Abstract: A method and system for locating a source of a signal. The source may be a wireless marker that is implanted in an object, such as a human body. The signal generated by the marker is a magnetic field. The location system uses an array of sensors to measure the magnetic field of the marker at various sensor locations. The location system compares the set of actual measurements to sets of reference measurements for various known locations within a bounding volume. Based on the comparisons, the location system identifies the set of reference measurements that most closely matches the set of actual measurements. The location system then uses sets of reference measurements for known locations near the closest known location to more accurately determine the marker location when it is not actually at one of the known locations.

Abstract: An ultrasound treatment system includes an applicator in which a therapeutic ultrasound transducer is surrounded by an annular imaging transducer. Illumination signals generated by the therapy or imaging transducer are sequentially or simultaneously delivered to tissue in a viewing space to create corresponding echo signals that are received by the elements of the annular imaging transducer. These echo signals are analyzed with a processor to produce an image of tissue in the viewing space.

Abstract: A method and system for locating a source of a signal. The source may be a wireless marker that is implanted in an object, such as a human body. The signal generated by the marker is a magnetic field. The location system uses an array of sensors to measure the magnetic field of the marker at various sensor locations. The location system compares the set of actual measurements to sets of reference measurements for various known locations within a bounding volume. Based on the comparisons, the location system identifies the set of reference measurements that most closely matches the set of actual measurements. The location system then uses sets of reference measurements for known locations near the closest known location to more accurately determine the marker location when it is not actually at one of the known locations.

Abstract: HIFU therapy to a desired tissue site is controlled based on detected changes in one or more characteristics of a received backscatter signal resulting from exposure of the tissue to HIFU or other interrogation signals. In one embodiment, the bloom of backscatter signals outward from a treatment region (e.g., towards the HIFU transducer) is detected and monitored. Once the bloom reaches a predetermined location, treatment is stopped. Other signal characteristics such as angular distribution of frequency components in the backscatter signal, changes in reflection, power required to saturate a tissue characteristic, changes in attenuation and changes in a cumulative energy distribution function of the backscatter signal that change as a result of the application of HIFU power are also used to control the delivery of HIFU signals in accordance with other embodiments of the disclosed technology.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting or selecting the treatment parameters for HIFU signals to treat a target treatment site, and/or to aid in visualizing the likely degree and location of HIFU effects on patient tissue. The system transmits one or more test signals into patient tissue and receives signals created in response to the test signals. The signals are analyzed to determine a response curve of how a characteristic of the signal varies with the one or more test signals. The response curve of the detected signals is used to select a treatment parameter.

Abstract: Video decoding innovations for multithreading implementations and graphics processor unit (“GPU”) implementations are described. For example, for multithreaded decoding, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of layered data structures, picture extent discovery, a picture command queue, and/or task scheduling for multithreading. Or, for a GPU implementation, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of inverse transforms, inverse quantization, fractional interpolation, intra prediction using waves, loop filtering using waves, memory usage and/or performance-adaptive loop filtering. Innovations are also described in the areas of error handling and recovery, determination of neighbor availability for operations such as context modeling and intra prediction, CABAC decoding, computation of collocated information for direct mode macroblocks in B slices, reduction of memory consumption, implementation of trick play modes, and picture dropping for quality adjustment.

Abstract: A method and system for locating a source of a signal. The source may be a wireless marker that is implanted in an object, such as a human body. The signal generated by the marker is a magnetic field. The location system uses an array of sensors to measure the magnetic field of the marker at various sensor locations. The location system compares the set of actual measurements to sets of reference measurements for various known locations within a bounding volume. Based on the comparisons, the location system identifies the set of reference measurements that most closely matches the set of actual measurements. The location system then uses sets of reference measurements for known locations near the closest known location to more accurately determine the marker location when it is not actually at one of the known locations.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system and method is described in which the actual dimensions of images of tissue acquired with a moving transducer (22) are displayed. Since an image is distorted based upon the direction a transducer probe moves relative to the acoustic scanning direction of the transducer (22), the probe motion direction and the acoustic scanning direction are initially determined. If the probe is moving in the same direction as the scanning direction, the acoustic beam scanning speed of the moving probe relative to the tissue is determined by summing the acoustic beam scanning speed without probe motion with the probe speed. If the probe is moving in the opposite direction as the scanning direction, the acoustic beam scanning speed of the moving probe relative to the tissue is determined by taking the difference between the acoustic beam scanning speed without probe motion and the probe speed.

Abstract: An ultrasound medical imaging system having a flexible, versatile and programmable architecture, particularly with respect to a back end subsystem. The architecture for the back end subsystem is generalized and includes multiple identical and interchangeable processing elements or boards that combine to produce sufficient processing power to support real time imaging in the various modes of ultrasound operations. The architecture may also tune front end parameters for a front end subsystem based on back end processing, bypass faulty processing elements or boards, and/or distribute processing load across operational processing elements or boards. A method for operating such an ultrasound medical imaging system is also disclosed.