Abstract: An apparatus adapted for use with a trans-esophageal probe. The apparatus comprises a disinfecting unit and a storage unit, each of which includes a tubular housing having an interior, upper and lower ends, and an opening at the upper end for access to the interior. The disinfecting unit includes a support above the upper end of its housing for supporting a handle of a probe whose probe end is within the interior of the housing. The interior of the disinfecting unit is adapted to contain a fluid, and is equipped with a fluid level indicator and a drain for draining the fluid from the housing. The storage unit includes an enclosure removably mounted to the upper end of its housing for enclosing the handle end of a probe whose probe end is within the interior of the housing. Both units further include a support for a connector of a probe placed in the unit.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for a compact, inexpensive ultrasound system using an off-the-shelf personal digital assistant (PDA) device interfacing to a hand-held probe assembly through a standard digital interface. The hand-held probe assembly comprises a detachable transducer head attached to a beamforming module that performs digital beamforming. The PDA runs Windows applications and displays menus and images to a user. The PDA also runs ultrasound data processing software to support a plurality of imaging modes. An internal battery is provided in the PDA to power the system. The transducer head is detachable from the beamforming module.

Abstract: A method for determining an acoustic velocity in a segment of a bone covered with a layer of soft tissue having an outer surface, which includes determining a first travel time of a first ultrasonic wave along a first path from the outer surface back to the outer surface which path includes at least a first part of the bone segment together with determining a second travel time of a second ultrasonic wave along a second path from the outer surface back to the outer surface, which path includes at least a second part of the bone segment and also determining a third travel time of a third ultrasonic wave along a third path from the outer surface back to the outer surface which path includes at least a third part of the bone segment, and deriving the acoustic velocity in the segment of bone from the three determined travel times.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for displaying an enhanced image based on an image plane of data. A volume data set is acquired, and a plane is defined on an image based on the volume data set. The plane may be a C-plane. Data within the volume data set which is defined by the plane is processed with an image enhancing technique and the resultant enhanced image is displayed.

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.

Abstract: A method of medical ultrasonic imaging is provided. The method includes transmitting a plurality of ultrasonic waves into a volume such that each successive wave is transmitted into the volume at a steering angle different than each preceding transmitted wave, receiving a plurality of ultrasonic echoes for each of the plurality of transmitted ultrasonic waves, each received echo is indicative of a density interface within the volume, each set of received echoes that corresponds to a single transmitted wave defines a steering frame, combining steering frames into a compound image, and identifying distal shadows in each steering frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for assessing blood flow in single or multiple vessels and segments, for assessing vascular health, for conducting clinical trials, for screening therapeutic interventions for effect, for assessing risk factors, for evaluating intracranial pressure and for analyzing the results in a defined manner. The invention enables direct monitoring of therapies, substances and devices on blood vessels, especially those of the cerebral vasculature. Relevant blood flow parameters include mean flow velocity, systolic acceleration, and pulsatility index. Measurement and analysis of these parameters, and others, provides details regarding the vascular health of individual and multiple vessels and a global analysis of an individual's overall vascular health.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for focusing acoustic waves useful for obtaining an image of a field to be observed in a dissipative heterogeneous medium (2, 3) around which acoustic transducers (T1–Tn, T?1–T?m) forming an imaging network and a target network. The method consists in following a training step during which pulse responses from the medium are measured between each transducer (Ti) of the imaging network (5) and several transducers (Tj) of the target network (6); deducing therefrom reference signals to be emitted by the transducers of the imaging network to produce a focused acoustic pulse in each transducer of the target network, then cumulatively, in determining reference signals to be emitted to focus an acoustic pulse on predetermined points in the medium. Said reference signals are stored and used subsequently to generate an acoustic image of the medium.

Abstract: A method of medical ultrasound imaging is provided. The method includes transmitting ultrasound waves into a volume at a first rate, receiving ultrasound echoes for each of the ultrasound waves, each echo is indicative of a density interface within the volume, each set of received echoes that corresponds to a single transmitted wave defines a steering frame, detecting motion of the array transducer, and combining a plurality of steering frames into a compound image based on the detected array transducer motion.

Abstract: Methods and systems vary the elevation beam pattern during an imaging session. A user based or automatic search mode is provided where one or more elevation beam thicknesses are used, and then a diagnosis mode is provided where an optimal or narrow elevation beam thickness is used for continued imaging. 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2D arrays are used to obtain frames of data responsive to the varied elevation beam pattern.

Abstract: Sidelobe levels of bipolar and unipolar waveforms are suppressed. Bipolar and unipolar transmit waveforms are generated with a coded excitation, such as a chirp coding, and pulse width modulation. For harmonic, such as second harmonic, imaging, the fundamental transmit frequency of the transmit waveform is centered at a lower end of the bandwidth of the transducer. The transducer filters higher frequency components of the transmit waveform differently than lower frequency components. To generate the desired acoustic waveform, the transmit waveform generated for application to the transducer is adjusted to account for the frequency response of the transducer. For example, higher frequency parts of a chirp waveform has more pulse width modulation or narrower pulse widths to account for lesser magnitude reductions. Multiple transmit waveforms may be combined to reduce sidelobes for fundamental or second harmonic imaging. Two coded excitation waveforms are generated.

