Abstract: An intraluminal imaging device is provided. In one embodiment, the imaging device includes a flexible elongate member having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The flexible elongate member can be positioned within a vessel. The imaging device has an imaging assembly that can be mounted within the distal portion. The imaging assembly includes a side-looking array of imaging elements and a micro-beamformer IC that is coupled to the side-looking array of imaging elements. The micro-beamformer IC can control the array of imaging elements, can determine a first angle and a second angle, and can perform beam forming for the array of imaging elements. The micro-beamformer IC can receive the first imaging signals associated with a first plane at the first angle, and the second imaging signals associated with a second plane at the second angle. In some embodiments, the first and second angles are selected to satisfy predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An intraluminal imaging device is provided. In one embodiment, the imaging device includes a flexible elongate member having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The flexible elongate member can be positioned within a vessel. The imaging device has an imaging assembly that can be mounted within the distal portion. The imaging assembly includes a side-looking array of imaging elements and a micro-beamformer IC that is coupled to the side-looking array of imaging elements. The micro-beamformer IC can control the array of imaging elements, can determine a first angle and a second angle, and can perform beam forming for the array of imaging elements. The micro-beamformer IC can receive the first imaging signals associated with a first plane (410) at the first angle (+45°), and the second imaging signals associated with a second plane (420) at the second angle (?45°). In some embodiments, the first and second angles are selected to satisfy predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for confidence mapping of shear wave measurements are disclosed. Confidence maps of shear wave image measurements may be generated from one or more confidence factors. Masking of graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values, based at least in part on the confidence map is disclosed. The confidence map and/or masked graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values may be superimposed on ultrasound images and provided on a display.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system has an improved dynamic range control which enables a user to reduce image haze with substantially no effect on bright tissue in the image and without increasing speckle variance. A dynamic range processor processes an input image to produce an approximation image which is a spatially low pass filtered version of the input image. The dynamic range of the approximation image is compressed, and image detail, unaffected by the compression, is added back to produce a dynamically compressed image for display.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for confidence mapping of shear wave measurements are disclosed. Confidence maps of shear wave image measurements may be generated from one or more confidence factors. Masking of graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values, based at least in part on the confidence map is disclosed. The confidence map and/or masked graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values may be superimposed on ultrasound images and provided on a display.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system according to the present disclosure may include an ultrasound probe, a display unit, and a processor configured to receive source image data having a first dynamic range, wherein the source image data comprises log compressed echo intensity values based on the ultrasound echoes detected by the ultrasound probe, generate a histogram of at least a portion of source image data, generate a cumulative density function for the histogram, receive an indication of at least two points on the cumulative density function (CDF), and cause the display unit to display an ultrasound image representative of the source image data displayed in accordance with the second dynamic range.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for confidence mapping of shear wave measurements are disclosed. Confidence maps of shear wave image measurements may be generated from one or more confidence factors. Masking of graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values, based at least in part on the confidence map is disclosed. The confidence map and/or masked graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values may be superimposed on ultrasound images and provided on a display.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging for analyzing shear wave characteristics utilizes a background motion compensation subsystem which acts as a spatial filter of pulse-to-pulse autocorrelation phases over the ROI of tracking pulse vectors to compensate for background motion. The subsystem is configured to compute the sum of all lag-1 autocorrelations of tracking line ensemble data over the tracking ROI, for each PRI. The inventive technique does not significantly reduce sensitivity to shear waves, because the shear wave is spatially smaller than the ROI.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for confidence mapping of shear wave measurements are disclosed. Confidence maps of shear wave image measurements may be generated from one or more confidence factors. Masking of graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values, based at least in part on the confidence map is disclosed. The confidence map and/or masked graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values may be superimposed on ultrasound images and provided on a display.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system according to the present disclosure may include an ultrasound probe, a display unit, and a processor configured to receive source image data having a first dynamic range, wherein the source image data comprises log compressed echo intensity values based on the ultrasound echoes detected by the ultrasound probe, generate a histogram of at least a portion of source image data, generate a cumulative density function for the histogram, receive an indication of at least two points on the cumulative density function (CDF), and cause the display unit to display an ultrasound image representative of the source image data displayed in accordance with the second dynamic range.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an intraluminal ultrasound device configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient. The intraluminal ultrasound device includes a transducer array disposed along a distal portion of a flexible elongate member. The transducer array includes an aperture and is configured to obtain imaging data along one or more imaging planes. The system also includes a processor in communication with the transducer array. The processor is configured to: receive first imaging data from the transducer array along a first imaging plane at a first angular position with respect to an axial direction of the aperture; output, to a display device in communication with the processor, the first imaging data; and output, to the display device, a visual representation of the first angular position of the first imaging plane with respect to the axial direction of the aperture.

