Abstract: Methods of determining a location of a desired joint in a scanning assembly are provided. The method comprises acquiring a digital image of an extremity against a background within the scanning assembly. The extremity has a plurality of digits extending away from a base of the extremity and the plurality of digits has a plurality of corresponding joints. The method also comprises extracting the outline of at least a portion of the extremity, locating a midpoint along a width of a base of the extremity, identifying a plurality of clusters of texture features; and, determining the location of a desired joint based on a distance between the center point and the midpoint.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for storing an ultrasonic scan image and an ultrasonic device. The ultrasonic device may include: an image acquiring unit configured to scan a target object to obtain an image; a buffer unit configured to store the obtained image; a processing unit configured to compute a similarity of a frame of the image; and a storage unit, wherein when it is determined that the computed similarity of the frame is less than a threshold, the processing unit stores frames with a similarity equal to or greater than the threshold previous to the frame in the storage unit. Therefore, the image may be stored automatically based upon the similarity information of the frame of the ultrasonic scanning image.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a tank, a holder, a transducer array and an actuator. The tank is configured to contain fluid and allow a hand to be immersed in the fluid. The holder is located in the tank and configured to hold the hand. The transducer array is positioned adjacent to the tank and operable in at least two imaging modes. The actuator is coupled to the transducer array and configured to move the transducer array in the at least two imaging modes. And an ultrasound system is also provided, which includes a processing unit for generating images in the different imaging modes.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a scanning assembly, a three-dimensional (3D) image acquisition device, and a controller. The scanning assembly is configured to receive a hand or foot and includes a transducer array and an acoustic coupling fluid. The 3D image acquisition device is configured for obtaining a 3D image of the hand or foot. The controller is configured for automatically adjusting direction or orientation of the transducer array with respect to the hand or foot based on the 3D image of the hand or foot.

Abstract: A method of acquiring ultrasound of a patient's knee includes obtaining a digital picture of a patient's knee with a digital camera. The method further includes applying instructions to the processor to identify the position of the patient's knee relative to a known datum based on an algorithm and the digital picture. A scan path is created about the patient's knee based on the position of the patient's knee. Instructions are provided from a robotic processor to robotically move an ultrasound probe along the scan path.

Abstract: A wireless ultrasound imaging system includes plural probes, at least one access point device, and a processing subsystem. Each of the probes has at least one transducer element that is configured to emit ultrasound pulses into one or more imaged bodies and receive echoes of the pulses. The probes are configured to generate ultrasound data based on the echoes and to wirelessly transmit the ultrasound data. The access point device is configured to wirelessly receive the ultrasound data from the probes. The processing subsystem is communicatively coupled with the at least one access point device. The processing subsystem receives the ultrasound data from the probes and creates one or more images based on the ultrasound data. In one aspect, a plurality of the probes is configured to concurrently acquire the ultrasound data.

Abstract: An ultrasound device performs an ultrasound scan to acquire a video clip having a plurality of images in a selected zone of a set of lungs. The ultrasound device detects B lines in each of the images of the video clip. The ultrasound device assigns a score to each of the images of the video clip based at least in part on the detected number of B lines. The ultrasound device highlights the detected B lines in each of the images of the video clip. The ultrasound device identifies a representative image from the highlighted images of the video clip in the selected zone. The identification of the representative image is based at least in part on the assigned score of each of the images. The ultrasound device displays the identified representative image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring cardiac output are provided. The systems and methods generate an ultrasound image based on ultrasound imaging data of a patient acquired by an ultrasound probe. The systems and methods automatically designate a region of interest (ROI) within the ultrasound image, and acquire spectral data sets for corresponding candidate Doppler gates within the ROI based on Doppler data acquired by the ultrasound probe. The systems and methods automatically identify a select Doppler gate from the candidate Doppler gates based on a characteristic of the spectral data sets, and calculate a cardiac output of the patient based on the select Doppler gate.

Abstract: An ultrasound device performs an ultrasound scan to acquire a video clip having images of a portion of a lung. The ultrasound device detects lung sliding in each of the images. The ultrasound device highlights the detected lung sliding in each of the images to generate processed images. The ultrasound device displays at least one of the processed images as one or more of an enhanced B mode image and an enhanced virtual M mode image.

Abstract: An ultrasound device acquires a video clip having a plurality of images in a selected zone of a set of lungs. The ultrasound device detects B lines in each of the plurality of images and detects a width of each of the B lines. The ultrasound device sorts the B lines into a first group and a second group based on the width, assigns a score based on the number of B lines and the width of each B line, and highlights the B lines in the first group differently than the B lines in the second group in each of the images. The ultrasound device identifies a representative image from the plurality of images and displays the identified representative image.

