Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods relating to intraluminal imaging are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intraluminal imaging device is disclosed. One embodiment of the intraluminal imaging device comprises a flexible elongate member configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient, the flexible elongate member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. The intraluminal imaging device further comprises an ultrasound imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The imaging assembly comprises a support member, a flexible substrate positioned around the support member, a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements integrated in the flexible substrate, and a plurality of control circuits disposed on the flexible substrate at a position proximal to the plurality of transducer elements. The plurality of control circuits has an outer profile that does not extend beyond an outer profile of the plurality of transducer elements.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to a medical system that includes a robotically controllable field generator and an instrument guide. The instrument guide may guide a percutaneously insertable instrument along an insertion axis. The instrument guide may also be positioned on an electromagnetic (EM) field generator, where the EM field generator can generate an EM field. A first robotic arm may be coupled to the EM field generator and it may move the EM field generator and the instrument guide. The system then determines: an EM target positioned within a patient, and a registration that maps positions within an EM coordinate frame associated with the EM field to positions within a robotic coordinate frame. The system may also determine, based on the registration, a position of the EM target within the robotic coordinate frame. Based on the position of the EM target within the robotic coordinate frame, move the first robotic arm may move to align the insertion axis of the instrument guide with the EM target.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for affixing and orienting an ultrasound transducer to a patient. A mount has a base, with a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of internal surfaces. Some of the internal surfaces define a number of through holes that pass through the top surface and the bottom surface at the periphery or outer edge of the base. A number of supports are also arranged on the outer surface of the housing to affix the mount to the patient, to affix the transducer to the mount, or both. At least one of the plurality of internal surfaces defines a channel between the top and bottom surfaces proximal to a center of the mount, which receives a transducer and directs the transducer head toward the patient.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging probe includes an ultrasound transducer assembly configured to obtain imaging data associated with a body of a patient; a chassis (304) fixedly secured to the ultrasound transducer assembly; a plurality of heat spreader members (430, 440) positioned around the chassis and configured to provide a thermal path for heat generated by the ultrasound transducer assembly while obtaining the imaging data, wherein the plurality of heat spreader members is movably coupled to the chassis; and a housing (510, 520) positioned around the plurality of heat spreader members, wherein the plurality of heat spreader members is configured to move relative to the chassis when the housing is positioned around the plurality of heat spreader members.

Abstract: Systems and methods for histotripsy and immunotherapy are provided. In some embodiments, histotripsy can be applied to a target tissue volume to lyse and solubilize the target tissue volume to release tumor antigens. In some embodiments, an immune response of the treatment can be evaluated. In other embodiments, an immune therapy can be applied after applying the histotripsy. In one embodiment, the lysed and solubilized cells can be extracted from the tissue. The extracted cells can be used to create immune therapies, including vaccines.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a medical device is disclosed. The medical (imaging) device comprises a housing configured for handheld use, a transducer array, a display coupled to the housing, a plurality of sensors distributed about a periphery of the housing and configured to detect when a hand of an operator is positioned around the housing, and a computing device disposed within the housing, wherein the computing device is in communication with the transducer array, the display, and the sensors. The computing device is operable to: monitor the sensors, determine whether a reading from a first sensor at a first edge of the periphery of the housing exceeds a threshold, set the first edge as a primary edge based at least in part on the reading from the first sensor, and orient the display such that the primary edge is at the bottom of the display.

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasound imaging apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The ultrasound imaging apparatus includes: a probe configured to transmit ultrasound signals to an object and receive echo signals corresponding to the ultrasound signals; a display; and at least one processor configured to detect a reference region of a medical tool inserted into the object in an ultrasound image generated based on the echo signals, control the display to display at least one distance-indicating line arranged with respect to the reference region in the ultrasound image, and update a position of the at least one distance-indicating line according to movement of the medical tool.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to a medical system that includes a robotically controllable field generator and an instrument guide. The instrument guide may guide a percutaneously insertable instrument along an insertion axis. The instrument guide may also be positioned on an electromagnetic (EM) field generator, where the EM field generator can generate an EM field. A first robotic arm may be coupled to the EM field generator and it may move the EM field generator and the instrument guide. The system then determines: an EM target positioned within a patient, and a registration that maps positions within an EM coordinate frame associated with the EM field to positions within a robotic coordinate frame. The system may also determine, based on the registration, a position of the EM target within the robotic coordinate frame. Based on the position of the EM target within the robotic coordinate frame, move the first robotic arm may move to align the insertion axis of the instrument guide with the EM target.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging device includes an ultrasound transducer module disposed within a housing and a flowable acoustic damping material disposed on at least one surface located within an interior of the housing. The flowable acoustic damping material may be a Teflon™-containing gel material, in contact with at least one internal surface of the imaging device to provide acoustic damping.

