Abstract: A 3D image is provided for processing. A current resolution is set to a first coarse resolution and the current data is set to a known current data. A process is then iterated and within each iteration of the process the following is performed: pre-processing the ultrasound image in accordance with the current resolution; providing the pre-processed ultrasound image and the current data to a trained system for extracting therefrom objects of interest at the current resolution, the objects of interest extracted with a likelihood above a known threshold; determining data relating to each extracted object of interest to result in first current data; when the current resolution is a finest resolution, stopping the iterative process; and when the current resolution is other than a finest resolution, setting the current resolution to a finer resolution and returning to the start of the iterative process.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging is performed in three dimensions by firing a multidimensional array of ultrasound transducers comprising N transducers at a target. First reflected signals are sensed with at least some of the N transducers to produce first output signals. The first output signals are provided from only a first portion of the N transducers less than all the N transducers for storage and adaptive beamforming. The multidimensional array of ultrasound transducers comprising N transducers is fired at the target another time to produce second reflected signals. The second reflected signals are sensed with at least some of the N transducers to produce second output signals. The second output signals are provided from only a second portion of the N transducers less than all the N transducers and different from the first portion for storage and adaptive beamforming.

Abstract: The presented invention provides a detection method for free fluid in the human body. The preprocessing procedure is applied to reduce the speckle noise and enhance tissue volumetric pixels (voxels) intensity levels to make tissue and non-tissue voxels more distinguishable from each other. An initial surface selection step provides flexibility to either manually or automatically selecting a seed point to segment fluid regions in the volumetric data. A kidney and liver organ detection procedure provides a method for determining whether the detected fluid region is a normal fluid-carrying body organ or if it is due to a medical condition as a free fluid region. A combinational approach using a 3-dimensional Snake and Level-Set is utilized to accurately detect fluid regions in the volumetric ultrasound data.

Abstract: Described herein is the use of ultrasound pulses at different frequencies to track the dispersion properties of intracranial tissues which may have been altered due to traumatic or other neurological brain injury. Dispersive ultrasound does not provide imaging, but it can provide data of significant diagnostic value by using decision support systems that can be trained as a medical diagnostic system for traumatic brain injuries applications to detect specific patterns of dispersion that are associated with specific intracranial injuries.

