Abstract: An ultrasonic probe that acquires an ultrasonic image to diagnose or treat an object, and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus including the same, wherein the ultrasonic probe includes a case, a transducer disposed inside the case to generate ultrasonic waves, a biopsy needle inserted into an object in the vicinity of the case, and a sensor unit including a sensor provided to measure a position of the biopsy needle and disposed inside the transducer, wherein the transducer includes a piezoelectric layer configured to generate ultrasonic waves, a sound absorbing layer disposed on one side of the piezoelectric layer to absorb the ultrasonic waves generated from the piezoelectric layer, and a sound absorbing member disposed on one side of the sound absorbing layer, and the sensor unit is disposed inside the sound absorbing member.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasive and quantitative assessment of the status of bone tissue in a bony member within a living organism are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a transducer and a controller that causes the transducer to generate a pair of axial ultrasound signals traveling in opposite directions along a longitudinal axis of the bony member and a radial ultrasound signal traveling towards and into the bony member. The transducer receives multiple portions of each of the axial ultrasound signals and multiple portions of the radial ultrasound signal reflected by the bony member and generates axial and pulse-echo output signals in response. The controller processes the axial and pule-echo output signals to obtain an axial transmission time delay and a pulse-echo time delay, respectively, and generates an estimate of a characteristic of the bone tissue responsive to the axial-transmission and pulse-echo time delays.

Abstract: A device can detect and retrieve a blood clot by advancing a catheter with a clot sensing element through a patient's vascular system. The catheter can map, using an electromagnetic sensor disposed at a distal end of the clot sensing element, the patient's vascular system. A force sensor can generate a position signal indicating the clot sensing element contacted the clot in the patient's vascular system. Once located, a blood clot retrieval device can be deployed through the catheter and a lumen in the clot sensing element to remove the clot from the patient's vascular system.

Abstract: The invention provides an intra-needle ultrasound system and its method of use for analysis, tracking, and display of pleura in millimeter-scale resolution. This method includes the following steps: Assembling the puncture needle and intra-needle ultrasound transducer, which can generate and receive ultrasound waves at the needle tip. To transform the axial ultrasonic signal into a figure, that can help to identify different anatomic structures according to the corresponding feature of ultrasonic RF (Radio Frequency) signal, and to set the region of interest according to corresponding RF feature of amplitude and depth. This invention can indicate the distance between the ultrasound needle tip and pleura in a real-time fashion, and to identify the best position for anesthetic injection in the paravertebral block (PVB) and the intercostals nerve block (ICNB). The system can also help to avoid damage to the pleura and lung during the nerve block procedure.

Abstract: A window dressing includes a primary layer having a window for viewing a catheter insertion site. The primary layer includes an adhesive layer on a lower, skin-contacting face of the primary layer. A transparent layer covers the window and adheres to the upper surface of the primary layer. An ultrasonic transmission layer is positioned below the primary layer, where the transmission layer comprises a layer of hydrogel. A support structure has a stiffness that is greater than the primary layer and has an adhesive layer on the lower surface of the support structure. The support structure adhesive layer adheres the support structure to the upper surface of the primary layer.

Abstract: Various approaches to delivering ultrasound energy to a target region include an ultrasound transducer having multiple transducer elements for generating a focal zone of acoustic energy at the target region, wherein one or more transducer elements are partitioned into multiple contiguous sub-regions having a common directionality; one or more driver circuits connected to the transducer element(s); a switch matrix having multiple switches for switchably connecting the sub-regions to the driver circuit(s), each of the sub-regions being associated with one of the switches; and a controller configured to (i) determine an optimal sonication frequency for maximizing a peak acoustic intensity in the focal zone; and (ii) based at least in part on the determined optimal sonication frequency, activate one or more switches in the switch matrix for causing the corresponding sub-region(s) to transmit ultrasound pulses to the target region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to assess effectiveness of an endovascular aneurysm coiling procedure. A system is provided that can include a flow-sensing intravascular device with a flexible elongate member which is sized and shaped for insertion into a vasculature, and a flow sensing element secured to a distal portion of the flexible elongate member. A computer can be in communication with the flow-sensing intravascular device. With a coil is positioned within an aneurysm, the computer can detect a flow measurement of fluid entering the aneurysm based on data obtained by the flow sensing element positioned within the aneurysm, and can determine that the fluid flow measurement is at or below an acceptable level. If flow is at an unacceptable level, additional coils can be added to further restrict flow. Also, a second source of fluid into the aneurysm can be indicated by the flow measurements.

Abstract: Catheterization is carried out by inserting a probe into a cavity in a body of a subject. The probe has a contact force, a transmitter, a receiver, and an ultrasound transducer in its distal segment. After navigating the probe into contact with a target in a wall of the cavity using the contact force sensor, a desired contact force is established and maintained between the probe and the target. Responsively to readings by the receiver of signals from the transmitter, the distal end of the probe is oriented orthogonally to the target.

Abstract: Methods for training a model for use in monitoring a health parameter in a person are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method involves monitoring a blood pressure of a person using a control blood pressure monitoring system, receiving control data that corresponds to the monitoring using the control blood pressure monitoring system, receiving stepped frequency scanning data that corresponds to radio waves that have reflected from blood in a blood vessel of the person, wherein the stepped frequency scanning data is collected through multiple receive antennas over a range of frequencies, generating training data by combining the control data with the stepped frequency scanning data in a time synchronous manner, and training a model using the training data to produce a trained model, wherein the trained model correlates stepped frequency scanning data to values that are indicative of a blood pressure of a person.

