Abstract: The invention is directed to an ultrasound probe (1) configured to be operatively coupled to a cable (10), the cable (10) comprising a plurality of lanes adapted to carry signals between the ultrasound probe (1) and a data processing unit, which is adapted to process the signals, in particular to beamform the signals and to reconstruct ultrasound images of an imaging region. The ultrasonic probe (1) comprises a transducer head comprising a plurality of transducer elements, which are adapted to insonify the imaging region according to an insonification scheme and to receive ultrasound signals, and a controller adapted to, responsive to the information of a faulty lane from a fault detection module adapted to detect integrity of each of the plurality of lanes, redistribute and/or reconfigure the signals carried by the faulty lane onto one or more of the non-faulty lanes.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging systems are provided. An ultrasound system according to some embodiments includes a console configured to selectively communicate with a first ultrasound imaging device and a second ultrasound imaging device. The console includes a housing, a computing device disposed within the housing, and a connector receptacle assembly coupled to the housing. The connector receptacle assembly includes a first connector bank including a first plurality of electrical connections; and a second connector bank including a second plurality of electrical connections. The connector receptacle assembly is selectively matable to a first connector of the first ultrasound imaging device via only the first connector bank and to a second connector of the second ultrasound imaging device via the first and second connector banks.

Abstract: Intraluminal imaging devices that include multiple conductor segments having conductors (312, 316) of different sizes at particular locations along the length of the intraluminal imaging device are provided. For example, the intraluminal imaging device may include a cable (310) comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, an electrical connector (314) coupled to the proximal portion of the cable, and a flexible elongate member (320) comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. A first plurality of conductors extends within the cable and a second plurality of conductors extends within the flexible elongate member. Each conductor of the first plurality of conductors is electrically coupled to a respective conductor of the second plurality of conductors. A conductor of the first plurality of conductors having a first cross section is electrically coupled to a conductor of the second plurality of conductors having a second cross section that is smaller than the first cross section.

Abstract: An external beam radiation therapy method is described, wherein radiation therapy is performed on a subject by applying at least one ionizing radiation beam to the subject. While applying the at least one ionizing radiation beam to the subject, an ultrasound probe images the subject, where the ultrasound probe is not located in the ionizing radiation beam. While applying the ionizing radiation beam to the subject, a dosimeter that is integral with or attached to the ultrasound probe measures the radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound probe housing and one or more ultrasound transducers disposed in the ultrasound probe housing. A dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector is disposed in or attached to the ultrasound probe housing. An alarm device receives radiation dose or radiation exposure data acquired by the dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector. The alarm device includes an electronic processor programmed to detect excessive radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe based on the radiation dose or radiation exposure data acquired by the dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector, and output an alarm warning of the detection of excessive radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe. In some embodiments, the dosimeter is a one-time use dosimeter that is not resettable.

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a 3D imaging probe and a needle guide which attaches to the probe for guidance of needle insertion into a volumetric region which can be scanned by the 3D imaging probe. The needle guide responds to the insertion of a needle through the guide by identifying a plane for scanning by the probe which is the insertion plane through which the needle will pass during insertion. The orientation of the insertion plane is communicated to the probe to cause the probe to scan the identified plane and produce images of the needle as it travels through the insertion plane.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer probe comprises an array transducer and a microbeamformer ASIC (46a, 46b) containing transmit amplifiers and receive circuitry for operation of the array transducer. For higher power operation, the drive current of the amplifiers is increased, rather than the transmit voltage. The elements of the array present a low impedance to the transmit amplifiers for increased drive current by their construction of thin layers (12) of piezoelectric material which are electrically coupled in parallel to an amplifier while being mechanically coupled in series for ultrasound transmission.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system comprising an ultrasound probe having a transducer array configured to provide an ultrasound receive signal. The system further comprises a B-mode volume processing unit configured to generate a B-mode volume based on the ultrasound receive signal, and a B-mode image processing unit configured to provide a current B-mode image based on the B-mode volume. The system further comprises a memory configured to store a previously acquired 3D-vessel map. Also, the system comprises a registration unit configured to register the previously acquired 3D-vessel map to the B-mode volume and to select a portion of the 3D-vessel map corresponding to the current B-mode image. Further, the system comprises a display configured to display an ultrasound image based on the current B-mode image and the selected portion of the 3D-vessel map.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging systems are provided. An ultrasound system according to some embodiments includes a console configured to selectively communicate with a first ultrasound imaging device and a second ultrasound imaging device. The console includes a housing, a computing device disposed within the housing, and a connector receptacle assembly coupled to the housing. The connector receptacle assembly includes a first connector bank including a first plurality of electrical connections; and a second connector bank including a second plurality of electrical connections. The connector receptacle assembly is selectively matable to a first connector of the first ultrasound imaging device via only the first connector bank and to a second connector of the second ultrasound imaging device via the first and second connector banks.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound probe housing (36) and one or more ultrasound transducers (32) disposed in the ultrasound probe housing. A dosimeter (40) or ionizing radiation detector is disposed in or attached to the ultrasound probe housing. An alarm device (24, 52, 54, 56) receives radiation dose or radiation exposure data acquired by the dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector. The alarm device includes an electronic processor (24, 56) programmed to detect excessive radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe based on the radiation dose or radiation exposure data acquired by the dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector, and output an alarm warning of the detection of excessive radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe. In some embodiments, the dosimeter is a one-time use dosimeter that is not resettable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system comprising an ultrasound probe having a transducer array configured to provide an ultrasound receive signal. The system further comprises a B-mode volume processing unit configured to generate a B-mode volume based on the ultrasound receive signal, and a B-mode image processing unit configured to provide a current B-mode image based on the B-mode volume. The system further comprises a memory configured to store a previously acquired 3D-vessel map. Also, the system comprises a registration unit configured to register the previously acquired 3D-vessel map to the B-mode volume and to select a portion of the 3D-vessel map corresponding to the current B-mode image. Further, the system comprises a display configured to display an ultrasound image based on the current B-mode image and the selected portion of the 3D-vessel map.

