to implement scanning. | 03-26-2015 |
20150087985 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes a transmitter/receiver, an adder/subtractor and an image generating unit. The transmitter/receiver performs a first set of ultrasound transmission/reception and a second set of ultrasound transmission/reception, on a same scanning line of an imaging region of a subject administered with a contrast agent, for a plurality of sets, to output reflected wave data for the plurality of the sets, the first set of the ultrasound transmission/reception performing amplitude-modulated or amplitude- and phase-modulated ultrasound transmission transmitted a plurality of times and receiving reflected waves, and the second set of the ultrasound transmission/reception being transmission/reception whose phase modulation being different from phase modulation of the first set of the ultrasound transmission/reception. The adder/subtractor adds or subtracts the reflected wave data for the plurality of the sets. The image generating unit generates contrast image data based on the data output from the adder/subtractor. | 03-26-2015 |
20150094583 | ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT METHOD - An ultrasonic measurement apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe that transmits an ultrasonic wave and outputs a received signal based on a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave; a belt that fixes the ultrasonic probe to a subject; a position detecting unit that detects position information of the ultrasonic probe; a transmission direction determining unit that determines a transmission direction of the ultrasonic prove based on the position information; a transmission signal generating unit that generates a signal for transmitting the ultrasonic wave in the determined transmission direction; a received signal correcting unit that corrects the received signal of the reflected wave corresponding to the transmitted ultrasonic wave based on the position information; and a signal combining unit that combines the received signal. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094584 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a calculating unit, an obtaining unit, a determining unit, and a controlling unit. By using a plurality of pieces of three-dimensional ultrasound image data in a time series corresponding to a three-dimensional region including a myocardium of a subject, the calculating unit calculates first movement information indicating a movement of the myocardium by tracking a movement of a region of interest that corresponds to the myocardium and that is set in each of the plurality of pieces of three-dimensional image data. The obtaining unit obtains direction information indicating a direction of a myocardial fiber in the myocardium. The determining unit determines second movement information indicating a movement of the myocardium with respect to the direction of the myocardial fiber, on the basis of the first movement information and the direction information. The controlling unit causes a display unit to display the second movement information. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094585 | ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER WITH POSITION MEMORY FOR MEDICAL IMAGING - An ultrasound transducer device and control system disclosed here have the capability of storing information regarding the position of the transducer at which one ultrasound image is taken during an initial scan, and using the stored information to guide an operator to return the transducer to the same position during a subsequent scan. During the first scan, skin patterns are detected by a sensor, such as an optical sensor, capacitive sensor, or ultrasound sensor, and stored. During the subsequent scan, skin patterns are detected again, and compared to the stored skin pattern. A guidance message is generated based on the comparison to guide the user to return the ultrasound transducer device to the same position of the first scan. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094586 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes a receiving unit and a changing unit. The receiving unit outputs an ultrasound received signal. The changing unit obtains, in accordance with a change in a spatial frequency of ultrasound image data subject to an imaging processing, a group of parameters related to a frequency characteristic of an imaging received signal that is output by the receiving unit as the ultrasound received signal to be used in the imaging processing and changes a center frequency and a frequency band to be used in the imaging processing performed on the imaging received signal, on a basis of the obtained group of parameters. | 04-02-2015 |
20150099975 | Signal Processing for Intravascular Imaging - An intravascular imaging system includes a transducer capable of generating raw data representative of the structure of a patient's vasculature. The system includes an imaging engine for receiving the raw data and generating enhanced data for presentation to a user. The imaging engine includes a coherence filter, an envelope detection module having one or more envelope detectors, and a spatial filter for processing data in various stages. Such stages of processing in the imaging engine act to reduce high frequency noise, generate low frequency data, reduce low frequency noise, and display low frequency data with an improved signal-to-noise ratio. The system can include an image generator for generating an image based on enhanced data and a display for displaying the generated image. | 04-09-2015 |
20150099976 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES USING STRETCHABLE OR FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS - System, devices and methods are presented that integrate stretchable or flexible circuitry, including arrays of active devices for enhanced sensing, diagnostic, and therapeutic capabilities. The invention enables conformal sensing contact with tissues of interest, such as the inner wall of a lumen, a nerve bundle, or the surface of the heart. Such direct, conformal contact increases accuracy of measurement and delivery of therapy. | 04-09-2015 |
20150105663 | ULTRASONIC DEVICE, ULTRASONIC PROBE, ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ULTRASONIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic device includes a substrate, a first piezoelectric body, a second piezoelectric body, and an acoustic matching section. The substrate has a first surface that is a flat surface. The first piezoelectric body is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The second piezoelectric body is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The second piezoelectric body has a different thickness from a thickness of the first piezoelectric body as measured from the first surface of the substrate. The acoustic matching section is disposed on the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body. The acoustic matching section has a first side facing the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body, and a second side opposite from the first side. A surface of the acoustic matching section on the second side is a flat surface parallel with the first surface of the substrate. | 04-16-2015 |
20150105664 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, BIOLOGICAL SIGNAL ACQUISITION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an imaging system, a biological signal receiving system and a biological signal acquisition apparatus. The imaging system is configured to acquire ultrasonic image data by transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave to and from an object. The biological signal receiving system is configured to wirelessly transmit a transmission request of a biological signal of the object, receive the biological signal of the object wirelessly transmitted as a response to the transmission request, and output the received biological signal to an output unit. The transmission request is transmitted to a biological signal acquisition apparatus. The biological signal acquisition apparatus control system is configured to wirelessly transmit information according to an operating condition of at least one of the imaging system and the biological signal receiving system. The information is transmitted to the biological signal acquisition apparatus. | 04-16-2015 |
