Abstract: An actuator for moving an ultrasound transducer has a main body configured to be positioned adjacent to a target region of interest to be examined; and, a motor mounted on the main body. The motor is configured to have an ultrasound transducer connected thereto to simultaneously translate and rotate the ultrasound transducer to perform a compound scan of the target region of interest when the ultrasound transducer is connected to the motor. An ultrasound device has an ultrasound transducer movably mounted on the actuator. The actuator requires only single motor to effect both translation and rotation of the transducer thereby simplifying operation and providing a more compact device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for combining two 3-dimensional ultrasound images of a patient's body part containing blood vessels into a single 3-dimensional ultrasound image of that body part with a greater field of view. Blood vessels within the body part are used for registration. The two ultrasound images are preprocessed using a vessel enhancement algorithm to derive two corresponding enhanced images. The enhanced images can undergo a registration process based upon minimizing a mean-square-difference metric to derive an enhanced rigid transform, which represents a transform that maps the first enhanced image onto the second enhanced image. The two enhanced images are seamlessly combined via a blending process (via the use of a distance transform based weighting of the voxel values) to derive an output image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a counterbalance system for moving a payload and a method for counterbalancing the payload. The system and method comprise a resilient member that is in communication with the payload to be moved and two resilient members that are in communication with either end of the first resilient member. An actuator is in communication with the first and third resilient members and a payload arm, attached to the payload, is in communication with the first and second resilient members. The resilient members may be compressed and relaxed during movement of the actuator and the payload arm so that energy may be transferred between the system and the payload to counterbalance the weight of the payload.

Abstract: A counterbalance apparatus for supporting a load includes a base, a load bearing arm, a toggle linkage, and first and second resilient members for applying a force to the load bearing arm. The load bearing arm has pivot points forming a parallelogram linkage, and is adapted to support the load at a distal end. The toggle linkage can include an adjustment member positioned to define a distance relative to the attachment point. The first resilient member is adapted to apply a force to the load bearing arm and may have a first end connected to a first portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end connected to the adjustment member. Movement of the toggle linkage to the load bearing position engages the forces of the resilient members and movement of the adjustment member varies the distance to adjust a support vector adapted to counterbalance the load vector.

Abstract: A mechanical tracking system comprises a first set of linkage arms, a second set of linkage arms, a pair of shafts connected at a first end to one arm of the first set of linkage arms and at a second end to one arm of said second set of the linkage arms, wherein each arm of the second set of linkage arms is oriented out of phase with a respective arm of the first set of linkage arms, an attachment shaft positioned adjacent to the first set of linkage arms to accommodate a tool, and a sensor arrangement configured to sense the orientation and position of the attachment shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for generating a motion-corrected 2D image of a target. The method comprises acquiring a 3D static image of the target before an interventional procedure. During the procedure, a number of 2D real time images of the target are acquired and displayed. A slice of the 3D static image is acquired and registered with one 2D real time image and then the location of the 3D static image is corrected to be in synchrony with body motion. The motion corrected 2D image of the target is then displayed.

Abstract: A mechanical tracking system comprises a first set of linkage arms, a second set of linkage arms, a pair of shafts connected at a first end to one arm of the first set of linkage antis and at a second end to one arm of said second set of the linkage arms, wherein each arm of the second set of linkage arms is oriented out of phase with a respective arm of the first set of linkage arms, an attachment shaft positioned adjacent to the first set of linkage arms to accommodate a tool, and a sensor arrangement configured to sense the orientation and position of the attachment shaft.