Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the direction of one or more crossing electric fields that have been induced by a set of electrodes positioned on a patient, without necessitating movement of any of the electrodes. This is achieved through the use of one or more electrode patches, which effectively allow an electric field generator to control a position of a source/sink of an electric field, to thereby control a direction of the electric field.

Abstract: A mechanism for determining a shape of an interventional device. A mapping function is used to predict the position of an electrode, mounted on the interventional device, as the interventional device is moved within an anatomical cavity—to thereby form a sequence of predicted positions. The sequence of predicted positions is then processed to predict a shape of the interventional device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound system. A first non-invasive ultrasound probe receives first ultrasound data having a first field of view and a second invasive ultrasound probe receives second ultrasound data having a second field of view which is different from the first field of view. A tracking unit determines tracking data including a position and orientation of the first non-invasive ultrasound probe relative to the second invasive ultrasound probe. A registration unit registers the second field of view into the first field of view based on the tracking data.

Abstract: An ultrasound image processing apparatus includes an image processor arrangement that receives a plurality of ultrasound images. Each ultrasound image shows an invasive medical device relative to an anatomical feature during a cardiac cycle. At different phases of the cardiac cycle, the anatomical feature has a different shape. The ultrasound processing apparatus compiles groups of the ultrasound images with ultrasound images in each group belonging to the same phase of the cardiac cycle. The ultrasound image processing apparatus generates an augmented ultrasound image from one of the ultrasound images by removing a shadow region on the anatomical feature of interest caused by the invasive medical device based on a displacement of the invasive medical device.

Abstract: A mechanism for registering ultrasound images with an anatomical map generated using a dielectric imaging process. The positions of electrodes that move with the ultrasound probe are monitored using the same dielectric imaging system that generated the anatomical map. The position at which ultrasound images are generated is captured, and this information is used to register the ultrasound image(s) with respect to the anatomical map.

Abstract: A method for ultrasound image processing having steps of receiving sequences of ultrasound images imaging an anatomical feature of interest during two cardiac cycles one in the absence of, and the other in the presence of, an invasive medical device in said ultrasound images, each ultrasound image corresponding to a different phase of said cardiac cycle. The invasive medical device may at least partially obscure the anatomical feature of interest for each ultrasound image of the further sequence. The location of the invasive medical device is tracked and isolated in the ultrasound image, and the isolated invasive medical device is inserted into an ultrasound image of the first sequence of a corresponding phase of the cardiac cycle in the tracked location. The method also controls a display device to display the first sequence of ultrasound images including the inserted invasive medical device.

Abstract: An ultrasound image processing apparatus includes an image processor arrangement that receives a plurality of ultrasound images. Each ultrasound image shows an invasive medical device relative to an anatomical feature during a cardiac cycle. At different phases of the cardiac cycle, the anatomical feature has a different shape. The ultrasound processing apparatus compiles groups of the ultrasound images with ultrasound images in each group belonging to the same phase of the cardiac cycle. The ultrasound image processing apparatus generates an augmented ultrasound image from one of the ultrasound images by removing a shadow region on the anatomical feature of interest caused by the invasive medical device based on a displacement of the invasive medical device.

Abstract: In an ultrasound transducer array (T) having a plurality of transducer elements (TE) each having a respective field of view (FOV-1-FOV-5), the ultrasound transducer array (T) being capable of being positioned around an object having a curved surface (S) resulting in a convergence of the respective fields of view of the transducer elements (TE), the transducer elements (TE) are arranged, or capable of being arranged, on the ultrasound transducer array (T) in a manner opposite to a curvature of the curved surface (S) so as to counteract the convergence of the respective fields of view.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound system including an ultrasound transducer array and a processor. The ultrasound transducer array comprises a plurality of transducer elements adapted to conform with a subjects body. Further, at least two ultrasound transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements are adapted to acquire a plurality of ultrasound signals from a region of interest at different orientations relative to said region of interest. The processor is adapted to receive ultrasound signals acquired by the ultrasound transducer array. The processor is further adapted to partition the plurality of ultrasound signals according to a signal depth and, for each ultrasound signal partition, calculate a Doppler power. For each ultrasound signal, the processor identifies a depth of a fetal heartbeat based on the Doppler power of each ultrasound signal partition and identifies a fetal heart region based on the identified fetal heartbeat and a location of the at least two ultrasound transducers.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence or absence of a target or desired object within a three-dimensional (3D) image. The 3D image is processed to extract one or more 3D feature representations, each of which is then dimensionally reduced into one or more two-dimensional (2D) feature representations. An object detection process is then performed on the 2D features map(s) to generate information about at least the presence or absence of an object within the 2D feature representations, and thereby the overall 3D image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to determining the rotation of an interventional device in an ultrasound field. An interventional device is provided that is suitable for being tracked in an ultrasound beam of a beamforming ultrasound imaging system by correlating transmitted ultrasound signals from the beamforming ultrasound imaging system as detected by ultrasound receivers attached to the interventional device with the beamforming beam sequence of the ultrasound signals. The interventional device includes a longitudinal axis (A-A?), a first linear sensor array (12) comprising a plurality of ultrasound receivers (R1 . . . n) wherein each ultrasound receiver has a length (L) and a width (W), and wherein the array extends along the width (W) direction. Moreover the first linear sensor array (12) is wrapped circumferentially around the interventional device with respect to the axis (A-A?) such that the length (L) of each ultrasound receiver is arranged lengthwise with respect to the axis (A-A?).

