Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
600458000 | Contrast enhancement | 71 |
20080208059 | Microbubble Generating Technique For Phase Aberration Correction - Method and system for ultrasound imaging of body tissue in which a focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer ( | 08-28-2008 |
20080228079 | CLINICAL UTILIZATION OF CONTRAST AGENTS TO DEFINE SPECIFIC AREAS WITHIN THE MYOCARDIAL WALL TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND LOCALIZATION FOR ABLATION, CYROABLATION, OR OTHER TECHNIQUES IN PATIENTS WITH POST MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for ablating non-viable cardiac tissue. In an embodiment, the method may include locating non-viable cardiac tissue utilizing an electronic medical image. The method may also include locating non-viable cardiac tissue utilizing an ultrasound unit, wherein a contrast agent is used to characterize the non-viable cardiac tissue. The method may also include guiding a catheter to the location of the non-viable cardiac tissue according to the imaging of the ultrasound unit. The method may also include ablating the non-viable cardiac tissue. The ablating of the non-viable cardiac tissue may include cauterizing the non-viable cardiac tissue, cyroablating the non-viable cardiac tissue, or include radiofrequency ablation. The method may also include attempting to locate the non-viable cardiac tissue utilizing an electronic medical image after ablating the non-viable cardiac tissue. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228080 | Perfusion Assessment Method and System Based on Bolus Administration - A perfusion assessment system is proposed. The system includes means for providing an echo-power signal indicative of a perfusion of a contrast agent in a body-part under analysis, the contrast agent being administered as a bolus and undergoing a significant destruction during a passage of the contrast agent in the body-part, means for associating the echo-power signal to a model function including the product between a bolus function indicative of the passage of the contrast agent without said destruction and a reperfusion function indicative of a reperfusion of the contrast agent in the body part following the destruction corresponding to a substantially constant inflow of the contrast agent, and means for estimating at least one perfusion indicator from the bolus function and/or the reperfusion function. | 09-18-2008 |
20080242998 | ULTRASONIC CONTRAST IMAGING METHOD AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic contrast imaging method includes: a contrast medium destroying step of transmitting an ultrasonic wave for destroying a contrast medium in a portion close to an ultrasonic probe; and an imaging step of acquiring an ultrasonic image after destruction of the contrast medium in the portion close to the ultrasonic probe. | 10-02-2008 |
20080242999 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC VELOCITY OPTIMIZATION METHOD - A resolution optimization unit determines an optimal sound velocity corresponding to a tissue component at each position in a scan slice, and calculates a reception delay time or the like for each reception beam from each position in the scan slice. A control processor executes delay addition processing in a scan for acquiring an ultrasonic image actually used for diagnosis by using the reception delay time calculated using an optimal sound velocity. This can correct the difference between the set sound velocity used for the calculation of a reception delay time and the actual in vivo sound velocity and acquire an ultrasonic image with optimized resolution. | 10-02-2008 |
20080275345 | Ultrasonic Diagnostic Contrast Imaging at Moderate Mi Levels - A method and device for imaging contrast agents which oscillate nonlinearly in a nondestructive mode at an MI in excess of 0.1 is described. Three transmit pulses are transmitted in each beam direction which are differently modulated. In an illustrated embodiment the transmit pulses are symmetrically differently phase modulated at 0°, 120° and 240°. The echoes received in response to each transmit pulse are stored and combined by a pulse inversion processor. Pulse inversion processing results in separation of the third harmonic to the relative exclusion of the first and second harmonic signal components. Third harmonic images of the contrast image are formed which exhibit a relatively low tissue background. | 11-06-2008 |
20080281205 | Methods and Apparatuses For Medical Imaging - A method for detection, localization, and quantification anatomical, morphological or structural features of site sites by analyzing data acquired before injection of a contrast agent and after injection the contrast agent. New catheters for use with the method is also disclosed. | 11-13-2008 |
20080294049 | Targeted contrast agent imaging with medical diagnostic ultrasound - Contrast agent enhanced medical diagnostic imaging is provided. Substantially stationary or bound contrast agents are detected. By tracking relative motion between frames of data, spatial locations associated with consistent detection of contrast agents are identified. The contrast agent detected at the identified spatial locations are substantially stationary contrast agents. | 11-27-2008 |
20080312535 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - The present invention aims to provide a tissue-function measurement device and a therapeutic device which are not dependent on tissue shape. According to the present invention, the stiffness of a tissue is measured by using, as an index, acoustic variation during the generation of microbubbles from phase-change nano droplets. The acoustic variation is, for example, a duration time of the generation of a harmonic. | 12-18-2008 |
20080319320 | METHOD OF IMAGING LYMPHATIC SYSTEM USING NANOCAPSULE COMPOSITIONS - A composition is provided accompanying nanoparticles having diameters in the range of about 100 to 800 nanometers with hollow cores and outer shells with mechanical properties such that they rupture on exposure to predetermined ultrasound energy. The composition is useful for identifying sentinel lymph nodes. | 12-25-2008 |
