Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for characterizing, for example identifying at least one object depicted in a raster image (1) or determining the speed of sound of the object, the raster image (1) having pixel rows and pixel columns. In order to efficiently and accurately characterize the object, the invention provides that several pixel columns (Cn) are selected and each of the selected pixel columns (Cn) is converted into a line profile (L), the amplitude of the line profile (L) representing the value (V) of image information of selected pixels of the respective selected pixel column (Cn), wherein the method comprises determining characteristics of the line profiles (L) and using the characteristics to characterize the at least one object depicted in the raster image (1).

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for thermal monitoring of tissue with an ultrasound imaging system. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring, via an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound image, selecting at least one region of interest in the ultrasound image, extracting features from the at least one region of interest, classifying a thermal state of tissue in the at least one region of interest based on the features, and outputting, via a display device, the thermal state of the tissue. In this way, ultrasound imaging may be used for real-time thermal monitoring of tissue during an ablation procedure, thereby improving the accuracy and efficacy of the ablation procedure.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for thermal monitoring of tissue with an ultrasound imaging system. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring, via an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound image, selecting at least one region of interest in the ultrasound image, extracting features from the at least one region of interest, classifying a thermal state of tissue in the at least one region of interest based on the features, and outputting, via a display device, the thermal state of the tissue. In this way, ultrasound imaging may be used for real-time thermal monitoring of tissue during an ablation procedure, thereby improving the accuracy and efficacy of the ablation procedure.