Abstract: A modular, flexible architecture for offering full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) functionality and general-purpose ultrasound functionality in a single system is described. A conventional, general-purpose ultrasound system is modified with an FFBU toolkit to create a dual-capability ultrasound system, the dual-capability ultrasound system being able to accommodate both general-purpose ultrasound functionality and FFBU functionality, using a single ultrasound engine. Among other advantages, real-world clinical environments may enjoy cost savings for initial system procurement, space savings on clinic floors, easier and less expensive system upgrades, and the ability to use a single system and user interface for both FFBU screening and for follow-up diagnosis, biopsy, etc.

Abstract: Navigation among breast ultrasound volumes derived from different volumetric ultrasonic scans of a same breast is described. On a display of a breast ultrasound workstation, a first image derived from a first ultrasonic volume is displayed. A user election of a source region of interest (ROI) in the first image is received. A destination ROI within a second ultrasonic volume is identified that at least roughly corresponds to a same locality of tissue in the breast as the source ROI. A second image derived from the second ultrasonic volume and including the destination ROI is displayed, the destination ROI being highlighted.

Abstract: A modular, flexible architecture for offering full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) functionality and general-purpose ultrasound functionality in a single system is described. A conventional, general-purpose ultrasound system (202) is modified with an FFBU toolkit to create a dual-capability ultrasound system (200), the dual-capability ultrasound system (200) being able to accommodate both general-purpose ultrasound functionality and FFBU functionality, using a single ultrasound engine (112). Among other advantages, real-world clinical environments may enjoy cost savings for initial system procurement, space savings on clinic floors, easier and less expensive system upgrades, and the ability to use a single system and user interface for both FFBU screening and for follow-up diagnosis, biopsy, etc.

Abstract: A modular, flexible architecture for offering full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) functionality and general-purpose ultrasound functionality in a single system is described. A conventional, general-purpose ultrasound system (202) is modified with an FFBU toolkit to create a dual-capability ultrasound system (200), the dual-capability ultrasound system (200) being able to accommodate both general-purpose ultrasound functionality and FFBU functionality, using a single ultrasound engine (112). Among other advantages, real-world clinical environments may enjoy cost savings for initial system procurement, space savings on clinic floors, easier and less expensive system upgrades, and the ability to use a single system and user interface for both FFBU screening and for follow-up diagnosis, biopsy, etc.

Abstract: Displaying breast ultrasound information on an interactive user interface is described, the user interface being useful in adjunctive ultrasound mammography environments and/or ultrasound-only mammography environments. Bilateral comparison is facilitated by a pairwise display of thick-slice images corresponding to analogous slab-like subvolumes in the left and right breasts. Coronal thick-slice imaging and convenient navigation on and among coronal thick-slice images is described. In one preferred embodiment, a nipple marker is displayed the coronal thick-slice image representing a projection of a nipple location thereupon. A convenient breast icon is also displayed including a cursor position indicator variably disposed thereon in a manner that reflects a relative position between the cursor and the nipple marker. Preferably, the breast icon is configured to at least roughly resemble a clock face, the center of the clock face representing the nipple marker location.

Abstract: Methods and related apparatuses are described for acquiring and displaying ultrasound mammographic image information. The system includes an ultrasound image acquisition device having at least one ultrasonic transducer positionable by a user on breast tissue of a patient so as to provide sonographic information of the breast tissue. A processing system controls the ultrasonic transducer, receives sonographic data from the transducer, and processes the data to generate sonographic image information for real time viewing by the user. A graphical user interface includes a touch-sensitive display programmed and configured to accept user adjustments with respect to the sonographic imaging process, and display the sonographic image information to the user responsive to the accepted adjustments in real time.

Abstract: Displaying breast ultrasound information on an interactive user interface is described, the user interface being useful in adjunctive ultrasound mammography environments and/or ultrasound-only mammography environments. Bilateral comparison is facilitated by a pairwise display of thick-slice images corresponding to analogous slab-like subvolumes in the left and right breasts. Coronal thick-slice imaging and convenient navigation on and among coronal thick-slice images is described. In one preferred embodiment, a nipple marker is displayed the coronal thick-slice image representing a projection of a nipple location thereupon. A convenient breast icon is also displayed including a cursor position indicator variably disposed thereon in a manner that reflects a relative position between the cursor and the nipple marker. Preferably, the breast icon is configured to at least roughly resemble a clock face, the center of the clock face representing the nipple marker location.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and related computer program products for non-invasive spectrophotometric monitoring of an optical property of a medium are described. Respective light portions are propagated through respective at least partially non-overlapping subregions of the medium during each of a calibration interval and a subsequent monitoring interval. Detections of the light portions acquired during the calibration interval are processed to compute at least one algorithm compensation that causes a first result related to the optical property for the first subregion to be substantially equal to a second result related to the optical property for the second subregion. Subsequently, detections of respective light portions acquired during the monitoring interval are processed in conjunction with the at least one algorithm compensation to compute a monitoring result for the optical property.

