Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which utilizes one or more transducer arrays affixed to the head of a patient to diagnose and treat stroke victims. The transducer headset produces a two or three dimensional image of the vasculature inside the cranium, preferably assisted by a microbubble contrast agent. A vascular flow map is produced by the system which may be diagnosed for signs of a blood clot. If a blood clot is detected, a therapeutic beam is transmitted while the contrast agent is present to break up the blood clot by the disruption of microbubbles. The headset may also be used in a monitoring application to detect the recurrence of blood clots in a stroke victim.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which utilizes one or more transducer arrays affixed to the head of a patient to diagnose and treat stroke victims. The transducer headset produces a two or three dimensional image of the vasculature inside the cranium, preferably assisted by a microbubble contrast agent. A vascular flow map is produced by the system which may be diagnosed for signs of a blood clot. If a blood clot is detected, a therapeutic beam is transmitted while the contrast agent is present to break up the blood clot by the disruption of microbubbles. The headset may also be used in a monitoring application to detect the recurrence of blood clots in a stroke victim.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which utilizes one or more transducer arrays affixed to the head of a patient to diagnose and treat stroke victims. The transducer headset produces a two or three dimensional image of the vasculature inside the cranium, preferably assisted by a microbubble contrast agent. A vascular flow map is produced by the system which may be diagnosed for signs of a blood clot. If a blood clot is detected, a therapeutic beam is transmitted while the contrast agent is present to break up the blood clot by the disruption of microbubbles. The headset may also be used in a monitoring application to detect the recurrence of blood clots in a stroke victim.

Abstract: A device (D1) is intended for producing images of heating tines (HT) coupled to a needle (N) positioned near a chosen tissue part of tissues located in an area of a body. This device (D1) comprises i) a means (ME) for estimating tissue thermal strains, induced by means of the heating tines (HT) into the tissue surrounding the chosen tissue part, from received ultrasound image data, and for deducing relative positions of these heating tines (HT) to the chosen tissue part from the estimated tissue thermal strains, and ii) a means (MC) for combining the received ultrasound image data with position data representative of the deduced relative positions to produce images of the area with thermal strain information showing the relative positions of the heating tines (HT) to the chosen tissue part.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (10) is disclosed for creating simultaneous needle and vascular blood flow color Doppler imaging. A B mode image of an anatomical area of interest is created. A first set of Doppler image data optimized for the visualization of vascular blood flow is created along one Doppler image processing path. A second set of Doppler image data optimized for the visualization of a needle or other invasive device is created along another, parallel Doppler image processing path. A color Doppler image is created, and then displayed, by combining some or all of the B mode image, the first Doppler image data and the second Doppler image data based on a plurality of user selectable modes.

Abstract: A device (D1) is intended for producing images of heating tines (HT) coupled to a needle (N) positioned near a chosen tissue part of tissues located in an area of a body. This device (D1) comprises i) a means (ME) for estimating tissue thermal strains, induced by means of the heating tines (HT) into the tissue surrounding the chosen tissue part, from received ultrasound image data, and for deducing relative positions of these heating tines (HT) to the chosen tissue part from the estimated tissue thermal strains, and ii) a means (MC) for combining the received ultrasound image data with position data representative of the deduced relative positions to produce images of the area with thermal strain information showing the relative positions of the heating tines (HT) to the chosen tissue part.

Abstract: In an ultrasound imaging system (UIS), an image capturing arrangement (ICA) captures a sequence of ultrasound images (IMS) of a body (BDY) while an object (NDL) is introduced into the body. A displacement detector (DD) generates a map of displacement indications (DM) from the sequence of ultrasound images. A displacement indication relates to a particular portion of the body and indicates a displacement that the portion has undergone. An object locator (OL) provides an indication (OLI) relating to the location of the object in the body on the basis of the map of displacement indications.

Abstract: An invasive medical device includes a fluid path of microbubbles which is imaged by ultrasound during use of the device. The fluid path extends through the device, preferably to the distal end of the device, so that the diffuse reflection of ultrasound from the microbubbles can be received to image the location of the device. The fluid path can be open, terminating at the tip of the device, or can be a closed path of a circulating microbubble fluid used for imaging and/or cooling.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which utilizes one or more transducer arrays affixed to the head of a patient to diagnose and treat stroke victims. The transducer headset produces a two or three dimensional image of the vasculature inside the cranium, preferably assisted by a microbubble contrast agent. A vascular flow map is produced by the system which may be diagnosed for signs of a blood clot. If a blood clot is detected, a therapeutic beam is transmitted while the contrast agent is present to break up the blood clot by the disruption of microbubbles. The headset may also be used in a monitoring application to detect the recurrence of blood clots in a stroke victim.