20150119714 | EXAMINATION PORTION INFORMATION OBTAINING APPARATUS - An examination portion information obtaining apparatus includes an opening to which a portion to be examined of the examinee is inserted, a cup-shaped maintaining member which accommodates at least part of the portion to be examined inserted through the opening, an acoustic wave detector which receives acoustic waves from the portion to be examined, and a movement mechanism which moves the maintaining member relative to the portion to be examined inserted through the opening. | 04-30-2015 |
20150141825 | ULTRASONIC DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DEVICE - An ultrasonic device includes a substrate, an acoustic adjustment layer, an acoustic lens and a structural member. The substrate has an element array including a plurality of thin film ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in an array form. The acoustic adjustment layer covers the element array. The acoustic lens is arranged above the acoustic adjustment layer. The structural member is in contact with the acoustic lens and fixed to the substrate. The structural member has a modulus of rigidity greater than a modulus of rigidity of the acoustic lens. | 05-21-2015 |
20150141826 | PREDICTION OF DISEASES BASED ON ANALYSIS OF MEDICAL EXAM AND/OR TEST WORKFLOW - Use of medical workflows where a first medical workflow is obtained from a plurality of medical acts performed in sequence that related to care of a patient. A set of condition-indication rules is applied to the first medical workflow to determine first condition information. The first condition information relates to a likelihood that a first medical condition exists in the patient. | 05-21-2015 |
20150141827 | ULTRASONIC DEVICE, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME, ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND ULTRASONIC IMAGING DEVICE - An ultrasonic device includes a substrate having a first opening, a second opening and a wall part partitioning the first opening and the second opening; a first vibration film and a second vibration film which close the first opening and the second opening respectively; a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element which are formed on surfaces of the first vibration film and the second vibration film opposite to the substrate; an acoustic matching layer which is disposed within the first opening and the second opening so as to come into contact with the first vibration film and the second vibration film. | 05-21-2015 |
20150148677 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LESION DETECTION IN ULTRASOUND IMAGES - A method is provided for detecting lesions in ultrasound images. The method includes acquiring an ultrasound image, generating a Fisher-tippett (FT) distribution-based edge feature map from the acquired ultrasound image, generating gradient concentration (GC) scores for pixels of the acquired ultrasound image using the FT distribution-based edge feature map, and identifying a candidate lesion region within the acquired ultrasound image based on the GC scores. | 05-28-2015 |
20150289844 | DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICE - A diagnostic ultrasound imaging device is connectable to an ultrasound probe which has a piezoelectric element. The diagnostic ultrasound imaging device includes an image generation unit, a display unit, a touch panel and a control unit. The image generation unit generates an ultrasound image on the basis of a reception signal obtained from received reflected ultrasound from a subject. The display unit displays the generated ultrasound image on a display screen. The touch panel detects an operation on the display screen. When the touch panel detects on the displayed ultrasound image an end of a cursor movement operation to move a cursor, the control unit displays near the moved cursor an operation button to activate a predetermined function. | 10-15-2015 |
20150289847 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - The present disclosure provides an ultrasound imaging apparatus. The ultrasound imaging apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe for transmitting an ultrasound signal toward an object, receiving an echo ultrasound signal reflected from the object, and transforming the echo ultrasound signal to an electric signal; a beamformer for beamforming and outputting the electric signal; an image reconstruction unit for generating a reconstructed image by applying a Point Spread Function (PSF) to an ultrasonic image corresponding to the output signal; and an image post-processor for performing filtering to emphasize a peak point of the reconstructed image. The use of a filter to emphasize a peak point may facilitate an accurate setting of a phase parameter to be used in estimation of a PSF. Accordingly, an almost ideal PSF may be estimated, image reconstruction is performed using the estimated PSF, and thus a high resolution image may be obtained. | 10-15-2015 |
20150289849 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound probe includes: an ultrasound input/output unit to output a transmission ultrasound to a test object by a pulse signal; and a signal input/output unit to output a reception signal when the ultrasound input/output unit receives a reflected ultrasound from the test object, wherein the ultrasound probe is set so that a difference between maximum and minimum values of a group delay in a transmission/reception frequency band at −20 dB of the ultrasonic probe is equal to or less than 0.15 radian, the group delay being obtained from a phase difference for each frequency between the input pulse signal and the reception signal obtained from the reflected ultrasound of the transmission ultrasound output by the pulse signal, or so that a standard deviation of the group delay in the transmission/reception frequency band at −20 dB of the ultrasonic probe is equal to or less than 0.025. | 10-15-2015 |
20150289853 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes a transducer configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to an object and receive echo signals, a beamformer configured to generate output signals by performing beamforming on the echo signals, a port configured to engage with a portable terminal, and a controller configured to control an ultrasonic image to be displayed on the portable terminal by transmitting the output signals to the portable terminal engaged with the port. | 10-15-2015 |
20150297172 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus ( | 10-22-2015 |
20150297180 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS DEVICE, DISPLAY DEVICE DISPLAYING ULTRASOUND IMAGE, AND METHOD OF OPERATING ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS DEVICE - Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a display apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic image, and a method of operating the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a first communication unit configured to communicate with a probe, a second communication unit configured to communicate with a display apparatus, and a controller configured to communicate with an ultrasonic diagnostic application when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is in communication with the probe and the display apparatus. | 10-22-2015 |
20150297185 | HAND-HELD MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM WITH THUMB CONTROLLER AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A portable ultrasound system having a thumb controller is disclosed herein. A portable ultrasound system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a transducer device and a hand-held base unit removably coupled to the transducer device. The base unit is configured to perform an ultrasound scan and to produce a split screen display. The split screen display includes an active image area at which images of a patient obtained from ultrasound signals received by the transducer device are displayed. The split screen display also includes a thumb control area that is accessible by a user's thumb when holding the portable ultrasound system. For example, the thumb control area can include a thumbwheel having one or more controls that can be selectively activated by the user's thumb when holding the portable ultrasound system and are rotatable on and off of the thumb control area. | 10-22-2015 |
20150297189 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A densification processing unit ( | 10-22-2015 |
20150297191 | Ultrasound Transducer - An imaging probe includes a transducer array with transducer elements ( | 10-22-2015 |
