Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system enables discrimination between heart chamber blood flow and blood flow in a heart wall and includes a transducer for transmitting ultrasound pulses into a patient and for receiving ultrasound echoes from blood flow targets within the patient. A beam former/buffer converts the received ultrasound echoes into echo data patterns from which a relative velocity of a blood flow target within said patient is determinable. A strong filter preferentially enables passage of echo data pattern signals which represent a velocity that is higher than a velocity of echo pattern data signals from cardiac wall blood flow targets in the patient. A weak filter partially inhibiting echo signals from low velocity tissue targets.

Abstract: A method of assessing risk of an individual for a disease is disclosed. A level of a marker for the disease is detected, and the risk of disease is computed from a statistical analysis of the marker level distributions for tested normal and diseased populations, using multivariate distributions. The computed risk is compared to thresholds to triage the individual into a normal, borderline, or elevated risk group, and a course of action based on the risk group is determined. Memory storing a program for execution on a data processing system, as well as a computer system comprising said memory is also disclosed, the memory comprising a receiver for signals representative of levels of a marker for the disease; a central procesing unit for computing risk of disease from one or more levels of the marker, and for comparing the computed risk to thresholds to triage the individual; and storage medium for the marker levels for subsequent computations of risk of disease.

Abstract: A catheter for ultrasonic imaging has a transducer fixed to a cutter. The transducer is moved longitudinally within an artery while in a fixed radial position. Ultrasonic reflections are received and processed to display a planer or rectangular field of view image area of the artery. Other axial planes of the artery can be imaged by radially turning the transducer to a different angular orientation within the artery and then longitudinally moving the transducer to obtain an image of another planer field of view.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively analyzing digital images of approximately elliptical body organs, and in particular, echocardiographic images. In a first preferred embodiment, the invention automatically determines the center-point of an elliptical organ and a search region for border discrimination by finding the maximum value produced by a series of circular arc filters applied to the image data. In a second preferred embodiment, a pair of elliptical arc filters are used to make a first approximation of the positions of the right and left epicardium so that matched elliptical filters can be used to estimate the anterior epicardial position. The estimated position of the anterior epicardial, together with the posterior epicardial position, determines the center-point of the left ventricle. The positions of the organ borders are then approximated by generating amplitude distributions along each of a number of circular segments based on the center-point.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the beam distribution to obtain the highest frame rate together with the least amount of acoustic noise while limiting the spatial aliasing to an acceptable level. The beam distribution is adjusted according to the scan format and as a function of the beam width, which is proportional to the product of the F number and the operating wavelength. As the F number changes in going from the shallow depth to a deeper depth, the number of beams fired to construct an image would change correspondingly. In addition, if the F number is changing in going from the center of image to the edge of the image, the separation of the fired beams would change. Alternatively, if the operating frequency is being changed in going from shallower depths to deeper depths or in going from the center of image to the edge of the image, the beam spacing is changed in order to fire the optimum number of beams at all times, and thereby obtain the highest frame rate.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system generates an ultrasound image that represents ultrasound intensity as a function of position within an object, such as a patient's body. An ultrasound intensity range of interest is selected, and one or more areas of the ultrasound image which represent ultrasound intensities within the selected intensity range are highlighted, typically with a distinctive color. The highlighting of a selected intensity range facilitates analysis of the image and, in particular, facilitates differentiation of tissue types. Highlighting is typically performed within a defined region of interest of the ultrasound image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic image processing for accurately detecting the annulus portion from the ultrasonic image of the long axis view of a heart. A heart wall contour is extracted from the ultrasonic image, and a center of gravity of the heart wall contour is determined. Then, for an image imaged from an apex portion side, the annulus portion is detected from points on the heart wall contour located at positions deeper than the center of gravity, whereas for an image imaged by a transesophageal echocardlography, the annulus portion is detected from points on the heart wall contour located at positions shallower than the center of gravity.

