Abstract: An implantable device includes an EAP actuator and a sensor. The sensor is configured to monitor a force external to the implantable device acting in a direction either with or counter to a direction of actuation of the actuator, and a controller is adapted to control the actuator to actuate at a moment when force counter to the direction of actuation is sensed to be at its lowest within a given time window or force with the direction of actuation is sensed to be at its highest within a given time window. In this way, actuation is effected at a moment of least resistance force, reducing the power needed for deployment of the actuator, and permitting actuation to occur even in conditions experiencing large variable forces.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element. The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element upon a drive signal. The system can identify the medical device from a database of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound visualization system (111, 311) for tracking a position of an interventional device (112) based on a stream of live ultrasound images (113). A processor (117) receives the stream of live ultrasound images (113), extracts a reference image (118) that includes an anatomical feature (119), extracts from the stream of live ultrasound (113) images a current image (120) that includes a portion of the anatomical feature (119) and a portion of the interventional device (112) at a current position (121), matches the portion of the anatomical feature in the current image 120 with the anatomical feature in the reference image (118) to determine a spatial relationship between the current position of the interventional device and the anatomical feature in the reference image (118), and indicates, in the reference image (118), the current position (121) of the interventional device (112), based on the determined spatial relationship.

Abstract: An ablation catheter (100) for ablative treatment of ventricular tachycardia is provided. The catheter comprises a shaft (102) which is capable of being guided to the tissue to be ablated. An ablation element (104) for ablating tissue is mounted on the shaft. The catheter further comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducer arrays (106) for obtaining images of myocardial tissue. The arrays are positioned separately from each other around the circumference of the shaft. The catheter can adopt a folded configuration and a deployed configuration. In the folded configuration, the arrays are positioned against or close to the shaft thereby facilitating insertion and guiding of the catheter. In the deployed configuration, the arrays are more separated from the shaft than in the folded configuration. Further provided is a catheter arrangement including the ablation catheter, and a system for providing ablative treatment comprising the ablation catheter or catheter arrangement.

Abstract: Apparatus and method comprising an ultrasound transmitter, for placement at a first location on the body of a subject, to emit an ultrasound pulse; an ultrasound receiver, for placement at a second location on the body, to detect an emitted ultrasound pulse; and a controller in communication with the transmitter and receiver. The controller causes an ultrasound pulse to be emitted by the transmitter; receives a measurement signal from the receiver; determines, based on the received measurement signal, a time of arrival at the receiver, T1 s of a first part of the emitted ultrasound pulse; determines, based on the received measurement signal, a time of arrival at the receiver, T2, of a second part of the ultrasound pulse; and calculates, using T1 and T2, a flow velocity of blood in a blood vessel between the first location and the second location.

Abstract: The invention provides a system (1) for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device (3) carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321). The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321) upon a drive signal. The system (1) can identify the medical device from a database (211,511) of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system (1) can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device (3) and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (3) when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

Abstract: An internal probe device for insertion into the body of a patient, comprises an elongate body with a plurality of EAP actuators mounted at the surface of the body. The EAP actuators are made to vibrate so that their position becomes visible in a Doppler ultrasound image. The use of EAP actuators to provide vibrations enables individual locations to be identified. In particular, the movement of the EAP actuator may be largely isolated from the main body of the probe. Furthermore, EAP actuators can be thin, lightweight and have a small form factor suitable for application to or within the surface of a probe, such as a catheter, needle or endoscope.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound image processing apparatus (5) comprising an image processor arrangement (50) adapted to receive a first sequence (100?) of ultrasound images (150) imaging an anatomical feature of interest (151) during a first full cardiac cycle in the absence of an invasive medical device (15) in said ultrasound images, each ultrasound image corresponding to a different phase of said cardiac cycle; receive a further sequence (100) of ultrasound images (150) imaging the anatomical feature of interest (151) during a further full cardiac cycle in the presence of the invasive medical device (15) in said ultrasound images, each ultrasound image corresponding to a different phase of said cardiac cycle said invasive medical device (15) at least partially obscuring the anatomical feature of interest, and for each ultrasound image of the further sequence: track the location of the invasive medical device in the ultrasound image; isolate the invasive medical device from the ultrasound image; and insert the

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound system (10) comprising a first non-invasive ultrasound probe (14) configured to acquire first ultrasound data having a first field of view; a second invasive ultrasound probe (16) configured to acquire second ultrasound data having a second field of view which is different from the first field of view; a tracking unit (30) configured to determine tracking data comprising a position and orientation of the first non-invasive ultrasound probe (14) relative to the second invasive ultrasound probe (16); and a registration unit (32) configured to register the second field of view into the first field of view based on the tracking data.

Abstract: A method for monitoring fetal health. The method of the present disclosure comprises transmitting (100) an ultrasound signal from an at least one transducer element in an array towards a maternal abdomen. An at least one ultrasonic echo signal corresponding to an at least one depth of the maternal abdomen is then received (102) by the at least one transducer element. The at least one Doppler signal is determined after the echo is received by the at least one transducer element is then processed (104) in an at least one channel. A multidimensional map is then generated (106) from the processed Doppler signal. A feedback (114) to reposition the at least one transducer element is then provided when the fetal heart is determined to lie outside an ultrasound beam volume.