Abstract: A system for providing high resolution imaging of objects having sub-millimeter dimensions comprised of at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, a coupling chamber, and a processor for recording attenuation and time of flight profiles of the transmitted signals. The signals are conditioned in a manner to provide high signal-to-noise ration (SNR) and minimal crosstalk and multipath effects at the receiver.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe comprises an elongate structure having a longitudinal axis; a first array of ultrasonic transducer elements extending along an outer surface of the elongate structure in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis; a second array of ultrasonic transducer elements extending along the outer surface of the elongate structure in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis; and a third array of ultrasonic transducer elements extending about the elongate structure in a direction so that it images a plane perpendicular to that imaged by at least one of the first array and the second array, the third array being disposed in a space between the first array and the second array. An electronics module for use with the probe, and an additional probe, to produce internal images of a patient.

Abstract: The method comprises the phases of: sending a series of excitation ultrasonic signals to a volume being investigated, by means of an array of transducers aligned in a transverse direction (x), said ultrasonic signals propagating in depth in said volume according to a direction of propagation (y); acquiring, by means of said transducers, signals reflected from reflectors located in the volume being investigated; performing on said reflected signals a transform in the transverse direction from a spatial domain (x,y), defined by said transverse direction (x) and by said direction of propagation (y), to a first transformed domain; applying, in the transformed domain, a two-dimensional transformation, to straighten every curved image (Ip1, Ip2, Ip3) of a reflector in said volume being investigated and make it essentially orthogonal to the direction of propagation (y); compressing, in the transverse direction (x) each of the straightened curves (Im1, Im2, Im3) to concentrate said straightened image in a zone center

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for calibrating a probe having a position sensor and an ultrasonic transducer. The apparatus includes a test fixture, which includes an ultrasonic target disposed therein at a known position. A computer is adapted to receive a position signal generated by the position sensor while the transducer is in alignment with the ultrasonic target, determine an orientation of the probe in a frame of reference of the test fixture, and determine calibration data for the probe responsive to the orientation of the probe.

Abstract: A system and method for automated image analysis selects a Region Of Interest (ROI) within a frame, suitable for subsequent Quantitative Intima Media Thickness (QIMT) analysis. Presently, a time consuming manual analysis by a highly trained technician is required to select the ROI within the frame for subsequent automated analysis. The automated image analysis provides an immediate and accurate identification of the ROI within the selected frame. In one embodiment, the automated image quality analysis may be directed to an ultrasound image of the carotid artery.

Abstract: A diagnostic medical imaging system is disclosed, such as a diagnostic medical ultrasound system, which uses operational rules or an anatomic model of an anatomical structure as an organizational framework for applying anatomy-specific auxiliary/secondary information. After processing the operational rules on the acquired images or associating the model with the acquired images, adapting/fitting the model to match the images if necessary, the imaging system can associate aspects of the images being acquired with the auxiliary/secondary information, allowing the imaging system to behave as if it “knows” what it is scanning. The auxiliary information may be rules that affect the behavior of the imaging system, or may be the acquired image samples. System behavior may then be automatically adapted or the operator may be prompted to make operational changes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus which is capable of reducing generation of side lobes, and thereby, obtaining images of satisfactory quality even when performing sector scan of an area having a wide range. The ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe having plural ultrasonic transducers, plural transmitting circuits for respectively generating plural drive signals to be supplied to the ultrasonic probe so as to transmit an ultrasonic beam, plural receiving circuits for respectively processing plural detection signals output from the ultrasonic probe which has received an ultrasonic echo, switching unit for selectively connecting a predetermined number of ultrasonic transducers in the plural ultrasonic transducers to the plural transmitting circuits and/or the plural receiving circuits, and control unit for controlling the switching unit to change a sparse pattern of the ultrasonic transducers which transmit and/or receive ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: The relationship between aging and decreased cardiac function is well known. However, the human cardiac system is extremely complex and humans are very long-lived animals. Therefore, there is a need for simple models of the heart that can be rapidly tested over time. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has served as a valuable model-organism for the study of aging and is the first organism possessing a circulatory system to have its genome completely sequenced. The present inventor has found that maximal heart rate is significantly and reproducibly reduced with aging in Drosophila, analogous to observations in elderly humans. The present inventor has also described several other aspects of the cardiac physiology of young adult and aging Drosophila, including an age-associated increase in rhythm disturbances. The present invention contemplates methods for studying cardiac function in vivo in adult flies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for guiding a needle in conjunction with a biopsy using a medical imaging device, where an open-ended needle guide with an adjustable slidable multi-gauge needle stop is used to guide a needle during insertion and during a tilting of the needle with respect to the medical imaging device.