20090012400 | Contrast Agent Imaging With Agent Specific Ultrasound Detection - Highly specific measurements of flow in vessels, such as the coronary artery, can be obtained by processing cubic fundamental information. By showing flow in vessels with a high degree of contrast-to-tissue specificity, ultrasound based 3D contrast agent based coronary artery angiograms may be possible. Measurement and display of the velocity of agent from the cubic fundamental signal is provided simultaneously with display of cubic fundamental energy, such as providing a display map indexed by both energy and velocity. High pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for cubic fundamental detection in conjunction with long velocity measurement intervals may increase low velocity sensitivity and measurement precision. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler may be improved by using a cubic fundamental sensitive pulse sequence. Using cubic fundamental sensitive techniques with other motion estimation techniques, such as two-dimensional velocity estimation or speckle tracking, may operate better than using other contrast agent detection techniques because of substantially reduced clutter. | 01-08-2009 |
20090030322 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC IMAGING METHOD - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: an image acquisition unit which acquires B-mode image information on an imaging region lying within a subject; a display unit which displays the B-mode image information thereon; a contrast agent inflow start detecting device which detects an inflow timing at which a contrast agent administered to the subject starts to flow in the imaging region, using the B-mode image information; and a post-processing starting device which starts up post-processing conducted after the contrast agent has started to flow in the imaging region, in sync with the inflow timing. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030323 | Ultrasound and Microbubbles in Ocular Diagnostics and Therapies - The present disclosure described methods, systems, and techniques for applying contrast-enhanced ultrasound to locate areas of blockage within retinal vessels and to break up clots that are causing damage. In addition to identifying the damaged area, the researchers anticipate that the initial image may serve as a baseline for monitoring the effect of treatment on the vessel, which may be achieved in multiple ways. The vibration effect of the ultrasound itself may suffice to dislodge clots. The microbubbles may also be coated or filled with medication, with ultrasonic shock waves activating the coating or causing mini explosions to release the medicine. Loading the microbubbles with a therapeutic agent, visualizing their presence at the diseased site using the ultrasound diagnostic mode, and then activating the microbubbles to release their contents at the targeted lesion could be a powerful and effective way to reverse occlusion without harming other areas of the eye or body. | 01-29-2009 |
20090076391 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LEADING MACROMOLECULE SUBSTANCES INTO LIVING TARGET CELLS - A method and system for leading macromolecule substances into target cells includes an image picking unit, an image merging unit, an injection unit, and an energy conversion module. The image picking unit is used for picking up the three-dimensional (3D) and the 3D blood vessel photographic images of the tissue or organ where the target cells locate. The image merging unit is used for merging the 3D structure images into the 3D blood vessel photographic images, therefore choosing a blood vessel passage fully covering the target cells for transmitting the macromolecule substances. The injection unit is used for injecting liquid and transmitting the macromolecule substances to the target cells. The energy conversion module is used for exerting energy to activate the liquid to perform biological effects, thereby forming non-permanent holes in the cell membranes of the target cells. The macromolecule substances enter into the target cells through the non-permanent holes. | 03-19-2009 |
20090082671 | Contrast Agent Imaging With Agent Specific Ultrasound Detection - Highly specific measurements of flow in vessels, such as the coronary artery, can be obtained by processing cubic fundamental information. By showing flow in vessels with a high degree of contrast-to-tissue specificity, ultrasound based 3D contrast agent based coronary artery angiograms may be possible. Measurement and display of the velocity of agent from the cubic fundamental signal is provided simultaneously with display of cubic fundamental energy, such as providing a display map indexed by both energy and velocity. High pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for cubic fundamental detection in conjunction with long velocity measurement intervals may increase low velocity sensitivity and measurement precision. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler may be improved by using a cubic fundamental sensitive pulse sequence. Using cubic fundamental sensitive techniques with other motion estimation techniques, such as two-dimensional velocity estimation or speckle tracking, may operate better than using other contrast agent detection techniques because of substantially reduced clutter. | 03-26-2009 |
20090082672 | Contrast Agent Imaging With Agent Specific Ultrasound Detection - Highly specific measurements of flow in vessels, such as the coronary artery, can be obtained by processing cubic fundamental information. By showing flow in vessels with a high degree of contrast-to-tissue specificity, ultrasound based 3D contrast agent based coronary artery angiograms may be possible. Measurement and display of the velocity of agent from the cubic fundamental signal is provided simultaneously with display of cubic fundamental energy, such as providing a display map indexed by both energy and velocity. High pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for cubic fundamental detection in conjunction with long velocity measurement intervals may increase low velocity sensitivity and measurement precision. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler may be improved by using a cubic fundamental sensitive pulse sequence. Using cubic fundamental sensitive techniques with other motion estimation techniques, such as two-dimensional velocity estimation or speckle tracking, may operate better than using other contrast agent detection techniques because of substantially reduced clutter. | 03-26-2009 |
