Abstract: A hybrid elastography method includes application of a continuous low frequency vibration and generation, using an ultrasonic transducer in contact with the viscoelastic medium, of a first series of ultrasonic acquisitions, the first series of ultrasonic acquisitions including groups of ultrasonic acquisitions, the groups of ultrasonic acquisitions being generated with a first repetition rate, each group of ultrasonic acquisitions including at least one acquisition, the continuous vibration generating an elastic wave within the viscoelastic medium; application of a low frequency pulse and generation, using the ultrasonic transducer, of a second series of ultrasonic acquisitions, the ultrasonic acquisitions composing the second series being generated with a second repetition rate, the low frequency pulse generating a transient shear wave propagating within the viscoelastic medium; the continuous vibration applied by the first vibrator being stopped before the application of the low frequency pulse.

Abstract: Described are ultrasound transducer modules and handheld ultrasound imagers including thermal and acoustic management features to produce high quality ultrasound images in a portable, handheld form factor.

Abstract: A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system (10) includes adjusting a radio frequency excitation field B1 to be applied to a subject of interest (20) to be imaged. At least one position parameter (d) that is indicative of a position of at least the portion of the subject of interest (20) relative to at least one radio frequency transmit antenna (36) of the magnetic resonance imaging system (10) is determined. At least one radio frequency power-related parameter of radio frequency power to be fed to the at least one radio frequency transmit antenna (36) is adjusted in dependence of the at least one of the determined at least one position parameter (d) and a determined geometric dimension (w) of the subject of interest (20).

Abstract: An implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) to induce spinal cord or spinal nerves treatment, suitable for implantation in the spinal canal and comprises an elongate support member (22, 32) and an array of several treatment transducers (20) distributed along the elongate support member. The several treatment transducers (20) comprise radial transducers emitting an ultrasound treatment beam oriented radially, wherein the treatment transducers (20) have a resonant frequency comprised between 0.5 and 4 MHz. The device has articulating portions so that the implantable device can adapt its shape to a curved elongation path. Also disclosed is an apparatus including the implantable ultrasound generating treating device and methods comprising inserting the implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) inside the spinal canal of the spine of the patient.

Abstract: The application describes an adjustable arm for a patient monitoring device to be placed on a surface portion of a patient's body, said arm comprising: at least first and second arm parts; abase to which the first arm part is connected and which includes mounting means for mounting it relative to a patient support platform; and holding means for receiving the patient monitoring device, to which the second arm part is connected; the arm parts, the base and the holding means being articulated by means of joints therebetween, which joints are fixable against movement when the patient monitoring device is in use; wherein the joints between the first arm part and the base and between second arm part and the holding means comprise multidirectional joints; wherein the base has a fixed portion and a tillable portion, the fixed portion comprising the mounting means and the first arm part being connected to the tillable portion, whereby when the said joints are fixed the adjustable arm can maintain the patient monitori

Abstract: A camera sensitive to near infrared light is placed proximate to the skin of a user and the area illuminated by one or more infrared light sources. A set of images of one or more blood vessels is obtained at successive times. The images are processed to determine a change in size of the vessel(s) from one time to another, corresponding to expansion and contraction of the vessels responsive to contraction of the user's heart. This change may be used to determine pulse rate, elasticity of the vessel, blood pressure, or other data about the user's physiological status. The data may be used to assess health status at a particular time, determine health trends for the user, and so forth.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patient monitor control unit (10) comprising a processor arrangement (11, 13) adapted to receive a series of ultrasound measurements received from a sensor (30) comprising at least one configurable ultrasound transducer; process said series of ultrasound measurements to obtain haemodynamic data of a patient coupled to the sensor; control a patient monitor (20) to display the obtained haemodynamic data; evaluate the obtained haemodynamic data to detect a variance in said data; and generate a reconfiguration signal for the at least one configurable ultrasound transducer, wherein the timing of said generation is a function of said evaluation. Also disclosed are a patient monitoring system, a method of operating a patient monitor control unit and a computer program product for implementing such a method.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device detecting shear wave propagation velocity through push pulse transmission. The ultrasound diagnostic device includes: a push pulse transmitter that transmits a push pulse; a detection wave transmitter/receiver that, following the push pulse transmission, transmits plane wave transmission detection waves towards a region of interest (ROI) inside a subject and receives reflection detection waves from the subject, to generate receive signals sequentially; a displacement detector that detects subject tissue displacement occurring inside the ROI due to a shear wave; and a shear wave analyzer that detects a shear wave propagation velocity based on the subject tissue displacement.