Abstract: This invention employs an ultrasound apparatus with a phased transducer having transmit and receive array systems to form an electronically scanned ultrasonic "pencil" beam (25) from crossed flat acoustic beams. The flat transmit beams and flat receive apertures are shaped by the arrays with size of individual elements on the order of the wavelength of a generated carrier frequency in a human body. The separation of array functions in the transmission and reception modes reducess the side lobe level and improves the noise performance. A fast method of acquisition of two dimensional images is described. This method uses a property of a dynamic focused and scanned flat acoustic beam together with the ability to shape flat synthetic receive apertures from digitized and memorized amplitude information.

Abstract: A phased array sector scanning ultrasonic system includes a separate beamformer channel for each respective element in an ultrasonic transducer array. Each beamformer channel has a three-stage complex FIR filter downstream of an analog-to-digital converter. Each filter circuit stage has a register pipeline, an in-phase FIR filter and a quadrature FIR filter. The first stage only has real samples, so there is a single pipeline. The other stages have complex inputs composed of in-phase (real) and quadrature (imaginary) samples, requiring a pipeline for each. Each register pipeline is made up of a multiplicity of registers connected in series. The number of registers in a given pipeline must equal the number of taps being used on the FIR filter immediately downstream of the register pipeline. The registers are clocked in synchronism and store successive echo data samples. Each register in the pipeline has an output connected to a respective tap of the corresponding FIR filter.

Abstract: An animal monitoring system includes a temperature monitoring unit which is governed by a microcontroller, i.e., an electronic computer, and which is placed inside an animal's body, usually inside the birth canal. An inactive or sleep mode of the monitoring unit reduces battery drain. Periodically the monitoring unit enters an active mode during which a temperature of the surroundings is measured; the analog temperature is converted to digital data, then transmitted as an UHF, low-power radio signal via a self-contained antenna. A base unit receives the signal, displays the received temperature value, compares the received temperature value to a predetermined range of temperature values, and initiates an alarm condition if the received temperature is outside the predetermined range. The alarm condition also results if the animal strays and the signal is lost.

Abstract: An ultrasound system automatically measures fetal head size from ultrasound images. An ultrasound image of the fetal head is detected. A radial maxima point is identified on each of a plurality of radii extending from a substantially common vertex point within the fetal head image. Each radial maxima point corresponds to an ultrasound sample along its corresponding radius, and has a maximum ultrasound echo strength. Outlier points are removed and the curve filtered to derive an initial fetal head boundary. An inner fetal head boundary and outer fetal head boundary are derived from the initial fetal head boundary and a predetermined fetal skull thickness, and fetal head size is computed from the inner fetal head boundary and the outer fetal head boundary. Processing is allocated among multiprocessors and performed in pipeline fashion to enable real-time interactive imaging and measuring.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a conduit that defines a lumen, and the lumen carries a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit can take several forms. In one form the circuit is folded at first and second fold lines, and at least one of the folds is oriented obliquely to the longitudinal axis of conduit. In another form the flexible circuit includes an end portion that defines a plurality of substantially parallel grooves, each groove aligned with and exposing a respective one of the conductors of the circuit. Additional conductors are positioned in respective ones of the grooves and are electrically connected with the respective conductors of the flexible circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for the treatment of biological tissue as well as for destroying concretions by means of focussed acoustic waves, havinga sound generating unit which a control unit triggers in such a manner that the unit generates acoustic waves of a specific frequency and energy, anda focussing unit which focusses the generated waves in a focal area.The present invention is distinguished by the sound generating unit (2) being provided, in an as such known manner, with a plane or only slightly curved radiation area in such a manner that the generated wave is an essentially plane wave and that the focussing unit (5) disposed in a fixed spatial relationship to the sound generating unit being provided with a Fresnel lenslike structure on the sound entry and/or sound exit area.