Abstract: A probe, which is a transrectal ultrasonic probe, includes an insertion unit to be inserted into the rectum of a subject. The insertion unit includes a shaft in a slim shape closer to the proximal side, and an insertion tip portion that is connected to the distal end of the shaft and has an acoustic head that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the acoustic head laterally to the insertion unit. The extension direction of the shaft from the proximal side toward the distal side is curved in the direction opposite to the direction D in which the acoustic head transmits the ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to generate moving speed information indicating a moving speed of an ultrasound probe, on the basis of a predetermined number of pieces of medical image data among a plurality of pieces of medical image data in a time series obtained from an ultrasound scan performed by the ultrasound probe. The processing circuitry is configured to cause a display to display the moving speed information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer-implemented medical method for improving the suitability of a tracking structure for tracking by tessellating the tracking structure into a plurality of sub-tracking structures. The invention also relates to a computer configured to execute a program corresponding to the method and a medical system for improving the suitability of a tracking structure for tracking, the system including the aforementioned computer.

Abstract: An ultrasound system is disclosed comprising an ultrasound transducer array (100) comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer cells (130), each of said cell having an independently adjustable position and/or orientation such as to conform an ultrasound transmitting surface of the cell to a region of a body and a controller (140). The controller is configured to register the respective ultrasound transducer cells by simultaneously operating at least two ultrasound transducer cells in a transmit mode in which the cells transmit distinguishable ultrasound signals and operating the remaining ultrasound transducer cells in a receive mode.

Abstract: For rotation compensation in a catheter, a rotation sensor senses rotation of the handle or catheter. Motors are controlled to change the bend in response to sensed rotation. As the tip rotates due to handle rotation, the motors change the bend to maintain the bend and tip position relative to the patient. This steering in the patient reference frame may be more intuitive, easier to learn, and allow rotation to change an imaging field of view without moving the bending planes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit and receives ultrasonic waves to and from an observation region of an object. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus further includes an estimated image generating unit configured to generate estimated image data corresponding to image data based on an ultrasonic focused beam from image data obtained by transmission of an ultrasonic plane-wave beam by using a model having been machine-learned from learning data including image data obtained by the transmission of the ultrasonic plane-wave beam and image data obtained by the transmission of the ultrasonic focused beam.

Abstract: A method comprises: generating a shear wave in a target tissue; selecting an ultrasound transducer group in an ultrasound probe, and determining a focus position and a transmitting aperture corresponding to the ultrasound transducer group, such that a sound field boundary range formed by the ultrasound transducer group completely covers a region of interest in the target tissue; controlling the array elements to transmit ultrasound waves according to the corresponding relative time delays, so as to cause a transmitting focusing effect; receiving ultrasound echoes returned from the region of interest, obtaining echo information of different positions in the region of interest, and obtaining, according to the echo information, shear wave information corresponding to the region of interest.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system including an array transducer that includes a plurality of elements each performing at least one of emission or reception of ultrasonic waves, at least some of the plurality of elements being disposed so as to face each other. The ultrasonic imaging system performs malfunction inspection including specifying one emitting element among emitting elements that emit ultrasonic waves and a group of receiving elements that are at least some of the plurality of elements and that receive transmitted waves emitted from the emitting element and transmitted through an imaging region; collecting measurement data of the transmitted waves via the group of receiving elements while switching the emitting element; calculating transfer characteristic values from the measurement data; and detecting a malfunctioning element among the plurality of elements on the basis of the transfer characteristic values.

Abstract: A framework for image-based probe positioning is disclosed herein. The framework receives a current image from a probe. The current image is acquired by the probe within a structure of interest. The framework predicts a position of the probe and generates a recommendation of a next maneuver to be performed using the probe by applying the current image to a trained classifier. The framework then outputs the predicted position and the recommendation of the next maneuver.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an ultrasound imaging system configured to identify a scan line pattern for imaging an object or feature thereof. The system may include a controller that controls a probe for imaging a volume of a subject by transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals in accordance with a plurality of scan line patterns. One or more processors communicating with the probe may generate a plurality of image data sets based on the signals received at the probe, each data set corresponding to a discrete scan line pattern. These data sets are assessed for a target characteristic specific to the object targeted for imaging. One the data set that includes the target characteristic is identified, the one or more processors select the scan line pattern that corresponds the identified image data set. This scan line pattern may then be used for subsequent imaging of the volume to view the object.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for an imaging device and associated method for performing fluence compensation on a photoacoustic (PA) image of at least a portion of an object for sets of RF acoustic response signals that are obtained using different illumination wavelengths. A first set of RF acoustic response signals is fluence matched to a second set of RF acoustic response signals by determining relative frequency data for first set of RF acoustic response signals relative to the second set of RF acoustic response signals and using the relative frequency data to filter the first set of RF acoustic response signals.