Abstract: The ultrasonic image generating system has an ultrasonic beam output device which outputs a beam to a predetermined subject area, a receiving device which receives the reflected wave from the area, an image generating device which generates an image from the reflected wave and a beam output direction controller which performs control of changing the outgoing direction of the beam to the subject area based upon analysis of the image in order to reduce the area where the ultrasonic wave is shielded by an imaging target.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing speckle for two and three-dimensional images is disclosed. For two-dimensional imaging, a one and a half or a two-dimensional transducer is used to obtain sequential, parallel or related frames of elevation spaced data. The frames are compounded to derive a two-dimensional image. For three-dimensional imaging, various pluralities of two-dimensional frames of data spaced in elevation are compounded into one plurality of spaced two-dimensional frames of data. The frames of data are then used to derive a three dimensional set of data, such as by interpolation. Alternatively, the various pluralities are used to derive a three-dimensional set of data. An anisotropic filter is applied to the set of data. The anisotropic filter filters at least along the elevation dimension. In either situation, various displays may be generated from the final three-dimensional set of data. A method and system for adjustably generating two and three-dimensional representations is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing an ultrasonic image of an object by use of subharmonic acoustic signals. In specific embodiments the invention provides an acoustic transducer design and a method for obtaining an image by focusing a receiving portion of the transducer on a plurality of focal points and constructing the image from the received signals. Comparison with images generated from a fundamental frequency image can be used to enhance the final image.

Abstract: A medical or surgical device or tool that is designed to be implanted or inserted inside the human or mammalian body, having at least part of its surface coated whereby the ultrasound visibility of said device or tool in vivo is enhanced, wherein the coating comprises one or more of the following: (i) a matrix material containing a plurality of contrast enhancing elements; (ii) magnesium; (iii) a liquid or polymer which alters its ultrasound imaging properties upon elevating the temperature from ambient to physiological temperature; (iv) a liquid or polymer which alters its ultrasound imaging properties as a result of a change in pH; (v) an essentially non-polymeric bio-compatible compound which forms a discontinuous coating. Preferably the device or tool is a radioactive source for use in brachytherapy, and in particular a radioactive seed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ultrasound breast imaging is described. Breast is positioned in between an ultrasound array and a plate with embedded point or line targets. The apparatus and reflections from the targets are used 1) to improve focusing by correcting for tissue delay and amplitude aberration and 2) to improve diagnostics by constructing speed of sound and attenuation coefficient images.

Abstract: Systems and methods for visualizing ablation lesions are provided. A contrast agent is injected into an artery that feeds blood to tissue surrounding an ablation lesion. During or after contrast agent injection, the ablation lesion and surrounding tissue is imaged using an imager that is responsive to the injected contrast agent. In one non-limiting embodiment, the contrast agent comprises echogenic particles, e.g., echogenic microbubbles, and the imager is an ultrasound imager.

Abstract: A surgery dedicated ultrasound system is described. The system is used for imaging and/or guidance and/or controlling purposes. The surgeon uses and controls the system and accesses the information obtained and processed through the system while performing surgery.

Abstract: For the purpose of improving monitor display condition operating ease and enabling easy display of an arbitrary site, an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal received by an ultrasonic probe 3 is produced by an image producing section 12, a display area is formed on a screen by a display area forming section 17, a displayed range of the ultrasonic image to be displayed in the display area is selected by a displayed range selecting section 14, and scrolling of a selected range and rotation of the displayed range are achieved by a displayed range moving section 15 and a displayed range rotating section 16, respectively, based on a position on the monitor screen specified by the pointing device 3.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring the condition of a septum in an implantable medical device are disclosed. Monitoring of the septum provides the ability to determine whether a needle has pierced the septum to effect the transfer of fluids into or out of a reservoir in the implantable medical device. Septum monitoring may provide the ability to determine whether the septum is maintaining its ability to seal the reservoir against leakage. The systems of the present invention include an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the septum to emit ultrasonic energy directly into the septum. Insertion of a needle through the septum can be detected by the acoustical changes caused by the needle located within the septum.

Abstract: A customized surgical fixture (400) is formed by scanning a body to form a three-dimensional image of the body, and then identifying in the image a target (310) in the body, and mounting points or structures (330) on the body. A model, such as a computer solid model, of the fixture (400) is specified in accordance with the locations of the target (310) and mounting structures (330) or points. The fixture (400) is formed in accordance with the model of the fixture (400), for example using a rapid prototyping and tooling machine. When attached to the body, the fixture (400) can be used to guide a surgical instrument (610) into the body, for example, by using a mechanical guide (600) attached to the fixture (400) or using a remote sensing device (1300) that tracks the relative position of the customized fixture (400) and the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe in which two-dimensional array transducer elements are arrayed convexly both in one direction of the two-dimensional array and in the direction perpendicular to the former direction relative to the direction where an ultrasonic wave is transmitted. By switching a transducer element selecting switch circuit provided near the transducer elements, the shape of the diameter of the probe for transmitting and receiving of ultrasound and the position of the diameter are arbitrarily determined.

