Abstract: In ultrasound imaging, acquired images are corrupted by slowly varying multiplicative non-uniformity. When the image is corrected for non-uniformity alone, noise in the dark regions of the original image becomes multiplicatively enhanced, thereby providing an unnatural look to the image. A pre-filtering technique is used to reduce noise in ultrasound pixel images by shrinking initial image data and processing the shrunken image with known segmentation-based filtering techniques that identify and differentially process structures within the image. The segmentation is based on both gradient threshold and the distance from the near field of the ultrasound image. This modification selectively suppresses near-field artifacts. After processing, the shrunken image is enlarged to the dimensions of the initial data and then blended with the initial image to form the final image.

Abstract: An ultrasound machine that generates a color representation of moving structure, such as cardiac wall tissue within a region of interest, and is displayed on a monitor. The color representation is generated by displaying at least one color characteristic related to a set of signal values of the structure, such as velocity or strain rate. The related feature of the set of signal values is mapped to the color characteristic by an apparatus comprising a front-end that generates received signals in response to backscattered ultrasound waves. A Doppler processor generates a set of signal values representing a spatial set of values of the moving structure. A host processor embodies a tracking function and a time integration function to generate tracked movement parameter profiles and displacement parameter values over a time period corresponding to sampled anatomical locations within the region of interest. The displacement parameter values are then mapped to color characteristic signals.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing consistent power and reducing power consumption for an ultrasound system are provided. The ultrasound system is provided with an uninterruptable power supply. Power is provided from an outlet through the uninterruptable power supply to the ultrasound scanner. If the power from the outlet falls below a threshold is of an insufficient quality or is otherwise unavailable, the uninterruptable power supply provides power. For mobility, the uninterruptable power supply provides power, avoiding the need to plug the ultrasound system into an outlet. To reduce the drain on the uninterruptable power supply or other source of power, the ultrasound system includes power reduction systems and methods. One or more electrical components, subsystems or the entire ultrasound system is operated in a reduced power state while not in use. For example, some digital electrical components draw more power in response to clock signal triggers.

Abstract: A device and method of detection and treatment of a solid cancer tumor, for example prostate cancer. In a diagnostic method, ultrasound is used to extract a cancer tumor marker from interstitial fluid into a coupling medium. In a method for treating a solid tumor, ultrasound is used to deliver one or more drugs from the coupling medium directly to the site of the tumor.

Abstract: A high density, exceptionally complex and compact ultrasound transducer array using multi-layer structures composed of active integrated circuit devices on various substrates and passive devices. Electrically conducting interconnections between substrates are implemented with micro-vias configured with conductors extending through the substrates, permitting the use of divided or different integrated circuit technologies arranged and/or isolated within different integrated circuit substrates or layers of the ultrasound transducer assembly. The various layers may be assembled with solders of respectively lower reflow temperatures, to permit testing of selected layers and circuits prior to completion.

Abstract: A bone mineral density meter comprises first input device which enters a sound of speed in a bone; second input device which enters a weight of the person to be measured; third input device which enters fat free mass of the person to be measured; arithmetic device which computes the bone mineral density based on data from said first input device and data from said second input device and said third input device; and display which displays a bone mineral density value computed by said arithmetic device. The present invention allows a bone mineral density to be safely estimated, at a low cost, and with proper accuracy and without having to worry about exposure to X-rays.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein provide a medical diagnostic ultrasound catheter with a tip portion carrying an ultrasound transducer. The tip portion comprises a first portion that is in the acoustic path of the ultrasound transducer, and a second portion that is outside the acoustic path of the ultrasound transducer. The first and second portions comprise different acoustic and mechanical properties. For example, the mechanical properties of the second portion can give the catheter tip sufficient durability to withstand normal use without bowing, while the acoustic properties of the first portion can give the catheter tip desired acoustic properties. This may be especially important for small diameter catheters (e.g., maximum cross-sectional dimensions less than or equal to about 10 French or 8 French) where the stiffness of the catheter tip is reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided in which anatomical images are stabilized in the presence of probe motion, anatomical motion, or both. A decision processor analyzes motional effects and determines whether to inhibit or allow image stabilization. Images are anatomically aligned on the basis of probe motion sensing, image analysis, or both. The stabilization system can be activated either manually or automatically and adaptively.

Abstract: In an intravascular ultrasonic (IVUS) imaging system ring-down artifact is reduced or eliminated by dynamically enhancing the ring-down over a plurality of scans, determining the ring-down range by keying on a ring-down-to-blood transition characterized by a rapid change from high amplitude to low amplitude echoes, and using a spectral pattern for a single or several A-scans within the ring-down range, using for example an FFT analysis, as the basis of selectively filtering current or subsequent images using the recently computed ring-down pattern.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system uses a specially configured scanhead to provide ultrasound return signals that are processed by an imaging unit to generate a three-dimensional Doppler ultrasound image. One embodiment of the scanhead includes a first pair of apertures aligned along a first axis, and a second pair of apertures aligned along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. All of the apertures lie in a common plane. Respective signals from the apertures along each axis are processed to generate two-dimensional Doppler motion vectors. The resulting pairs of two-dimensional Doppler motion vectors are then processed to generate three-dimensional Doppler motion vectors that are used to generate a three-dimensional Doppler image. In another embodiment, three co-planar apertures are arranged equidistantly from each other about a common center, and the three-dimensional Doppler image is generated from respective signals from the apertures.

