Abstract: Disclosed are a probe control method and apparatus and an ultrasound system which apply a mounting signal used to sense a mounting status of a probe, detect the mounting signal transferred through a cable, and automatically activate/deactivate the probe according to a change in a sensed mounting status.

Abstract: A puncture assistance system provides information on a collapse state of a blood vessel to be punctured, caused by pressing action of an ultrasonic probe, when ultrasonic images of the blood vessel are acquired. A puncture assistance system 10 includes: vascular diameter detecting means 18 for detecting a vascular diameter during acquisition of the ultrasonic images from an ultrasonic diagnostic device 11; puncture assistance information generating means 12 for generating puncture assistance information for determination of whether or not puncture is allowed to be performed based on a collapse state of a blood vessel B caused by pressing action of an ultrasonic probe 15 against skin S by comparing a current vascular diameter detected by the vascular diameter detecting means 18 with a standard vascular diameter stored in advance; and a monitor 19 that presents the puncture assistance information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering a gaseous contrast agent to the lungs of a subject.

Abstract: Ultrasound systems and methods provide a workflow to automatically identify a fetal heartbeat. A region of interest (ROI) is identified in an ultrasound image and an ROI is identified that contains the fetal heart. The ultrasound system produces spatially different M-mode lines associated with the ROI. The ultrasound system can identify a fetal heartbeat by tracking the changing position of the heart wall and estimate the fetal heart rate, e.g. by measuring from peak-to-peak of two subsequent waves. The echo signals for the M-mode lines can also be ranked according to the likely presence of a fetal heartbeat in the echo data.

Abstract: A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging system and methods of use are provided with any number of features. In some embodiments, a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound energy to and from separate physical ultrasound apertures. In some embodiments, a transmit aperture of a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit an omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a first point source through a target region. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with a single receiving aperture. In other embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with multiple receiving apertures. Algorithms are described that can combine echoes received by one or more receiving apertures to form high resolution ultrasound images. Additional algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the ultrasound system to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.

Abstract: The various aspects relate to a method of determining a geometrical parameter of a side branch of a main branch of a blood vessel, comprising receiving a multitude of cross section data sets, the data sets representing geometries of cross sections of the main branch over a length of the main branch and receiving position data of a cut plane of the main branch, the cut plane intersecting the side branch and the cut plane being defined under an angle with the cross-sections. The method further comprises, based on data in at least a part of the cross section data sets, constructing image data of a constructed cross section of the main branch in the cut plane. The method comprises receiving contour data defining a contour in the constructed cross section, the contour being provided in the side branch and determining the parameter by determining a parameter of the contour.

Abstract: A system and method for developing customized apparatus, such as guides, for use in one or more surgical procedures is disclosed. The system and method incorporates a patient's unique anatomical features or morphology, which may be derived from capturing MRI data or CT data, to fabricate at least one custom apparatus or guide. According to a preferred embodiment, the customized apparatus comprises at least one patient-specific surface and or contour, which may be derived from MRI or CT data. Apparatus may be matched in duplicate and oriented around the patient's own anatomy, and may further provide any desired axial alignments or insertional trajectories. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus may further be aligned and/or matched with at least one other apparatus during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: These are site marking devices for marking a selected site within tissue of a patient. More particularly, the devices include an elongated body of gel and a metallic band disposed at least partially surrounding the body of gel. The body of gel is recognizably artificial when the marker is subject to ultrasound or x-ray imaging. Therefore, it is readily distinguishable from biological features within the tissue site.

Abstract: A probe capable of reducing positional displacement of an acoustic lens from a capacitive transducer is provided. The probe includes a transducer having elements and extraction electrodes of the elements, flexible wiring boards having wiring electrically connected to the extraction electrodes, and an acoustic lens having stepped portions which is provided on the elements. The acoustic lens is butted against end portions of the flexible wiring boards at the stepped portions and fixed.

Abstract: Methods and devices for assessing, and treating patients having sympathetically mediated disease, involving augmented peripheral chemoreflex and heightened sympathetic tone by reducing chemosensor input to the nervous system via carotid body ablation.

Abstract: An ultrasound system may include a curved probe having a first set of elements that define a first aperture, and a second set of elements that define a second aperture. The probe may be configured to simultaneously transmit first and second ultrasound signals from the first and second apertures, respectively. The first ultrasound signal is configured to be transmitted in a first direction that is parallel with a first beam axis of the first ultrasound signal. The second ultrasound signal is configured to be transmitted in a second direction that is parallel with a second beam axis of the second ultrasound signal. At least one processor is configured to independently steer each of the first and second ultrasound signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiofrequency (RF) hyperthermia device for personalized treatment and diagnosis using capacitive coupling and without dipole antenna comprising a radiofrequency source, an amplifier, a sensor and a modulation signal input/generator, wherein the radiofrequency source produces a source signal which is modulated by the modulation signal input/generator using the phase information generated by homeostasis of the target to generate a modulated source signal, the modulated source signal is amplified by the amplifier and directed to a target, and the sensor detects the phase information generated by homeostasis of the target to provide a feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal modulates the source signal to generate a personalized modulated signal. This radiofrequency (RF) hyperthermia device is designed for personalized treatment and diagnosis of a target such as a patient or a malignant or tumorous area within a patient.