20150297192 | HAND-HELD MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM WITH DEDICATED POWER SOURCE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUSES AND METHODS - A portable ultrasound system having dedicated power source devices is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a portable ultrasound system can include transducer electronics and a base unit having base-unit electronics configured to receive user input and to operate the transducer electronics to perform ultrasound scanning based on the user input. The portable ultrasound system further includes a first power source device configured to power the transducer electronics and a second power source device configured to power the base-unit electronics without powering the transducer electronics. | 10-22-2015 |
20150305714 | Acoustic Lens Of Enhanced Wear Resistance - In one aspect, ultrasound transducers are described herein comprising acoustic lenses having enhanced wear resistance. Such transducers can be employed in applications having harsh operating conditions, including veterinary applications. A transducer described herein, in some embodiments, comprises a polymeric acoustic lens having an acoustic velocity greater than 1.7 mm/μs, the polymeric acoustic lens arranged over an array of transducer elements wherein the array of transducer elements has a curvature in an elevation plane sufficient to compensate for wave refraction induced by the acoustic velocity of the polymeric acoustic lens to provide elevation focusing of an ultrasound beam generated by the transducer element array. | 10-29-2015 |
20150305715 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPECKLE REDUCTION - Ultrasound imaging systems and methods are disclosed to reduce speckle. The systems and methods include the use of an ultrasound device and a controller. The ultrasound device includes an end effector having a first jaw member and a second jaw member opposite the first jaw member. The first jaw member and the second jaw member move relative to one another to grasp tissue therebetween. A first ultrasound transducer is disposed on the first jaw member and a second ultrasound transducer is disposed on the second jaw member. The controller receives a first signal from the first ultrasound transducer and a second signal from the second ultrasound transducer and generates an image based on the first signal and the second signal. | 10-29-2015 |
20150320383 | Methods and Systems for Estimating a Size of an Object in a Subject with Ultrasound - A system and method for determining, via ultrasound, a size of a concretion in a subject are provided. One or more ultrasound pulses are transmitted into a tissue in the subject, which are then reflected from the tissue and received by the ultrasound transducer. A shadow region obscured by the concretion that does not provide reflected signals is generated, and the width of the shadow region is measured. The width of the object is determined based on the width of the shadow region. | 11-12-2015 |
20150320396 | ULTRASONOGRAPHY APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGING METHOD - An ultrasonography apparatus includes an acquiring unit, a calculating unit, a multiplying unit, and a generating unit. The acquiring unit acquires a plurality of reception signals that are generated by assigning various kinds of weights on multiple reflected wave signals to which a delay according to a position in a reception aperture is given, and by adding the weighted signals for respective kinds of the weights. The calculating unit calculates a coefficient corresponding to each of positions on a scan line of the reception signals, based on any one of a signal and pixel value of each of positions based on at least one reception signal. The multiplying unit multiplies any one of the values of each of positions based on at least one different reception signal from said reception signal(s) by the coefficient to acquire output data. The generating unit generates ultrasonic image data based on the data. | 11-12-2015 |
20150320402 | ULTRASOUND PROBE CAP AND METHOD FOR TESTING ULTRASOUND PROBE USING THE SAME AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM THEREOF - Provided is an ultrasound diagnosis system including an ultrasound probe apparatus transmitting an ultrasound signal to obtain an ultrasound image of a subject, and an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus constructing a database for ultrasound echo data of a normal operation of the piezoelectric device module provided in the ultrasound probe apparatus. | 11-12-2015 |
20150327840 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND CORRECTION METHOD - An ultrasonic diagnostic device includes transmission circuitry, reception circuitry, and signal processing circuitry. The transmission circuitry causes an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of elements to transmit plane waves at a plurality of different deflection angles. The reception circuitry generates reception signal groups based on reflection waves that the individual elements included in the probe receive in response to the transmission of the plane waves. The signal processing circuitry acquires a plurality of complex images corresponding to the respective deflection angles and estimates wavefront distortion at the time of transmission using the complex pixel values of the complex images, and performs correction processing on the reception signal groups based on the wavefront distortion at the time of the transmission to generate image data based on the complex pixel values of the complex images for the respective deflection angles that are acquired from the reception signal groups after the correction processing. | 11-19-2015 |
20150327841 | TRACKING IN ULTRASOUND FOR IMAGING AND USER INTERFACE - An ultrasound probe and corresponding method of obtaining motion related data for the ultrasound probe. The probe including a housing, a transducer located inside said housing having transducer elements in a predetermined configuration that generates ultrasound, transmits the generated ultrasound towards an object, and receives echoes that have been reflected from the object, a motion sensing device having a fixed position with respect to said housing and including a sensor configured to generate a movement signal indicative of at least one type of movement of the ultrasound probe, and processing circuitry configured to generate images from the echoes received by the transducer and to correct the generated images by image correlation based on the generated movement signal. | 11-19-2015 |
20150333627 | HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHING CIRCUIT AND ULTRASOUND PROBE - Disclosed herein are a high voltage switching circuit which includes one or more main switching devices connected to one or more current sources, and a control circuit unit configured to control a potential difference between terminals of each of the main switching devices within a predetermined range by receiving current from the one or more current sources. | 11-19-2015 |
20150335350 | PUNCTURE ADAPTER, ULTRASOUND PROBE, AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A puncture adapter according to the embodiment includes a first pressing part that has a first surface and a second surface serving as a surface opposite to the first surface; a second pressing part that has a third surface; a fixing part that fixes, when a probe body is covered with a cover, the first pressing part and the second pressing part to the probe body with the cover interposed between a cutout surface of a cutout portion of the probe body and the first surface of the first pressing part and with the third surface of the second pressing part brought into contact with the second surface of the first pressing part; and a guide groove that guides a puncture needle, and is formed on at least one of the second surface of the first pressing part and the third surface of the second pressing part. | 11-26-2015 |
20150342560 | Novel Algorithms for Feature Detection and Hiding from Ultrasound Images - An embodiment that relates to a method for detecting a fetus genitalia in an ultrasound image, having excluding regions from the ultrasound image, wherein the regions do not contain any feature of the fetus genitalia; identifying points of interest (POIs) from remaining regions of the ultrasound image; detecting the fetus genitalia from the POIs. | 12-03-2015 |
