Abstract: A spiral or helical structure for retaining hair or hair-like strands is constructed from one or more rigid, semi-rigid, and/or flexible materials. Rigid or substantially rigid portions of the structure can be inter-spaced with flexible portions of similar spiral or helical structures to accommodate the ability to create desired bends, curves and/or curls. Elastomeric bands can be employed to secure the spiral or helical structures to hair strands, to other spiral or helical structures and/or other hair retention devices. Applying hair dye/stain to bundled hair within the spiral or helical structures provides an ability to “tie dye” hair strand bundles to create desired highlighting and/or hair coloring. The spiral or helical structure can be made of hollow or partially hollow material. Decorative items can be attached or interconnected to the various embodiments of the present invention. In a separate embodiment, an interior component is coupled with an outer component.

Abstract: A spiral or helical structure for retaining hair or hair-like strands is constructed from one or more rigid, semi-rigid, and/or flexible materials. Rigid or substantially rigid portions of the structure can be inter-spaced with flexible portions of similar spiral or helical structures to accommodate the ability to create desired bends, curves and/or curls. Elastomeric bands can be employed to secure the spiral or helical structures to hair strands, to other spiral or helical structures and/or other hair retention devices. Applying hair dye/stain to bundled hair within the spiral or helical structures provides an ability to “tie dye” hair strand bundles to create desired highlighting and/or hair coloring. The spiral or helical structure can be made of hollow or partially hollow material. Decorative items can be attached or interconnected to the various embodiments of the present invention. In a separate embodiment, an interior component is coupled with an outer component.

Abstract: A system for improving the display of ultrasound imaging of tissue structures. A set of N image frames is used to produce a peak image display. Multiple peak image displays are produced by discarding the oldest image frame in the set of N image frames and replacing the discarded image frame with another more recent image frame. The more recent image frame is added to the set of image frames to produce a new set of N image frames. The new set of N image frames is used to produce another peak display image. If there is an undesirable amount of distortion or blur in the peak display images due to tissue motion, then the number of image frames in the set of N image frames can be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an ultrasound system are provided. The method includes transmitting an imaging pulse sequence and transmitting at least one modification pulse between successive pulses in the imaging pulse sequence. The modification pulse is configured to change a contrast agent within an object being imaged by an ultrasound system.

Abstract: A spiral or helical structure for retaining hair or hair-like strands is constructed from one or more rigid, semi-rigid, and/or flexible materials. Rigid or substantially rigid portions of the structure can be inter-spaced with flexible portions of similar spiral or helical structures to accommodate the ability to create desired bends, curves and/or curls. Elastomeric bands can be employed to secure the spiral or helical structures to hair strands, to other spiral or helical structures and/or other hair retention devices. Applying hair dye/stain to bundled hair within the spiral or helical structures provides an ability to “tie dye” hair strand bundles to create desired highlighting and/or hair coloring. The spiral or helical structure can be made of hollow or partially hollow material. Decorative items can be attached or interconnected to the various embodiments of the present invention. In a separate embodiment, an interior component is coupled with an outer component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying reference background and flow ultrasound images. The method comprises: transmitting at least first and second broadband pulses to a common transmit focal position; receiving at least first and second ultrasound reflections associated with the at least first and second broadband pulses; forming a flow/contrast agent signal component based on the at least first and second ultrasound reflections; forming a B-mode background signal component based on independent processing of at least one of the at least first and second ultrasound reflections; and displaying an ultrasound image including a flow image component in a first image portion of a display and a B-mode reference image component based on at least one of the at least first and second ultrasound reflections, said B-mode reference image component displayed in a second image portion of said display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying reference background and flow ultrasound images. The method comprises: transmitting at least first and second broadband pulses to a common transmit focal position; receiving at least first and second ultrasound reflections associated with the at least first and second broadband pulses; forming a flow/contrast agent signal component based on the at least first and second ultrasound reflections; forming a B-mode background signal component based on independent processing of at least one of the at least first and second ultrasound reflections; and displaying an ultrasound image including a flow image component in a first image portion of a display and a B-mode reference image component based on at least one of the at least first and second ultrasound reflections, said B-mode reference image component displayed in a second image portion of said display.