Abstract: A miniaturized ultrasound transducer (e.g. less than 4 mm×4 mm×10 mm) is provided and is operable in small spaces, such as within a surgical field and placed upon, within, attached to, embedded within, etc. structures, organs or devices. The ultrasound transducer may be mounted onto or incorporated into a holding device to foster easily manipulation of the small transducer. The ultrasound transducer communicates with a processing unit via an electrical wire or cable or wirelessly.

Abstract: An intravascular ultrasonic imaging catheter is provided with a flexible circuit electrically coupled to a transducer array mounted on the distal end of the catheter, a portion of the flexible circuit being helically wound about the catheter in order to enhance the flexibility of the circuit. The catheter may be a balloon catheter which is also provided with a stent mounted on the balloon, the stent carrying one or more drugs designed to be eluted or washed into a patient's blood stream after the stent has been delivered, by the balloon catheter, into a target area within the patient's vascular system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasonic beam into an object to be examined using a multi-ring arrangement formed with transducer elements arrayed two-dimensionally in concentric rings and receives an echo so as to create a tomogram or a three-dimensional image of the object. To correct for focusing error due to the difference in length of ultrasound propagating paths, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus groups the transducer elements so as to form a multi-ring arrangement, transmits/receives ultrasonic beams with a delay to each ring of the multi-ring arrangement and scans the ultrasonic beam so as to create an ultrasonic image, measures delay error due to presence of a sound speed non-uniformity portion of the object and changes either the coupling of the multi-ring or the delay time based on the measurement error.

Abstract: An accommodative standoff holder 10 which can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound is disclosed. The described standoff holder 10 has the ability to be mounted on and utilized with transducers 20 of different sizes and shapes. The standoff holder 10 includes a gel insert 26 which is removable and self adjusting assuring contact between a human body, an animal, or other object and the acoustic window 22 of a transducer 22.

Abstract: Individual eye tracking data can be used to determine whether an individual has actually looked at a particular region of a visual field. Aggregation of data corresponding to multiple individuals can provide trends and other data useful for designers of graphical representations (e.g., Web pages, advertisements) as well as other items that can be viewed. Representation of the aggregated viewing data, which indicates both regions viewed and regions not viewed, can be accomplished using several different techniques. For example, percentages of the number of viewers that viewed a particular region can be represented as a particular color, or the underlying image being viewed can be blurred based on and acuity gradient and the number of individuals viewing various regions. The various regions represented as viewed can be selected based on the type of viewing activity (e.g., reading, gazing) is associated with a particular region.

Abstract: To provide an ophthalmic image pickup apparatus capable of setting a fixation target in a position suitable for image pickup in accordance with a selection of an image pickup purpose (group medical examination such as an adult disease examination or a glaucomatous examination). In addition, it can be determined whether operation of the fixation target is inhibited or allowed in accordance with the selected image pickup purpose.

Abstract: Methods and associated apparatuses for imaging a target. An echo sequence image of the target is acquired and a log spectrum of at least a portion of the echo sequence image is computed. A point spread function is estimated by one of two methods. According to the first method, a low-resolution wavelet projection of the echo sequence log spectrum is used as an estimate of the log spectrum of the point spread function. According to the second method, an outlier-resistant wavelet transform of the echo sequence log spectrum is effected, followed by soft-thresholding and an inverse wavelet transform. Under both methods, a frequency domain phase of the point spread function also is estimated, the relevant portion of the echo sequence image is deconvolved using the estimated point spread function.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound computed tomography (UCT) system for providing a 3-D image of a target is presented. The 3-D UCT system includes an imaging chamber having a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged as a plurality of cylindrical rings. When activated, the plurality of piezoelectric elements generate and receive an ultrasound signal in a cone beam form. The 3-D UCT system also includes a processor coupled to the imaging chamber. The processor receives and processes the ultrasound signal and constructs the 3-D image of the target. A display device is also included with the 3-D UCT system. The display device exhibits the 3-D image of the target for analysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for noninvasive assessment of cardiac tissue properties and cardiac parameters using ultrasound techniques are disclosed. Determinations of myocardial tissue stiffness, tension, strain, strain rate, and the like, may be used to assess myocardial contractility, myocardial ischemia and infarction, ventricular filling and atrial pressures, and diastolic functions. Non-invasive systems in which acoustic techniques, such as ultrasound, are employed to acquire data relating to intrinsic tissue displacements are disclosed. Non-invasive systems in which ultrasound techniques are used to acoustically stimulate or palpate target cardiac tissue, or induce a response at a cardiac tissue site that relates to cardiac tissue properties and/or cardiac parameters are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting a border in a medical image are provided. A boundary is chosen as a connected curve whose tangent is substantially perpendicular to the gradient of the image everywhere along the curve. As an alternative to a tangent, a normal or other border direction may be used. At a given point within the image, the tangent to the boundary and the image gradient direction are orthogonal. Using an initial boundary detection, the boundary associated with the minimum cost or associated with the closest boundary where the boundary tangent and the image gradient directional are orthogonal for locations along the boundary is identified. By refining an initial border location to minimize divergence from the boundary tangent being orthogonal to the image gradient direction or by identifying a border based on the orthogonal relationship, accurate border detection may be provided in ultrasound images as well as other medical images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided in a diagnostic ultrasound system for generating and displaying strain rate spectrums corresponding to the deformation of a tissue structure within a subject, designated by a sample gate, in response to Doppler signals generated by the ultrasound system. Various combinations of several processing techniques are employed including spectral estimation processing such as discrete Fourier transform (DFT) processing, circular convolution, signal scaling/normalization, and complex autocorrelation.