20090105595 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus which acquires tomographic image information of a subject to which a contrast agent is administered, and displays the tomographic image information, includes an administration time timer which is started up while said acquisition is being performed and which measures a time that elapses from a time of said start-up to which a predetermined offset time is added, and an offset time setting device which sets the offset time to the administration time timer when said start-up is performed. | 04-23-2009 |
20090112097 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD - An ultrasound imaging apparatus includes: an image acquisition unit for emitting ultrasound waves to a subject administered with a contrast agent and for obtaining a B-mode image of the subject; an image memory unit for storing a plurality of B-mode images, obtained by emitting ultrasound waves to the subject at a sound pressure destroying the contrast agent; and a combination image formation device for forming a combination image from a plurality of the B-mode images. | 04-30-2009 |
20090124907 | Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging System and Method for Detecting Lesions of the Liver - Significant liver growths such as HCC lesions are detected during a contrast agent ultrasound exam by their early reception of contrast and brightening following a bolus injection, as compared with surrounding normal tissue and benign growths. A pixel classifier looks for and identifies pixel or voxel regions where this early wash-in of contrast occurs and denotes these pixel or voxel locations in a parametric image. The pixel classifier analyzes pixel or voxel values from a sequence of images and identifies suspicious regions in an image by uniquely coding the points in a parametric liver image where early wash-in occurs. | 05-14-2009 |
20090124908 | Method And Apparatus For Detecting Ultrasound Contrast Agents In Arterioles - A method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging of microbubbles of a contrast agent in arterioles while all microbubbles of the contrast agent have been eliminated in the capillaries of a patient and tissue signal response to ultrasound imaging is suppressed. This method and apparatus permits ultrasound imaging for detecting coronary artery disease without the need for a stress test. | 05-14-2009 |
20090171215 | ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes an image obtaining unit for irradiating an imaging region in a subject to which a contrast agent is injected with an ultrasonic wave and obtaining tomographic image information that draws the imaging region, an input unit for inputting scan parameter value information which is set in the image obtaining unit and a target sound pressure parameter value of a sound pressure parameter as an index of an estimated sound pressure in the subject, an estimated maximum sound pressure parameter value calculating device, at the time of performing the irradiation, for calculating an estimated maximum sound pressure parameter value in the subject on the basis of the scan parameter value information and maximum drive voltage information of a piezoelectric transducer group for generating the ultrasonic wave, and a maximum drive voltage optimization device, each time the scan parameter value information is changed, for comparing the estimated maximum sound pressure parameter value calculated by using the estimated maximum sound pressure parameter value calculating device and the target sound pressure parameter value with each other and optimizing the maximum drive voltage value of the maximum drive voltage information. | 07-02-2009 |
20090187106 | Synchronized combining for contrast agent enhanced medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging - Contrast agent enhanced medical diagnostic imaging is provided. Frames of data from common phase periods are grouped. Motion correction is performed within each common phase group. An image representing contrast agents is formed from a combination of the frames within each common phase, motion corrected group. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187107 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND CONTROL PROGRAM THEREOF - A transmission/reception unit executes first ultrasonic transmission using a sound pressure that does not substantially destroy the contrast medium bubbles and is required to obtain an ultrasonic image of the subject and a second ultrasonic transmission using a sound pressure that is required to destroy the contrast medium bubbles and higher than the sound pressure in the first ultrasonic transmission based on a transmission parameter specified by a control processor in accordance with each frame or each volume. The control processor changes the transmission parameter concerning the second ultrasonic transmission in accordance with time with respect to the transmission/reception unit. | 07-23-2009 |
20090204003 | TRACKING SELECTION FOR MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND IMAGING - Data is captured for different contrast agent perfusion imaging options. For example, two different maximum intensity projection (MIP) combinations of frames are formed during scanning, one with motion correction and one without. As another example, the component frames of data are stored to allow any combination after scanning. If one combination is less desirable, then another combination may be provided without requiring further injection or additional scanning. In another embodiment, the sufficiency of combination is detected and the combination of frames is selected automatically as a function of ultrasound data. | 08-13-2009 |