Abstract: A modular, flexible architecture for offering full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) functionality and general-purpose ultrasound functionality in a single system is described. A conventional, general-purpose ultrasound system (202) is modified with an FFBU toolkit to create a dual-capability ultrasound system (200), the dual-capability ultrasound system (200) being able to accommodate both general-purpose ultrasound functionality and FFBU functionality, using a single ultrasound engine (112). Among other advantages, real-world clinical environments may enjoy cost savings for initial system procurement, space savings on clinic floors, easier and less expensive system upgrades, and the ability to use a single system and user interface for both FFBU screening and for follow-up diagnosis, biopsy, etc.

Abstract: Displaying breast ultrasound information on an interactive user interface is described, the user interface being useful in adjunctive ultrasound mammography environments and/or ultrasound-only mammography environments. Bilateral comparison is facilitated by a pairwise display of thick-slice images corresponding to analogous slab-like subvolumes in the left and right breasts. Coronal thick-slice imaging and convenient navigation on and among coronal thick-slice images is described. In one preferred embodiment, a nipple marker is displayed the coronal thick-slice image representing a projection of a nipple location thereupon. A convenient breast icon is also displayed including a cursor position indicator variably disposed thereon in a manner that reflects a relative position between the cursor and the nipple marker. Preferably, the breast icon is configured to at least roughly resemble a clock face, the center of the clock face representing the nipple marker location.

Abstract: Navigation among breast ultrasound volumes derived from different volumetric ultrasonic scans of a same breast is described. On a display of a breast ultrasound workstation, a first image derived from a first ultrasonic volume is displayed. A user election of a source region of interest (ROI) in the first image is received. A destination ROI within a second ultrasonic volume is identified that at least roughly corresponds to a same locality of tissue in the breast as the source ROI. A second image derived from the second ultrasonic volume and including the destination ROI is displayed, the destination ROI being highlighted.

Abstract: Navigation among breast ultrasound volumes derived from different volumetric ultrasonic scans of a same breast is described. On a display of a breast ultrasound workstation, a first image derived from a first ultrasonic volume is displayed. A user selection of a source region of interest (ROI) in the first image is received. A destination ROI within a second ultrasonic volume is identified that at least roughly corresponds to a same locality of tissue in the breast as the source ROI. A second image derived from the second ultrasonic volume and including the destination ROI is displayed, the destination ROI being highlighted.

Abstract: Displaying breast ultrasound information on an interactive user interface is described, the user interface being useful in adjunctive ultrasound mammography environments and/or ultrasound-only mammography environments. Bilateral comparison is facilitated by a pairwise display of thick-slice images corresponding to analogous slab-like subvolumes in the left and right breasts. Coronal thick-slice imaging and convenient navigation on and among coronal thick-slice images is described. In one preferred embodiment, a nipple marker is displayed the coronal thick-slice image representing a projection of a nipple location thereupon. A convenient breast icon is also displayed including a cursor position indicator variably disposed thereon in a manner that reflects a relative position between the cursor and the nipple marker. Preferably, the breast icon is configured to at least roughly resemble a clock face, the center of the clock face representing the nipple marker location.

Abstract: Methods and related apparatuses are described for acquiring and displaying ultrasound mammographic image information. The system includes an ultrasound image acquisition device having at least one ultrasonic transducer positionable by a user on breast tissue of a patient so as to provide sonographic information of the breast tissue. A processing system controls the ultrasonic transducer, receives sonographic data from the transducer, and processes the data to generate sonographic image information for real time viewing by the user. A graphical user interface includes a touch-sensitive display programmed and configured to accept user adjustments with respect to the sonographic imaging process, and display the sonographic image information to the user responsive to the accepted adjustments in real time.

Abstract: Displaying breast ultrasound information on an interactive user interface is described, the user interface being useful in adjunctive ultrasound mammography environments and/or ultrasound-only mammography environments. Bilateral comparison is facilitated by a pairwise display of thick-slice images corresponding to analogous slab-like subvolumes in the left and right breasts. Coronal thick-slice imaging and convenient navigation on and among coronal thick-slice images is described. In one preferred embodiment, a nipple marker is displayed the coronal thick-slice image representing a projection of a nipple location thereupon. A convenient breast icon is also displayed including a cursor position indicator variably disposed thereon in a manner that reflects a relative position between the cursor and the nipple marker. Preferably, the breast icon is configured to at least roughly resemble a clock face, the center of the clock face representing the nipple marker location.

Abstract: An ultrasound information processing system comprises a plurality of ultrasound devices coupled to a high-speed serial ultrasound information bus, wherein each ultrasound device comprises a program for communicating with other ultrasound devices according to an ultrasound information exchange protocol (UIEP). The UIEP is a lightweight, connection-oriented protocol adapted to efficiently transfer ultrasound information among different devices on the ultrasound information bus. Each ultrasound device comprises an application layer program for performing an ultrasound function, as well as a lower protocol layer program for receiving and sending data across the ultrasound information bus according to a high-speed serial bus standard that provides both isochronous and asynchronous data delivery.