Abstract: A thermal ablation system is operable to perform thermal ablation using an x-ray system to measure temperature changes throughout a volume of interest in a patient. Image data sets captured by the x-ray system during a thermal ablation procedure provide temperature change information for the volume being subjected to the thermal ablation. Intermediate image data sets captured during the thermal ablation procedure may be fed into a system controller, which may modify or update a thermal ablation plan to achieve volume coagulation necrosis targets. The thermal ablation may be delivered by a variety of ablation modes including radiofrequency ablation, microwave therapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, laser ablation, and other interstitial heat delivery methods. Methods of performing thermal ablation using x-ray system temperature measurements as a feedback source are also provided.

Abstract: Without using ECG input signals or processor intensive correlation, cyclical timing is determined from ultrasound data. Cyclical timing includes determining the time of end diastole, time of end systole or heart rate. The ultrasound data is reduced, such as by projecting each frame of data onto two axes. For projection, data is summed along each dimension. The location associated with the maximum variance through the sequence is identified from the projected data. The ultrasound data associated with the location is used to identify cycle timing information, such as to provide a waveform representing the cycle. Lines from different frames of data in the sequence are also used to generate an image. The image shows cycle timing information.

Abstract: A thermal ablation system is operable to perform thermal ablation using an x-ray system to measure temperature changes throughout a volume of interest in a patient. Image data sets captured by the x-ray system during a thermal ablation procedure provide temperature change information for the volume being subjected to the thermal ablation. Intermediate image data sets captured during the thermal ablation procedure may be fed into a system controller, which may modify or update a thermal ablation plan to achieve volume coagulation necrosis targets. The thermal ablation may be delivered by a variety of ablation modes including radiofrequency ablation, microwave therapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, laser ablation, and other interstitial heat delivery methods. Methods of performing thermal ablation using x-ray system temperature measurements as a feedback source are also provided.

Abstract: Without using ECG input signals or processor intensive correlation, cyclical timing is determined from ultrasound data. Cyclical timing includes determining the time of end diastole, time of end systole or heart rate. The ultrasound data is reduced, such as by projecting each frame of data onto two axes. For projection, data is summed along each dimension. The location associated with the maximum variance through the sequence is identified from the projected data. The ultrasound data associated with the location is used to identify cycle timing information, such as to provide a waveform representing the cycle. Lines from different frames of data in the sequence are also used to generate an image. The image shows cycle timing information.

Abstract: Standardized or preset views for a given application are used to assist in volumetric scanning and diagnosis. By displaying one or more images of a standard view during acquisition, the scan is guided to assure proper positioning of the volumetric scan. The location of a user identified view within the volume is used to determine the location of an additional view. The spatial interrelationship of the views within the standard or preset set of views allows generation of images for each of the views after the user identification of one of the views within the volume. Identification of landmarks associated with a view may be used for more efficient or accurate feature recognition, more likely providing images for the standard views.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a user interface is provided comprising at least three display areas that are simultaneously displayed. The first display area displays a medical image, the second display area displays a plurality of image frames of the medical image, and the third display area displays a data plot. In another embodiment, a user interface is provided comprising at least two display areas that are simultaneously displayed. The first display area displays a medical image, and the second display area displays a plurality of image frames of the medical image. In response to receiving a selection of an image frame in the second display area, the selected image frame is displayed in the first display area. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Abstract: A diagnostic medical ultrasound system is disclosed. The system obtains data representative of an ultrasonic echo, processes that data in a sequential architecture, and transmits the result to an output. Further, the ultrasound system provides an interface for non-sequentially architectured applications to interact within the sequential architecture of the present invention.