Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer. The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged bloodvessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff (30) is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer (42, 44). The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: A distributed diagnostic imaging system and method includes a data processor coupled to a variety of diagnostic imaging components through a network. The diagnostic imaging components include acquisition devices that are used to obtain diagnostic imaging signals, displays on which obtained images can be viewed, and control units that are used with either acquisition units or displays to control the manner in which an image is obtained or displayed. The distributed nature of the system makes it relatively easy and inexpensive to upgrade or modify individual imaging components, and allows the businesses of selling, distributing, and upgrading an imaging lab, and obtaining and reviewing diagnostic images to be conducted in a novel manner, such as by costing an imaging procedure on a “per use” or “per imaging application” basis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer. The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff (30) is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer (42, 44). The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff (30) is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array (52, 54, 56) and a HIFU transducer (42, 44). The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: A distributed diagnostic imaging system (62) and method includes a data processor coupled to a variety of diagnostic imaging components through a network (80). The diagnostic imaging components include acquisition devices (90) that are used to obtain diagnostic imaging signals, displays (98) on which obtained images can be viewed, and control units (94) that are used with either acquisition units (90) or displays (98) to control the manner in which an image is obtained or displayed. The distributed nature of the system (62) makes it relatively easy and inexpensive to upgrade or modify individual imaging components, and allows the businesses of selling, distributing, and upgrading an imaging lab, and obtaining and reviewing diagnostic images to be conducted in a novel manner, such as by costing an imaging procedure on a “per use” basis.

Abstract: A distributed diagnostic imaging system and method includes a data processor coupled to a variety of diagnostic imaging components through a network. The diagnostic imaging components include acquisition devices that are used to obtain diagnostic imaging signals, displays on which obtained images can be viewed, and control units that are used with either acquisition units or displays to control the manner in which an image is obtained or displayed. The distributed nature of the system makes it relatively easy and inexpensive to upgrade or modify individual imaging components, and allows the businesses of selling, distributing, and upgrading an imaging lab, and obtaining and reviewing diagnostic images to be conducted in a novel manner, such as by costing an imaging procedure on a “per use” or “per imaging application” basis.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system, the parameters which govern the display of Doppler information are automatically optimized to make better use of the display range or area. Spectral Doppler information may be used to optimize a spectral display or a colorflow display, and colorflow Doppler information may be used to optimize a spectral display or a colorflow display. The optimization may be invoked by a manual user control which automatically optimizes one or a plurality of display parameters. Automatic optimization may be invoked only when called for by the user, or periodically after a time interval, a given number of heart cycles, or when the user has made a change to the display or imaging mode. Preferably the optimization processor runs continuously in the background so that optimized parameters are available immediately when called for. The optimization processor may utilize “hidden” Doppler data which has been acquired but is not used for display purposes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system uses a specially configured scanhead to provide ultrasound return signals that are processed by an imaging unit to generate a three-dimensional Doppler ultrasound image. One embodiment of the scanhead includes a first pair of apertures aligned along a first axis, and a second pair of apertures aligned along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. All of the apertures lie in a common plane. Respective signals from the apertures along each axis are processed to generate two-dimensional Doppler motion vectors. The resulting pairs of two-dimensional Doppler motion vectors are then processed to generate three-dimensional Doppler motion vectors that are used to generate a three-dimensional Doppler image. In another embodiment, three co-planar apertures are arranged equidistantly from each other about a common center, and the three-dimensional Doppler image is generated from respective signals from the apertures.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system uses a specially configured scanhead to provide ultrasound return signals that are processed by an imaging unit to generate a three-dimensional Doppler ultrasound image. One embodiment of the scanhead includes a first pair of apertures aligned along a first axis, and a second pair of apertures aligned along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. All of the apertures lie in a common plane. Respective signals from the apertures along each axis are processed to generate two-dimensional Doppler motion vectors. The resulting pairs of two-dimensional Doppler motion vectors are then processed to generate three-dimensional Doppler motion vectors that are used to generate a three-dimensional Doppler image. In another embodiment, three co-planar apertures are arranged equidistantly from each other about a common center, and the three-dimensional Doppler image is generated from respective signals from the apertures.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system, the parameters which govern the display of Doppler information are automatically optimized to make better use of the display range or area. Spectral Doppler information may be used to optimize a spectral display or a colorflow display, and colorflow Doppler information may be used to optimize a spectral display or a colorflow display. The optimization may be invoked by a manual user control which automatically optimizes one or a plurality of display parameters. Automatic optimization may be invoked only when called for by the user, or periodically after a time interval, a given number of heart cycles, or when the user has made a change to the display or imaging mode. Preferably the optimization processor runs continuously in the background so that optimized parameters are available immediately when called for. The optimization processor may utilize “hidden” Doppler data which has been acquired but is not used for display purposes.