Abstract: A deployable invasive device includes a transducer with a plurality of elements linked by at least one shape memory material configured to move the plurality of elements relative to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration in response to a stimulus. The shape memory material comprises at least one active region configured to facilitate transition between the first configuration and the second configuration. The deployable invasive device includes at least one integrated circuit configured to process signals from at least one of the plurality of elements and a plurality of conductive traces on or in the shape memory material and extending through the active region. The conductive traces are configured to conduct signals to the at least one integrated circuit, wherein the conductive traces are configured to conform as the shape memory material moves the elements between the first configuration and the second configuration.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring ultrasound probe health is provided. The method includes acquiring test data from a plurality of elements of an ultrasound probe by, for each of the plurality of elements, transmitting an ultrasonic signal from one of the elements and receiving a signal on two or more of the elements based on the transmitted ultrasonic signal. The method includes automatically analyzing the test data from the elements to determine a health report for the ultrasound probe. The health report includes a health status for each of a plurality of components of the ultrasound probe. At least one of the components is not part of a transducer array. The method includes automatically displaying the health report on a display device. The health report includes information for at least one of the components.

Abstract: A deployable ultrasound imaging device is operably connected to an ultrasound imaging system including a processing unit configured to operate the transducer and the individual segments in order to emit ultrasound signals from the segments and to receive ultrasound signals from the structures surrounding the segments. The ultrasound imaging system/processing unit can process the transmitted and received signals by beamforming to direct the ultrasound signals emitted from the segments in order to provide data for an ultrasound image of the desired structure(s). The ultrasound imaging system/processing unit mechanically or acoustically determines the position of the individual segments with regard to one another to determine the angular position of the segments with regard to one another.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring ultrasound probe health is provided. The method includes acquiring test data from a plurality of elements of an ultrasound probe by, for each of the plurality of elements, transmitting an ultrasonic signal from one of the elements and receiving a signal on two or more of the elements based on the transmitted ultrasonic signal. The method includes automatically analyzing the test data from the elements to determine a health report for the ultrasound probe. The health report includes a health status for each of a plurality of components of the ultrasound probe. At least one of the components is not part of a transducer array. The method includes automatically displaying the health report on a display device. The health report includes information for at least one of the components.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing pulsed-wave spectral Doppler imaging at every color flow range gate location in a two-dimensional (or three-dimensional) region of interest. Spectral processing is necessary to determine the flow parameters. Performing this processing at every color flow range gate location creates the two-dimensional image. The method generates two-dimensional images of flow parameters such as peak velocity, pulsatility index, resistance index, etc. With the two-dimensional image, the user immediately observes where the most critical value of the flow parameter occurs and what that value is.