Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a two dimensional matrix array transducer and a digital microbeamformer. The microbeamformer comprises a plurality of transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array transducer, a plurality of low power analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the amplifiers, a microbeamformer controller, a power supply and a USB controller which cumulatively consume three watts or less.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an ultrasound scanning device is disclosed. One embodiment of the ultrasound scanning device comprises a housing configured for handheld use, an ultrasound assembly at least partially disposed within the housing and configured obtain ultrasound data, and a display coupled to the housing. The ultrasound scanning device further comprises a processor disposed within the housing, wherein the processor is in communication with the ultrasound assembly and the display.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an medical device is disclosed. The medical (imaging) device comprises a housing configured for handheld use, a transducer array, a display coupled to the housing, a plurality of sensors distributed about a periphery of the housing and configured to detect when a hand of an operator is positioned around the housing, and a computing device disposed within the housing, wherein the computing device is in communication with the transducer array, the display, and the sensors. The computing device is operable to: monitor the sensors, determine whether a reading from a first sensor at a first edge of the periphery of the housing exceeds a threshold, set the first edge as a primary edge based at least in part on the reading from the first sensor, and orient the display such that the primary edge is at the bottom of the display.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a medical device is disclosed. The medical (imaging) device comprises a housing configured for handheld use, a transducer array, a display coupled to the housing, a plurality of sensors distributed about a periphery of the housing and configured to detect when a hand of an operator is positioned around the housing, and a computing device disposed within the housing, wherein the computing device is in communication with the transducer array, the display, and the sensors. The computing device is operable to: monitor the sensors, determine whether a reading from a first sensor at a first edge of the periphery of the housing exceeds a threshold, set the first edge as a primary edge based at least in part on the reading from the first sensor, and orient the display such that the primary edge is at the bottom of the display.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an ultrasound imaging system configured to identify a target placement of an ultrasound probe for viewing a lung pleural line. In some examples, the system may include an ultrasound probe configured to receive ultrasound echoes from a subject to image a region of the subject and a data processor in communication with the ultrasound probe. The data processor may be configured to identify one or more candidate pleural lines and one or more A-lines corresponding to the candidate pleural lines, compute an A-line intensity of at least one of the A-lines, and apply the computed A-line intensity to indicate a target placement of the ultrasound probe for imaging the region for pleural line identification. The system may also include a user interface in communication with the data processor. The user interface may be configured to alert the user of the target placement of the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe contains an array transducer and a microbeamformer coupled to elements of the array. The microbeamformer comprises analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry for at least thirty-two digital channels in the microbeamformer. Preferably the analog to digital converters are low power ADCs for reduced power consumption in the probe. Integrated circuits of thirty-two channels can be cascaded to produce 64-channel and 128-channel digital microbeamformers for an ultrasound array probe.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an ultrasound imaging system configured to identify a scan line pattern for imaging an object or feature thereof. The system may include a controller that controls a probe for imaging a volume of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals in accordance with a plurality of scan line patterns. One or more processors communicating with the probe may generate a plurality of image data sets based on the signals received at the probe, each data set corresponding to a discrete scan line pattern. These data sets are assessed for a target characteristic specific to the object targeted for imaging. One the data set that includes the target characteristic is identified, the one or more processors select the scan line pattern that corresponds the identified image data set. This scan line pattern may then be used for subsequent imaging of the volume to view the object.

Abstract: Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound device includes a first ultrasound component (210) configured to generate a first signal representative of a subject's anatomy along a first axis; a second ultrasound component (220) configured to generate a second signal representative of the subject's anatomy along a second axis, the first axis disposed at an angle with respect to the second axis; and a processing component (420) in communication with the first ultrasound component and the second ultrasound component, the processing component configured to determine an orientation of the ultrasound device with respect to the subject's anatomy based on the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an ultrasound imaging system configured to identify a scan line pattern for imaging an object or feature thereof. The system may include a controller that controls a probe for imaging a volume of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals in accordance with a plurality of scan line patterns. One or more processors communicating with the probe may generate a plurality of image data sets based on the signals received at the probe, each data set corresponding to a discrete scan line pattern. These data sets are assessed for a target characteristic specific to the object targeted for imaging. One the data set that includes the target characteristic is identified, the one or more processors select the scan line pattern that corresponds the identified image data set. This scan line pattern may then be used for subsequent imaging of the volume to view the object.

Abstract: Handheld ultrasound devices with display-retaining designs that allow the processor/display assembly to be removed and/or repositioned are provided. According to one embodiment, a handheld ultrasound scanning device includes a main body housing having a first side and a second side. An ultrasound transducer is coupled to the second side and is configured to obtain ultrasound data. A communication interface is communicatively coupled to the ultrasound transducer and configured to transmit the ultrasound data obtained by the ultrasound transducer to a processor and display assembly. The first side of the main body housing includes a retention feature that is configured to retain the processor and display assembly in contact with the main body housing at a position and orientation relative to the main body housing.