Abstract: An ultrasound system comprises a probe for acquiring ultrasound data associated with a patient and a microphone detecting audio. The system further comprises a processor module and a memory. The processor module is configured to receive the ultrasound data from the probe and processes the ultrasound data to form an image file. The processor module is further configured to receive the audio from the microphone and forms a voice recording file based on the received audio. The memory stores the image file and the voice recording file, and the processor module automatically associates the image file and the voice recording file with each other.

Abstract: An ultrasound device determines a position and orientation of a surgical instrument based at least in part on tracking information, such as magnetic field strength, emitted by an emitter of a tracking system and detected by a sensor of the tracking system. The sensor and the emitter are attached to or within a different one of a probe of the ultrasound device and the surgical instrument. The ultrasound device determines an ultrasound imaging parameter, such as an ultrasound beam steering angle, based at least in part on the determined position and orientation of the surgical instrument. The ultrasound device applies the ultrasound imaging parameter to acquire ultrasound image data of a target. The ultrasound device generates an ultrasound image based on the acquired ultrasound image data of the target. The ultrasound image includes a representation of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may be a needle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and ultrasonic machine for generating a fused ultrasonic image. The method comprises extracting an anatomical location from a stored ultrasonic image, and generating the fused ultrasonic image according to the anatomical location and a currently obtained ultrasonic image. The apparatus comprises an extraction module for extracting an anatomical location from a stored ultrasonic image, and a generation module for generating the fused ultrasonic image according to the anatomical location and a currently obtained ultrasonic image.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, apparatus and system for enhancing needle visualization in ultrasound imaging, said method comprising: a setting step for setting a scanning depth corresponding to a depth of a part or tissue target in a patient's body; and a determining step for automatically determining a needle frame steering angle and an ultrasound working frequency for needle frame collection based on the scanning depth. In the embodiments of the present invention, the needle frame steering angle and ultrasound working frequency for needle frame collection and the filter kernel for enhancing edge filtering of the collected needle frame are both dependent upon the scanning depth, and thereby can achieve enhancing needle visualization in ultrasound imaging for scanning at different depths without participation of the user or extra change of hardware.

Abstract: A method and apparatus present a live ultrasound image on a display of an ultrasound imaging system, retrieve a historical ultrasound image frame; and overlap at least portions of the historical ultrasound image frame with the live ultrasound image. A method and apparatus retrieve a historical ultrasound image frame, retrieve stored coordinates of a historical region of interest in the historical ultrasound image frame, display a selected ultrasound image frame from a live ultrasound image and display a current region of interest in the selected ultrasound image frame, the current region of interest having coordinates in the selected ultrasound image frame based upon the stored coordinates retrieved from the historical region of interest in the historical ultrasound image frame.

Abstract: A wireless ultrasound probe is disclosed. The wireless ultrasound probe includes an image capturing unit for capturing image data, a processor configured to end a scan session once image data associated with an anatomy of a patient is captured and start a new scan session for capturing image data associated to an anatomy of another patient, and a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of storage and an ultrasound imaging system. The wireless communication unit facilitates transfer of the image data to at least one of storage and the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: A method of acquiring ultrasound images for a rheumatoid arthritis examination comprises receiving a hand in a scanning assembly including a transducer array and a fluid providing an acoustic coupling between the transducer array and the hand and identifying locations of a plurality of finger joints of the hand while the hand is held stationary in the scanning assembly. Ultrasound images of the plurality of finger joints are acquired with the transducer array while the hand is held stationary in the scanning assembly, wherein the ultrasound images are of an area less than an entire area of the hand based on the identified locations of the finger joints of the hand.

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe having a transducer array for acquiring ultrasound data and a first beamformer for partially beamforming the information received from the transducer array, and a portable host system in communication with the ultrasound probe, the portable host system including a second beamformer to perform additional beamforming on the partially beamformed data received from the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of ultrasound guidance for interventional procedures involving a needle includes acquiring ultrasound data from a region of interest, positioning the needle with respect to the region of interest, displaying an image based on the ultrasound data, calculating a risk of bending for the needle, and presenting the risk of bending for the needle.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, apparatus and system for enhancing needle visualization in ultrasound imaging, said method comprising: a setting step for setting a scanning depth corresponding to a depth of a part or tissue target in a patient's body; and a determining step for automatically determining a needle frame steering angle and an ultrasound working frequency for needle frame collection based on the scanning depth. In the embodiments of the present invention, the needle frame steering angle and ultrasound working frequency for needle frame collection and the filter kernel for enhancing edge filtering of the collected needle frame are both dependent upon the scanning depth, and thereby can achieve enhancing needle visualization in ultrasound imaging for scanning at different depths without participation of the user or extra change of hardware.