20090299189 | DUAL-FREQUENCY ULTRASOUND IMAGING OF CONTRAST AGENTS - A method and system for imaging a tissue having contrast agents dispersed therein by exciting nonlinear response of the contrast agents using dual-frequency ultrasound, including transmitting a dual-frequency ultrasound to a target zone having the contrast agents dispersed therein, both frequencies of the dual-frequency ultrasound being higher than a resonance frequency of the contrast agents, and a frequency difference between the frequencies of the dual-frequency ultrasound is within a predetermined range surrounding the resonance frequency of the contrast agents. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299190 | Ultrasound Molecular Sensors and Uses Thereof - The present invention relates to the use of polymers as contrast agents for ultrasounds. The idea is to have a molecular imprint in the polymer that is specific for a given molecule or analyte. When that molecule binds to the polymer it induces a conformational change that results in an increase in the ultrasound signal, referred to as a target-bound state. The method can also be used for example for quantitative measurements of analytes. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299191 | Extravasation Detection In An Ultrasound System - Embodiments for detecting extravasation in an ultrasound system are disclosed. The ultrasound system includes a Tx/Rx unit to transmit an ultrasound beam to a target object and receive ultrasound echoes reflected from the target object to thereby output receive signals. The receive signals include first receive signals obtained before injecting a fluid into the target object and second receive signals obtained after injecting the fluid into the target object. The ultrasound system further includes a processing unit to form a first ultrasound image based on the first receive signals and a second ultrasound image based on the second receive signal. The processing unit further compares the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image for detecting extravasation at the target object. | 12-03-2009 |
20090306514 | 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. | 12-10-2009 |
20100036255 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A signal generation unit | 02-11-2010 |
20100056924 | CONTROL AND DISPLAY OF ULTRASONIC MICROBUBBLE CAVITATION - An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is used to insonify a subject infused with a microbubble contrast agent. At low energy levels stable cavitation occurs as the bubbles oscillate radially without breaking up. At higher energy levels the bubbles dissolve or break up, termed inertial cavitation. Echo signals from microbubbles are bandpass filtered to produce signal components in a subharmonic band, indicative of stable cavitation, and signal component in a higher harmonic band indicative of inertial cavitation. Detection of the mode of cavitation is used to automatically or manually control the mode of cavitation by controlling the transmitted acoustic energy of the system. | 03-04-2010 |
20100081938 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a display device for displaying an ultrasonic image of a subject has been given a contrast medium, a setting device for setting a region of interest in an ultrasonic image displayed in the display device, and a computing device for computing a time intensity curve indicating time change in the average brightness of the pixels in a set region of interest. The computing device excludes pixels corresponding to a non-observed object in a region of interest when computing a time intensity curve. | 04-01-2010 |
20100113933 | CHIRP REVERSAL ULTRASOUND CONTRAST IMAGING - The invention relates to a method for detecting and imaging ultrasound echo signals returned from a target object comprising microbubbles, said microbubbles being characterized by a resonance frequency, said method comprising the steps of irradiating said target object with at least a first and second successive excitation signals, said first excitation signal being a sweep of increasing frequency with time, and said second excitation signal being a sweep of decreasing frequency with time, detecting echo signals of said first and second excitation signals from said target object, and, combining said echo signals. The maximum frequencies of said first and second excitation signals are lower than said resonance frequency. The invention also relates to an imaging apparatus. | 05-06-2010 |
20100241001 | Ultrasound Methods, Systems and Computer Program Products for Imaging Fluids - Ultrasound systems for identifying a presence of injected fluid in a region of interest are provided. The ultrasound system includes a controller configured to obtain first and second image data sets of a region of interest from an ultrasound transducer array. A decorrelation module is configured to identify a decorrelation region of decorrelated data that is decorrelated between the first and second image data sets. The decorrelation region indicates a presence of injected fluid in the region of interest. | 09-23-2010 |
20100274135 | ULTRASONOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION OF A SENTINEL LYMPH NODE - A method of detecting at least one axillary sentinel lymph node using ultrasonography is described. The method comprises injecting an iron hydroxide compound into a patient at or near a suspected tumor site in the breast and waiting an amount of time required for the iron hydroxide compound to enter cells of the sentinel lymph node. The axillary area near the injection site may then be analyzed using ultrasonography to identify at least one sentinel lymph node. Once identified, a small sample of tissue from the identified sentinel lymph node may be taken for pathological analysis to aid in determination of the stage or extent of breast cancer. | 10-28-2010 |
20100298709 | METHOD FOR NONLINEAR IMAGING OF ULTRASOUND CONTRAST AGENTS AT HIGH FREQUENCIES - This invention employs multiple ultrasound pulse firings of either alternating phase and/or amplitude to detect nonlinear fundamental and subharmonic signals from microbubble contrast agents within living tissue, at high frequencies (≧15 MHz), e.g., with a linear array transducer. It can be shown that the contrast-to-tissue ratio (CTR) decreases with increasing ultrasound frequency because of nonlinear ultrasound propagation in tissue. However, using the subharmonic signal in addition to the nonlinear fundamental harmonic component, rather than the conventional second harmonic used at lower frequencies, provides appreciable signal strength to overcome the limitations of nonlinear tissue propagation. Additionally, the method provides for the ability to switch, at some desired frequency above 20 MHz, into a purely alternating phase inversion acquisition, in combination with bandpass filtering of the subharmonic frequency band, minimizing the losses in CTR as the frequency increases. This maintains contrast sensitivity for more limited fields of view, as penetration depth will be limited at higher frequencies. Thus, within the same micro-ultrasound imaging system, many applications of microbubble detection can be achieved with a wide range of frequencies that covers both resolution and sensitivity requirements. | 11-25-2010 |