Abstract: A highly portable ultrasound system is configured using a wireless ultrasound probe (10), a processor dongle (30) containing a radio and a digital processor running an operating system and an ultrasound control program, and any conveniently available television receiver or display monitor. The sonographer only needs to carry the small wireless probe and the thumbdrive-like dongle in order to turn any available display device, together with the two components carried by the sonographer, into a completely functional ultrasound system. The sonographer can enter a patient's hospital room, plug the processor dongle into the patient monitor in the room, and conduct an ultrasound exam using the patient monitor as the system display, for instance. The system can be controlled by a touchscreen tablet computer, a wireless mouse, or by distinct gestures made by the probe.

Abstract: An interface unit (12) for connecting between an ultrasound sensing apparatus (14) and a patient monitor (18) for providing ultrasound monitoring functionality of one or more physiological or anatomical parameters based on processing of ultrasound data. The interface unit includes means for processing acquired ultrasound data to derive measurements of one or more physiological or anatomical parameters and is configured for outputting said derived measurements to a coupled patient monitor unit, e.g. for display and/or trending by the patient monitor.

Abstract: An ultrasound device is provided for imaging an anatomical region. The ultrasound device includes an ultrasound probe (288) having a medical instrument (202) in communication therewith, and an ultrasound sensor (279) mounted on the medical instrument. The ultrasound device further includes a hardware processor (214) configured to render a Region Of Interest (ROI) relative to a tip of the medical instrument on an ultrasound image displayed on a display device, and automatically and selectively perform a ROI refinement by positioning a displayed portion of the scanned image such that the ROI is located in a preferred specific region of the displayed portion of the scanned image. The displayed portion of the scanned image is a selectively magnifiable area within an area of the anatomical region including the medical instrument and spanned by the ultrasound scan line pattern.

Abstract: A method for determining a projected track of an object (230) includes measuring movement from frame to frame of a detected object point in a field of view by periodic comparison of positions, extrapolating a locus of periodically detected object points, and qualifying the locus by calculating and applying a threshold to the linearity in a sequence of positions and a threshold to consistency in strength. The method further produces the plurality of ultrasound images by including thereon a rendering of a plurality of lines (310) as a path track indicator (330) on one or more ultrasound images (305) and displaying the projected track of the object when a user moves the tracked object a minimum distance in a region of interest (242) of a subject (240). The method also includes utilizing a motion sensor (234) with a probe (205) to suppress calculation and display of the projected track.

Abstract: An ultrasound device is provided for imaging an anatomical region. The ultrasound device includes an ultrasound probe (288). The ultrasound device further includes a medical instrument (202) having an ultrasound transducer (279) mounted thereto. The ultrasound device also includes a hardware processor (214) configured to render a Region Of Interest (ROI) relative to a distal end of the medical instrument on an ultrasound image displayed on a display device, and selectively perform a dynamic ROI refinement as the medical instrument is moved through the anatomical region to increase a location precision of the distal end of the medical instrument in the ultrasound image. The dynamic ROI refinement is generated in accordance with physical characteristics of the medical instrument and a recorded path of movement of the medical instrument through the anatomical region determined based on acoustic pulses transmitted between the ultrasound probe (288) and the ultrasound transducer (279).

Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a two dimensional matrix array transducer and a digital microbeamformer. The microbeamformer comprises a plurality of transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array transducer, a plurality of low power analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the amplifiers, a microbeamformer controller, a power supply and a USB controller which cumulatively consume three watts or less.

Abstract: A method for determining a projected track of an object (230) includes measuring movement from frame to frame of a detected object point in a field of view by periodic comparison of positions, extrapolating a locus of periodically detected object points, and qualifying the locus by calculating and applying a threshold to the linearity in a sequence of positions and a threshold to consistency in strength. The method further produces the plurality of ultrasound images by including thereon a rendering of a plurality of lines (310) as a path track indicator (330) on one or more ultrasound images (305) and displaying the projected track of the object when a user moves the tracked object a minimum distance in a region of interest (242) of a subject (240). The method also includes utilizing a motion sensor (234) with a probe (205) to suppress calculation and display of the projected track.

Abstract: Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound imaging probe configured to acquire image data associated with an object at an acquisition data rate; and a communication interface in communication with the ultrasound imaging probe and configured to transmit a first subset of the image data in real time based on the acquisition data rate; and transmit a second subset of the image data at a delayed time. In one embodiment, a method of ultrasound imaging includes acquiring, by an ultrasound imaging probe, image data associated with an object at an acquisition data rate; transmitting, to a host via a communication link, a first subset of the image data in real time based on the acquisition data rate; and transmitting, to the host via the communication link, a second subset of the image data at a delayed time.

Abstract: A patch sensor adapted to process echo information to generate a first type of medical data and/or a second, different type of medical data using a respective processing pathway. A communications module of the patch sensor is adapted to be switchable between a first mode, in which only the first type of medical data is transmitted to a medical device, and a second mode, in which at least the second type of medical data is transmitted to the 5 medical device. The first type of medical data occupies a smaller bandwidth (during transmittal) than the second type of medical data.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a two dimensional matrix array transducer and a digital microbeamformer. The microbeamformer comprises a plurality of transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array transducer, a plurality of low power analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the amplifiers, a microbeamformer controller, a power supply and a USB controller which cumulatively consume three watts or less.