Abstract: A system and method for measurement of acoustic response, such as occurs in the ear canal when double-evoked otoacoustic emission signals elicit an evoked response from the cochlea. A three sample stimulus includes a first signal, a time delayed second signal and the useful superposition of the first and second signals. The time delay is less than the maximum latency of the cochlear emission. Each signal elicits a cochlear response that includes a linear response, which is eliminated by subtracting the first and second individual signal responses from the response to the useful superposition signal. One class of signals arises when the time delayed signal is a scaled version of the first signal. The signals may be presented using a single acoustic source or separate acoustic sources. Appropriate selection of time delays greatly reduces nonlinear response due to probe distortion. Using two acoustic sources, probe distortion can be virtually eliminated.

Abstract: A system and method of measuring the linear and nonlinear power-based responses of the ear uses a small probe assembly containing a sound source and microphone inserted into the ear. The linear power-based responses, or transfer functions, measured by the system include reflectance, admittance and impedance calculated in the time and frequency domains. A calibration procedure is based upon measured pressure responses in one or more calibration waveguides, and upon a model of the transfer function of each of the calibration waveguides that incorporates viscothermal losses. The linear transfer functions and the measured pressure responses in the ear may be combined to calculate sound power absorbed by the ear. The system is further able to measure the corresponding nonlinear power-based response of the ear by measuring any of the above transfer functions at different levels of the acoustic stimulus.

Abstract: An electromuscular stimulator that effects a beneficial medical purpose selected from the group consisting of mitigating snoring, mitigating obstructive sleep apnea, mitigating hypertension, dental analgesia, general analgesia, monitoring physiological conditions and facilitating the intraoral delivery of medication is disclosed. The electromuscular stimulator includes a first electrode for making electrical contact with a first anatomical structure selected from the group consisting of a hard palate, a soft palate and a pharynx; a second electrode for making electrical contact with a second anatomical structure; a control unit operably connected to the first and second electrodes; and a means for positioning the first and second electrodes relative to the first and second anatomical structures, respectively.

Abstract: A medical data transmission system which, at the transmitting end, is comprised of a detection means for the detection of various physiological parameters of a patient and a pre-transmission processing means for digitizing and processing the detected analog signals. The optimal digitized data is then transmitted via a data transmission linkage and a suitable transmission medium such as a conventional telephone line to a post-transmission processing means at the receiving end. The post-transmission processing means buffers and processes the transmitted digitized data, which is then reconverted to create an accurate analog reconstruction of the physiological signals as detected at the patient location.

Abstract: A rectal thermosensing unit for sensing temperature of a patient's rectal tissue includes a temperature sensing device and an inflatable balloon defining a void interior. The balloon is coupled to and supports the temperature sensing device. Inflation of the balloon positions and maintains the temperature sensing device in contact with the rectal tissue without compressing the rectal tissue.

Abstract: A method and system for forming an ultrasound image of a tissue while simultaneously ablating the tissue in which the application of therapy current is sequenced with at least the ultrasonic detection phase of the ultrasonic visualization process. In this way, no ultrasonic detection takes place while therapy current passes, and no therapy current passes while ultrasonic detection takes place. The sequencing can take place using a communication protocol between a therapy system controlling the application of therapy current and an ultrasonic imaging system controlling the ultrasonic visualization process. Depending on the communication protocol used, the therapy system and the ultrasonic imaging system can handoff control to one another or one system can have exclusive control over the other.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for adaptive persistence processing in an ultrasound imaging system. Acoustic signals are temporally filtered using an adaptive persistence filter, having a recursive stage followed by a nonrecursive stage. A set of filtering coefficients for each stage are supplied by a look-up table in a memory, addressed or indexed in response to a plurality of input or output pixel values. The look-up table may therefore embody any selected function of its input variables. The input variables for the look-up table function are a current input pixel value X.sub.n and a previous intermediate pixel value W.sub.n-1, and the function embodied by the look-up table includes a relative first difference function for selecting a filter coefficient. A recursive filtering coefficient .alpha. is held constant over time, while a nonrecursive filtering coefficient .gamma.is adjusted dynamically in response to the current input pixel value X.sub.n and the previous intermediate pixel value W.sub.