20100298710 | THERAPY ASSESSMENT WITH ULTRASOUND 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 |
20110077524 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC CONTRAST IMAGING METHOD - Ultrasonic diagnostic arrangements (apparatus, methods, etc.) including: an ultrasonic probe or operation for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to an object to be tested and receiving an ultrasonic wave from the object; a transmitter or operation for pulse-driving the ultrasonic probe to transmit an ultrasonic beam to the object; a reception phasing unit or operation for performing phasing on reflected echo signals received by the ultrasonic probe, the reception phasing unit separately performing phasing at multiple phasing frequencies on the reflected echo signals received in response to at least one transmission of the ultrasonic beam; an image generator or operation for generating an ultrasonic image based on the phased received signal. | 03-31-2011 |
20110082374 | Method For Assessing Vascular Disease by Quantitatively Measuring Vaso Vasorum - A method and system for quantifying the extent of vaso vasorum with contrast enhanced ultrasound and correlating that quantitative value to the risk for vascular disease is provided. An ultrasound contrast agent is administered to a subject and images are obtained using an imaging method that identifies the uptake of the contrast agent by tissues. The amount of uptake is measured and the corresponding signal intensity change correlated with the amount of vaso vasorum present. Additionally, deformations of the vasculature are measured from the series of ultrasound images and this information is coupled with the quantification of the vaso vasorum to determine a risk index indicative of a subject's risk to vascular disease. | 04-07-2011 |
20110190635 | ULTRASOUND SCANNER WITH GEL DISPENSER DEVICE ATTACHED TO OR INTEGRATED WITH AT LEAST ONE PROBE AND USE - The invention relates to an ultrasound scanner comprising a gel distributing device which is attached, or built into, at least one signal emitting probe. The ultrasound scanner is provided with a gel holder for gel used to transmit ultrasound waves for medical, paramedical and/or veterinary procedure purposes. The holder is fixed to the probe and has an opening in the vicinity of the signal emitting or receiving window of the probe. The holder is a tight, sterile, supple pouch, which is tightly connected by tubes or the equivalent to a pump which, in turn, is tightly connected to at least one probe. The invention also relates to the use of the fluid circuit of the ultrasound scanner, comprising at least the tight, sterile, supple pouch that is tightly connected via the tube to the pump set which, in turn, is tightly connected via the tube for supplying the signal emitting and/or receiving window of the probe with gel, in order to automatically prevent the operator from having to manually supply the gel and to stop the gel remaining for subsequent procedures from coming into contact with the air, the patient, or any other sources of contamination. | 08-04-2011 |
20110208061 | ULTRASONIC LESION IDENTIFICATION USING TEMPORAL PARAMETRIC CONTRAST IMAGES - An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system acquires a sequence of image data as a bolus of contrast agent washes into and out of a region of interest (ROI) which may contain a lesion. The image data of contrast intensity is used to compute a time-intensity curve at each point in the ROI. Levels of a time-intensity curve are set to define a rise rime period when contrast perfuses the ROI, an enhancement time period when a maximal amount of contrast is sustained in the ROI, and a fall time period when contrast washes out of the ROI. One or more of the time period parameters for the points in the ROI are used to form a parametric contrast image, which is used to identify a lesion in the ROI and its border. | 08-25-2011 |
20110230765 | Motion Synchronized Destruction for Three-Dimensional Reperfusion Mapping in Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging - Destruction for reperfusion in medical diagnostic ultrasound is synchronized to motion. Perfusion data for a volume is acquired sequentially for different segments of the volume. For a given segment, such as a planar region, motion tracking within the segment is performed. If sufficient registration or correlation exists at the completion of a sequence of scans for the current segment, then a lesser amount of movement is occurring. At this point, the transmission of contrast agent destructive acoustic energy is performed in the next segment. Tracking is repeated for the next segment to synchronize the switch to yet another segment. Other regions for tracking can be used. By controlling transmission of destruction pulses, more reliable perfusion quantities in a volume may be determined. | 09-22-2011 |
20120203112 | Optimization of Lines Per Second for Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound Contrast Agent Imaging - Frame rate and/or line density are controlled in contrast agent medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging. The number of lines scanned per second (e.g., frame rate and/or line density) is set based on the differences in contrast agent response. Where the contrast agent response is changing rapidly, more frequent scanning and/or denser scanning is performed. Where the contrast agent response is not changing or changing slowly, less frequent scanning and/or less dense scanning is performed. By linking the number of scan lines per second of the scanning adaptively with the contrast agent response, the destruction of contrast agents may be reduced while providing information when needed for diagnosis. | 08-09-2012 |