Abstract: A matrix array probe including a transducer array and integrated circuitry coupled to the transducer elements dissipates heat generated by the array and integrated circuitry through the cover of the transducer probe. A pump in the probe connector pumps fluid through a closed loop system including inbound an outbound fluid conduits in the cable. The fluid conduits in the cable are separated by the cable electrical conductors for the probe. The heat transfer in the probe is done by a heat exchanger in the transducer backing block. Additional cooling may be provided by metal to metal contact with a chiller in the ultrasound system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (10) comprising an ultrasound probe (20) having a transducer array (21) configured to provide an ultrasound receive signal. The system further comprises a B-mode volume processing unit (30) configured to generate a B-mode volume (31) based on the ultrasound receive signal, and a B-mode image processing unit (40) configured to provide a current B-mode image (41) based on the B-mode volume (31). The system further comprises a memory (50) configured to store a previously acquired 3D-vessel map (51). Also, the system comprises a registration unit (60) configured to register the previously acquired 3D-vessel map (51) to the B-mode volume (31) and to select a portion (61) of the 3D-vessel map corresponding to the current B-mode image (41). Further, the system comprises a display configured to display an ultrasound image (71) based on the current B-mode image (41) and the selected portion (61) of the 3D-vessel map (51).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pre-collapsed capacitive micro-machined transducer cell (10) comprising a substrate (12) comprising a first electrode (16), a membrane (14) comprising a second electrode (18), wherein the cell has an outer region (22) where the membrane (14) is mounted to the substrate (12) and an inner region (20) inside or surrounded by the outer region (22), wherein the membrane (14) is collapsed to the substrate (12) in a first collapsed annular-shaped region (24) located within the inner region (20).

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a 3D imaging probe and a needle guide which attaches to the probe for guidance of the insertion of multiple needles into a volumetric region which can be scanned by the 3D imaging probe. The needle guide responds to the insertion of a needle through the guide by identifying a plane for scanning by the probe which is the insertion plane through which the needle will pass during insertion. The orientation of the insertion plane is communicated to the probe to cause the probe to scan the identified plane and produce images of the needle as it travels through the insertion plane.

Abstract: A matrix array probe including a transducer array and integrated circuitry coupled to the transducer elements dissipates heat generated by the array and integrated circuitry through the cover of the transducer probe. A pump in the probe connector pumps fluid through a closed loop system including inbound an outbound fluid conduits in the cable. The fluid conduits in the cable are separated by the cable electrical conductors for the probe. The heat transfer in the probe is done by a heat exchanger in the transducer backing block. Additional cooling may be provided by metal to metal contact with a chiller in the ultrasound system.

Abstract: A matrix array probe including a transducer array and integrated circuitry coupled to the transducer elements dissipates heat generated by the array and integrated circuitry through the cover of the transducer probe. A pump in the probe connector pumps fluid through a closed loop system including inbound an outbound fluid conduits in the cable. The fluid conduits in the cable are separated by the cable electrical conductors for the probe. The heat transfer in the probe is done by a heat exchanger in the transducer backing block. Additional cooling may be provided by metal to metal contact with a chiller in the ultrasound system.

Abstract: A matrix array probe including a transducer array and integrated circuitry coupled to the transducer elements dissipates heat generated by the array and integrated circuitry through the cover of the transducer probe. A pump in the probe connector pumps fluid through a closed loop system including inbound an outbound fluid conduits in the cable. The fluid conduits in the cable are separated by the cable electrical conductors for the probe. The heat transfer in the probe is done by a heat exchanger in the probe spaceframe or transducer stack backing block and may use a Peltier device. Additional cooling may be provided by metal to metal contact with a chiller in the ultrasound system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pre-collapsed capacitive micro-machined transducer cell (10) comprising a substrate (12) comprising a first electrode (16), a membrane (14) comprising a second electrode (18), wherein the cell has an outer region (22) where the membrane (14) is mounted to the substrate (12) and an inner region (20) inside or surrounded by the outer region (22), wherein the membrane (14) is collapsed to the substrate (12) in a first collapsed annular-shaped region (24) located within the inner region (20).