Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.

Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.

Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.

Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.

Abstract: An acoustic data acquisition/playback system and method enable acquisition of acoustic data from an ultrasound imaging system and subsequent substantially real time playback of the acoustic data in the same system or a different system. Acoustic data is acquired at a particular data rate from a signal processing pipeline associated with the ultrasound imaging system during an image acquisition session wherein the acoustic data is produced by exposing a body to ultrasound signals. The acquired data is preferably acquired early in the pipeline so that it is completely raw (e.g., RF, IP, pre-beamformed, post-beamformed, pre-video, etc.), but it could be partially processed. Raw data or near raw data allows for greater flexibility in later signal processing. The acoustic data is stored during the session in a nonvolatile memory, which can optionally be removable.