20130096435 | PIEZO MICRO-MARKERS FOR ULTRASOUND MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS - An imaging system is disclosed that uses piezoelectric markers. The piezoelectric fields in combination with ultrasound reflections can be used to construct an image of an otherwise difficult to detect feature within a subject's body. In one embodiment, the invention includes a piezoelectric marker, including at least one piece of piezoelectric material, an ultrasound transducer connected to an ultrasound pulser and a receiver, a computer sequencing control connected to the receiver and the ultrasound pulser, a display connected to the computer sequencing control and electrodes connected to the computer sequencing control via amplification circuitry. | 04-18-2013 |
20130116569 | METHOD FOR QUANTIFYING DRUG DELIVERY USING CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASOUND - The present invention relates to a method for quantifying drug delivery with the characteristic of measuring the signal intensity of peripheral vessels with a contrast-enhanced ultrasound to quantify the drug delivery at a target site. The present invention can be used for quantifying UTMD (ultrasound triggered microbubble destruction) targeted drug delivery, also for qualifying the unreleased amount of the long-acting drug in the tested object, and for helping setting the treatment schedule for ultrasound disruption of blood-brain barrier. | 05-09-2013 |
20130144172 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS DEVICE - Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnosis device for creating an ultrasound image with a high contrast-to-tissue ratio. Said device sends a transmission pulse to the subject, uses an ultrasound probe to receive echoes reflected from an ultrasound contrast agent injected into the subject, and forms an image. The transmission pulse is sent such that nonlinear interactions between the constituent frequency components of said transmission pulse, as a result of the acoustic nonlinearity of the subject, do not produce sum and difference components in the frequency sensitivity range of the ultrasonic probe as the transmission pulse propagates across the subject. | 06-06-2013 |
20140005549 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND CONTROL PROGRAM THEREOF | 01-02-2014 |
20140058268 | ECHOGENIC MEDICAL NEEDLE - There is disclosed a medical needle comprising a needle shaft that defines a longitudinal axis, a tip formed at one end of the shaft, and an ultrasonic reflector formed in an outer surface of the needle shaft. The reflector comprises a first reflector surface that is at an angle of no more than 35° to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and that faces towards the tip, and at least one additional reflector surface that forms an angle to the first reflector surface within the range of 75° to 105°, and that is substantially concave in a direction towards the first reflector surface. | 02-27-2014 |
20140066774 | BIOCOMPATIBLE AND ULTRASOUND-DIFFERENTIABLE MICRO-OBJECTS SUITABLE FOR IMPLANTATION IN A VERTEBRATE SUBJECT - Described embodiments include a system. A described system includes a set of at least two biocompatible and ultrasound-differentiable micro-objects suitable for implantation in a vertebrate subject. Each micro-object of the set of micro-objects while implanted respectively returning an echo response to an applied ultrasound energy having a machine recognizable feature differentiating the micro-object over each other micro-object of the set of micro-objects (hereafter “set of micro-objects”). The system includes a conversion table correlating each digit of the conversion table base system with a respective machine recognizable feature in an echo response to an ultrasound energy applied to a micro-object of the set of micro-objects. In an embodiment, the system includes a packaging material carrying the set of micro-objects and the conversion table. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066775 | READING ULTRASOUND-DIFFERENTIABLE MICRO-OBJECTS IMPLANTED IN A VERTEBRATE SUBJECT AND HAVING A SPATIAL FORMAT - Described embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product. A receiver circuit receives ultrasound echoes from ultrasound-differentiable micro-objects implanted in a vertebrate subject in accordance with an implantable media format (hereafter “implanted micro-objects”). A format decoding circuit identifies the respective implantation region of the implantable media format occupied by each implanted micro-object based on their respective echoes. A micro-object recognition circuit recognizes each implanted micro-object based upon a machine recognizable feature in the respective echoes. A micro-object decoder circuit respectively decodes each recognized micro-object of the two implanted micro-objects into a unit of information pursuant to the identified implantation region of the recognized micro-object and a conversion table. An aggregator circuit collects the decoded units of information into a decoded information set. A computer storage media saves the decoded information set. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066776 | READING ULTRASOUND-DIFFERENTIABLE MICRO-OBJECTS ENCODING DATA AND IMPLANTED IN A VERTEBRATE SUBJECT - Described embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product. A receiver circuit receives ultrasound echoes from at least two ultrasound-differentiable micro-objects implanted in a vertebrate subject (hereafter “implanted micro-objects”). A recognition circuit recognizes each implanted micro-object based upon a machine recognizable feature in the received echoes. A decoder circuit decodes pursuant to a conversion table each recognized implanted micro-objects into a digit of the base system of the conversion table. An aggregator circuit collects the decoded digits into a decoded data set. A computer storage media saves the decoded data set. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066777 | IMPLANTATION OF ULTRASOUND-DIFFERENTIABLE MICRO-OBJECTS ENCODING DATA IN A VERTEBRATE SUBJECT - Described embodiments include a system and a method. A conversion table correlates each digit of the conversion table base system to a respective machine recognizable feature in an ultrasound echo response by a respective micro-object of a set at least two ultrasound-differentiable micro-objects (hereafter “set of micro-objects). An encoding apparatus encodes a data set into machine recognizable features of at least two micro-objects of the set of micro-objects pursuant to the conversion table. A selector apparatus picks from a physical set of the micro-objects at least two micro-objects having the machine recognizable features corresponding to the encoded data set. Each micro-object of the physical set of micro-objects is biocompatible and suitable for implantation in a vertebrate subject. Each micro-object while implanted returns an ultrasound echo having a machine recognizable feature differentiating the micro-object over each other micro-object of the set of micro-objects. | 03-06-2014 |
