Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to managing power in an ultrasound imaging machine. The ultrasound imaging machine may generate ultrasound images while operating in a first imaging mode that consumes power at a first level. The ultrasound imaging machine may determine whether the generated ultrasound images are for viewing. If generated ultrasound images are not for viewing, the ultrasound imaging machine may change to a second imaging mode that consumes power at a second level less than the first level. If ultrasound images generated while operating in the second imaging mode are not for viewing, the ultrasound imaging machine may change to a freeze mode that consumes power at a third level less than the second level.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging methods, systems, and apparatus that detect and enhance viewing of a needle during ultrasound imaging. The methods involve acquiring an ultrasound image feed having primary ultrasound image frames. During acquisition of the ultrasound image feed, secondary frames are interspersed amongst the primary ultrasound image frames, where each secondary frame is steered at a different angle. At least one secondary frame is analyzed to detect an imaged needle. Upon detection of an imaged needle in at least one secondary frame, an optimal steering angle is determined for imaging the needle, the optimal steering angle being based on the steered angle of the at least one secondary frame having the detected imaged needle. The method continues to acquire the ultrasound image feed by acquiring additional primary ultrasound image frames.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating high quality, high frame rate images in a handheld or hand-carried ultrasonic imaging machine. The apparatus includes an image enhancer to reduce speckle noise and improve the compressibility of the resulting image. This approach reduces the required hardware and power consumption to satisfy the physical space, power, and limited processing power of a handheld probe and enables high quality images to be transmitted efficiently over low-bandwidth connections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically calculating and applying time gain compensation in a handheld or hand-carried ultrasonic imaging machine. The apparatus include an autogain unit to calculate the time gain compensation based on a processed ultrasound image. The image is divided into regions, and the image intensity is used to mask regions which satisfy a threshold. Masked regions are used to calculate a gain curve which is then spatially and temporally smoothed. Means are providing for masking entire columns of regions to remove areas where the probe is not in contact. This approach may allow less experienced users to achieve high quality images without the difficult and time-consuming task of manually adjusting the time gain compensation.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to methods for providing viewing access to an ultrasound image feed generated at an ultrasound imaging machine. A multi-use display device may form a first link-layer connection with the ultrasound image machine for transmitting commands that control imaging parameters of the ultrasound image feed. The multi-use display device may then: determine link-layer connection parameters that allow the ultrasound imaging machine to form a second link-layer connection with a receiving device (the receiving device having no link-layer connection with the ultrasound imaging machine), and provide the connection parameters to the receiving device. The ultrasound imaging machine forms a second link-layer connection with the receiving device, based the connection parameters. The second link-layer connection is then used for receiving, at the receiving device, the ultrasound image feed controlled by the multi-use display device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating high quality, high frame rate images in a handheld or hand-carried ultrasonic imaging machine. The apparatus includes an image enhancer to reduce speckle noise and improve the compressibility of the resulting image. This approach reduces the required hardware and power consumption to satisfy the physical space, power, and limited processing power of a handheld probe and enables high quality images to be transmitted efficiently over low-bandwidth connections.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to managing power in an ultrasound imaging machine. The ultrasound imaging machine may generate ultrasound images while operating in a first imaging mode that consumes power at a first level. The ultrasound imaging machine may determine whether the generated ultrasound images are for viewing. If generated ultrasound images are not for viewing, the ultrasound imaging machine may change to a second imaging mode that consumes power at a second level less than the first level. If ultrasound images generated while operating in the second imaging mode are not for viewing, the ultrasound imaging machine may change to a freeze mode that consumes power at a third level less than the second level.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging methods and apparatus that allow for multiple modes of imaging using a single ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements. In an embodiment, there is provided an ultrasound imaging machine that is: operable in a first imaging mode in which the plurality of transducer elements are activated; and operable in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, and in the second imaging mode, a subset of the plurality of transducer elements are activated so that ultrasound signals are steered from the subset of the plurality of transducer elements, where any remaining transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements not part of the subset are inactive when operating in the second imaging mode.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system comprising a multi-use electronic display device and an ultrasound imaging device. The multi-use electronic display device is capable of communicating with one or more ultrasound imaging devices and selecting which to connect with based on at least one of previously store information, user input, and information gathered from the ultrasound imaging devices. The multi-use electronic display device may communicate with the ultrasound imaging devices while they are in a low power standby state. This approach reduces the complexity of the pairing process and provides a means for quickly and easily selecting between multiple ultrasound imaging devices.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for acquiring raw ultrasound data from an ultrasound machine using a wirelessly connected device. The systems can be configured to display ultrasound images on a display device and receive input to select the ultrasound images for which to retrieve corresponding raw ultrasound data from the ultrasound machine. A raw data buffer provided at the ultrasound machine may be capable of storing a first time duration of raw ultrasound data. An image display buffer provided at the wireless device may store: processed ultrasound image data corresponding to the raw ultrasound data stored in the raw data buffer; and previously-received processed ultrasound image data that has no corresponding raw ultrasound data stored in the raw data buffer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an interactive demonstration of an ultrasound user interface are generally described herein. The method may include, at a multi-use display device: receiving a demonstration ultrasound dataset from a server; displaying, on the ultrasound user interface, ultrasound data from the demonstration ultrasound dataset; receiving input, on the ultrasound user interface, to interact with the ultrasound data from the ultrasound dataset; and in response to the received input, updating the ultrasound user interface so that the ultrasound user interface corresponds to the received input, the updated ultrasound user interface appearing substantially similar to an appearance of the ultrasound user interface that is displayed if the received input is received during display of a live ultrasound image feed.