Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system capable of providing a plurality of M-mode images corresponding to M-mode lines without moving a probe. A volume data forming and reconstructing unit of the present invention forms volume data based on the ultrasound echo signals, the volume data forming and reconstructing unit being configured to determine a beat period of the moving object and reconstruct the volume data based on the beat period. A processor forms at least one reference image based on the reconstructed volume data and one or more M-mode images corresponding to one or more M-mode lines set on the reference image and a display unit displays the reference image, the M-mode lines and the M-mode images.

Abstract: A frame averaging circuit adapted for a color blood flow frame in a medical ultrasound imaging system. The frame averaging circuit comprises two sections, i.e., a recursive calculation section and a non-recursive section. The recursive calculation section employs an IIR filter in combination with a look-up table, and is adapted for dealing with the cases where no change occurs to the blood flow velocity direction. The non-recursive section compares the blood flow velocity, the energy and the energy prior to wall filtering of the color blood flow echo signal to various threshold values. Different from the recursive calculation section, the non-recursive section is employed when a change occurs to the blood flow velocity direction.

Abstract: An intracorporeal site marker has high ultrasound reflectivity, presents a substantial acoustic signature from a small marker, so as to avoid obscuring diagnostic tissue features in subsequent imaging studies, and can be readily distinguished from biological features. The biopsy site marker may include features to fix the marker to the biopsy site so as to resist migration from the biopsy cavity.

Abstract: A diagnostic ultrasound image of a region of interest (ROI) of a body is formed by transmitting into the ROI at least a first and a second ultrasound pulse, in which the second pulse is phase-shifted relative to the first pulse by an amount other than 0 or 180 degrees. Discretized receive signals from the pulses are interleaved to form a resultant operating signal that is detected and beamformed as the operating signal.

Abstract: A system and method for navigating a medical instrument in a branched structure of a body employs a tracking system, for collecting positional information for the medical instrument, and data, which defines a geometrical model of the branched structure, in particular, coordinates for predetermined points defining a pathway extending along branches of the model. Coordinates are identified for each Euclidean distance of the instrument, from an anchor point of a coordinate system for the tracking system, that corresponds to a Euclidean distance of a designated point, of the predetermined points, from a reference point of a coordinate system for the model, wherein the anchor point of the tracking coordinate system has been established to correspond to the reference point of the model coordinate system. The two coordinate systems are registered to one another using the identified coordinates of the instrument and the corresponding coordinates of each designated point.

Abstract: Embodiments of adaptively performing clutter filtering are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to output a plurality of ultrasound data corresponding to each pixel of a color Doppler mode image; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit and being configured to calculate a power difference value corresponding to each of the pixels based on the plurality of ultrasound data, determine whether the power difference value is equal to or larger than a first threshold value, and if the power difference value is equal to or larger than the first threshold value, then perform first clutter filtering upon the plurality of ultrasound data, or if the power difference value is less than the first threshold value, then perform second clutter filtering upon the plurality of ultrasound data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system capable of providing a plurality of M-mode images corresponding to M-mode lines without moving a probe. A volume data forming and reconstructing unit of the present invention forms volume data based on the ultrasound echo signals, the volume data forming and reconstructing unit being configured to determine a beat period of the moving object and reconstruct the volume data based on the beat period. A processor forms at least one reference image based on the reconstructed volume data and one or more M-mode images corresponding to one or more M-mode lines set on the reference image and a display unit displays the reference image, the M-mode lines and the M-mode images.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a connection section to which an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer mounted therein is detachably connected, a transmission section that drives the ultrasound transducer of the ultrasound probe connected to the connection section by a transmission signal of a transmission frequency thereof, an echo signal creation section that creates a digital echo signal from an echo signal received by the ultrasound transducer, a signal processing section that carries out signal processing to the digital echo signal, a processing-speed changing section that changes an operation frequency of the signal processing in the signal processing section, and a change control section that controls change of the operation frequency.

Abstract: An acoustic driver system for use in applying an oscillating stress to a subject undergoing a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) examination includes a flexible passive driver located in the bore of the magnet and in contact with the subject. A remotely located active driver is acoustically coupled to the passive driver and produces acoustic energy in response to an applied current. The passive driver produces shear waves in response to the acoustic energy and are directed into the body of the subject undergoing the MRE examination.

Abstract: An apparatus has: an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound waves to and from a subject and has an ultrasound transmission/reception surface; an acoustic coupler that has a different shape for each type and is attachable and detachable so as to cover the ultrasound transmission/reception surface; a generator that, based on the ultrasound waves received by the ultrasound probe, generates an image expanding in a depth direction from the ultrasound transmission/reception surface; and an analyzer that, based on presence/absence and shape of an acoustic coupler region within the image generated by the generator, identifies presence/absence of mounting of the acoustic coupler and a type of the mounted acoustic coupler. Consequently, the apparatus is capable of identifying the acoustic coupler though the ultrasound probe and the acoustic coupler are not provided with special structures.