20150342568 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized in comprising: an ultrasonic probe for transmitting/receiving ultrasound to/from a subject; a reception beamformer for applying reception beamforming to ultrasonic echo signals obtained by the ultrasonic probe based on a plurality of different sound velocities; a spatial frequency analyzing section | 12-03-2015 |
20150342569 | Transparency control for medical diagnostic ultrasound flow imaging - Flow information can be overwhelming in medical color flow images, including volume color Doppler imaging and vector flow imaging. The flow of interest can be obscured or concealed by the adjacent flows in the displayed images. To enhance the color flow display and highlight the flow of interest, the transparency or opacity for each pixel or voxel in the flow data is modulated. Rather than or in addition to relying on color Doppler parameters, such as velocity amplitude, energy and variance, the direction of the flow is used to modulate transparency. | 12-03-2015 |
20150351725 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an image data generation section generates two-dimensional ultrasonic images of a subject; an image display processing section processes the two-dimensional ultrasonic images to generate a three-dimensional image; a mark setting section sets a mark in a region of interest of the three-dimensional image; and a controller controls to perform predetermined processing uses an information of the mark, when the space region corresponding to the mark is scanned by an ultrasonic probe in rescanning operation for the subject. | 12-10-2015 |
20150351726 | User event-based optimization of B-mode ultrasound imaging - B-mode ultrasound imaging is optimized for a user's region of interest. For B-mode imaging, a region of interest is determined. Some indication of a location or locations of interest to the user in the B-mode image is used to identify the region of interest. The parameters used for B-mode imaging are then set based on the identified region of interest rather than an entire B-mode field of view. Subsequent B-mode imaging is performed with these parameters optimized for the region. | 12-10-2015 |
20150351790 | System and Method for Minimally Invasive Tissue Treatment - Delivering ultrasonic energy to a target musculoskeletal tissue site includes connecting a delivery device to a vacuum source, a fluid source, and a power signal source. The delivery device has a housing portion maintaining an ultrasound transducer and a tip portion having a sleeve and a cannula. The cannula is coupled to the ultrasound transducer and received in the sleeve to define a covered portion and an exposed portion. Ultrasonic energy is generated by sending a power signal from the power signal source to the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasonic energy is transmitted from the ultrasound transducer to the cannula, such that the exposed portion of the cannula delivers ultrasonic energy at a frequency that is pre-selected to debride musculoskeletal tissue upon percutaneous insertion of the tip portion. | 12-10-2015 |
20150359507 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a tomographic image data generator, a blood flow information generator, a change detector, and a condition changing unit. The tomographic image data generator sequentially obtains tomographic image data of a subject for a plurality of times. The blood flow information generator performs processing on a reception signal based on signal processing conditions including a velocity threshold related to blood flow information of the subject to obtain the blood flow information. The change detector detects the magnitude of change in the time axis direction of a plurality of pieces of tomographic image data for different times. The condition changing unit changes the signal processing conditions based on the magnitude of change in the time axis direction. When the signal processing conditions are changed, the blood flow information generator performs the processing based on changed signal processing conditions. | 12-17-2015 |
20150359511 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic diagnostic device according to an embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe and transformer circuitry. The ultrasonic probe transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject and converts reflection waves reflected by the subject to a reflection wave signal. The transformer circuitry includes an auto transformer that transforms the reflection wave signal at a transformation ratio in accordance with a control signal based on information related to the ultrasonic probe among a plurality of transformation ratios. | 12-17-2015 |
20150359516 | ULTRASOUND APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD OF THE ULTRASOUND APPARATUS - An information providing method which is implementable by using an ultrasound apparatus includes obtaining ultrasound image data which relates to an object; displaying, on a first area of a screen, a gain setup window for setting a gain of the obtained ultrasound image data; receiving a gain which is set by a user on the gain setup window; and displaying, on a second area of the screen, an ultrasound image of the object to which the set gain is applied. | 12-17-2015 |
20150359518 | MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - The aim of the invention is to enable high-speed signal processing for a measurement apparatus, which performs imaging using adaptive signal processing, and spatial smoothing. The measurement apparatus generates image data inside an object using an analog signal obtained by receiving an ultrasound propagated inside the object with a plurality of ultrasound transducing devices, the measurement apparatus comprising: a received signal processing unit which converts the analog signal to a digital signal; a calculating unit which performs adaptive signal processing on the digital signal and generates image information; and a data reducing unit which reduces data amount of the digital signal transferred from the received signal processing unit to the calculating unit. | 12-17-2015 |
20150359519 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An object information acquiring apparatus is used that includes: an ultrasound probe that receives an acoustic wave propagating from an object and outputs an electric signal; and a processor that generates an image of the inside of the object, using the electric signal. The processor creates a frequency distribution of pixel values included in a region of interest including a point of interest in the image, classifies the point of interest on the basis of the shape of the frequency distribution and the position of the point of interest in the frequency distribution, and determines a pixel value of the point of interest on the basis of a classification result of the point of interest. | 12-17-2015 |
20150359520 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe ( | 12-17-2015 |
20150366531 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic sensor transmitting ultrasonic waves and sensing echo signals thereof; a signal processor processing the signals sensed by the ultrasonic sensor; a B-mode image generation unit generating a brightness mode (B-mode) image in a 2D plane based on the signal processing results by the signal processor and extracting left ventricle boundary data from the generated B-mode image; a C-mode image generation unit generating Doppler data for generation of a C-mode image based on the signal processing results by the signal processor; and a blood flow velocity vector calculation unit calculating a blood flow velocity vector in a 2D image plane based on a simultaneous equation composed of a relation equation between the extracted left ventricle boundary data, the Doppler data and the blood flow velocity vector, and a 2D Navier-Stokes equation obtained from image data generated through signal processing by the signal processor, wherein the Navier-Stokes equation further uses, as a variable, a mass source term representing distribution of source and sink of mass with respect to the 2D image plane. | 12-24-2015 |
