Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting non-diffracting acoustic beams are presented herein. In one example, a method for transmitting a non-diffracting acoustic beam with an ultrasound transducer that includes a plurality of transducer elements includes determining a transmit delay function and a transmit apodization function for the ultrasound transducer based on a target axial pressure profile for the acoustic beam for a given configuration of the ultrasound transducer and controlling the ultrasound transducer to transmit the acoustic beam by sending electrical signals to the plurality of transducer elements based on the transmit delay function and the transmit apodization function.

Abstract: A method for correcting fat-induced aberrations in ultrasound imaging comprises segmenting a thermoacoustic absorption image of a region of interest into at least one fat region and at least one non-fat region, creating a speed of sound map by assigning a speed of sound to each region based on tissue type of the region, correcting aberrations in the segmented thermoacoustic absorption image using the assigned speeds of sound thereby generating a corrected thermoacoustic image, and correcting an ultrasound image of the region of interest using the corrected thermoacoustic image and the speed of sound map.

Abstract: A method for correcting fat-induced aberrations in ultrasound imaging comprises segmenting a thermoacoustic absorption image of a region of interest into at least one fat region and at least one non-fat region, creating a speed of sound map by assigning a speed of sound to each region based on tissue type of the region, correcting aberrations in the segmented thermoacoustic absorption image using the assigned speeds of sound thereby generating a corrected thermoacoustic image, and correcting an ultrasound image of the region of interest using the corrected thermoacoustic image and the speed of sound map.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining cellular electrical potentials using a state estimator. The state estimator is generated using at least an electrical source model and an electrical conduction model. One or more parameters or states of the state estimator are adjusted based on a measured electrocardiographic and/or a measured body-surface-potential signal. The electrical potential of one or more cells is determined based on the one or more adjusted parameters or states. In one aspect of the present technique, one or more representations of an organ comprising the one or more cells is generated such that the electrical potential or its deriving characteristic of the one or more cells is visually indicated.

Abstract: An imaging assembly is provided including a paddle assembly, an X-ray detection unit, an ultrasound module, and a control module. The paddle assembly includes first and second plates that are articulable with respect to each other and configured to receive and compress an object to be imaged. The X-ray detection unit is mounted proximate to at least one of the first and second plates. The ultrasound module is configured to acquire ultrasound information of the object to be imaged and includes an ultrasound transducer articulably mounted to at least one of the first and second plates. The control module is configured to position the ultrasound transducer to scan a region of interest identified using X-ray information received from the X-ray detection unit, while not scanning at least a portion of the object outside of the region of interest.

Abstract: A continuous, non-invasive fetal heart rate measurement is produced using an ultrasound probe positioned on the abdomen of the mother. The ultrasound probe includes a plurality of ultrasound transducers that are positioned within a housing having a transmission surface. The transmission surface is configured to defocus the individual ultrasound beams created by the plurality of ultrasound transducers. The transmission surface defocuses the ultrasound beam and creates a wider area of coverage for the ultrasound probe. The controller contained within the heart rate monitor selectively activates different combinations of the plurality of ultrasound transducers to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio while allowing the ultrasound probe to locate the fetal heart beat and subsequently increase the signal-to-noise ratio during continuous heart rate monitoring.

Abstract: A system for dynamic optimization of gain and contrast in ultrasound imaging includes an image processor module programmed to dynamically estimate a correction profile in real-time and apply the correction profile to adjust a gain and contrast of image frame data sets. The image processor module is programmed to identify tissue and background regions in an image frame data set, determine an image intensity for each of the tissue and background regions, and formulate a gain profile based on the image intensity of the tissue region to compensate the gain variation of an image. The image processor module is further programmed to calculate an image contrast metric based on the image intensity of the tissue and background regions, and modify a gray map of the image frame data set based on the image contrast metric to adjust the contrast of an image displayed on the display system.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining cellular electrical potentials using a state estimator. The state estimator is generated using at least an electrical source model and an electrical conduction model. One or more parameters or states of the state estimator are adjusted based on a measured electrocardiographic and/or a measured body-surface-potential signal. The electrical potential of one or more cells is determined based on the one or more adjusted parameters or states. In one aspect of the present technique, one or more representations of an organ comprising the one or more cells is generated such that the electrical potential or its deriving characteristic of the one or more cells is visually indicated.

Abstract: A system for guiding probe is presented. The system includes a probe configured to acquire image data representative of a region of interest. Additionally, the system includes an imaging system in operative association with the probe and configured to facilitate guiding the probe to a desirable location based on the acquired image data and indications of change in position of the probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer probe having a highly integrated interface circuit array. Low-voltage transmit control signals from the system are transmitted on the system transmit channels via the ultrasound probe cable and into the interface circuit array. These transmit control signals are routed through the interface circuit array using a dense switching matrix. Once the low-voltage transmit control signals reach individual cells within the interface array, they are decoded and used to control local high-voltage pulser circuits to drive individual ultrasound transducer elements made up of selected subelements that are co-integrated with the interface electronics. The interface cell circuitry further comprises a high-voltage transmit/receive switch, which is closed when the high-voltage pulser is transmitting to protect the low-voltage components.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present technique, a combined mammography and ultrasound imaging system is provided. The system includes an ultrasound probe, which transmits ultrasound signals to a breast of a patient and receives reflected ultrasound signals from the breast. The system further includes a first acoustic coupling sheath. A first side of the first acoustic coupling sheath is coupled to a face of the ultrasound probe. The system also includes a mammography compression plate for compressing the breast of the patient. A second acoustic coupling sheath coupled to a side of the mammography compression plate contacts the breast of the patient.