Abstract: Described herein is the use of ultrasound pulses at different frequencies to track the dispersion properties of intracranial tissues which may have been altered due to traumatic or other neurological brain injury. Dispersive ultrasound does not provide imaging, but it can provide data of significant diagnostic value by using decision support systems that can be trained as a medical diagnostic system for traumatic brain injuries applications to detect specific patterns of dispersion that are associated with specific intracranial injuries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for non-invasive monitoring of brain density variations. At least two ultrasonic pulses having different frequencies are provided into the brain for transmission therethrough. The reflected ultrasonic pulses are then sensed and the sensed signal data are then processed for determining at least two phase differences between the phases of the at least two reflected ultrasonic pulses and the phases of the at least two provided ultrasonic pulses. A phase of at least a beat frequency is determined in dependence upon the at least two phase differences. Data indicative of a brain density variation are determined based on the at least two phase differences and the at least a beat frequency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for blind reconstruction of multi-frame image data. Multi-frame image data corresponding to at least two image frames are received. Using a filter function the image data corresponding to each of the at least two image frames are filtered. The filtered image data are then classified producing data indicative of a classified image for each of the at least two image frames. In a following step the filtered image data are fusion-based classified producing data indicative of a classified fused image. By superposing the corresponding data indicative of the classified image with the data indicative of the classified fused image an error function is determined for each of the at least two image frames. Using the error function the filter function for each of the at least two image frames is then updated. This process is repeated until a stopping criterion is met.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring blood pressure and heart rate is disclosed. Blood pressure signals corresponding to the Korotkoff sounds are detected using an array of primary acoustic sensors. A secondary acoustic sensor is used for detecting noise and vibrations. The signals provided by the primary acoustic sensors are then processed using adaptive linear beamforming and are combined into a single signal. The combined signal is then provided to an adaptive interferer canceller together with the signal of the secondary acoustic sensor for removing noise and vibration effects. Artifacts due to a patient's motion are removed in a following post-processing step. The post-processed signal and the pressure signal are then graphically displayed enabling a trained user to correct the automatic measurement, to decide whether a repeat measurement is necessary, and to quickly and accurately diagnose heart pulse patterns.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a signal processing method and system for correcting organ motion artifacts for cardiac and brain imaging. A plurality of sets of MRI measurement data indicative of at least an image of an object is received. Each set corresponds to one row kx of a k-space matrix of at least a k-space matrix. For each set a k-space matrix of the at least a k-space matrix is determined for allocation thereto based on motion information of the object occurring during acquisition of the plurality of sets of the MRI measurement data. In a following step a location within the allocated k-space matrix corresponding to a row of the k-space matrix allocated thereto is determined for each set. At least a k-space matrix is then generated by re-arranging the plurality of sets. Each of the at least a k-space matrix comprises the sets of the plurality of sets of the MRI measurement data allocated thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for non-invasive monitoring of brain density variations. At least two ultrasonic pulses having different frequencies are provided into the brain for transmission therethrough. The reflected ultrasonic pulses are then sensed and the sensed signal data are then processed for determining at least two phase differences between the phases of the at least two reflected ultrasonic pulses and the phases of the at least two provided ultrasonic pulses. A phase of at least a beat frequency is determined in dependence upon the at least two phase differences. Finally, data indicative of a brain density variation are determined based on the at least two phase differences and the at least a beat frequency. Repeating the process enables continuous monitoring of brain density variations.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring blood pressure and heart rate in an environment comprising extreme levels of noise and vibrations is disclosed. Blood pressure signals corresponding to the Korotkoff sounds are detected using an array of primary acoustic sensors, placed on the patient's skin over the brachial artery. A secondary acoustic transducer is placed on the outside of a pressure cuff the patient away for detecting noise and vibrations. Pressure is applied to the artery using the pressure cuff forcing the artery to close. The pressure is then reduced and while reducing the pressure the acoustic signals detected by the first and second acoustic sensor as well as a signal indicative of the pressure applied to the artery are provided to a processor. The signals provided by the primary acoustic sensors are then processed using a combination of focused beamforming and planar wave beamforming.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a signal processing method and system for correcting organ motion artifacts for cardiac and brain imaging. A plurality of sets of MRI measurement data indicative of at least an image of an object is received. Each set corresponds to one row kx of a k-space matrix of at least a k-space matrix. For each set a k-space matrix of the at least a k-space matrix is determined for allocation thereto based on motion information of the object occurring during acquisition of the plurality of sets of the MRI measurement data. In a following step a location within the allocated k-space matrix corresponding to a row of the k-space matrix allocated thereto is determined for each set. At least a k-space matrix is then generated by re-arranging the plurality of sets. Each of the at least a k-space matrix comprises the sets of the plurality of sets of the MRI measurement data allocated thereto.