20150374337 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes transmitting and receiving circuitry, adding circuitry, and image generating circuitry, and control circuitry. The transmitting and receiving circuitry performs, more than once on the same scan line, an ultrasound transmission and reception repeatedly performed with phase polarities being inverted on the same scan line, according to a number set as a scan condition parameter. The adding circuitry adds together reflected wave data received as a result of the ultrasound transmission and receptions. The image generating circuitry generates an image by using the reflected wave data that have been added together. The control circuitry controls the transmitting and receiving circuitry, based on a relation between the number of the ultrasound transmission and receptions and a scan condition parameter other than the number. | 12-31-2015 |
20150374340 | 3-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE PROVISION USING VOLUME SLICES IN AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing a plurality of 3-dimensional ultrasound images by using a plurality of volume slices in an ultrasound system are disclosed. The ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to acquire ultrasound data; a volume data forming unit configured to form volume data by using the ultrasound data; a user input unit for allowing a user to input a user instruction; and a processing unit configured to set a plurality of volume slice regions having different widths in the volume data in response to the user instruction and form a plurality of 3-dimensional ultrasound images by using volume slices defined by the volume slice regions. | 12-31-2015 |
20150374341 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING PROCESSING METHOD AND SYSTEM BASED ON RF DATA - An ultrasonic imaging processing method based on RF data includes the following steps: S | 12-31-2015 |
20150374343 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system ( | 12-31-2015 |
20160000398 | SCANNING TO IDENTIFY AND DELIMIT STATIONARY FLUID POOLS - Dynamically identifying a stationary body of fluid ( | 01-07-2016 |
20160000401 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING AN IMAGING PROTOCOL - Various methods and systems are provided for imaging a fetus. One example method for imaging a fetus includes obtaining genetic analysis information of the fetus, and adjusting an ultrasound image acquisition protocol based on the information. | 01-07-2016 |
20160000404 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasound probe, a calculator, a transmission and reception unit, and a medical image generator. The ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound probe configured to transmit and receive ultrasound waves to perform a scan in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The calculator calculates scan line densities each in the first direction and the second direction based on parameters as conditions for imaging. The transmission and reception unit drives the ultrasound transducer to transmit and receive ultrasound waves so that the scan line densities are at a predetermined ratio. The medical image generator generates a medical image based on the scan lines received. | 01-07-2016 |
20160000407 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM WITH PIXEL ORIENTED PROCESSING - An ultrasound imaging system with pixel oriented processing is provided in which an acoustic signal is generated, echoes from the acoustic signal are received at a plurality of receiving elements to obtain echo signals that are then stored, a given pixel is mapped into a region of the stored signals, the mapped region of the stored echo signals is organized into array for the given pixel after which the array is processed to generate a signal response for the given pixel to obtain acoustic information for the given pixel. The system can be implemented entirely on plug-in cards for a commercial PC motherboard. The system and method can be implemented for pixel-oriented or voxel-oriented image processing and display, eliminating intermediate data computations and enabling extensive use of software processing methods. Advantages include improved acquisition of signal dynamic range, flexible acquisition modes for high frame rate 2D, 3D, and Doppler blood flow imaging. | 01-07-2016 |
20160000411 | CONSISTENT SEQUENTIAL ULTRASOUND ACQUISITIONS FOR INTRA-CRANIAL MONITORING - A medical imaging probe ( | 01-07-2016 |
20160007920 | REMOTE DELIVERY AND MONITORING OF HEALTH CARE | 01-14-2016 |
20160007956 | Localization of Imaging Target Regions and Associated Systems and Devices | 01-14-2016 |
20160007966 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM CONFIGURED FOR LATERAL GAIN COMPENSATION | 01-14-2016 |
20160008090 | PUNCTURE NEEDLE GUIDING DEVICE AND IMAGE DATA FORMING APPARATUS | 01-14-2016 |
20160015360 | AUTOMATIC IMAGE SEGMENTATION - A computer implemented method, a computerized system and a computer program product for automatic image segmentation. The computer implemented method comprises obtaining an image of a tissue, wherein the image is produced using an imaging modality. The method further comprises automatically identifying, by a processor, a tissue segment within the image, wherein said identifying comprises identifying an artifact within the image, wherein the artifact is a misrepresentation of a tissue structure, wherein the misrepresentation is associated with the imaging modality; and searching for the tissue segment in a location adjacent to the artifact. | 01-21-2016 |
20160015363 | SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING FORCE AND TORQUE ON ULTRASOUND PROBE DURING IMAGING THROUGH STRAIN MEASUREMENT - An ultrasound system employs an ultrasound probe ( | 01-21-2016 |
20160026894 | Ultrasound Computed Tomography - Ultrasound Computed Tomography is a system of devices that reconstructs a series of 2 dimensional ultrasound images into a 3 dimensional computed tomographic model of an object by cataloguing ultrasound image frames according to the ultrasound probe's position in 3 dimensional space at the time of image capture. Capturing the position and orientation of an ultrasound probe at the time of image frame acquisition allows for appropriate placement of each 2 dimensional ultrasound image within a 3 dimensional computed tomographic workspace. Also subject of this patent is creation of a coherent 3 dimensional model of a body or body part through an algorithmic selection and weighting system to reconcile overlapping regions of ultrasound images captured from different positions. Additionally a system for acquisition of transmission based ultrasound images, made possible by positional cataloguing, is delineated. | 01-28-2016 |
20160038121 | 3D ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system ( | 02-11-2016 |
20160038123 | METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ENHANCED IMAGE OF A VOLUME OF TISSUE - A method and system for generating an enhanced image of a volume of tissue, comprising: emitting acoustic waveforms toward the volume of tissue; detecting acoustic signals derived from acoustic waveforms interacting with the volume of tissue; generating a reflection rendering of a region of the volume of tissue; generating at least one of a sound speed map and an attenuation map of the region of the volume of tissue; generating a transfer map derived from a set of sound speed parameter values of the sound speed map and/or a set of acoustic attenuation parameter values of the acoustic attenuation map, the set of sound speed parameter values and the set of acoustic attenuation parameters associated with the set of elements of the region of the volume of tissue; and rendering an enhanced image of the volume of tissue, derived from processing of the reflection rendering with the transfer map. | 02-11-2016 |
20160045183 | ELECTRONIC STETHOSCOPE APPARATUS, AUTOMATIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD - An electronic stethoscope apparatus includes a bioacoustics sensor configured to sense bioacoustics; a noise sensor configured to sense noise in the sensed bioacoustics; and a noise remover configured to remove the sensed noise and output the bioacoustics from which the noise has been removed. | 02-18-2016 |
20160045185 | Photoacoustic Imager - This photoacoustic imager includes a light source portion, a detection portion, an amplification portion and an imaging portion, and the amplification portion is so configured that an acoustic gain which is a gain of the amplification portion for amplifying a detection signal resulting from an acoustic wave is larger than an ultrasonic gain which is a gain of the amplification portion for amplifying a detection signal resulting from an ultrasonic wave. | 02-18-2016 |