Abstract: Speckle is reduced by compounding. 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2D arrays are used to obtain frames of data representing a same scan plane, but with different elevation spatial frequency content. The elevation aperture for one frame of data is different than an elevation aperture of another frame of data. The frames of data responsive to the different elevation apertures are compounded, reducing speckle.

Abstract: A diagnostic medical ultrasound system is disclosed. The system obtains data representative of an ultrasonic echo, processes that data in a sequential architecture, and transmits the result to an output. Further, the ultrasound system provides an interface for non-sequentially architectured applications to interact within the sequential architecture of the present invention.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging method and apparatus forms high-quality color ultrasound images by using variable power threshold levels depending on pixel position. The method comprises the steps of determining a power threshold level that is varied depending on a noise, transmitting ultrasound signals from at least one transducer array to a target object, receiving a first signal including a signal reflected from the target object mixed with a noise, and imaging an ultrasound image of the target object corresponding to the first signal when the power level of the first signal is greater than the variable power threshold level. The apparatus comprises one or more transducers for transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving a first signal including a reflected signal from the object mixed with a noise; and a digital signal processor for forming an ultrasound image of the object corresponding to the first signal when a power level of the first signal is greater than a variable power threshold level.

Abstract: An adaptive clutter filtering for ultrasound color flow imaging is provided including an iterative algorithm that is used to select the best clutter filter for each packet of color flow data. If significant clutter motion is present, a high pass filter cutoff frequency is automatically set to suppress the clutter and associated flash artifacts. The cutoff frequency is chosen according to the frequency of the clutter—the lower the clutter frequency, the lower the cutoff frequency can be. If clutter frequencies are low, lower filter cutoffs allow for maximum low flow detection. In this manner, the filter cutoff frequency can be optimized based on the data for each pixel in the color flow image.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for an ultrasonic medical device with improved visibility in imaging procedures. A medical device comprises an elongated probe having a material of high radiopacity at an at least one predetermined location of the probe wherein the material of high radiopacity is capable of withstanding series of vibrations of the elongated probe. The material of high radiopacity allows the elongated probe to be visualized in imaging procedures when the probe is inserted into a body. The present invention provides a method of improving the visibility of an ultrasonic medical device during a medical procedure by engaging a material of high radiopacity to a small diameter elongated probe wherein the material of high radiopacity engages the probe at an at least one predetermined location.

Abstract: A control unit (116) resets a time stamp value whenever a pulsation is detected. In accordance with an electric signal from an ultrasonic search unit (101) and a send/receive unit (102), the image generating unit (110) generates ultrasound image data, attaches a time stamp to the generated image data, and places it into a data storing unit (112). A contour extracting unit (113) extracts a contour within the image data stored in the data storing unit (112), generates contour data, and attaches the same time stamp as the stamp attached to the image data to the contour data. An interpolated data generating unit (114) interpolates between the contour data in accordance with the attached time stamp to generate contour data corresponding to times at which sampling was not performed. A volume calculating unit (115) calculates a left ventricular volume (LVV) of a heart from the interpolated contour data according to the Modified Simpson method.

Abstract: An ultrasound machine measures coronary intima-medial thickness and relates it to a statistically derived vascular age. Quantitative risk of coronary heart disease may be calculated using vascular age to substitute for chronological age in publicly available risk assessment data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the highest velocity of fluid flow with in a volume having multiple sources of fluid flow with different velocities. There are multiple pairs of receiving transducers arranged about a region wherein each transducer in a pair is positioned on the same axis with respect to the region. A transmitting transducer is positioned at the region to provide an output frequency signal, which frequency signal is transmitted to the fluid flow area volume. This causes Doppler shifted frequency signals to be reflected, with the Doppler shift being a function of the fluid flow velocity. Each of the receiving transducers receive the Doppler shifted signals. Signal processing means are responsive to the Doppler shifted signals and the original transmitted output frequency signal to process those signals to provide a velocity signal for each pair of transducers. One then selects the maximum velocity signal obtained from the pair.

Abstract: A tissue penetrating catheter that is usable to advance a tissue penetrator from within a blood vessel, through the wall of the blood vessel to a target location. The catheter includes at least one stabilizing device thereon for stabilizing catheter prior to advancing the tissue penetrator. The tissue penetrator may extend through a lumen in the body of the catheter and project transversely through an exit port. The stabilizing device may be located closely adjacent to the exit port, or may surround the exit port. The stabilizing device may be one or more balloons, or other mechanical structure that is expandable into contact with the inner luminal wall of the blood vessel. Desirably, the exit port is forced into contact with the blood vessel wall to shorten the distance that the tissue penetrator projects from the catheter body to the target location. The catheter is particular useful for forming blood flow tracts between blood vessels, in particular in coronary revascularization procedures.