Abstract: A 3D image is generated in real-time on an ultrasound medical imaging system which performs acquisition, volume reconstruction, and image visualization tasks using multiple processors. The acquisition task includes deriving position and orientation indicators for each gathered image frame. Volume reconstruction includes defining a reference coordinate system within which each image frame in a sequence of image frames is registered. The reference coordinate system is the coordinate system for a 3D volume encompassing the image planes to be used in the 3D image. The first image frame is used to define the reference coordinate system. As each image plane is registered, a 2D projection of the incremental volume is displayed. A shear-warp factorization process is used to derive a 2D projection for a rotated volume. A viewing transformation matrix is factorized into a 3D shear which is parallel to slices of the reference volume. A 2D warp then is implemented to produce the projection of the rotated volume.

Abstract: A blood flow velocity measurement device is devised where there exist such entities within the fluid which are detectable when axially flowing (passing by) an appropriate detector of known and well defined dimensions mounted onto a catheter. The entities produced for instance by a generator, when flowing by the detector, induced a known single response, the response bearing direct correlation to the flow velocity, in the form of direct reciprocity to the velocity and direct proportion to the length of the sensitive length of the detector. Autocorrelation of the function obtained by the overlap and pile-up of successive events is calculated and from the characteristic points in the autocorrelation function the axial velocity is inferred. The measurement is best when the probing beam is perpendicular to the flow.

Abstract: A method of selecting laser parameters for performing laser-assisted transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) to avoid inducing undesired cardiac arrhythmia without synchronization of delivery of laser energy and the patient's cardiac cycle, the method comprising the steps of minimizing the power level of laser energy used, thereby decreasing the overall trauma to the heart, selecting a pulse frequency as great as possible while avoiding adverse summation effects, selecting a pulse width as wide as possible to prevent excessively high peak powers per pulse and not so wide as to cause undesired thermal damage, selecting an energy flux rate, shaping the front end of each pulse of laser energy to provide efficient, non explosive TMR channeling, and correcting the selected power level, pulse width, pulse frequency and energy flux rate for mechanical events, including method of access to the heart, position of selected portions of myocardium in the heart, temporal duration of the procedure, natural movement of the

Abstract: An ultrasound beam is repeatedly transmitted and received to and from an object, so that an echo signal is repeatedly obtained. A velocity of each of a plurality of portions on the ultrasound beam is calculated based on the echo signal. A position of at least one specific portion of the plurality of portions is tracked in as it changes with the passage of time based on the velocity to obtain a path where the specific portion moves. Conventionally the change of brightness of the M-mode image was tracked to obtain the path. According to the present invention, since the path is obtained based on the velocity having high resolution, the accuracy of track can be improved.

Abstract: A user defines a line of study by two or more icons placed on a two-dimensional motion image. A velocity profile or the estimated spectra at each point along the line of study are displayed as a function of position along the line of study. The velocity and variance parameters displayed are computed in reference to velocity direction angles selected by the user. The information displayed is obtained from scan converted information to facilitate the process. One or more spectral strips may be displayed in addition at one or more range gate positions.

Abstract: A method for assessment of bone properties utilizing a new set of ultrasound parameters comprises passing ultrasonic signal through a bone tissue, modeling an output signal and a reference output signal and subjecting said parameters of the models to comparative analysis. Some of the new ultrasound parameters can be determined using analog processing techniques. An apparatus is also disclosed for practicing this method with one embodiment utilizing multi-element, two-dimensional array transducers. In conjunction with said array transducers, a synthetic aperture array mode is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for determining bone characteristic data is provided. The system combines a biochemical bone measuring unit with a densitometric bone measuring unit to determine the bone characteristic data. Once the bone characteristic data is ascertained, a determination of whether bone formation or bone resorption is occurring is made and future bone characteristics can be projected.

Abstract: A method of displaying an ultrasonic image and an apparatus for ultrasonic diagnosis of this invention are capable of displaying C-mode ultrasonic image without the need of a probe moving mechanism and a probe movement controller. The linear images produced from the B-mode image data sampled along the scanning planes P(y1,t1).about.P(y5,t5) and in the constant depth z1 are displayed by being arrayed in the order of sampling times t of each linear image.

Abstract: An image registration based method and a corresponding apparatus are provided for creating composite, panoramic images, in which consecutive ultrasonic image frames are correlated in order to derive transducer motion information. The individual images can be divided into several smaller sub-image regions and a fast and robust image motion detection algorithm is used to measure the sub-image motion and then to determine an initial estimation of the local motion vectors. The initial estimation is combined with two measurement parameters by use of a fuzzy logic technique to derive a final estimation of the local motion vectors. The final local motion vectors are then used to estimate global image motion. Compound images are then diplayed based on the derived global image motion. The speed of motion of the transducer is also estimated and a "speedometer" is displayed to help the user move the transducer within efficient speed ranges.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging probe having connected tip and handle regions with longitudinal axes that intersect each other at an acute angle. An ultrasonic transducer opposes a patient-contacting surface at a distal end of the tip region and is positioned orthogonal to that region's axis. This novel shape enables the administering sonographer to position the probe at the suprasternal window without substantially tilting the probe and without requiring a substantial adjustment of the patient's head, thereby obtaining improved cardiac imaging of pediatric patients and others who cannot steadily hold their head in a backwardly tilted position to accommodate the placement of conventional ultrasonic probes. In addition, the shape allows for the unassisted positioning of the probe within the subcostal window. The ultrasound transducer is a phased-array transducer rotational about the tip region axis.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system of the type having a receive beamformer that acquires multiple receive beams from each respective transmit beam includes an azimuthal spatial filter which operates to correct for geometric distortions typically associated with such multi-beam imaging systems. This azimuthal spatial filter is responsive to input signals derived from the receive beams to generate a corrected signal output as a function of a selected set of receive beams and a set of filter weights. The filter weights are caused to vary in accordance with the azimuthal coordinates of the selected receive beams in order to improve performance.