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for securing operation of an ultrasound scanner for use with a multi-use electronic display device. In some embodiments, the multi-use electronic display device can control whether the ultrasound scanner is permitted to generate ultrasound image data for display based on an institution affiliation status of the ultrasound scanner retrieved from a server. In some embodiments, the multi-use electronic display device can control whether the ultrasound scanner is permitted to generate ultrasound image data for display based on whether a digital certificate provided by a server is successfully validated.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging methods and apparatus that allow for multiple modes of imaging using a single ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements. In an embodiment, there is provided an ultrasound imaging machine that is: operable in a first imaging mode in which the plurality of transducer elements are activated; and operable in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, and in the second imaging mode, a subset of the plurality of transducer elements are activated so that ultrasound signals are steered from the subset of the plurality of transducer elements, where any remaining transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements not part of the subset are inactive when operating in the second imaging mode.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system comprising a multi-use electronic display device and an ultrasound imaging device. The multi-use electronic display device is capable of communicating with one or more ultrasound imaging devices and selecting which to connect with based on at least one of previously store information, user input, and information gathered from the ultrasound imaging devices. The multi-use electronic display device may communicate with the ultrasound imaging devices while they are in a low power standby state. This approach reduces the complexity of the pairing process and provides a means for quickly and easily selecting between multiple ultrasound imaging devices.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to systems, methods, and apparatus for determining a heart rate of an imaged heart in an ultrasound image feed. A plurality of ultrasound images can first be acquired. For each ultrasound image of the plurality of ultrasound images, the image can be divided into a plurality of regions; where each region is positioned so that the region corresponds to a substantially similar region location present across the plurality of ultrasound images. For each region location on each of the plurality of ultrasound images, a statistical calculation on image data of the region location can be performed. For each region location, a frequency of change in the statistical calculation over the plurality of ultrasound images can then be determined. The region location having a dominant determined frequency of change in the statistical calculation (over the plurality of ultrasound images) can be identified as a region of interest (ROI).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for performing at least three modes of ultrasound imaging using a single ultrasound transducer. In a first mode, transducer elements are activated so that ultrasound signals are transmitted from the contact surface at one or more directions normal to the contact surface. In a second mode, a first subset of the transducer elements are activated so that parallel ultrasound signals are transmitted from the contact surface. In a third mode, a second subset of the transducer elements are activated so that ultrasound signals are steered from the second subset of transducer elements.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging methods, systems, and apparatus that identify an imaged needle in an ultrasound image. The embodiments involve performing edge detection on the ultrasound image to generate an edge-detected data set corresponding to the ultrasound image; performing a straight line detection operation on the edge-detected data set to detect one or more straight lines; based on the one or more straight lines detected in the edge-detected data set, identifying a region of interest (ROI) on the ultrasound image; transforming the ROI of the ultrasound image from a spatial domain to an analysis domain, to generate a transformed ROI; analyzing the transformed ROI to determine whether the transformed ROI, in the analysis domain, corresponds to a needle signature; and if the transformed ROI corresponds to the needle signature, identifying the detected one or more straight lines as the imaged needle.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging methods, systems, and apparatus that identify an imaged needle in an ultrasound image. The embodiments involve performing edge detection on the ultrasound image to generate an edge-detected data set corresponding to the ultrasound image; performing a straight line detection operation on the edge-detected data set to detect one or more straight lines; based on the one or more straight lines detected in the edge-detected data set, identifying a region of interest (ROI) on the ultrasound image; transforming the ROI of the ultrasound image from a spatial domain to an analysis domain, to generate a transformed ROI; analyzing the transformed ROI to determine whether the transformed ROI, in the analysis domain, corresponds to a needle signature; and if the transformed ROI corresponds to the needle signature, identifying the detected one or more straight lines as the imaged needle.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging methods, systems, and apparatus that detect and enhance viewing of a needle during ultrasound imaging. The methods involve acquiring an ultrasound image feed having primary ultrasound image frames. During acquisition of the ultrasound image feed, secondary frames are interspersed amongst the primary ultrasound image frames, where each secondary frame is steered at a different angle. At least one secondary frame is analyzed to detect an imaged needle. Upon detection of an imaged needle in at least one secondary frame, an optimal steering angle is determined for imaging the needle, the optimal steering angle being based on the steered angle of the at least one secondary frame having the detected imaged needle. The method continues to acquire the ultrasound image feed by acquiring additional primary ultrasound image frames.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging systems and methods that provide a user interface on the touchscreen display. The user interface includes an ultrasound image feed and a single control for modifying imaging depth of the ultrasound image feed. When input via the single control is received to modify the imaging depth, the system: adjusts frequency of ultrasound signals being used to acquire the ultrasound image feed; adjusts a beamformer parameter of the ultrasound signals being used to acquire the ultrasound image feed; receives first image data of the ultrasound image feed based on the adjusted frequency and the adjusted beamformer parameter; based on the first image data, adjusts Time Gain Compensation (TGC) of the ultrasound image feed; and receives second image data of the ultrasound image feed based on the adjusted frequency, beamformer parameter and TGC. Display of the second image data on the touchscreen display is then optimized without receipt of additional user input.