Abstract: Ultrasound imaging system, devices, and methods for minimizing grating lobe artefacts in an ultrasound image are provided. For example, an ultrasound imaging system can include an array of acoustic elements and a processor in communication with the array. The processor controls the array to activate a plurality of apertures and subapertures in a scan sequence, generate an image comprising a plurality of pixels, identify at least one subaperture of the plurality of subapertures corresponding to a reduced signal value for one or more pixels of the image, and generate a grating-lobe-minimized image based on the identified subapertures. The grating-lobe-minimized image can be output to a display or combined with the original ultrasound image to include image features lost or reduced in the grating-lobe-minimized image. The grating-lobe-minimized image advantageously reduces image artefacts and clutter to simplify ultrasound image analysis and diagnosis procedures.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for generating an ultrasound image. In a method, the generation of an ultrasound image comprises: obtaining channel data, the channel data defining a set of imaged points; for each imaged point: isolating the channel data; performing a spectral estimation on the isolated channel data; and selectively attenuating the spectral estimation channel data, thereby generating filtered channel data; and summing the filtered channel data, thereby forming a filtered ultrasound image. In some examples, the method comprises aperture extrapolation. The aperture extrapolation improves the lateral resolution of the ultrasound image. In other examples, the method comprises transmit extrapolation. The transmit extrapolation improves the contrast of the image. In addition, the transmit extrapolation improves the frame rate and reduces the motion artifacts in the ultrasound image. In further examples, the aperture and transmit extrapolations may be combined.

Abstract: An ultrasound system according to the present disclosure may include a beamformer configured to perform per-channel weighting on the RF signals received at each channel in order to reduce noise clutter in the image. For this purpose, the beamformer may receive at one or more channels associated with an active aperture, sets of receive signals associated with respective transmit beams that at least partially overlap. The beamformer may alter the receive space, e.g., to align the sets of receive signals to a common location (e.g., between the transmit beams) and generate a coherence-based weighting value that may be indicative of blockage. The coherence-based weighting value may be applied on a per-channel basis to the receive signals. The beamformer may also communicate the coherence metric to the controller for altering the transmit space.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating an ultrasound image. The method includes obtaining ultrasound data from an ultrasonic transducer array, the ultrasonic transducer array having M transducer elements. The method further includes generating N sets of image data from the ultrasound data using N random apodization functions. A minimizing function is then applied to a collection of image data, wherein the collection of image data comprises the N sets of image data. An ultrasound image is then generated based on the minimized image data.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for generating an ultrasound image. In a method, the generation of an ultrasound image comprises: obtaining channel data, the channel data defining a set of imaged points; for each imaged point: isolating the channel data; performing a spatial spectral estimation on the isolated channel data; and selectively attenuating the spatial spectral estimation channel data, thereby generating filtered channel data; and summing the filtered channel data, thereby forming a filtered ultrasound image. In some examples, the method comprises aperture extrapolation. The aperture extrapolation improves the lateral resolution of the ultrasound image. In other examples, the method comprises transmit extrapolation. The transmit extrapolation improves the contrast of the image. In addition, the transmit extrapolation improves the frame rate and reduces the motion artifacts in the ultrasound image. In further examples, the aperture and transmit extrapolations may be combined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound system (10) comprising a first non-invasive ultrasound probe (14) configured to acquire first ultrasound data having a first field of view; a second invasive ultrasound probe (16) configured to acquire second ultrasound data having a second field of view which is different from the first field of view; a tracking unit (30) configured to determine tracking data comprising a position and orientation of the first non-invasive ultrasound probe (14) relative to the second invasive ultrasound probe (16); and a registration unit (32) configured to register the second field of view into the first field of view based on the tracking data.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating a filtered ultrasound image. The method begins by obtaining channel data. First and second apodization functions are applied to the channel data to generate first (610) and second (620) image data, respectively. A minimization function is then applied to the first (610) and second (620) image data, which may then be used to generate third (630) image data. The filtered ultrasound image may then be generated based on the first (610) and third (630) image data.

Abstract: Improved ultrasound imaging devices and methods of using the devices are provided. An intraluminal imaging device is configured process imaging data obtained using a single imaging sequence in different processing paths to generate B-mode and flow images. For example, an ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound imaging device comprising an array of acoustic elements and a processor in communication with the array. The processor activates the array of acoustic elements to acquire ultrasound data using a sequence of transmit-receive pairs, generates a B-mode image using the acquired ultrasound data, forms a plurality of sub-apertures comprising a portion of the transmit-receive pairs, groups the sub-apertures into temporally-spaced ensembles, determines a flow estimate based on a comparison of at least one of sub-apertures within an ensemble, ensembles within an aperture, or different apertures, and outputs a graphical representation of the B-mode image and the flow estimate to a display.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (1) comprises an ultrasound transducer array (100) comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer tiles (101a-d), each of said tiles having an independently adjustable orientation such as to conform an ultrasound transmitting surface to a region of a body (50) including a foreign object such as a pacemaker, a stent, or an interventional tool (200). Using a known spatial arrangement of a plurality of features (201-204) of the foreign object (200), the respective ultrasound images generated by the ultrasound transducer tiles are registered in order to generate a composite image, in which the position and orientation of the foreign object in the individual images is superimposed. The position and orientation of an interventional tool may be determined for each image using object recognition algorithms or using acoustic feedback information provided by at least three ultrasound sensors (201-204) arranged in a known spatial arrangement on the interventional tool.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a status of a hydrocarbon production site are provided. The systems and methods include defining an area about a hydrocarbon well location and obtaining a time series of mobile geolocation data for at least one mobile device located within the area about the hydrocarbon well location. The times series of mobile geolocation data is processed and probabilities that the mobile geolocation data is associated with a drilling activity, a fracking activity, a tie-in activity, and/or an absence of drilling activity, fracking activity, and/or tie-in activity are output. The mobile geolocation data is categorized, based on the probabilities, as being associated with one of drilling activity, fracking activity, or absence of drilling activity and fracking activity.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system according to the present disclosure may include an ultrasound transducer assembly comprising a plurality of apertures that are configured to transmit signals toward and receive signals from a region of interest (ROI) of a subject, a tracking sensor disposed within the subject and configured to move within the ROI, the sensor being responsive to signals transmitted by the apertures, and at least one processor in communication with the ultrasound transducer assembly and the tracking sensor.

