Abstract: Systems and methods for temporarily altering a tissue characteristic at a target region, such as the blood-brain barrier, include causing an ultrasound transducer to transmit acoustic energy to the target region at a transmission frequency; acquiring a cumulative harmonic response from at least the target region; and operating the transducer based at least in part on the acquired cumulative harmonic response.

Abstract: There is provided an assembly for hands-free ultrasonic monitoring and imaging via a suprasternal notch of a target individual, comprising: a cradle comprising: a lower portion having a surface shaped according to a surface of an anatomical region including a suprasternal notch of sample individual(s), and a holding portion connected to the lower portion, the holding portion shaped to fit a housing component, the holding portion including at least one elongated slot elongated at a predefined angle relative to the surface of the lower portion, and a housing component comprising: an ultrasound transducer, a multi-directional mechanism for adjusting the position of the ultrasound transducer within the housing component along at least two degrees of freedom, and a securing mechanism set at a location within housing component for engaging the at least one elongated slot of the cradle when housing component is fitted within the holding portion of the cradle.

Abstract: A system for continuous ultrasonic monitoring includes an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer includes an array of ultrasonic transducer elements. The ultrasonic transducer elements are operable to steer and focus an ultrasound beam to a selectable location and to receive an ultrasound signal from the selectable location. A holder is provided for holding the ultrasound transducer, the holder being attachable to a skin surface of a patient. A controller is configured to repeatedly steer and focus the ultrasound beam to identify a target section of an object inside the body of the patient and to acquire an ultrasound image such that the target section is maintained within the acquired ultrasound image.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for imaging includes an input interface (54) and a processor (50). The input interface receives a sequence of input images of a target. Each input image includes a grid of pixels representing reflections of a transmitted signal from reflectors or scatterers in the target. A resolution of the input images is degraded by a measurement process of capturing the input images in the sequence. The processor derives, from the sequence of input images, an aggregated image in which each pixel comprises a statistical moment calculated over corresponding pixels of the input images, and converts the aggregated image into a super-resolution image of the target, having a higher resolution than the input images, by applying to the aggregated image a recovery function, which outputs the super-resolution image as a solution to the recovery function, provided that the reflectors or scatterers are sparse or compressible in a predefined transform domain.

Abstract: There is provided an assembly for hands-free ultrasonic monitoring and imaging via a suprasternal notch of a target individual, comprising: a cradle comprising: a lower portion having a surface shaped according to a surface of an anatomical region including a suprasternal notch of sample individual(s), and a holding portion connected to the lower portion, the holding portion shaped to fit a housing component, the holding portion including at least one elongated slot elongated at a predefined angle relative to the surface of the lower portion, and a housing component comprising: an ultrasound transducer, a multi-directional mechanism for adjusting the position of the ultrasound transducer within the housing component along at least two degrees of freedom, and a securing mechanism set at a location within housing component for engaging the at least one elongated slot of the cradle when housing component is fitted within the holding portion of the cradle.

Abstract: A system for continuous ultrasonic monitoring includes an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer includes an array of ultrasonic transducer elements. The ultrasonic transducer elements are operable to steer and focus an ultrasound beam to a selectable location and to receive an ultrasound signal from the selectable location. A holder is provided for holding the ultrasound transducer, the holder being attachable to a skin surface of a patient. A controller is configured to repeatedly steer and focus the ultrasound beam to identify a target section of an object inside the body of the patient and to acquire an ultrasound image such that the target section is maintained within the acquired ultrasound image.

Abstract: Systems and methods using contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging for quantitative assessment of neovascularization, such as within a tumor or a plaque. The contrast agent moves in small blotches rather than in continuous flow, but image processing methods enable the detection and quantification of the blood flow, even in the tiny blood vessels of the vasculature tree. The image processing includes compensation for motion of the tissue arising from body movement. The position and extent of the discrete positions of contrast material may be accumulating during a complete heart cycle onto a single 2D image, to enable an indication of a vascular tree based on this local accumulated image. Dynamic processing (DP) of the discrete positions of contrast material enables a complete vascular tree to be obtained. The neovascularization is quantified by the ratio of its total area to that of the plaque in which the neovascularization has grown.

Abstract: A tray is disclosed herein, for supporting food and/or drink upon the lap of a user. The underside of the tray has a bowed stand, which is contoured to fit between the thighs of a seated user. The bowed stand provides optimal support, and is especially advantageous for use in a moving vehicle, to prevent sliding of the tray and spillage.

Abstract: A tray is disclosed herein, for supporting food and/or drink upon the lap of a user. The underside of the tray has a bowed stand, which is contoured to fit between the thighs of a seated user. The bowed stand provides optimal support, and is especially advantageous for use in a moving vehicle, to prevent sliding of the tray and spillage.