20140073926 | CONTINUOUS ANESTHESIA NERVE CONDUCTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - The invention generally relates to a continuous anesthesia nerve conduction apparatus and method thereof, and more particularly to a method and system for use in administering a continuous flow or intermittent bolus of anesthetic agent to facilitate a continuous or prolonged nerve block. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The sheath also includes an embedded conductive element for transmitting an electrical signal from a proximal portion of the sheath to a distal portion of the sheath. A cannula is arranged in the at least one lumen of the sheath and has a distal end protruding from a distal portion of the sheath. The cannula is electrically coupled to at least a portion of the embedded conductive element and is configured to provide nerve stimulation. | 03-13-2014 |
20140194741 | SUBCUTANEOUS CAVITY MARKING DEVICE AND METHOD - These are subcutaneous cavity marking devices and methods. More particularly, upon insertion into a body, the cavity marking device and method enable one to determine the center, orientation, and periphery of the cavity by radiographic, mammographic, echogenic, or other non-invasive imaging techniques. Also, the device contains a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker. The device may be combined with various substances enhancing the radiopaque, mammographic, or echogenic characteristics of the marker or the body allowing it to be observed by any non-invasive imaging techniques. This is further a method of marking a subcutaneous cavity using a bioabsorbable material and a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker in conjunction with the material. The method also may combine any of the features as described with the device. | 07-10-2014 |
20140207000 | COATING FOR IMPROVING THE ULTRASOUND VISIBILITY - The disclosure relates to a coating for improving the ultrasound visibility of a device, the coating being made of a matrix material comprising at least one contrast agent, wherein the at least one contrast agent is a plurality of gas-filled microparticles. Moreover, this disclosure relates to an ultrasonic contrast agent-containing coating for a device. In addition, the herein-described disclosure relates to a method for preparing a microparticle, a method for preparing a coating, and a method for coating a device as well as the coated device. | 07-24-2014 |
20140236014 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR OCCLUDING AN OVARIAN PATHWAY - Methods and devices of sterilization by which the ovarian pathway is occluded by a plug, wherein placement of the plug may be visually confirmed. Other methods and devices are also described. | 08-21-2014 |
20140243675 | TISSUE SITE MARKERS FOR IN VIVO IMAGING - The invention is directed biopsy site markers and methods of marking a biopsy site, so that the location of the biopsy cavity is readily visible by conventional imaging methods, particularly by ultrasonic imaging. The biopsy site markers of the invention have high ultrasound reflectivity, presenting a substantial acoustic signature from a small marker, so as to avoid obscuring diagnostic tissue features in subsequent imaging studies, and can be readily distinguished from biological features. The several disclosed embodiments of the biopsy site marker of the invention have a high contrast of acoustic impedance as placed in a tissue site, so as to efficiently reflect and scatter ultrasonic energy, and preferably include gas-filled internal pores. The markers may have a non-uniform surface contour to enhance the acoustic signature. The markers have a characteristic form which is recognizably artificial during medical imaging. The biopsy site marker may be accurately fixed to the biopsy site so as to resist migration from the biopsy cavity when a placement instrument is withdrawn, and when the marked tissue is subsequently moved or manipulated. | 08-28-2014 |
20140276073 | ECHOGENIC SURFACE USING REULEAUX TRIANGLE - Disclosed are embodiments of devices and methods for providing enhanced echogenicity to medical devices. An echogenic feature is formed in the shape of a pyramidal reuleaux triangle. A lobe is constructed at a rim of an echogenic feature to create a pocket between the lobe and a bottom surface of the feature. A test fixture is disclosed which provides a method for obtaining quantifiable echogenicity data of medical devices. | 09-18-2014 |
20140303500 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND CONTROL PROGRAM THEREOF - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a display controller configured to cause an image to be displayed, wherein the image is generated using a map that includes two or more parameters as axes, the two or more parameters selected from inflow parameters each indicative of a state of inflow of a contrast agent administered to a subject and outflow parameters each indicative of a state of outflow of the contrast agent. | 10-09-2014 |
20140378841 | ECHOGENIC ARTICLE WITH COMPOUND INDENTATIONS - The present invention provides an article or an interface having a distribution of a first partially spherical indentation and at least a second partially spherical indentation contained within the first indentation to form a multi-component or “compound” shape that is referred to as a “compound” or “nested” dimples or indentations. These compound dimples or indentions may be concentric and are etched or otherwise formed into a surface or interface of an article to enhance the ultrasonic imaging. Exemplary articles may be needles of the type used to conduct nerve blocks or the interface may be the surface of such a needle, cannula, catheter, catheter tip or similar article. | 12-25-2014 |
