Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a method of reducing ringdown artifacts in an ultrasound imaging system includes obtaining a plurality of frames of samples including tissue information and a ringdown component; determining a reference frame based on the plurality of frames to approximate the ringdown component; subtracting the reference frame from a current frame of the plurality of frames to produce a difference frame; selecting between the current frame and the difference frame to obtain a ringdown-reduced frame to represent the tissue information; and forming an ultrasound image from the ringdown-reduced frame. In one embodiment, an ultrasound image processing system including a processing unit configured to compute a difference frame based on a current frame and a reference frame; and select between the current frame and the difference frame to obtain a ringdown-reduced frame to represent the tissue information.

Abstract: A wrist-worn, tool and routine activity aiding device comprising, a wristband housing having a front that includes a bottom surface, an outer edge and a sidewall that extends upwards from said bottom surface outer edge, said sidewall having an inner surface, and a defined cavity boundary, a body having a boundary edge and top and bottom surfaces, a means for aiding the wearer in a routine activity of the wearer and that is attached to the body, a tubular member, a flange. The tubular member of the device is mounted to the body boundary edge, wherein the flange interacts with the wristband housing to lock and unlock the tubular member to the housing. Tool members have a configuration to be moved from a stored position to extended position for use, and wherein the tool members in a stored position are located and stored completely within the boundaries of the cavity.

Abstract: Ultrasound systems and devices that perform scan sequences providing controllable and/or increased frame rates are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises an array of acoustic elements and a processor configured to perform a scan sequence comprising a plurality of transmit-receive pairs. The processor is configured to arrange the plurality of transmit-receive pairs into an aperture. The transmit-receive pairs corresponding to each transmit element correspond to only a portion of the plurality of receive elements and/or the transmit-receive pairs corresponding to each receive element correspond to only a portion of the plurality of transmit elements. Accordingly, fewer transmit-receive pairs are activated leading to faster aperture acquisitions, and therefore faster frame rates. Furthermore, the faster frame rates can be achieved without significant degradations in image quality.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging systems and methods for generated clutter-reduced images are provided. For example, an ultrasound imaging system can include an array of acoustic elements in communication with a processor. The processor is configured to activate the array to perform a scan sequence to obtain a plurality of signals, identify off-axis signals from the plurality of signals by comparing the right subaperture and the left subaperture, and create a clutter-reduced image based on the comparison. Because off-axis signals are more likely to create image clutter, reducing the influence of off-axis signals on the image can therefore improve the quality of the image. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, methods, and devices for generating ultrasound images that have reduced or minimized clutter, even for images obtained using arrays that do not satisfy the Nyquist criterion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for suppressing off-axis sidelobes and/or clutter, near-field reverberation clutter, and/or grating lobe contributions are disclosed. A dual apodization with median (DAM) filtering technique is disclosed. The dual apodization technique may include summing aligned channel data with apodization functions (406, 412, 414) with complementary apertures applied. Median values for a zero function (RF3) and the resulting signals (RF1, RF2) from the complementary apertures are determined to generate a median value signal (416, MVS). The median value signal is used to generate an ultrasound image with enhanced image contrast. A method of image smoothing of the ultrasound image with enhanced image contrast is also disclosed. The smoothed image may include low frequency components of the ultrasound image with enhanced image contrast and high frequency components of an original image.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices that perform flow scan sequences are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an intraluminal catheter or guidewire, an annular array of acoustic elements positioned around a circumference of the catheter or guidewire, and a processor in communication with the annular array. The processor is configured to activate a first subaperture of the annular array at a first time, thereafter, activate a second interleaving subaperture, and activate the first subaperture again at a different, second time such that the scan sequence moves around the circumference of the catheter or guidewire. Temporal differences between the received ultrasound signals obtained by the first subaperture at the first and second times are determined to detect motion around the annular array. By interleaving subaperture firings, the total number of firings to form an image frame can be reduced.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for generating ultrasound images that have reduced or minimized grating lobe artifacts are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an array of acoustic elements, and a processor in communication with the array. The processor is configured to receive electrical signals from the array, determine, based on the directivity of the acoustic elements, a portion of the electrical signals corresponding to on-axis components, generate a weighting mask based on the portion, and apply the weighting mask to an original image to generate a grating lobe minimized image. Because grating lobe artifacts are caused, in part, by reflections from off-axis objects, applying the weighting mask to an original image can reduce the presence of grating lobe artifacts in the original image.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include ultrasound systems that suppress grating lobe artifacts arising due to high frequency operation of an array transducer probe which is operated at a frequency higher than its pitch limitation.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging system, devices, and methods for minimizing grating lobe artefacts in an ultrasound image are provided. For example, an ultrasound imaging system can include an array of acoustic elements and a processor in communication with the array. The processor controls the array to activate a plurality of apertures and subapertures in a scan sequence, generate an image comprising a plurality of pixels, identify at least one subaperture of the plurality of subapertures corresponding to a reduced signal value for one or more pixels of the image, and generate a grating-lobe-minimized image based on the identified subapertures. The grating-lobe-minimized image can be output to a display or combined with the original ultrasound image to include image features lost or reduced in the grating-lobe-minimized image. The grating-lobe-minimized image advantageously reduces image artefacts and clutter to simplify ultrasound image analysis and diagnosis procedures.

