Abstract: A controller (250) for differentiating passive ultrasound sensors for interventional medical procedures includes a memory (291) and a processor (292). When executed by the processor (292), instructions from the memory (291) cause a system (200) that includes the controller (250) to implement a process that includes receiving first signals from a first passive ultrasound sensor (S1) and receiving second signals from a second passive ultrasound sensor (S2). The first signals and second signals are generated by the passive ultrasound sensors responsive to beams emitted from an ultrasound imaging probe (210). The process also includes identifying a characteristic of the first signals and the second signals. The characteristic includes shapes of the first signals and the second signals and/or times at which the first signals and the second signals are generated as the beams from the ultrasound imaging probe are received.

Abstract: A process implemented by a controller (120/220/320) with a circuit (121-126/221-226/321-351) includes receiving (S410) a signal stream between an ultrasound imaging probe (110/210/310) that emits multiple beams and a console (190/290/390) that receives image signals from the ultrasound imaging probe (110/210/310). The signal stream includes synchronization information indicating timing of emission of each beam, and the circuit (121-126/221-226/321-351) extracts the synchronization information. The circuit (121-126/221-226/321-351) receives (S430), from a passive ultrasound sensor (S1) that receives energy from each beam, a first signal that includes first sensor information indicative of a location of the passive ultrasound sensor (S1) and generated based on receipt by the passive ultrasound sensor (S1) of the energy received from each beam.

Abstract: A controller (250) for identifying out-of-plane motion of a passive ultrasound sensor (S1) relative to an imaging plane front an ultrasound imaging probe includes a memory (391) licit stores instructions and a processor (392) that executes the instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause a system that includes the controller (250) to implement a process that includes obtaining (S710). from a position and orientation sensor (212) fixed to the ultrasound imaging probe (210), measurements of motion of the ultrasound imaging probe (210) between a first point in time and a second point in time.

Abstract: A controller (220) for determining a shape of an interventional medical device in an interventional medical procedure based on a location of the interventional medical device includes a memory (221) that stores instructions and a processor (222) that executes the instructions. The instructions cause a system (200) that includes the controller (220) to implement a process that includes obtaining (S320) the location of the interventional medical device (201) and obtaining (S330) imagery of a volume that includes the interventional medical device. The process also includes applying (S340), based on the location of the interventional medical device (201), image processing to the imagery to identify the interventional medical device (201) including the shape of the interventional medical device (201). The process further includes (S350) segmenting the interventional medical device (201) to obtain a segmented representation of the interventional medical device (201).

Abstract: A method for aligning spatially different subvolumes of ultrasonic data of a blood vessel comprising: acquiring temporally discrete signals of a blood vessel with elements of a two dimensional array of ultrasonic transducer elements from spatially different depths of scanning opposed by each transducer element, said array being located in a first position with respect to the blood vessel during the acquiring; Doppler processing the temporally discrete signals received from each transducer element to produce spectral Doppler data of the scanning depth opposed by each transducer element; producing a first three dimensional map of the spectral Doppler data in spatial relationship to the position of the array with respect to the blood vessel; acquiring temporally discrete signals of the blood vessel with elements of the two dimensional array of ultrasonic transducer elements from spatially different depths of scanning opposed by each transducer element, said array being located in a second position with respect t

Abstract: A system includes an acoustic probe and an acoustic imaging machine. The acoustic probe includes a substrate with first and second principal surfaces, a device insertion port with an opening passing through the substrate from the first principal surface to the second principal surface, and an array of acoustic transducer elements supported by the substrate and disposed around the device insertion port. The acoustic imaging machine may systematically vary the size and/or position of the active acoustic aperture of the probe by providing transmit signals to selected acoustic transducer elements to cause the array to transmit an acoustic probe signal to an area of interest and may record a feedback signal of the transmit signals from an acoustic receiver provided at a distal end of an interventional device passed through the device insertion port into the area of interest to find an active acoustic aperture having optimal acoustic performance.

Abstract: A system for tracking a medical device includes an introducer (20). Two or more sensors (22) are disposed along a length of the introducer and are spaced apart along the length. An interface (32) is configured to connect to the introducer such that the introducer and the interface operatively couple to and support the medical device wherein the two or more sensors are configured to provide feedback for positioning and orienting the medical device using medical imaging.

Abstract: An acoustic probe connectable to an imaging system. The acoustic probe has a substrate with first and second principal surfaces, at least one device insertion port comprising an opening passing through the substrate from the first principal surface to the second principal surface, and an array of acoustic transducer elements supported by the substrate and disposed around the at least one device insertion port. The acoustic probe comprising an instrument guide disposed within the device insertion port, the instrument guide being configured to selectively allow the interventional device to move freely within the device insertion port and to selectively lock the interventional device within the device insertion port in response to a user input via a user interface connected to the acoustic probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method translates an aperture across an array transducer which is less that the size of the array. At each aperture location a transmit beam is focused above, or alternatively below, the array and a region of interest being scanned from the aperture location, resulting in broad insonification of the region of interest. At the lateral ends of the array the aperture is no longer translated but the focal point of the transmit beam is translated from the same aperture position, preferably with tilting of the beam direction. Multiple receive beams are processed in response to each transmit event and the overlapping receive beams and echo locations are spatially combined to produce synthetic transmit focusing over the center of the image field and noise reduction by spatial compounding at the lateral ends of the image field.