Abstract: An imaging guidewire for imaging tissues from inside a patient's body cavity. The imaging guidewire includes an elongated main body portion and an end portion. The end portion has a housing near to the guidewire's distal end, an ultrasonic beam emitting assembly having a pivotable part, and a driver for producing a pivotal motion on the pivotable part. The housing has a portion that is acoustically transparent. The pivotable part is movable and is operatively connected to the housing. The pivotable part can either have on it a transducer for emitting ultrasound or a reflector for reflecting ultrasound. In either case, when the pivotable part pivots it sweeps ultrasonic energy over a selected angle. The driver is located near to the transducer such that all driving motions for driving the pivotal motion occur near the distal end of the imaging guidewire.

Abstract: An interrogation device is used to locate a nerve within the body. The device uses a piezoelectric crystal to locate a pulsing vessel proximate with the nerve. As the device is guided toward the nerve, it can emit an electric signal to stimulate the nerve. The operator can then watch for any physical reaction from the patient in response to nerve stimulation. As the device closes upon the nerve, pressure is applied with the needle to the vessel, thus compressing the vessel, diminishing the doppler response. Once the surface of the nerve is located, it can be accurately anesthetized.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is disclosed for providing substantially real-time images of small cavities. The ultrasound catheter is characterized by separate and distinct materials for backing the transducers and for carrying the electronics components. The separate materials comprise an electronics carrier meeting the requirements for holding the integrated circuitry of the ultrasound device and a backing material displaying superior characteristics relating to reducing ringing and minimizing the effect of other sources of signal degradation in the transducer assembly. Also, in accordance with the present invention, a technique is described for connecting the conductor lines of the separate transducer assembly and electronics body.

Abstract: The present invention provides for x-ray imaging and ultrasound imaging of a body region of interest in a spatially correlatable manner. The resultant x-ray and ultrasound images may be combinatively employed to provide three-dimensional information regarding a location of interest within the body, and is particularly apt for use in the analysis/biopsy of potential lesions and suspicious masses in a female breast. The invention provides for direct body contact by an ultrasound imaging head, as well as targeted ultrasound imaging of a selected portion of the region from which x-ray images are obtained.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for collecting EEG data, reducing the EEG data into coefficients, and correlating those coefficients with a depth of unconsciousness or anesthetic depth, and which obtains a bounded first derivative of anesthetic depth to indicate trends. The present invention provides a developed artificial neural network based method capable of continuously analyzing EEG data to discriminate between awake and anesthetized states in an individual and continuously monitoring anesthetic depth trends in real-time. The present invention enables an anesthesiologist to respond immediately to changes in anesthetic depth of the patient during surgery and to administer the correct amount of anesthetic.

Abstract: In a method of displaying a biplane image in real time in an ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from a biplane probe to a portion of a sample to be diagnosed to scan two sectional planes that intersect orthogonally at an axis of intersection. Echo signals reflected from the sample portion are received by the probe. A tomographic image of each of the two orthogonal sectional planes is displayed on a display unit, each of the two displayed tomographic images being divided into two tomographic image planes along a line of intersection representing the axis of intersection of the two sectional planes. An image for inputting a visual field direction is also displayed on the display unit. Using an input device, a parameter indicating a chosen visual field direction is input to the image for inputting the visual field direction. Affine transformation parameters of the two displayed tomographic images are operated using the parameter of the chosen visual field direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for detecting and measuring the physiologic response of a subject to chemical intake to determine impairment due to alcohol, inhalant, illicit drug or prescription medication. The method includes transducing a set of words spoken by the subject into electrical signals which are amplified and frequency band-limited and then Fast Fourier Transformed to obtain the frequency spectra of the speech. The ratio of speech energy in a first bandpass region with respect to energy in another bandpass region which may include the first region is computed and utilized to produce an output signal which is a measure of the subject's degree of chemical impairment.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for high frequency ultrasound examination of the anterior segment of a patient's eyes. A liquid bath is established about a first eye of the patient to be examined. A fixed ultrasound transducer is placed in contact with the liquid bath and directs the beam of ultrasound energy to the first eye and receives echoes of the ultrasound energy. A fixation source is juxtaposed to the second eye of the patient and displays a fixation target. A controller operates the fixation source to move the fixation target relative to the second eye, while the patient moves the second eye so as to remain focused on the fixation target. The movement of the second eye causes the first eye to move concurrently and enables relative movement between the beam of ultrasound energy and anterior segments of the first eye, while maintaining near orthogonality between the ultrasound beam and the surface of the eye.

Abstract: A method for creating ultrasound images determines if an ultrasound transducer is moving by more than a predetermined amount by obtaining two conventionally focused images D.sub.K-1 and D.sub.K. Each image is divided into a series of sections. An image processor searches the previous frame D.sub.K-1 for data points found in the current frame D.sub.K. Movement vectors are defined for each section that describe how the data points of a section move from the previous frame D.sub.K-1 to the current frame D.sub.K. The movement vectors are then applied to sections of a previously displayed adaptively focused frame I.sub.K-1 in order to create a translated adaptively focused frame I.sub.K-1'. A new adaptively focused frame is created by averaging the current adaptively focused frame A.sub.K with the translated frame I.sub.K-1'.