Abstract: An intraluminal imaging device is provided. In one embodiment, the imaging device includes a flexible elongate member having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The flexible elongate member can be positioned within a vessel. The imaging device an imaging assembly that can be mounted within the distal portion. The imaging assembly includes a side-looking array of imaging elements and a micro-beamformer IC that is coupled to the side-looking array of imaging elements. The micro-beamformer IC can control the array of imaging elements, can determine a first angle and a second angle, and can perform beam forming for the array of imaging elements. The micro-beamformer IC can receive the first imaging signals associated with a first plane (410) at the first angle (+45°), and the second imaging signals associated with a second plane (420) at the second angle(?45°). In some embodiments, the first and second angles are selected to satisfy predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system according to the present disclosure may include an ultrasound probe, a display unit, and a processor configured to receive source image data having a first dynamic range, wherein the source image data comprises log compressed echo intensity values based on the ultrasound echoes detected by the ultrasound probe, generate a histogram of at least a portion of source image data, generate a cumulative density function for the histogram, receive an indication of at least two points on the cumulative density function (CDF), and cause the display unit to display an ultrasound image representative of the source image data displayed in accordance with the second dynamic range.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system has an improved dynamic range control which enables a user to reduce image haze with substantially no effect on bright tissue in the image and without increasing speckle variance. A dynamic range processor processes an input image to produce an approximation image which is a spatially low pass filtered version of the input image. The dynamic range of the approximation image is compressed, and image detail, unaffected by the compression, is added back to produce a dynamically compressed image for display.

Abstract: A spectral Doppler processor for an ultrasound system produces blood flow velocity estimates by processing a sequence of complex blood flow echo samples with an FFT algorithm. The FFT algorithm is executed with a long window of samples to produce velocity estimates with good velocity precision and is executed with a short window of samples to produce velocity estimates with good time precision. The long window algorithm is used when blood flow velocity is not changing rapidly, and the short window algorithm is used when blood flow velocity is changing rapidly.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system according to the present disclosure may include an ultrasound probe, a display unit, and a processor configured to receive source image data having a first dynamic range, wherein the source image data comprises log compressed echo intensity values based on the ultrasound echoes detected by the ultrasound probe, generate a histogram of at least a portion of source image data, generate a cumulative density function for the histogram, receive an indication of at least two points on the cumulative density function (CDF), and cause the display unit to display an ultrasound image representative of the source image data displayed in accordance with the second dynamic range.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for confidence mapping of shear wave measurements are disclosed. Confidence maps of shear wave image measurements may be generated from one or more confidence factors. Masking of graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values, based at least in part on the confidence map is disclosed. The confidence map and/or masked graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values may be superimposed on ultrasound images and provided on a display.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging for analyzing shear wave characteristics utilizes a background motion compensation subsystem which acts as a spatial filter of pulse-to-pulse autocorrelation phases over the ROI of tracking pulse vectors to compensate for background motion. The subsystem is configured to compute the sum of all lag-1 autocorrelations of tracking line ensemble data over the tracking ROI, for each PRI. The inventive technique does not significantly reduce sensitivity to shear waves, because the shear wave is spatially smaller than the ROI.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging devices, systems and methods are provided. In some embodiments, the ultrasound imaging devices include a flexible elongate member including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion configured to be positioned within a body of a patient, an ultrasound imaging element disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member and configured to obtain imaging data from within the body of the patient; and a handle coupled to the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member. The handle includes an accelerometer configured to determine an orientation of the ultrasound imaging element.

Abstract: A spectral Doppler processor for an ultrasound system produces blood flow velocity estimates by processing a sequence of complex blood flow echo samples with an FFT algorithm. The FFT algorithm is executed with a long window of samples to produce velocity estimates with good velocity precision and is executed with a short window of samples to produce velocity estimates with good time precision. The long window algorithm is used when blood flow velocity is not changing rapidly, and the short window algorithm is used when blood flow velocity is changing rapidly.