Abstract: A method in accordance with the present disclosure may include transmitting an ultrasound pulse toward a medium from a transducer array (305), detecting a plurality of echo signals (313a, 313c, 313e) responsive to the ultrasound pulse using one or more elements of the transducer array (305), generating an interpolated signal (313b, 313d) by interpolating a signal characteristic of at least two existing echo signals after temporally aligning the existing echo signals, and generating ultrasound image data based on one or more existing echo signals and the interpolated signal.

Abstract: Improved ultrasound imaging devices and methods of using the devices are provided. An intraluminal imaging device is configured process imaging data obtained using a single imaging sequence in different processing paths to generate B-mode and flow images. For example, an ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound imaging device comprising an array of acoustic elements and a processor in communication with the array. The processor activates the array of acoustic elements to acquire ultrasound data using a sequence of transmit-receive pairs, generates a B-mode image using the acquired ultrasound data, forms a plurality of sub-apertures comprising a portion of the transmit-receive pairs, groups the sub-apertures into temporally-spaced ensembles, determines a flow estimate based on a comparison of at least one of sub-apertures within an ensemble, ensembles within an aperture, or different apertures, and outputs a graphical representation of the B-mode image and the flow estimate to a display.

Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to intravascular imaging system and particularly to processing in multimodal systems. The invention provides an imaging system that splits incoming image data into two signals and performs the same processing step on each of the split signals. The system can then send the two signals down two processing pathways. Methods include receiving an analog image signal, transmitting the received signal to a processing system, splitting the signal to produce a first image signal and a second image signal, and performing a processing operation on the first image signal and the second image signal. The first and second signal include substantially the same information as one another.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a method of reducing ringdown artifacts in an ultrasound imaging system includes obtaining a plurality of frames of samples including tissue information and a ringdown component; determining a reference frame based on the plurality of frames to approximate the ringdown component; subtracting the reference frame from a current frame of the plurality of frames to produce a difference frame; selecting between the current frame and the difference frame to obtain a ringdown-reduced frame to represent the tissue information; and forming an ultrasound image from the ringdown-reduced frame. In one embodiment, an ultrasound image processing system including a processing unit configured to compute a difference frame based on a current frame and a reference frame; and select between the current frame and the difference frame to obtain a ringdown-reduced frame to represent the tissue information.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to intravascular imaging system and particularly to processing in multimodal systems. The invention provides an imaging system that splits incoming image data into two signals and performs the same processing step on each of the split signals. The system can then send the two signals down two processing pathways. Methods include receiving an analog image signal, transmitting the received signal to a processing system, splitting the signal to produce a first image signal and a second image signal, and performing a processing operation on the first image signal and the second image signal. The first and second signal include substantially the same information as one another.

Abstract: Solid-state ultrasound imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly directed to identifying and removing artifacts in ultrasound data due to side lobes, grating lobes, and/or other effect. In some embodiments, an ultrasound processing system includes an interface operable to receive A-line signal data and a focusing engine operable to perform a focusing process on the received A-line signal data to produce focused A-line signal data. The ultrasound processing system also includes a coherency unit operable to determine a measurement of coherency of the received A-line signal data. The ultrasound processing system further includes an adjustment unit operable to determine an adjustment to the focused A-line signal data based on the measurement of coherency, and a compensation unit operable to apply the adjustment to the focused A-line signal data.

Abstract: Solid-state ultrasound imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly directed to identifying and removing artifacts in ultrasound data due to side lobes, grating lobes, and/or other effect. In some embodiments, an ultrasound processing system includes an interface operable to receive A-line signal data and a focusing engine operable to perform a focusing process on the received A-line signal data to produce focused A-line signal data. The ultrasound processing system also includes a coherency unit operable to determine a measurement of coherency of the received A-line signal data. The ultrasound processing system further includes an adjustment unit operable to determine an adjustment to the focused A-line signal data based on the measurement of coherency, and a compensation unit operable to apply the adjustment to the focused A-line signal data.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to intravascular ultrasound imaging and to systems and methods to improve line density and image quality. The invention provides an intravascular imaging system that uses a clock device to provide a set of trigger signals for each revolution of the imaging catheter and capture various patterns of scan lines for each set of trigger signals. The system can be operated to capture two scan lines of data for each trigger signal thereby doubling scan line density compared to existing systems. The clock device can be provided by hardware, such as a rotary encoder, that is configured to define a maximum number of trigger signals that the module can provide per rotation of the catheter.