20150141833 | CATHETER DEVICE IMPLEMENTING HIGH FREQUENCY, CONTRAST IMAGING ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An imaging catheter system is provided, including a hollow lumen having a distal portion, and a plurality of first transducer elements arranged in a first array configured to be received within the distal portion of the hollow lumen. Each of the first transducer elements include a micromachined piezocomposite, and the plurality of first transducer elements is configured to operate at an effective operational frequency of greater than about 30 MHz. A plurality of second transducer elements configured to operate at an effective operational frequency of less than about 15 MHz may be arranged in a second array, each of the second transducer elements including a micromachined piezocomposite, and engaged with the first array. The low frequency array may be operated in a transmit mode and the high frequency array may be operated in a receive mode to facilitate contrast imaging. | 05-21-2015 |
20150320979 | GUIDE MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND PROCEDURES - Described are guidewires having at least one echolucent segment, and associated apparatuses and methods. The guidewires can be combined with devices equipped with intravascular ultrasound probes and used to effectively image regions during procedures underway in the vascular environment. The echolucent segment can have one or more echogenic markers to enable detection of the segment and/or relative movement of the segment using intravascular ultrasound. | 11-12-2015 |
20150351721 | MEDICAL DEVICES WITH COATINGS FOR ENHANCED ECHOGENICITY - The disclosure provides medical devices comprising improved coatings for ultrasound detection, which provide optimal ultrasound images. Methods for preparing such devices are also provided. | 12-10-2015 |
20150374348 | Use Of Vibration For EUS-FNA Tissue Acquisition - A needle includes an elongate body extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal tip and including a lumen extending therethrough and a piezoelectric element positioned along a distal portion of the body so that, when a potential difference is applied thereto, the piezoelectric element expands and contracts to vibrate the distal tip of the elongate body. | 12-31-2015 |
20160029997 | 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. | 02-04-2016 |
20160030009 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DIAGNOSIS OF BLOOD VESSEL BLOCKAGE OR HEMORRHAGE - A method of diagnosing the occurrence or non-occurrence of a blood vessel blockage or hemorrhage comprises non-invasively applying ultrasound to a location on a patient's body, where the ultrasound is applied in an alternating and pulsed fashion, administering acoustic amplifiers to the patient, monitoring a feedback acoustic response signal of the acoustic amplifiers triggered by the ultrasound, and determining a diagnosis based at least in part on a relationship between an acoustic response signature of the acoustic response signal and a baseline acoustic response signature. | 02-04-2016 |
20160058420 | Magnetomotive Probe System And Method Of Use Thereof - A magnetomotive imaging probe system is disclosed comprising a movable probe, a magnet arranged on the probe, and an ultra sound transducer, wherein the magnet is arranged to generate a time-varying magnetic field (T) at an imaging plane ( | 03-03-2016 |
20160120510 | CAVITY-FILLING BIOPSY SITE MARKERS - A mass includes particles that exhibit an in vivo lifetime and that include a bioresorbable material and bubble cavities disposed in the particles, wherein the bubble cavities have length, width, and height dimensions at least one of which is less than or equal to about 2000 microns. The mass exhibits enhanced detectability by ultrasound energy during the lifetime; the lifetime begins upon exposure to in vivo fluids and ends between about 2 and about 20 weeks afterward; and a zero or non-zero fluid-to-solid ratio. | 05-05-2016 |
20160151049 | Echogenic Nerve Block Apparatus and System | 06-02-2016 |
20160183924 | SURGICAL NEEDLE WITH ENHANCED ULTRASOUND REFLECTIVITY - A surgical needle having notches in a sidewall with enhanced ultrasound reflectivity is disclosed. Indentations, ridges, projections, overhanging edges, and other structures are formed in the notches to retain small amounts of air or other reflective material as the surgical needle is passed through tissue. The additional amounts of reflective material retained by these structures will significantly enhance the ultrasound reflectivity and enhance the response to ultrasonic probing to provide an enhanced image during needle placement in a medical patient so that the needle may be accurately placed as desired. Alternatively or additionally, the notches are filled with a substance that contains air bubbles suspended in the substance wherein the suspended air bubbles provide the reflectivity enhancement. In both embodiments, the needle will be visible at any angle in which the device is used in a medical patient. | 06-30-2016 |
20190142364 | METHOD FOR MEASURING CARDIAC OUTPUT BY ULTRASOUND | 05-16-2019 |
20220133277 | ADAPTIVE PULSING FOR SONOTHROMBOLYSIS TREATMENT - A therapeutic ultrasound method configured to adaptively transmit ultrasound pulses toward microbubbles in a treatment region to remove an occlusion is described. In some examples, the system may include a treatment pulse unit configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to a treatment region of a subject, the treatment region including a plurality of microbubbles. An echo detection unit may be configured to receive one or more echoes responsive to the ultrasound pulse. In some examples, the method may also include a data processor configured to identify, using data associated with the echoes, at least one echo signature indicative of a dynamic state of the microbubbles in response to the ultrasound pulse. A controller may be configured to adjust one or more parameters of an additional ultrasound pulse transmitted to the treatment region via the treatment pulse unit based on the at least one echo signature. | 05-05-2022 |