Abstract: Proposed is a method and a device configuration for determining the corneal thickness of an eye, in particular of a human eye, by means of light rays. First light rays are projected onto and into the cornea, and second light rays, reflected by the cornea, are registered for determining the corneal thickness. A contact element, which is preferably plane-parallel, is placed on the contact area of the cornea, and the first light rays are projected through the contact element onto and into the cornea. The contact element is fixed on the cornea, for example. The first light rays are projected at least in points in a two-dimensional measuring area of the flattened area onto and into the cornea, and the corneal thickness is determined at one or more places of the measuring area.

Abstract: A method for treating tissue comprising the steps of providing a probe including a body having a distal tip, a position sensor for determining a position of the distal tip and a hollow needle movable from the distal tip of the body. The probe is brought into contact with a tissue portion and the hollow needle is moved out of the distal tip of the body and into the tissue portion whereby a therapeutic agent is injected into the tissue portion through the hollow needle.

Abstract: A method of producing intra-ocular lenses or contact lenses including the following steps: a) mechanically forming a lens blank such that it is suitable for correcting an ametropic visual defect, b) measuring the aberration of an eye to be corrected, c) calculating an ablation profile with respect to the lens blank on the basis of the measured aberration, and d) ablating material of the lens blank in accordance with the calculated ablation profile by means of laser radiation.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging guidewire, that is inserted into a patient's body. The guidewire has a static central core and an imaging guidewire body comprising an acoustical scanning device. The acoustical scanning device can be rotated to obtain 360 degree acoustical images of a site of interest in the patients body. Furthermore, the imaging guidewire includes a connector that permits the imaging guidewire body to be disengaged from the static central core tip so that the imaging guidewire body can be axially translated to obtain multi-position imaging. The imaging guidewire body is axially translated without losing the original guidewire positioning because the static central core maintains its position in the patient's body.

Abstract: A system (10) having a processor, a memory, generates low frequency ultrasound signals to be applied to tissue (14) to generate a weighted sum of tissue ramp, step, and impulse signatures. The system (10) analyzes the tissue signatures to determine the low frequency target profile which is used to generate a graphic representation of the tissue as well as to estimate the volume of the tissue; to classify the tissue (14) as to type, and condition of the tissue using a set of stored tissue data. The classifier may include a neural network (34), and/or a nearest neighbor rule processor (36). The system (10) performs as a non-invasive acoustic measurement, an imaging system, and method which uses Synthetic Structural Imaging (SSI) techniques to provide unique information concerning the size, shape of biological structures for classification, visualization of normal, abnormal tissues, organs, biological structures, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a percutaneous-point determination device for determining a location of a point associated with a surface of an animal organ. The device comprises an ultrasound device configured to emit a focused ultrasound beam along an ultrasound beam axis having a known orientation with respect to the ultrasound device. The ultrasound device is configured to output ultrasound data indicative of a distance from the ultrasound device to the point. A position measurement device is configured to output position data indicative of a location of the ultrasound device. The device includes a computer configured to process the ultrasound data and position data to thereby determine a location of the point.

Abstract: A mechanical diagnostic probe is used to determine the thickness of articular cartilage, so that any degeneration in the articular cartilage can be detected at an early stage. The probe advantageously allows for calibrating the speed of the ultrasound in situ thereby allowing for more accurate measurements of the tissue thickness. The probe also can be used to monitor the condition of the cartilage after surgery and/or after or during physical rehabilitation of the cartilage. The probe is comprised of a probe handle and a probe, which is comprised of an ultrasonic transducer, strain-gauges, and a linear displacement actuator. A predetermined displacement then is applied to the indenter tip and a computer program is then used to analyze the results.

Abstract: An imaging ultrasound system is provided with an ultrasound transducer and an image processing unit for the acquisition of a three-dimensional ultrasound image of the body of a patient, and a catheter for carrying out a therapeutic or diagnostic intervention in the body of the patient. The catheter accommodates, in addition to the customary instruments necessary to carry out its task, three ultrasound receivers that are mounted at a distance from one another on the tip of the catheter and are capable of detecting the arrival of scan signals of the ultrasound transducer. The distance between the ultrasound transducer and the receivers can be calculated from the transit time of the scan signals. The receivers can thus be localized in space. Localization enables notably the selection of, for example, the plane from the three-dimensional ultrasound data that contains all three receivers of the catheter.

Abstract: An MR imaging method wherein motion of an object to be imaged is examined during a preparation phase preceding the actual MR examination. The necessary sequences for the subsequent MR examination are modified during the examination to compensate for the motion based on motion parameters calculated during the preparation phase or motion parameters derived from the motion parameters calculated during the preparation phase based on a correlation between the motion parameters.

Abstract: A diagnostic and/or therapeutic catheter having a plurality of ultrasound transducers. In a first embodiment, the center frequencies of the second and third transducers may be substantially equal to a fundamental harmonic and a second harmonic, respectively, of ultrasound waves created by the first transducer. In second embodiment, the second transducer transmits waves with a center frequency substantially equal to the center frequency of the first transducer. In third embodiment, the second transducer has a center frequency that differs from the center frequency of the first transducer and the center frequency of the third transducer may be substantially equal to a difference between the fundamental harmonic of the ultrasound waves transmitted by the first transducer and a fundamental harmonic of ultrasound waves produced by the second transducer.