Abstract: A Graphical User Interface (GUI) for an ultrasound system. The ultrasound system has operational modes and the GUI has corresponding icons, tabs, and menu items image and information fields. The User Interface (UI) provides several types of graphical elements with intelligent behavior, such as being context sensitive and adaptive, called active objects, for example, tabs, menus, icons, windows of user interaction and data display and an alphanumeric keyboard. In addition the UI may also be voice activated. The UI further provides for a touchscreen for direct selection of displayed active objects. In an embodiment, the UI is for a medical ultrasound handheld imaging instrument. The UI provides a limited set of hard and soft keys with adaptive functionality that can be used with only one hand and potentially with only one thumb.

Abstract: Transducers and methods of manufacturing transducers with at least one of environmental and electromagnetic protection are provided. Diced ultrasonic transducer stacks are covered with a shield layer or film. The shield layer is bonded to the transducer stack without adhesive. For example, a heat sealable amorphous surface is used to bond the shield layer to the ultrasound stack. The shield layer forms an environmental and/or electromagnetic barrier. Since adhesive is not used for bonding the shield layer, the kerfs are uniformly air filled.

Abstract: A method for imaging a region in a scattering medium, comprising modulating a beam of energy passing through a region of a scattering medium by at least two ultrasonic energy waves having different spatial relationships with said beam of energy so as to form at least two different modulated energy patterns, and detecting and processing said modulated energy patterns to form an image of said region.

Abstract: An apparatus and related methods for ultrasound-assisted surgical removal of a tumor or other biological object from a patient, the tumor requiring complete removal such that no portion thereof remains inside the patient, is described. According to a preferred embodiment, a specimen containing the tumor is extracted from the patient and suspended in a container holding an acoustically conductive fluid. An ultrasound probe is brought into acoustic communication with the fluid and scans the specimen, preferably at an acoustic power setting higher than a maximum ultrasonic power permitted on live human tissue. Resulting two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional ultrasound images of the specimen, which have a higher quality due to the increased acoustic power of the scan, are viewed on an output display for examining whether any portion of the tumor comes into contact with a surface of the specimen.

Abstract: A method of localizing a medical device inside a patient's body, the method comprising: transmitting ac magnetic signals between a plurality of points of known location outside of the patient's body and a plurality of points on the medical device inside the patient's body, the signals transmitted between at least some of the points comprising at least two different frequencies; and receiving the transmitted ac magnetic signals and processing the received signals to determine the position of the points on the medical device, and thus the location of the medical device, this processing including correcting for the affects of metal in the vicinity by using the transmitted and received signals at different frequencies. In an alternate embodiment, a reference device is provided inside the patients' body, and the medical device is localized relative to the reference catheter.

Abstract: Echogenic devices, and methods of making and using such devices, are disclosed. In one aspect, the devices include a porous polymeric material that is preparable by extracting a phase separated composition. In another aspect, the echogenic devices include a polymeric composition having porous particles therein. Preferably the devices are medical devices.

Abstract: Hyperspectral imaging calibration devices and methods for their use are described that generate images of three dimensional samples. A calibration device may assume the shape of a desired imaging sample such as a body part and may be sterile prior to placement. The calibration device may include openings or may be modified to expose a region of the sample during use. Spectral images, typically obtained at multiple wavelengths, are made of the calibration device. Algorithms are provided that utilize the spectral images of the calibration device to determine the effects of lighting conditions and sample shape on the sample image to form a calibrated image. Calibrated images produced by these devices and methods can provide information, including clinical data that are less sensitive to lighting and sample shape compared to alternative technologies.

Abstract: A segmentation algorithm is optimized to robustly locate and measure the volume of fluid filled or non-fluid filled structures or organs from imaging systems derived from ultrasound, computer assisted tomography, magnetic resonance, and position emission tomography. A clinical specimen is measured with a plurality of 2D scan planes processed by the segmentation algorithm to estimate the 2D based area the 3D based volumes of fluid-filled and non-fluid filled organs or structures.

Abstract: A method and system for imaging a sample. The method includes the steps of generating an ultrasonic signal, directing the signal into a sample, which signal is distorted and contains a first order and higher order component signals at first and higher frequencies respectively. The received distorted signal is processed, and an image is formed, and then displayed, from one of the higher order component signals of the received distorted signal.