Abstract: A system for tracking a medical device includes an introducer. Two or more sensors are disposed along a length of the introducer and are spaced apart along the length. An interface is configured to connect to the introducer such that the introducer and the interface operatively couple to and support the medical device wherein the two or more sensors are configured to provide feedback for positioning and orienting the medical device using medical imaging.

Abstract: An acoustic imaging apparatus and method receive a sensor signal from a passive sensor disposed on a surface of an intervention device which is disposed in an area of interest, wherein the passive sensor is located at a fixed distance from the tip of the intervention device. A processor is configured to ascertain an estimated range of locations of the tip of the intervention device in an image plane by using the sensor signal and an estimated effective distance, projected onto the image plane, from the passive sensor to the tip of the intervention device.

Abstract: A controller for determining orientation of an interventional medical device includes a memory that stores instructions, and a processor that executes the instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the controller to execute a process that includes controlling emission, by an ultrasound probe, of multiple beams each at a different combination of time of emission and angle of emission relative to the ultrasound probe. The process also includes determining, based on receipt of a response to a subset of the multiple beams at a sensor at a location on the interventional medical device, the combination of time of emission and angle of emission relative to the ultrasound probe of one of the subset of the multiple beams. The process also includes determining orientation of the interventional medical device based on the time of emission and angle of emission relative to the ultrasound probe of the one the subset of the multiple beams.

Abstract: An interventional device includes an elongate shaft (101) with a longitudinal axis (A-A?), and an ultrasound detector (102). The ultrasound detector (102) comprises a PVDF homopolymer foil strip (103). The foil strip (103) is wrapped around the longitudinal axis (A-A?) of the elongate shaft (101) to provide a band having an axial length (L) along the longitudinal axis (A-A?). The axial length (L) is in the range 80-120 microns.

Abstract: A controller (310) for identifying positioning of an intravascular ultrasound probe (952) includes a memory (362) that stores instructions (884) and a processor (361) that executes the instructions (884). When executed by the processor (361), the instructions (884) cause the controller (310) to execute a process that includes receiving first signals from at least one element of the intravascular ultrasound probe (952). The process also includes receiving second signals from an external ultrasound probe. Based on the first signals and the second signals, the controller (310) determines a position of the intravascular ultrasound probe (952) in a tracking space that includes the intravascular ultrasound probe (952) and the external ultrasound probe.

Abstract: An acoustic imaging apparatus and method: produce acoustic images of an area of interest in response to one or more receive signals received from an acoustic probe in response to acoustic echoes received by the acoustic probe from the area of interest; 5 identify one or more candidate locations for a passive sensor disposed on a surface of an intervention device in the area of interest based on magnitudes of the acoustic echoes received by the acoustic probe from the candidate locations in the area of interest; use intra-procedural context-specific information to identify a one of the candidate locations which best matches the intra-procedural context-specific information as the estimated 10 location of the passive sensor; displaying the acoustic images on a display device; and display on the display device a marker in the acoustic images to indicate the estimated location of the passive sensor.

Abstract: A controller (210) for tracking an interventional medical device (252) in three dimensions includes a memory (212) that stores instructions, and a processor (211) that executes the instructions. When executed by the processor (211), the instructions cause the controller (210) to execute a process. The process includes determining (S320/S420), based on an elevation plane in an ultrasound X-plane mode, a first two-dimensional location of the interventional medical device (252) in the elevation plane. The process also includes determining (S320/S422), based on an azimuthal plane in the ultrasound X-plane mode, a second two-dimensional location of the interventional medical device (252) in the azimuthal plane. The process moreover includes determining (S330/S430), based on the first two-dimensional location and the second two-dimensional location, a three-dimensional location of the interventional medical device (252).

Abstract: A non-imaging diagnostic ultrasound system for carotid artery diagnosis has a two dimensional array probe (10) with a low element count and relatively large element size which can cover an area of the carotid artery at its bifurcation. The elements are operated independently with no phasing, and detect Doppler flow spatially beneath each element. The system produces maps of carotid blood flow in two or three dimensions and can assemble an extended view of the flow by matching segments of the carotid flow as the probe is moved over the vessel. Once the carotid artery has been localized, the degree of stenosis is assessed by automated measurements of peak systolic velocity and blood flow turbulence.

Abstract: A system for automatic configuration detection includes a medical device (250) including a sensor (246). A pattern (236) is coded into a portion of the medical device. The pattern is configured to store pertinent information about the device. A reader device (234) is coupled to a connector and configured to read the pattern to convey the pertinent information to determine one of a status, identity or manner of use for the medical device including the sensor.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a flexible planar strip with a plurality of layers is described. The flexible planar strip is configured to at least partially encapsulate a medical device. The flexible planar strip includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and a patterned conductive layer including a sensor electrode disposed on the second dielectric layer. According to one aspect an ultrasound sensor including a piezoelectric polymer. The ultrasound sensor is disposed on the sensor electrode such that a first surface of the ultrasound sensor is in electrical contact with the sensor electrode and such that a second surface of the ultrasound sensor is exposed for making electrical contact with a medical device.

Abstract: An ultrasound (US) system (10) includes a US scanner (14) and a US probe (12) operatively connected to the US scanner.