Abstract: An adaptive multidimensional beamformer having near-instantaneous convergence for ultrasound imaging systems deploying multidimensional sensor arrays is disclosed. In a first step, the multidimensional beamformer is decomposed into sub-apertures. Each sub-aperture is then again decomposed into two coherent subsets of circular and/or line array beamformers in different coordinate directions of the multidimensional array. Implementation of the multidimensional beamformer according to the present invention provides the basis for a 3D ultrasound imaging system according to the present invention comprising a compact multidimensional sensor array and a compact processing unit that is field deployable and generates high resolution three-dimensional images in real time. It is also possible to capture four-dimensional images, the fourth dimension being time and the resulting images forming a video image of a volume of a moving organ.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in an environment comprising extreme levels of noise and vibrations is disclosed. Blood pressure signals corresponding to the Korotkoff sounds are detected using a first acoustic sensor, or array of sensors, placed on the patient's skin over the brachial artery. A second acoustic transducer is placed on the outside of a pressure cuff the patient away for detecting noise and vibrations. Pressure is applied to the artery using the pressure cuff forcing the artery to close. The pressure is then reduced and while reducing the pressure the acoustic signals detected by the first and second acoustic sensor as well as a signal indicative of the pressure applied to the artery are provided to a processor. The signal of the first acoustic sensor is then processed using an adaptive interferer canceller algorithm with the signal of the second acoustic sensor as interferer.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device for the detection of changes in the density of a solid, liquid or gaseous medium. The device is capable of detecting the effects of physical and/or chemical parameters, causing changes in the density and/or compression constants of the medium. The device comprises a transmitter unit for transmitting a send signal, having a constant frequency and amplitude and the send signal, comprising a minimum of one period, with a minimum of one receiver unit receiving the response signals reflected and/or transmitted from the medium. The transmitter and receiver units are coupled to the medium. The receiver unit is coupled to an A/D converter and a sampling device. The transmitter unit and the output of the A/D converter are coupled to a numerical processor for determination of the phase shift between the send signal and the receive signal, with the output being connected to a display. A memory may be used instead of a display.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring blood pressure and heart rate in an environment comprising extreme levels of noise and vibrations is disclosed. Blood pressure signals corresponding to the Korotkoff sounds are detected using an array of primary acoustic sensors, placed on the patient's skin over the brachial artery. A secondary acoustic transducer is placed on the outside of a pressure cuff the patient away for detecting noise and vibrations. Pressure is applied to the artery using the pressure cuff forcing the artery to close. The pressure is then reduced and while reducing the pressure the acoustic signals detected by the first and second acoustic sensor as well as a signal indicative of the pressure applied to the artery are provided to a processor. The signals provided by the primary acoustic sensors are then processed using a combination of focused beamforming and planar wave beamforming.

Abstract: A microwave thermography apparatus to measure temperatures within a dielectric body comprises a partial ellipsoidal cavity with an electrical conductive surface wherein the body can be located at one focus of the cavity. A microwave antenna located at a second focus of the cavity is connected to a radiometer. That radiometer amplifies and filters signals from the antenna before they are applied to a detector with the temperature of the body being determined from the voltage amplitude of the detected signals.

Abstract: An adaptive multidimensional beamformer having near-instantaneous convergence for ultrasound imaging systems deploying multidimensional sensor arrays is disclosed. In a first step, the multidimensional beamformer is decomposed into sub-apertures. Each sub-aperture is then again decomposed into two coherent subsets of circular and/or line array beamformers in different coordinate directions of the multidimensional array. Implementation of the multidimensional beamformer according to the present invention provides the basis for a 3D ultrasound imaging system according to the present invention comprising a compact multidimensional sensor array and a compact processing unit that is field deployable and generates high resolution three-dimensional images in real time. It is also possible to capture four-dimensional images, the fourth dimension being time and the resulting images forming a video image of a volume of a moving organ.

Abstract: A method of tracking organ motion and removing motion artifacts in conventional computer tomography scans is disclosed. Sensor time series indicative of projection measurement data of the object are correlated using a software spatial overlap correlator method in order to obtain a sinogram indicative of organ motion. The software spatial overlap correlator method is based on the fact that the image sampling process of a computer tomography scanner is periodical, therefore, image samples taken at a time t and at a time t+T are taken from identical spatial locations. The sinogram is then processed using a retrospective gating method or a coherent sinogram synthesis method in order to correct the image data for motion effects. This method for motion correction is software based and, therefore, can be easily implemented in existing computer tomography systems without major hardware modification.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in an environment comprising extreme levels of noise and vibrations is disclosed. Blood pressure signals corresponding to the heart beat are detected using a first acoustic sensor placed on a patient near an artery. A second acoustic transducer is placed on the patient away from the artery for detecting noise and vibrations. Pressure is applied to the artery forcing the artery to close. The pressure is then reduced and while reducing the pressure the acoustic signals detected by the first and second acoustic sensor as well as a signal indicative of the pressure applied to the artery are provided to a processing unit. The signal of the first acoustic sensor is then processed using an adaptive interferer canceller algorithm with the signal of the second acoustic sensor as interferer.