Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing speckle while maintaining frame rate are disclosed. Multiple sub-images associated with different receive angles are acquired for a single transmit/receive event at an observation angle. The sub-images are compounded to generate a final image with reduced speckle. In some examples, multiple sub-images from multiple transmit/receive events are compounded to generate the final image. The observation angle and/or the receive angles may vary between transmit/receive events in some examples.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include ultrasound systems that suppress grating lobe artifacts arising due to high frequency operation of an array transducer probe which is operated at a frequency higher than its pitch limitation.

Abstract: A controller (250) for differentiating passive ultrasound sensors for interventional medical procedures includes a memory (291) and a processor (292). When executed by the processor (292), instructions from the memory (291) cause a system (200) that includes the controller (250) to implement a process that includes receiving first signals from a first passive ultrasound sensor (S1) and receiving second signals from a second passive ultrasound sensor (S2). The first signals and second signals are generated by the passive ultrasound sensors responsive to beams emitted from an ultrasound imaging probe (210). The process also includes identifying a characteristic of the first signals and the second signals. The characteristic includes shapes of the first signals and the second signals and/or times at which the first signals and the second signals are generated as the beams from the ultrasound imaging probe are received.

Abstract: An instrument for internal mapping includes a flexible elongated portion (702) and an expandable portion (710) coupled distally to the elongated portion, the expandable portion having one or more expandable loops. An array of sensors (706) and electrodes (708) is distributed on the expandable portion and is configured to concurrently register the instrument to real-time images of an anatomy using the sensors and measure electrical characteristics of the anatomy with the electrodes to generate an electro-physiology (EP) map having the anatomy and intensities of the electrical characteristics mapped together in the real-time images.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices that perform flow scan sequences are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an intraluminal catheter or guidewire, an annular array of acoustic elements positioned around a circumference of the catheter or guidewire, and a processor in communication with the annular array. The processor is configured to activate a first subaperture of the annular array at a first time, thereafter, activate a second interleaving subaperture, and activate the first subaperture again at a different, second time such that the scan sequence moves around the circumference of the catheter or guidewire. Temporal differences between the received ultrasound signals obtained by the first subaperture at the first and second times are determined to detect motion around the annular array. By interleaving subaperture firings, the total number of firings to form an image frame can be reduced.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure may include a display unit, a processor communicatively coupled to the display unit and to an ultrasound imaging apparatus for generating an image from ultrasound data representative of a bodily structure and fluid flowing within the bodily structure. The processor may be configured to generate vector field data including axial and lateral (or transverse) velocity components of the fluid flowing within the bodily structure, calculate velocity profiles for a plurality of locations along a wall of the bodily structure based on the axial and lateral velocity components, generate wall shear stress (WSS) visualization data based, at least in part, on the velocity profiles, and cause the display unit to concurrently display the image including the bodily structure overlaid with the WSS visualization data.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems and, more particularly, certain exemplary embodiments relate to jukebox systems that incorporate digital downloading jukebox features along with karaoke jukebox and/or photo booth features. A combined karaoke/photo booth/jukebox may enable more integrated performance-like experiences in an in-home or out-of-home location or venue. By leveraging vast audio media libraries, trusted rights-respecting network infrastructure, and on-site image/video capturing from integrated recorders and/or remote portable devices, a more sociable experience may be created for karaoke jukebox patrons, e.g., where custom content can be generated and shared in a safe and legally appropriate manner.

Abstract: Improved ultrasound imaging devices and methods of operating the devices that minimize grating lobe artifacts in an ultrasound image are provided. For example, an ultrasound imaging system analyzes the ultrasound data at different frequency bands and generates a grating-lobe-minimized image based on minimum signals identified for each pixel among the plurality of frequency ranges. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound transducer array configured to obtain ultrasound data, and a processor in communication with the ultrasound transducer array. The processor is configured to receive the ultrasound data, generate an ultrasound image based on a first frequency range of the ultrasound data, generate a grating-lobe-minimized ultrasound image based on a plurality of second frequency ranges of the ultrasound data, combine the ultrasound image and the grating-lobe-minimized ultrasound image to generate a combined ultrasound image, and output the combined ultrasound image to a display.

Abstract: A method is provided for filtering ultrasound image clutter. In the first stage of the method a data matrix is captured, wherein the data matrix contains information relating to the image, and singular value decomposition (SVD) is performed on the data matrix or a matrix derived from the data matrix. A spatial singular vector is then obtained from the SVD of the data matrix and a mean spatial frequency is estimated from them. A filtered data matrix is constructed based on the estimated mean spatial frequency and the SVD of the data matrix and a filtered image is constructed based on the filtered data matrix.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system acquires received beams of echo signals produced in response to a plurality of transmit events. The received beams are combined with refocusing to account for differences in receive beam to transmit event locations. The delays and weights used in the refocusing are supplemented with delays and weights which correct for reverberation artifacts. The received echo signals are processed to detect the presence of reverberation artifacts and a simulated transmission of reverberation signal components to virtual point sources in the image field is calculated. This simulation produces the delays and weights used for reverberation signal compensation, or estimated reverberation signals which can be subtracted from received echo signals to reduce reverberation artifacts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for triggering the acquisition of elastography measurements based on motion data are disclosed. Motion data may be acquired by Doppler mode imaging in some embodiments. The motion data may be used to generate a trigger signal. The trigger signal may be provided to a transmit controller. The transmit controller may cause an ultrasound transducer to acquire elastography measurements responsive to the trigger signal.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems and, more particularly, certain exemplary embodiments relate to jukebox systems that incorporate digital downloading jukebox features along with karaoke jukebox and/or photo booth features. A combined karaoke/photo booth/jukebox may enable more integrated performance-like experiences in an in-home or out-of-home location or venue. By leveraging vast audio media libraries, trusted rights-respecting network infrastructure, and on-site image/video capturing from integrated recorders and/or remote portable devices, a more sociable experience may be created for karaoke jukebox patrons, e.g., where custom content can be generated and shared in a safe and legally appropriate manner.