Abstract: According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, even when the received signal indicating the ultrasonic echo from the artifact is weak such as when the artifact such as the puncture needle is positioned diagonally to the ultrasonic beam, the received signal can be subjected to the signal processing to identify the position of the artifact and provide high visibility of the artifact to an examiner. Thus, from whichever direction the puncture needle is inserted into the body, the position of the puncture needle can be properly recognized.

Abstract: Embodiments of a user interface in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the ultrasound system comprises a display unit for prompting a user to touch a desired one of hierarchically arranged soft buttons for triggering an execution of the function of the ultrasound system associated with the touched button. The display unit includes a display having a display with touch panel mounted. The display unit is configured to display a touch screen menu together with the ultrasound image on the display.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods of rapidly obtaining ultrasonic images of the eye using a set of procedural options that can be automated by a positioning mechanism that can be controlled by software.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus that can acquire ultrasound image data having excellent spatial resolution and contrast resolution by electrically controlling focusing points of transmission/reception waves so as to form transmitting beams and receiving beams having substantially uniform thin beam width along an elevation direction. Ultrasounds emitted from a prescribed number of transducers are focused at a hypothetical point sound source. Wave-fronts reflect at a plurality of observing points. Ultrasounds reflected at the observing points are received through a prescribed number of transducers generating a plurality of channels of receiving signals, which are focused by performing phase compensation and summation so that the observing point becomes a reception focusing point. The receiving signals are focused to correct transmitting delays due to propagation distances between the transmitting focusing point and the observing points.

Abstract: Embodiments of a user interface in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the ultrasound system comprises a display unit for prompting a user to touch a desired one of hierarchically arranged soft buttons for triggering an execution of the function of the ultrasound system associated with the touched button. The display unit includes a display having a display with touch panel mounted. The display unit is configured to display a touch screen menu together with the ultrasound image on the display.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting and treating malignant tissue, organs or cells in a mammal. The method includes parenterally injecting a mammalian subject, at a locus or by a route providing access to the tissue or organ, with a composition including an antibody/fragment that is tagged with a fluorophore and a therapeutic isotope molecule, which specifically binds to the targeted organ, tissue or cell.

Abstract: A system for locating a medical device in vivo includes an ultrasound scanner having a scan head and being capable of operating in a 3D Doppler mode, a medical device having a distal end configured to be inserted in vivo, and a vibratory element coupled to the medical device to induce vibrations in the first distal end. When the scan head is positioned over the distal end inserted in vivo to obtain scan data of the tissue volume, the ultrasound scanner is configured to generate 3D Doppler data in the form of a plurality of slices from the scan data and to identify a location of the distal end within the slices based upon localized data within one of the slices meeting predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A biological observation apparatus according to the present application includes a sound wave radiating unit that radiates a sound wave into an object to be examined in living tissue, a light radiating unit that radiates light into the object, a light interfering unit that makes the light radiated from the light radiating unit interfere with light reflected from an area where the sound wave reaches and radiates interference light, a light detector that detects the interference light radiated from the light interfering unit and outputs an interference signal corresponding to the interference light, and a calculation unit that calculates the amount of frequency modulation of the radiated light based on the interference signal outputted from the light detector and calculates a difference value between the two adjacent amounts of frequency modulation in sequence.

Abstract: A body-insertable device including a resonance circuit for emitting a resonance magnetic field by being induced by a drive magnetic field received from the outside. An external device for deriving position information of the resonance circuit by using a detection signal of detected resonance magnetic field. The external device includes a drive coil driving unit for outputting a drive signal having a predetermined frequency, a drive coil for receiving the output drive signal and generating the drive magnetic field, and a drive magnetic field generation control unit for calculating an amplitude value of the drive signal by using a current amplitude value of the drive signal, detecting a degree of stability indicating whether a sharp change occurs in the drive magnetic field based on the calculated amplitude value, and controlling the deriving of a position information based on the detected degree of stability in the drive magnetic field.

Abstract: A patient table for a common imaging system including Magnetic Resonance and X-Ray retains the patient stationary in position prior to, during and subsequent to the imaging and includes a base, a patient support portion cantilevered from the base and a mattress. A safety system is provided for controlling the operation of the magnet and MR system and the X-Ray systems to allow effective safe operation and controls the movement of the magnet to the table and the movement of the X-Ray imaging systems to and from the table to locations where they do not interfere with the MR imaging.