20160051227 | ACOUSTIC DIODES AND METHODS OF USING SAME - Acoustic diodes, devices incorporating such diodes; and methods of using such devices are disclosed. An acoustic diode may include a periodic acoustic grating and a uniform plate. The periodic acoustic grating may include a plurality of .gratings. The uniform plate may foe separated from-the periodic acoustic-grating by a resonant cavity. The acoustic diode may be configured to have a first transmission, efficiency for acoustic waves incident on the periodic acoustic grating that is greater than a second transmission efficiency for acoustic waves incident on the uniform plate. The acoustic waves may have a. wavelength within a range of wavelengths. Devices incorporating the acoustic diode may include medical imaging devices, such as ultrasound devices, and noise reduction devices. | 02-25-2016 |
20160054901 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR OUTPUTTING MEDICAL IMAGE REPRESENTING OBJECT AND KEYBOARD IMAGE - Disclosed is a method of outputting a medical image representing an object and a keyboard image. The method includes displaying the medical image and the keyboard image in different regions of a single screen, performing image processing on the medical image, based on a first user input which is input via the keyboard image, and displaying a result of the image processing on the single screen. | 02-25-2016 |
20160058422 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS METHOD PERFORMED BY THE ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING THE ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS METHOD RECORDED THEREON - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and method capable of efficiently measuring the volume of an object is provided. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a data acquisition unit configured to acquire ultrasound image data regarding a object including a target bone which is to be diagnosed, and an image processing unit configured to acquire first information about at least one selected from a location of the target bone within an ultrasound image and a length of the target bone, based on volume data included in the ultrasound image data, acquire a boundary surface of a soft tissue that is adjacent to the target bone, based on the first information, and automatically acquire a volume of an interior of the boundary surface of the soft tissue. | 03-03-2016 |
20160066881 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BROADBAND INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND IMAGING - An ultrasound imaging system, a method for ultrasound imaging and a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions executable by one or more processors to perform the method for ultrasound imaging are presented. The method includes convolving one or more base ultrasound pulses corresponding to a particular frequency with a desired code to generate an extended excitation wave. Further, the extended excitation wave is transmitted to a broadband ultrasound transducer to be transmitted towards the target. Subsequently, echo signals reflected back from the target in response to the extended excitation wave are received and de-convolved. One or more ultrasound images of the target corresponding to multiple frequencies are generated based on the de-convolved echo signals. | 03-10-2016 |
20160074006 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FETAL VISUALIZATION BY COMPUTING AND DISPLAYING AN ULTRASOUND MEASURMENT AND GRAPHICAL MODEL - Various embodiments include a system and method that provide fetal visualization. The method can include acquiring, by an ultrasound system, ultrasound data for a region of interest. The method may include computing, by a processor of the ultrasound system, a fetal measurement based on the acquired ultrasound data. The method can include generating, by the processor, a graphical model based on one or more of the fetal measurement and the acquired ultrasound data. The method may include displaying, at a display system, the computed fetal measurement and the generated graphical model. | 03-17-2016 |
20160081665 | ULTRASONIC PROBE ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD OF ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic probe includes a transducer circuit configured to receive ultrasonic waves reflected from an object and output an ultrasonic signal based on the ultrasonic waves; a simulated circuit having circuit characteristics substantially the same as the transducer circuit and configured to output a noise signal; and a differential amplifier circuit configured to output a voltage difference between the ultrasonic signal and the noise signal. | 03-24-2016 |
20160081667 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment acquires a tomogram of a subject and displays the tomogram, based on a reception signal which is obtained by transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from the subject. The apparatus comprises maximum value memory circuitry, select circuitry, and an ultrasonic output controller. The maximum value memory circuitry stores a maximum value of an index value relating to an ultrasonic output, with respect to each of scan regions of the subject. The ultrasonic output controller acquires, from the maximum value memory circuitry, the maximum value of the index value corresponding to the scan region selected by the select circuitry, and controls the ultrasonic output such that the ultrasonic output does not exceed the maximum value of the index value. | 03-24-2016 |
20160089108 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF GENERATING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - A method of generating an ultrasound image includes: transmitting an ultrasound signal to scan lines in an object; receiving echo signals respectively corresponding to the scan lines from the object, the echo signals forming echo signal groups; and generating a B-flow image by partially overlapping the echo signal groups that are acquired by repeatedly performing the transmitting the ultrasound signal and the receiving the echo signals. The B-flow image represents a tissue component and a blood flow component. | 03-31-2016 |
20160089117 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD USING SYNTHETIC APERTURE FOCUSING - The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound transceiver supplying a driving signal to at least one transducer included in a probe and acquiring ultrasound data corresponding to at least one ultrasound echo signal received by the transducer; a controller performing control to acquire the ultrasound data based on at least one first ultrasound echo signal acquired by the ultrasound transceiver in response to an ultrasound signal transmitted to an object by the probe at a first position and at least one second ultrasound echo signal acquired by the ultrasound transceiver in response to an ultrasound signal transmitted to the object by the probe at a second position that is different from the first position; and an image processor generating an ultrasound image by using the ultrasound data. | 03-31-2016 |
20160095573 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe, image generation circuitry, acquisition circuitry, calculation circuitry, guide image generation circuitry, and control circuitry. The ultrasonic probe transmits ultrasonic waves, and receives reflected waves. The image generation circuitry generates cross-section image data based on the reflected waves. The acquisition circuitry acquires, from volume data corresponding to three-dimensional region containing a blood vessel inside the subject, cross-section position information corresponding to the cross-section image data. The calculation circuitry calculates collection position information in the volume data based on a running direction of a blood vessel contained in the volume data, the collection position information corresponding to a position from which blood flow velocity information is collected. The guide image generation circuitry generates guide image data based on the cross-section position information and the collection position information. The control circuitry causes the guide image data to be displayed. | 04-07-2016 |