Abstract: A method for monitoring fetal health. The method of the present disclosure comprises transmitting (100) an ultrasound signal from an at least one transducer element in an array towards a maternal abdomen. An at least one ultrasonic echo signal corresponding to an at least one depth of the maternal abdomen is then received (102) by the at least one transducer element. The at least one Doppler signal is determined after the echo is received by the at least one transducer element is then processed (104) in an at least one channel. A multidimensional map is then generated (106) from the processed Doppler signal. A feedback (114) to reposition the at least one transducer element is then provided when the fetal heart is determined to lie outside an ultrasound beam volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to determining the rotation of an interventional device in an ultrasound field. An interventional device is provided that is suitable for being tracked in an ultrasound beam of a beamforming ultrasound imaging system by correlating transmitted ultrasound signals from the beamforming ultrasound imaging system as detected by ultrasound receivers attached to the interventional device with the beamforming beam sequence of the ultrasound signals. The interventional device includes a longitudinal axis (A-A?), a first linear sensor array (12) comprising a plurality of ultrasound receivers (R1 . . . n) wherein each ultrasound receiver has a length (L) and a width (W), and wherein the array extends along the width (W) direction. Moreover the first linear sensor array (12) is wrapped circumferentially around the interventional device with respect to the axis (A-A?) such that the length (L) of each ultrasound receiver is arranged lengthwise with respect to the axis (A-A?).

Abstract: A method for ultrasound image processing having steps of receiving sequences of ultrasound images imaging an anatomical feature of interest during two cardiac cycles one in the absence of, and the other in the presence of, an invasive medical device in said ultrasound images, each ultrasound image corresponding to a different phase of said cardiac cycle. The invasive medical device may at least partially obscure the anatomical feature of interest for each ultrasound image of the further sequence. The location of the invasive medical device is tracked and isolated in the ultrasound image, and the isolated invasive medical device is inserted into an ultrasound image of the first sequence of a corresponding phase of the cardiac cycle in the tracked location. The method also controls a display device to display the first sequence of ultrasound images including the inserted invasive medical device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound image processing apparatus (5) comprising an image processor arrangement (50) adapted to receive a first sequence (100?) of ultrasound images (150) imaging an anatomical feature of interest (151) during a first full cardiac cycle in the absence of an invasive medical device (15) in said ultrasound images, each ultrasound image corresponding to a different phase of said cardiac cycle; receive a further sequence (100) of ultrasound images (150) imaging the anatomical feature of interest (151) during a further full cardiac cycle in the presence of the invasive medical device (15) in said ultrasound images, each ultrasound image corresponding to a different phase of said cardiac cycle said invasive medical device (15) at least partially obscuring the anatomical feature of interest, and for each ultrasound image of the further sequence: track the location of the invasive medical device in the ultrasound image; isolate the invasive medical device from the ultrasound image; and insert the

Abstract: Images may be preprocessed to select pixels or voxels of interest prior to being analyzed by a neural network. Only the pixels or voxels of interest may be analyzed by the neural network to identify an object of interest. One or more slices may be extracted from the voxels of interest and provided to the neural network for analysis. The object may be further localized after identification by the neural network. The preprocessing, analysis by the neural network, and/or localization may utilize pre-existing knowledge of the object to be identified.

Abstract: An ultrasound image compounding method that is suitable for use with an ICE catheter that includes a first ultrasound transceiver array and a second ultrasound transceiver array, the first ultrasound transceiver array and the second ultrasound transceiver array being axially separated along a length of the ICE catheter, is described. In the method, first array data corresponding to ultrasound signals detected by the first ultrasound transducer array in response to an insonification of a region of interest by the first ultrasound transducer array at a first insonification angle; and second array data corresponding to ultrasound signals detected by the second ultra- sound transducer array in response to an insonification of the region of interest by the second ultrasound transducer array at a second insonification angle; are received. A compound image corresponding to the region of interest is generating based on the first array data and the second array data.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound data visualization apparatus for visualizing ultrasound data showing an object during an interventional procedure. A reference image (65) and a current image (68) of the object are simultaneously displayed, wherein the current image corresponds to a current time interval and the reference image corresponds to a reference time interval and wherein the current time interval and the reference time interval correspond to different phases of the interventional procedure. The current image can be shown therefore with, for instance, a relatively high temporal resolution for allowing a user to observe detailed object changes, which may be caused by the interventional procedure, while an overview over different phases of the interventional procedure can still be provided, because also the reference image is displayed and can be used by a user for comparing the current image with the reference image.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound image processing apparatus (5) comprising an image processor arrangement (50) adapted to receive a plurality of ultrasound images (150), each ultrasound image imaging an invasive medical device (15) relative to an anatomical feature of interest (151) during a particular phase of a cardiac cycle, said anatomical feature of interest having a different shape at different phases of the cardiac cycle, the plurality of ultrasound images covering at least two cardiac cycles during which the invasive medical device is displaced relative to the anatomical feature of interest; compile a plurality of groups of the ultrasound images, wherein the ultrasound images in each group belong to the same phase of said cardiac cycles; and for each group: determine the displacement of the invasive medical device relative to the anatomical feature of interest between at least two ultrasound images in said group; and generate an augmented ultrasound image from one of the ultrasound images of the at least tw

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound system including an ultrasound transducer array and a processor. The ultrasound transducer array comprises a plurality of transducer elements adapted to conform with a subjects body. Further, at least two ultrasound transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements are adapted to acquire a plurality of ultrasound signals from a region of interest at different orientations relative to said region of interest. The processor is adapted to receive ultrasound signals acquired by the ultrasound transducer array. The processor is further adapted to partition the plurality of ultrasound signals according to a signal depth and, for each ultrasound signal partition, calculate a Doppler power. For each ultrasound signal, the processor identifies a depth of a fetal heartbeat based on the Doppler power of each ultrasound signal partition and identifies a fetal heart region based on the identified fetal heartbeat and a location of the at least two ultrasound transducers.