Abstract: A continuous, non-invasive fetal heart rate measurement is produced using one or more ultrasonic transducer array patches that are adhered or attached to the mother. Each ultrasound transducer array is operated in an autonomous mode by a digital signal processor to obtain data from which fetal heart rate information can be derived. Each ultrasonic transducer array patch comprises a multiplicity of subelements that are switchably reconfigurable to form elements having different shapes, e.g., annular rings. Each subelement comprises a plurality of interconnected cMUT cells that are not switchably disconnectable. The use of cMUT patches will provide the ability to interrogate a three-dimensional space electronically (i.e. without mechanical beam steering) with ultrasound, using a transducer device that is thin and lightweight enough to stick to the patient's skin like an EKG electrode.

Abstract: A reconfigurable linear array of sensors (e.g., optical, thermal, pressure, ultrasonic). The reconfigurability allows the size and spacing of the sensor elements to be a function of the distance from the beam center. This feature improves performance for imaging systems having a limited channel count. The improved performance, for applications in which multiple transmit focal zones are employed, arises from the ability to adjust the aperture for a particular depth.

Abstract: A device comprising an array of sensors that are reconfigurable by means of a switching network. The sensors may be optical, thermal or pressure sensors or ultrasonic transducers.

Abstract: Ultrasound is used to provide input data for a blood pressure estimation scheme. The use of transcutaneous ultrasound provides arterial lumen area and pulse wave velocity information. In addition, ultrasound measurements are taken in such a way that all the data describes a single, uniform arterial segment. Therefore a computed area relates only to the arterial blood volume present. Also, the measured pulse wave velocity is directly related to the mechanical properties of the segment of elastic tube (artery) for which the blood volume is being measured. In a patient monitoring application, the operator of the ultrasound device is eliminated through the use of software that automatically locates the artery in the ultrasound data, e.g., using known edge detection techniques. Autonomous operation of the ultrasound system allows it to report blood pressure and blood flow traces to the clinical users without those users having to interpret an ultrasound image or operate an ultrasound imaging device.

Abstract: Ultrasound is used to provide input data for a blood pressure estimation scheme. The use of transcutaneous ultrasound provides arterial lumen area and pulse wave velocity information. In addition, ultrasound measurements are taken in such a way that all the data describes a single, uniform arterial segment. Therefore a computed area relates only to the arterial blood volume present. Also, the measured pulse wave velocity is directly related to the mechanical properties of the segment of elastic tube (artery) for which the blood volume is being measured. In a patient monitoring application, the operator of the ultrasound device is eliminated through the use of software that automatically locates the artery in the ultrasound data, e.g., using known edge detection techniques. Autonomous operation of the ultrasound system allows it to report blood pressure and blood flow traces to the clinical users without those users having to interpret an ultrasound image or operate an ultrasound imaging device.

Abstract: An automated method for determining a plurality of characteristics of a breast lesion is provided. The method comprises automatically identifying a region of interest in an image, the region of interest comprising the breast lesion, and preprocessing the region of interest to enhance a quality of the image. The method further comprises automatically segmenting the breast lesion in the region of interest and automatically measuring a plurality of measurements for determining the plurality of characteristics of the breast lesion. The breast lesion is automatically classified as benign or malignant based on the plurality of measurements.

Abstract: An integrated switch matrix for reconfiguring subelements of a mosaic sensor array to form elements. The configuration of the switch matrix is fully programmable. The switch matrix includes access switches that connect subelements to bus lines and matrix switches that connect subelements to subelements. Each subelement has a unit switch cell comprising at least one access switch, at least one matrix switch, a respective memory element for storing the future state of each switch, and a respective control circuit for each switch. The access and matrix switches are of a type having the ability to memorize control data representing the current switch state of the switch, which control data includes a data bit input to turn-on/off circuits incorporated in the control circuit. The sensor array and the switching matrix may be built in different strata of a co-integrated structure or they may be built on separate wafers that are electrically connected.

Abstract: The reconfigurable ultrasound array disclosed herein is one that allows groups of subelements to be connected together dynamically so that the shape of the resulting element can be made to match the shape of the wave front. This can lead to improved performance and/or reduced channel count. Reconfigurability can be achieved using a switching network. A methodology and an algorithm are disclosed that allows the performance of this switching network to be improved by properly choosing the configuration of the switching network.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer array includes a multiplicity of subelements interconnected by a multiplicity of microelectronic switches, each subelement comprising a respective multiplicity of micromachined ultrasound transducer (MUT) cells. The MUT cells within a particular subelement are hard-wired together. The switches are used to configure the subelements to form multiple concentric annular elements. This design dramatically reduces complexity while enabling focusing in the elevation direction during ultrasonic image data acquisition.