20160095575 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR QUANTITATIVE DYNAMIC EVALUATION OF SKELETAL MUSCLES FUNCTIONALITY - The invention relates to a method for quantitative dynamic evaluation of skeletal muscles functionality comprising the following steps: a) receiving one or more sequences of two-dimensional or three- dimensional echographic images of the muscle under investigation; b) transforming such sequence or sequences of images in sequences of measurements of deformations and/or strain rates in more spatial locations of the muscle or the muscles to evaluate; c) outputting such sequences of spatial measurements in numeric and/or graphical format. A corresponding device is also disclosed. | 04-07-2016 |
20160106377 | Photoacoustic Imager and Photoacoustic Imaging Method - A photoacoustic imager includes a light source portion, a detection portion, and an imaging portion, and the imaging portion is configured to generate a photoacoustic wave image indicating a detection object in motion by acquiring difference data of signals acquired on the basis of a plurality of photoacoustic wave signals detected at different times of generated photoacoustic wave signals. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109563 | BEAMFORMING APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS, AND BEAMFORMING METHOD - A beamforming apparatus, an ultrasound imaging apparatus, and a beamforming method are disclosed. The beamforming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may include a filter to select predetermined first columns, which correspond to low-frequency components, among columns that composes a transform function; and a beamforming processor to transform an input signal to another space by using a transform function composed of the predetermined selected first columns, and generate a beam signal through signal processing in the transformed space. | 04-21-2016 |
20160113620 | Method for Monitoring of Medical Treatment Using Pulse-Echo Ultrasound - A method for ultrasound imaging of anatomical tissue. A first signal is received from a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected from a location in the anatomical tissue during a first time period. A second signal is received from a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected from the location in the anatomical tissue during a later second time period, following a discrete medical treatment. The second signal is subtracted from the first signal to form a difference signal. The difference signal may be scaled, spatially filtered, then used to generate an indication, the indication showing the effect of the medical treatment in the location in the anatomical tissue. | 04-28-2016 |
20160113629 | ULTRASOUND OBSERVATION APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND OBSERVATION SYSTEM, AND ACTUATION METHOD FOR ULTRASOUND OBSERVATION APPARATUS - An ultrasound observation apparatus including a displacement calculating section that measures displacement of a subject based on an ultrasound signal, an elastic-image generating section that generates an elastic image based on the measured displacement, a memory section that stores generated one or more elastic images, a determination-region setting section that sets a proper-image determination region for proper image determination in the elastic image according to a size of an ROI, a characteristic calculating section that calculates a region characteristic of the proper-image determination region, and a proper-image determining section that determines based on the region characteristic whether the elastic image is a proper image. | 04-28-2016 |
20160120502 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING AND CHARACTERIZING TISSUES USING FIRST-ORDER AND SECOND-ORDER STATISTICS OF QUANTITATIVE ULTRASOUND PARAMETRIC MAPS - Systems and methods for classifying tissue using quantitative ultrasound techniques. Parameters are calculated directly from raw echo signal data acquired from a region-of-interest during an ultrasound scan and parametric maps are produced using these parameters. These parameters can be calculated after normalizing the echo signal data using reference data so as to mitigate the effects of variations in instruments settings, ultrasound beam diffraction, and attenuation effects. First-order and second-order statistical measures are computed from these parametric maps, and are used to classify the tissue or tissues in the region-of-interest. Using these systems and methods, tissue can be classified with different levels of classification. For example, a tissue characterized as malignant cancer can additionally be graded (e.g., Grade I, II, or III). | 05-05-2016 |
20160120508 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus for emitting ultrasound waves to an examination object and obtaining an ultrasound image is provided. The apparatus includes a touch display configured to display a screen that includes the ultrasound image, and a controller configured to receive a touch input associated with the ultrasound image, and set a focus or depth of the ultrasound image to be displayed based on a touched position. | 05-05-2016 |
20160120512 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, INTERPOLATION PROCESSING UNIT, AND INTERPOLATION PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes at least a memory circuitry, a processing circuitry, a data interpolation circuitry, and an image generating circuitry. The memory circuitry stores a plurality of pieces of reception data in an order of reception, the plurality of pieces of reception data being received continuously in a time series by a plurality of transducers, and is specified reading positions in an order different from the order of reception. The processing circuitry calculates a delay time, and calculates, based on the delay time, reading positions for acquiring reception data being used for calculating interpolation data from the memory circuitry. The data interpolation circuitry calculates interpolating data based on the plurality of pieces of reception data acquired from the calculated reading positions of the memory circuitry. The image generating circuitry generates an ultrasonic image based on a reception beam formed by using the interpolation data. | 05-05-2016 |
20160120513 | ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS, AND ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT METHOD - An ultrasonic measurement apparatus includes a transmission processing unit that performs processing for transmitting an ultrasonic wave with respect to a target object, a reception processing unit that performs reception processing of an ultrasonic echo with respect to the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and a processing unit that performs processing with respect to a reception signal from the reception processing unit. The processing unit performs coupling coefficient specification processing of a plurality of first basis waves which configure the reception signal, with respect to the reception signal corresponding to a transmission pulse signal which is transmitted by the transmission processing unit. The processing unit performs conversion processing for converting the reception signal into a reconfiguration signal based on a plurality of coupling coefficients which are specified through the coupling coefficient specification processing, and a second basis wave having a wavenumber less than that of the first basis wave. | 05-05-2016 |
20160120514 | ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT DEVICE, ULTRASONIC IMAGING DEVICE, AND ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT METHOD - An ultrasonic measurement device | 05-05-2016 |
20160120515 | ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT DEVICE AND ULTRASONIC IMAGING DEVICE - An ultrasonic measurement device | 05-05-2016 |
20160125640 | MEDICAL IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING MEDICAL IMAGE - Provided is a medical imaging apparatus. The medical imaging apparatus includes: a user interface configured to receive an input for setting a region of interest (ROI) in a first medical image and an input for setting first volume rendering properties for the ROI and second volume rendering properties for a remaining region of the first medical image other than the ROI; an image generator configured to generate a second medical image by performing volume rendering on the ROI and the remaining region other than the ROI based on the first and second volume rendering properties, respectively; and a display configured to display the second medical image. | 05-05-2016 |