Abstract: A method of passively detecting radiofrequency (RF) signals spontaneously emitted by a non-equilibrium population of electrons that are spin polarized by flowing through a chiral media during relaxation of the spin polarized electrons to equilibrium at a frequency corresponding to a Zeeman spin-flip energy of the spin polarized electrons under influence of a magnetic field (MF). The MF is applied to the chiral media for a predefined time period to shift a frequency and magnitude of the spontaneously emitted RF signals in line with Zeeman effect. The shifted emitted RF signals is passively detected and stored for medical use applications using a receiver antenna tuned to a resonant frequency of the shifted emitted RF signals.

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 ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: a display unit that displays an acoustic wave image; an operation unit for a user to perform an input operation; a measurement item designation receiving unit that receives designation of a measurement item relevant to a measurement target; a detection measurement algorithm setting unit that sets a detection measurement algorithm based on the measurement item; a position designation receiving unit that receives designation of a position of a measurement target on the acoustic wave image; a measurement unit that detects the measurement target from the acoustic wave image based on the position of the measurement target and the detection measurement algorithm, measures the measurement target, calculates a measurement candidate, and displays the measurement candidate on the display unit; and a measurement candidate designation receiving unit that receives designation of the measurement candidate in a case where a plurality of measurement candidates are displayed.

Abstract: An ultrasound interface element (10) is for establishing interface with an incident tissue surface (32) for the purpose of transfer of ultrasound waves. An ultrasound-transmissive active layer (14) is provided comprising one or more responsive material elements (16) deformable in response to an electromagnetic stimulus. The one or more elements are controlled to deform in a manner such as to progressively establish with the tissue surface (32) an outwardly expanding interface, starting from an initial point or line of contact and spreading outwards to a wider area.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging system, devices, and methods for minimizing grating lobe artefacts in an ultrasound image are provided. For example, an ultrasound imaging system can include an array of acoustic elements and a processor in communication with the array. The processor controls the array to activate a plurality of apertures and subapertures in a scan sequence, generate an image comprising a plurality of pixels, identify at least one subaperture of the plurality of subapertures corresponding to a reduced signal value for one or more pixels of the image, and generate a grating-lobe-minimized image based on the identified subapertures. The grating-lobe-minimized image can be output to a display or combined with the original ultrasound image to include image features lost or reduced in the grating-lobe-minimized image. The grating-lobe-minimized image advantageously reduces image artefacts and clutter to simplify ultrasound image analysis and diagnosis procedures.

Abstract: A method for training a model for use in monitoring a health parameter in a person is disclosed. The method involves receiving control data that corresponds to a control element, wherein the control data corresponds to a health parameter of a person, receiving stepped frequency scanning data that corresponds to radio waves that have reflected from the control element, wherein the stepped frequency scanning data includes frequency and corresponding amplitude and phase data over a range of frequencies, generating training data by combining the control data with the stepped frequency scanning data in a time synchronous manner, and training a model using the training data to produce a trained model, wherein the trained model correlates stepped frequency scanning data to values that are indicative of a health parameter of a person.

Abstract: Systems and methods to assist a practitioner to confirm location of a distal tip of a needle within a patient include confirming tactile feedback from a needle insertion to a point of loss of resistance of fluid flow and by viewing a display showing color of a tissue plane at the distal tip of the needle at the point of loss of resistance.

Abstract: A biomagnetic measurement apparatus includes a table on which a subject is placed; a biomagnetic detector configured to detect a biomagnetic field of the subject; a supporter configured to support a detection target region from which the biomagnetic field of the subject is detected; a radiation detector provided below the supporter; and a position changer configured to change relative positions of the biomagnetic detector and the detection target region. The supporter has a surface shape that corresponds to a surface of the biomagnetic detector.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for real-time monitoring of patient position and/or location during a radiation treatment session. Images acquired of a patient during a treatment session can be used to calculate the patient's position and/or location with respect to the components of the radiation therapy system. One variation of a radiation therapy system includes a circular gantry with a rotatable ring coupled to a stationary frame, a therapeutic radiation source mounted on the rotatable ring, and a patient-monitoring imaging system mounted on the rotatable ring. The patient-monitoring system may have one or more image sensors or cameras disposed on the rotatable ring within a bore region of the radiation therapy system, and may be configured to acquire image data as the ring rotates.

Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment comprises processing circuitry configured to: acquire a position of an interatrial septum and a device reaching position in a medical image indicating the heart of a subject; calculate a puncturing region, in the interatrial septum, enabling a medical device to reach the device reaching position through the interatrial septum on the basis of the position of the interatrial septum and the device reaching position; and present the puncturing region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heart rate monitoring method based on heartbeat harmonics. First, mixed data of a subject, which includes a fundamental respiration signal, respiration harmonics, a fundamental heartbeat signal, and heartbeat harmonics, is acquired by scanning a set of range bins. Range Doppler processing of the mixed data is performed to determine a range bin of interest. Data spectrum is then extracted based on a portion of the mixed data acquired at the range bin of interest. Next, the data spectrum is adaptively filtered to at least remove a spectrum peak of the fundamental respiration signal and a spectrum peak of the fundamental heartbeat signal mixed with a portion of respiration harmonics that are spectrally close to the fundamental heartbeat signal. Finally, the fundamental heartbeat signal is recovered based on a strongest heartbeat harmonic in the filtered data spectrum.