Abstract: A system and method for the measurement of radiation emitted from an in-vivo administered radioactive analyte. Gamma radiation sensors may be used to determine the proper or improper administration of a radioactive analyte in some cases, the system employs a sensor having a scintillation material to convert gamma radiation to visible light, which enables embodiments of the sensor to be ex vivo. A light detector converts the visible light to an electrical signal. This signal is amplified and is processed to measure the captured radiation. Temperature of the sensor may be recorded along with this radiation measurement for temperature compensation of ex vivo embodiments. The sensor enables collection of sufficient data to support separate application to predictive models, background comparisons, or change analysis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating image-assisted diagnostic evaluation. In accordance with one aspect of the framework, imaging parameters used in acquiring a treatment image of a portion of patient anatomy are automatically recorded during an imaging examination. The treatment image may indicate at least one location of at least one treated site. During a follow-up examination, a follow-up image of the portion of the patient anatomy may be automatically acquired using the recorded imaging parameters. To assist evaluation of treatment results, the treatment image with the indicated location of the treated site may be overlaid over the follow-up image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for displaying ultrasound data representative of a rotationally symmetrical contractible chamber or vessel within a patient which involves obtaining ultrasound data from the ultrasound imaging of the vessel or chamber through at least a phase of one cardiac cycle and virtually sectioning the vessel or chamber into multiple circumferential segments, each extending its own longitudinal distance from a common reference point. The data is used to obtain rotational parameters representative of an entire circumferential segment of the chamber or vessel. The process is repeated until a rotational parameter for each entire circumferential segment along a desired distance of the longitudinal axis of the chamber or vessel has been obtained. The rotational parameters are displayed in a two dimensional format having annular rings with each annular ring being representative of a given circumferential segment.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus sets a desired period with reference to a predetermined time phase in each heartbeat of the object, sequentially executes ultrasonic scanning on a plurality of sub-volumes in a period including the diagnosis period to acquire sub-volume data corresponding to a plurality of time phases, controls acquisition timing of the sub-volume data from a time point elapsed from the predetermined time phase by a predetermined period of time while switching the sub-volume, generates composite sub-volume data or a full volume data constituted by a plurality of sub-volume data by performing combining processing of the sub-volume data acquired in the different diagnosis periods, detects at least one of a cyclic change of a heartbeat signal and a change in the number of sub-volume data acquired in the one diagnosis period and performs combining processing of sub-volume data based on a detection result.

Abstract: Provided is an object information acquiring apparatus including a probe having a plurality of receiving elements that are arrayed along a first direction and receive an acoustic wave generated from an object irradiated with light from a light source and converting the acoustic wave into an electrical signal, a scanner that moves the probe in the first direction, a controller, and a generator that generates image data of inside of the object based on the electrical signal. The controller controls the apparatus such that light is emitted each time the probe is moved by a distance that is either (n+1/k) times or (n?1/k) times an array pitch between the receiving elements, where n is an integer of 1 or more and k is an integer of 2 or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and system for automatic control of image quality in imaging of an object using, for example, an ultrasound system. The method comprises transmitting image generating signals into the object using selected system parameter sets of the imaging system. The imaging system has a number of different system parameter sets based on an image ranking measure reflecting a subjective expert opinion of a pre-defined set of images. The captured images are analyzed with respect to at least one image quality feature to determine an image quality metric for each image. The respective image quality metric for each image are analyzed to identify an image associated with a highest image quality metric and the system parameter set used for generating the image associated with the highest image quality metric can be selected as system parameter set for imaging of the object.

Abstract: A method of diagnosis and treatment of tumors using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is provided. The method of diagnosing the presence of a tumor in a patient comprises the steps of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to cause the tumor cells to release cellular material and evaluating the cellular material for a tumor marker. The method of treating a tumor in a patient can also comprise the step of subjecting a tumor to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to provoke an immune response.

Abstract: An organ region extracting section that extracts at least one organ region from a three dimensional image of a subject; a directional data obtaining section that obtains directional data of the subject based on one of the position of the organ region within the body of the subject and the shape of the organ region; a stage region extracting section that extracts a region of a stage on which the subject is placed from the three dimensional image; and a posture data obtaining section that obtains posture data of the subject on the stage, based on the region of the stage and the directional data of the subject; are provided.