20160128675 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus includes a speckle energy analyzer configured to analyze speckle energy of an ultrasound image signal, the ultrasound image signal being received from an ultrasound probe, and an image decomposer configured to decompose the ultrasound image signal into one or more ultrasound image signals of different frequency bands, based on the analyzed speckle energy of the ultrasound image signal. | 05-12-2016 |
20160151040 | LUNG TISSUE IDENTIFICATION IN ANATOMICALLY INTELLIGENT ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY | 06-02-2016 |
20160151042 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS | 06-02-2016 |
20160157818 | PROBE, ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS - A probe includes a transducer array including a transducer element, the transducer element including cells connected in parallel to each other, and a current detector configured to apply a voltage to the cells of the transducer element, or to output an electrical signal based on currents output from the cells. | 06-09-2016 |
20160157822 | PORTABLE ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a flexible display and a controller which changes a layout of an image displayed on the flexible display. An image necessary for diagnosing an object is appropriately disposed on a flexible display according to a situation, and thus, the user can intuitively determine an ultrasonic image. | 06-09-2016 |
20160157831 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING COMPUTER-AIDED DIAGNOSIS - An apparatus and a method for supporting Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) are provided. The apparatus includes a cause analyzer configured to analyze a cause of a reliability of a diagnosis result of a medical image being lower than a level, the medical image being captured using a probe, and a guide information generator configured to generate guide information of an operation of the probe based on the analyzed cause. | 06-09-2016 |
20160157832 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPUTER AIDED DIAGNOSIS (CAD), AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ULTRASONIC TRANSMISSION PATTERN OF PROBE - An apparatus and a method for Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) and an apparatus for controlling an ultrasonic transmission pattern of a probe, are provided. The apparatus for controlling the ultrasonic transmission pattern is configured to transmit ultrasonic signals to an object in directions, and receive ultrasonic echo signals in response to the ultrasonic signals being reflected from the object. The apparatus for controlling the ultrasonic transmission pattern includes a determiner configured to determine, based on pressure that is applied on the probe, a number of transmission directions in which the ultrasonic signals are to be transmitted, and determine the transmission directions in which the ultrasonic signals are to be transmitted, based on the determined number of the transmission directions. The apparatus further includes an energy controller configured to control energy of each of the ultrasonic signals based on the determined number of the transmission directions. | 06-09-2016 |
20160166237 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS | 06-16-2016 |
20160170618 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING BODY MARKER INDICATING OBJECT | 06-16-2016 |
20160174941 | METHOD OF ULTRASOUND IMAGING AND ULTRASOUND SCANNER | 06-23-2016 |
20160183923 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PROCESSING ULTRASOUND IMAGE - Provided are an ultrasound imaging apparatus and a method of processing an ultrasound image. The ultrasound imaging apparatus includes a display configured to display a moving image consisting of a plurality of ultrasound images that are played back according to a time order together with at least one icon, corresponding to at least one piece of change information for changing a display of at least one of the plurality of ultrasound images, in association with the time order. | 06-30-2016 |
20160183927 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY CHANGING AN IMPEDANCE OF A TRANSMIT/RECEIVE SWITCH - Various embodiments include a system and method that enhance performance of an ultrasound system by dynamically changing an impedance of a transmit/receive switch. The system can include a transmit/receive switch and a low noise amplifier. The transmit/receive switch may be configured to switch between a transmit phase and a receive phase of an ultrasound scan. The transmit/receive switch may provide a receive signal communicated from an ultrasound transducer to a low noise amplifier when in the receive phase. An impedance of the transmit/receive switch may be dynamically adjusted by changing a resistance of the transmit/receive switch while the transmit/receive switch is in the receive phase. The low noise amplifier may be configured to amplify the receive signal. In various embodiments, a gain of the low noise amplifier is independent of the resistance of the transmit/receive switch. | 06-30-2016 |
20160192907 | CLUTTER SUPPRESSION IN ULTRASONIC IMAGING SYSTEMS | 07-07-2016 |
20160199028 | WIRELESS ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME | 07-14-2016 |
20160199038 | ULTRASOUND SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE | 07-14-2016 |
20160249814 | Medical Device for the Detection, Measurement, in an Unbloody and Non-Invasive Manner, and Transmission of Vital, Biomedical Parameters, such as Cardiovascular and Respiratory Parameters, of a Human Body | 09-01-2016 |
20180021017 | A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING A REGION OF INTEREST ON A CURRENT ULTRASONIC IMAGE | 01-25-2018 |
20180021018 | HAND-HELD MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM WITH THUMB CONTROLLER AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUSES AND METHODS | 01-25-2018 |
20190142393 | ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL DRIVE CIRCUITRY HAVING BUILT-IN TIME GAIN COMPENSATION FUNCTIONALITY FOR ULTRASOUND APPLICATIONS | 05-16-2019 |
20190147645 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIGHTING IN RENDERED IMAGES | 05-16-2019 |
20220133266 | ULTRASOUND SONOGRAPHIC IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A sonographic imaging device involves an at least one movable panel, coupled to an upper surface, wherein movement of the panel will alter the overall size of the opening, a tub positioned beneath the opening and defining a volume such that a body part of a human subject can freely protrude through the opening into the volume defined by the tub, at least one robotic arm having a terminal end, wherein the terminal end is position-able to multiple locations within the volume defined by the tub, and at least one high frequency ultrasound transducer located near the terminal end. A related method of acquiring sonographic images of tissue of a human subject is also described. | 05-05-2022 |
20220133278 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SEGMENTATION AND RENDERING OF INVERTED DATA - Systems and methods for preprocessing three dimensional (3D) data prior to generating inverted renders are disclosed herein. The preprocessing may include segmenting the 3D data to remove portions of the data associated with noise such that those portions do not appear in the generated render. The segmentation may include applying a mask to the 3D data. The mask may be generated by sorting data points in the 3D data set into a first set or a second set. In some examples, the 3D data may be filtered prior to generating the mask. In some examples, the mask may be adjusted based on feature recognition. The preprocessing may allow the visualization of hypoechoic regions of interest in a volume. | 05-05-2022 |
20220133280 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM STORING THEREIN COMPUTER-READABLE PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus for generating a tomographic image of a subject by transmitting and receiving an ultrasound, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including: a hardware processor that: detects a blood vessel imaged in the tomographic image; determines whether an image of the blood vessel which has been detected falls under either a short axis view or a long axis view by an image analysis of the tomographic image; and sets a steering angle of an ultrasound beam used in measuring conditions of the detected blood vessel or a blood flow velocity in the detected blood vessel, based on a determination result of the image of the blood vessel. | 05-05-2022 |