Abstract: A method in accordance with the present disclosure may include transmitting a plurality of ultrasound pulses toward a medium from a transducer array, wherein the plurality of ultrasound pulses includes a sequence of a Doppler burst (10-1, 10-2) comprising a plurality of unfocused first pulses (12) and a B-mode burst comprising one or more second pulses (13). The method may further include detecting echoes responsive to the transmitted sequence, wherein the detecting includes simultaneously detecting, within a field of view, FOV, of the array, a set (14-1, 14-2) of first echoes responsive to the plurality of unfocused first pulses (12), generating Doppler data from signals representative of the set (14-1, 14-2) of first echoes, generating B-mode image data from signals representative of echoes responsive to the one or more second pulses (13), and simultaneously displaying the Doppler data and B-mode image data.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound data processing method for pre-processing signal data in advance of generating ultrasound images. The method seeks to reduce noise through application of coherent persistence to a series of raw ultrasound signal representations representative of the same path or section through a body but at different successive times. A motion compensation procedure including amplitude peak registration and phase alignment is applied to raw echo signal data in advance of application of persistence in order to cohere the signals and thereby limit the introduction of motion induced artifacts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature distribution determination apparatus for determining a temperature distribution within an object (20), while an energy application element (2) applies energy to the object, especially while an ablation procedure for ablating a tumor within an organ is performed. A time-dependent first ultrasound signal is generated for an ultrasound measurement region within the object and a temperature distribution within the object is determined based on the generated time-dependent first ultrasound signal and based on a position of the energy application element (2) relative to the ultrasound measurement region tracked over time. This can ensure that always the correct position of the energy application element, which may be regarded as being a heat source, is considered, even if the energy application element moves, for instance, due to a movement of the object. This can lead to a more accurate determination of the temperature distribution.

Abstract: A system for tracking a medical device includes an introducer (20). Two or more sensors (22) are disposed along a length of the introducer and are spaced apart along the length. An interface (32) is configured to connect to the introducer such that the introducer and the interface operatively couple to and support the medical device wherein the two or more sensors are configured to provide feedback for positioning and orienting the medical device using medical imaging.

Abstract: Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided. An ultrasound imaging system, comprising an array of acoustic elements configured to transmit ultrasound energy into an anatomy and to receive ultrasound echoes associated with the anatomy; and a processor circuit in communication with the array of acoustic elements and configured to receive, from the array, ultrasound channel data corresponding to the received ultrasound echoes; normalize the ultrasound channel data by applying a first scaling function to the ultrasound channel data; generate beamformed data by applying a predictive network to the normalized ultrasound channel data; de-normalize the beamformed data by applying a second scaling function to the beamformed data; generate an image of the anatomy from the beamformed data; and output, to a display in communication with the processor circuit, the image of the anatomy.

Abstract: An instrument for internal mapping includes a flexible elongated portion (702) and an expandable portion (710) coupled distally to the elongated portion, the expandable portion having one or more expandable loops. An array of sensors (706) and electrodes (708) is distributed on the expandable portion and is configured to concurrently register the instrument to real-time images of an anatomy using the sensors and measure electrical characteristics of the anatomy with the electrodes to generate an electro-physiology (EP) map having the anatomy and intensities of the electrical characteristics mapped together in the real-time images.

Abstract: Ultrasound systems and methods for shear wave elastography (SWE) imaging are described which may improve the scan protocol for SWE imaging of anisotropic tissue. One or more initial measurements may be acquired to determine the orientation of the anisotropic tissue. The system acquires shear wave speed and/or stiffness measurements from at least two perpendicular intersecting planes through the anisotropic tissue and reports, a shear wave speed and/or stiffness measurement along the perpendicular intersecting planes and/or a composite measurement based upon the plurality of individual shear wave speed and/or stiffness measurement obtained at the different image planes. Improvements to the SWE imaging protocol may be achieved by providing guidance by way of an improved graphical user interface, to assist the sonographer in acquiring measurements at suitable imaging planes for more accurately characterizing the anisotropic tissue. The SWE imaging protocol may be an automatic or semi-automatic protocol.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating an ultrasound image. The method includes obtaining ultrasound data from an ultrasonic transducer array, the ultrasonic transducer array having M transducer elements. The method further includes generating N sets of image data from the ultrasound data using N random apodization functions. A minimizing function is then applied to a collection of image data, wherein the collection of image data comprises the N sets of image data. An ultrasound image is then generated based on the minimized image data.