Abstract: A method is provided for filtering ultrasound image clutter. In the first stage of the method a data matrix is captured, wherein the data matrix contains information relating to the image, and singular value decomposition (SVD) is performed on the data matrix or a matrix derived from the data matrix. A spatial singular vector is then obtained from the SVD of the data matrix and a mean spatial frequency is estimated from them. A filtered data matrix is constructed based on the estimated mean spatial frequency and the SVD of the data matrix and a filtered image is constructed based on the filtered data matrix.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for confidence mapping of shear wave measurements are disclosed. Confidence maps of shear wave image measurements may be generated from one or more confidence factors. Masking of graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values, based at least in part on the confidence map is disclosed. The confidence map and/or masked graphical overlays of tissue stiffness values may be superimposed on ultrasound images and provided on a display.

Abstract: A method in accordance with the present disclosure may include transmitting a plurality of ultrasound pulses toward a medium from a transducer array, wherein the plurality of ultrasound pulses includes a sequence of a Doppler burst (10-1, 10-2) comprising a plurality of unfocused first pulses (12) and a B-mode burst comprising one or more second pulses (13). The method may further include detecting echoes responsive to the transmitted sequence, wherein the detecting includes simultaneously detecting, within a field of view, FOV, of the array, a set (14-1, 14-2) of first echoes responsive to the plurality of unfocused first pulses (12), generating Doppler data from signals representative of the set (14-1, 14-2) of first echoes, generating B-mode image data from signals representative of echoes responsive to the one or more second pulses (13), and simultaneously displaying the Doppler data and B-mode image data.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an image of shear wave velocities by transmitting push pulses to generate shear waves. A plurality of tracking lines are transmitted and echoes received by a focusing beamformer adjacent to the location of the push pulses. The tracking lines are sampled in a time-interleaved manner. The echo data acquired along each tracking line is processed to determine the time of peak tissue displacement caused by the shear waves at points along the tracking line, and the times of peaks at adjacent tracking lines compared to compute a local shear wave velocity. The resultant map of shear wave velocity values is color-coded and displayed over an anatomical image of the region of interest.

Abstract: Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an interface coupled to an ultrasound imaging component and configured to receive a plurality of image data frames representative of a target tissue; and a processing component in communication with the interface and configured to determine a delay profile for the ultrasound imaging component in relation to the target tissue based on the plurality of image data frames; and determine a phase aberration correction configuration for a sequence of one or more shear wave pulses based on the delay profile, the sequence of one or more shear wave pulses associated with the ultrasound imaging component and a stiffness measure of the target tissue.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer array (100) is disclosed comprising an array of elongate support members (110) displaceable and/or deformable relative to each other in the elongation direction of said elongate support members, each elongate support member having a patient facing surface carrying an ultrasound transducer tile (120); and a plurality of sensors (115), each adapted to detect the relative displacement and/or deformation of one of said elongate support members. An ultrasound system (10) including such an ultrasound transducer array and an operating method (200) of such an ultrasound system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A quantum computing system that includes a quantum circuit device having at least one operating frequency; a first substrate having a first surface on which the quantum circuit device is disposed; a second substrate having a first surface that defines a recess of the second substrate, the first and second substrates being arranged such that the recess of the second substrate forms an enclosure that houses the quantum circuit device; and an electrically conducting layer that covers at least a portion of the recess of the second substrate.

Abstract: A device for transfer of granular solid material between two chambers at different pressures. A piston type transfer pump device used in a horizontal position transfers granular material into the compression chamber by gravity and evacuates the material into the exhaust chamber at a higher pressure. Such a device may for example find an application for feeding a gasification reactor with biomass.

Abstract: A quantum computing apparatus, including a quantum circuit device; and an interposer including a connectorization layer including a plurality of terminals for connecting the quantum computing apparatus to a corresponding plurality of cables and a plurality of signal lines electrically coupled, via electrical contacts, to the plurality of terminals; and at least one intermediate layer between the quantum circuit device and the connectorization layer, the at least one intermediate layer comprising an integrated circuit layer, the at least one intermediate layer being electrically coupled to the signal lines of the interposer. The interposer is configured to supply the quantum circuit device, during operation of the quantum computing apparatus, at least control signals and readout signals to and from the plurality of cables.