Abstract: This invention is the improved methods and ultrasound apparatus with the wirelessly chargeable battery of the ultrasound probe and with the record of the ultrasound data and ultrasound images on the removable memory card. The improved methods provide the steps of the operation of the improved ultrasound apparatus, and the improved ultrasound apparatus includes the microprocessor unit and control organs unit, which provide control of an ultrasound unit, comprising piezoelectric devices, a transmission unit, a battery unit, including battery and battery wireless charging control circuitry, indication unit, and includes a card insertion registration device recognizing the presence of a removable memory card in the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A needle guide system for use with an ultrasound probe, the system comprising a surface marking guide and a needle guide. The surface marking guide includes an attachment portion for attaching the marking guide to an ultrasound probe, and a surface contact portion fixed to the attachment portion and including one or more features for identifying to a user where to mark a surface when the ultrasound probe is held against the surface. The needle guide includes a base to support the needle guide on the surface, one or more features on the base for alignment with marks made on the surface, and a needle support mounted on the base and having a needle channel through which a needle can extend, the needle channel having a known position and orientation relative to the base. We also describe a needle guide for use with an ultrasound probe to guide a needle along a predetermined path relative to the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a plurality of casters allowing the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to be moved according to a control signal, a detection sensor configured to detect a motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, an input configured to receive a control command of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus from a user, and a controller configured to determine whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of at least one of the detected motion or the received control command, and upon determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, transmit a control signal for locking at least one of the plurality of casters.

Abstract: An echo planar imaging technique in which a quadruple echo gradient and spin echo echo-planar imaging pulse sequence is utilized. The pulse train includes generation of two echo trains between an excitation pulse (90) and a refocusing pulse (180) to achieve two gradient echo images (also called T2*-weighted images); with one echo train directly after the 180 pulse, leading to asymmetric spin echo images (T2?-weighted images); and a last echo train afterward that generates spin echo images (T2-weighted). The technique has a number of advantages over existing techniques with regard to voxel size, mapping relative oxygen extraction, determining permeability, determining relative cerebral blood volume, vessel parameters (diameter, density, size, arterial/venous, etc.), stroke imaging, imaging perfusion, fMRI imaging, and additional benefits.

Abstract: A handheld instrument for endoscope surgery includes a shaft, a jaw, a handle, a phased array ultrasonic sensor, and a signal wiring. The jaw is placed at one end of the shaft and has a holding function. The handle is placed at the other end of the shaft and includes an operation mechanism for operating the jaw. The phased array ultrasonic sensor is mounted on the jaw and has an imaging function. The signal wiring is provided to the shaft and connects the ultrasonic sensor and the handle.

Abstract: Provided is a probe which transmits an ultrasonic wave to a diagnostic site and receives a reception signal which is a reflected wave.

Abstract: A portable device for the analysis of skin traumas is disclosed, the device allowing the medical professional to evaluate and analyze the healing process of the skin traumas, providing the medical professional with the temperature parameters, distance parameters and diagnosis parameters related to the skin trauma. By using the proposed portable device, it is possible, for example, to evaluate if the dimensions of the skin trauma have changed throughout the time, and also to generate a temperature map of the skin trauma as well as a history of conducted analyses. The present invention further discloses a method for analyzing skin traumas by using a portable device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, reagents, and diagnostic and prognostic markers useful for non-invasive identification, diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention in individuals with epilepsy. More particularly, the disclosure uses specific metabolites measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in brain tissue to detect epileptic brain regions.

Abstract: A contact-free method of determining biometric parameters and physiological parameters of a subject of interest (20) to be examined by a medical imaging modality (10), comprising steps of taking (72) a picture by a first digital camera (52) including a total view of an examination table (44); applying (74) a computer vision algorithm or an image processing algorithm to the picture for determining a biometric parameter of the subject of interest (20) in relation to the examination table (44); taking (78) at least one picture with a second digital camera (58), whose field of view (60) includes a region of the subject of interest (20) that is related to the at least one determined biometric parameter; using data indicative of the determined biometric parameter to identify (82) a subset of pixels of the at least one picture taken by the second digital camera (58) that define a region of interest (64) from which at least one physiological parameter of the subject of interest (20) is to be determined, taking (84) a

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region using constructive shear wave displacement is provided. The method includes generating a first shear wave in the target region at a first excitation position and a second shear wave in the target region at a second excitation position; transmitting tracking pulses in the target region at a tracking position that is between the first and second excitation positions; receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses at the tracking position in the target region; and determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on at least one parameter of a constructive shear wave displacement from the first and second shear waves simultaneously displacing tissue at the tracking position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image generating unit configured to generate a plurality of different ultrasound image data items from reception signals corresponding to a plurality of different steering angles, on the basis of the reception signals which an ultrasound probe has generated on the basis of reflected ultrasonic waves received from a reflecting surface of a subject body by transmitting ultrasonic waves at the plurality of different steering angles, and a regression estimate generating unit configured to perform regression analysis on the basis of the different steering angles and the ultrasound image data items, and generate regression estimates which are weighting values on the basis of the result of the regression analysis, and an image synthesis unit configured to perform weighting on the plurality of ultrasound image data items on the basis of the regression estimates, and synthesize them, thereby generating synthetic image data.

Abstract: A positioning system for an imaging device, in particular a MR imaging device to position an insertion element on or in the body of a subject, in particular an animal, wherein the imaging device comprises a bore, in which the subject is received, wherein the positioning system comprises a robot which can be at least partially arranged in the bore of the imaging device and comprises a holding element to hold the insertion element; wherein the robot further comprises at least one actuator acting on the holding element, such that an end portion of the insertion element is movable, wherein said at least one actuator is arranged with a distance D from the bore to minimize magnetic and/or electromagnetic interferences between the imaging device and the at least one actuator and said first actuator is coupled to the holding element in a form-fit- and/or a force-fit-manner.