Abstract: To sum up, the present invention relates to an examination system 1301 for examining an associated tissue sample 1302, where the examination system comprises an interventional device 1320 which comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers 306a-c and wherein the different ultrasound transducers are arranged to obtain images of different regions of an associated tissue sample, and wherein the examination system furthermore comprises a display device 1351 arranged for showing the images so that each of their positions corresponds to the corresponding positions of the different adjacent tissue sample regions in the adjacent associated tissue sample. A possible advantage of the system may be that relevant information regarding the associated tissue sample is conveyed to an observer in a fast an intuitive manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a periodically moving object. An assigning unit (18) assigns ultrasound signals like A-lines to motion phases based on a provided phase signal, wherein an ultrasound images generation unit (19) generates several ultrasound images like gated M-mode images for the different motion phases based on the ultrasound signals assigned to the respective motion phase. A selecting unit (20) is used to select an ultrasound image from the generated ultrasound images, wherein a display unit (21) displays the selected ultrasound image. The selected ultrasound image corresponds therefore to a single motion phase only such that motion artifacts in the displayed ultrasound image are reduced. The imaging system is particularly useful for, for instance, monitoring cardiac ablation procedures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound apparatus for medical examination of a subject. The ultrasound apparatus comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers for emitting and receiving ultrasound waves and for providing different ultrasound signals on the basis of the ultrasound waves. A connection layer is provided, which is attachable to the subject, wherein the ultrasound transducers are coupled to the connection layer. A processing unit, which is connectable to the ultrasound transducers is provided for receiving the ultrasound signals and for determining at least one parameter on the basis of the ultrasound signals. The processing unit is adapted to determine at least one parameter indicative of a relative position of the ultrasound transducers to each other and/or a shape of the connection layer and the ultrasound waves are surface acoustic waves transmitted through the connection layer or a layer attached to the connection layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to determining the rotation of an interventional device in an ultrasound field. An interventional device is provided that is suitable for being tracked in an ultrasound beam of a beamforming ultrasound imaging system by correlating transmitted ultrasound signals from the beamforming ultrasound imaging system as detected by ultrasound receivers attached to the interventional device with the beamforming beam sequence of the ultrasound signals. The interventional device includes a longitudinal axis (A-A?), a first linear sensor array (12) comprising a plurality of ultrasound receivers (R1 . . . n) wherein each ultrasound receiver has a length (L) and a width (W), and wherein the array extends along the width (W) direction. Moreover the first linear sensor array (12) is wrapped circumferentially around the interventional device with respect to the axis (A-A?) such that the length (L) of each ultrasound receiver is arranged lengthwise with respect to the axis (A-A?).

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a periodically moving object. An assigning unit (18) assigns ultrasound signals like A-lines to motion phases based on a provided phase signal, wherein an ultrasound images generation unit (19) generates several ultrasound images like gated M-mode images for the different motion phases based on the ultrasound signals assigned to the respective motion phase. The ultrasound images are temporally consecutively displayed on a display unit (21) for showing the periodic movement of the object (24). The resulting dynamic, movie-like image of the object allows a user like a physician to more reliably determine properties of the object like a thickness of a tissue wall, in particular, during an ablation procedure. The imaging system is therefore particularly useful for monitoring cardiac ablation procedures.

Abstract: An internal probe device for insertion into the body of a patient, comprises an elongate body with a plurality of EAP actuators mounted at the surface of the body. The EAP actuators are made to vibrate so that their position becomes visible in a Doppler ultrasound image. The use of EAP actuators to provide vibrations enables individual locations to be identified. In particular, the movement of the EAP actuator may be largely isolated from the main body of the probe. Furthermore, EAP actuators can be thin, lightweight and have a small form factor suitable for application to or within the surface of a probe, such as a catheter, needle or endoscope.

Abstract: Apparatus and method comprising an ultrasound transmitter, for placement at a first location on the body of a subject, to emit an ultrasound pulse; an ultrasound receiver, for placement at a second location on the body, to detect an emitted ultrasound pulse; and a controller in communication with the transmitter and receiver. The controller causes an ultrasound pulse to be emitted by the transmitter; receives a measurement signal from the receiver; determines, based on the received measurement signal, a time of arrival at the receiver, T1 s of a first part of the emitted ultrasound pulse; determines, based on the received measurement signal, a time of arrival at the receiver, T2, of a second part of the ultrasound pulse; and calculates, using T1 and T2, a flow velocity of blood in a blood vessel between the first location and the second location.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for electrical stimulation of muscle tissue. Electrodes (12) of an electrode array (13) are activated in accordance with a sequence of activation patterns, each pattern defining a subset of the electrodes (12) to be activated, each subset consisting of at least one electrode (12), by providing an electrical muscle stimulation signal to the muscle tissue via the subset of electrodes (12). Alternately with said activating of electrodes (12), a response signal associated with the respective activation pattern is received from a sensor (30; 12). Optionally, at least one electrode (12) is then selected for stimulation, corresponding to a location determined as being suitable for stimulation, and the muscle tissue is stimulated. The process may be repeated in order to track the location suitable for stimulation in a dynamic situation. Optionally, the orientation of body part is estimated from the measured response signals.

Abstract: The invention provides a system (1) for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device (3) carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321). The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321) upon a drive signal. The system (1) can identify the medical device from a database (211,511) of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system (1) can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device (3) and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (3) when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound data visualization apparatus for visualizing ultrasound data showing an object during an interventional procedure. A reference image (65) and a current image (68) of the object are simultaneously displayed, wherein the current image corresponds to a current time interval and the reference image corresponds to a reference time interval and wherein the current time interval and the reference time interval correspond to different phases of the interventional procedure. The current image can be shown therefore with, for instance, a relatively high temporal resolution for allowing a user to observe detailed object changes, which may be caused by the interventional procedure, while an overview over different phases of the interventional procedure can still be provided, because also the reference image is displayed and can be used by a user for comparing the current image with the reference image.