Abstract: An endoscope including a handle or interface; and an insertion cord configured to be inserted into a patient's body cavity and including a distal tip; the distal tip including a distal tip housing and a camera module configured to be inserted into and accommodated in the distal tip housing; the distal tip housing including a tubular wall portion having an inner wall surface, an outer wall surface and a wall thickness, wherein the tubular wall portion comprises at least one bulged portion of increased wall thickness, the at least one bulged portion being formed on the outer wall surface in an area, where on the inner wall surface the camera module is arranged.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (102) includes a touch screen user interface (122) and a touch screen controller (148). The touch screen user interface includes a touch panel (124). The touch panel includes a plurality of different clusters (510-522) of controls including a first cluster (512) in first sub-region and with a tactile control and one or more other cluster (510 and 514-522) in one or more other different sub-regions and with soft controls. The touch screen controller visually renders the one or more other clusters in the one or more different sub-regions spatially arranged with respect to each other based on a predetermined control cluster configuration for the touch screen user interface. The one or more other clusters include controls that correspond to different groupings of ultrasound imaging operations of the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: An instrument guide (334) is attachable to an ultrasound imaging probe (304) to guide a needle. The instrument guide comprises a length (404), a width (406) and a height (408), a coupler (336) configured to couple the instrument guide to the ultrasound imaging probe, and a single elongate needle guide slot (410) configured to guide placement of the needle for an ultrasound-guided procedure. In another instance, the instrument guide is attached to the probe via a coupler (336). A method includes attaching a needle guide to an ultrasound imaging probe, wherein the needle guide includes a single elongate needle guide slot configured to guide placement of a needle during an ultrasound-guided needle placement procedure, positioning the probe relative to tissue of interest, and placing a needle at the tissue of interest using the needle guide.

Abstract: A system (502) includes an elongate ultrasound imaging probe (504) with a long axis and a top side that extends along the long axis. The elongate ultrasound imaging probe includes an elongate tubular handle (606; 1606), a head (1608), an elongate tubular shaft (608; 1610) between the elongate tubular handle and the head, and a transducer array (514) disposed in the head and configured to transmit in a sagittal plane, which is a plane that cuts through the long axis of the elongate tubular shaft, only in a direction extending out from the top side. The elongate tubular handle is both not centered on the elongate tubular shaft and not shifted down in the sagittal plane away from the top.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal from a first touch screen control in response to invocation of the first touch screen control. The first touch screen control is a control from a first cluster of touch screen controls of a plurality of different clusters of touch screen controls of an ultrasound imaging system touch screen user interface. The method further includes identifying a type of the first touch screen control based on the signal. The method further includes obtaining a control configuration for the touch screen controls based on the type of control. The method further includes constructing a control layout for the touch screen user interface based on the configuration. The method further includes visually rendering the control layout via the touch screen user interface.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a console (132) of an ultrasound imaging system (102), a first signal indicative of actuation of a touch control (128) of a touch screen user interface (122) of the ultrasound imaging system, wherein the touch control is one of a plurality of different touch controls of the ultrasound imaging system. The method further includes identifying, with a processor of the ultrasound imaging system, the touch control from the plurality of different touch controls based on the first signal. The method further includes identifying, with the processor of the ultrasound imaging system, a graphic representation of the touch control based on the identification of the touch control. The method further includes visually displaying, with the processor of the ultrasound imaging system, the graphic representation on a display monitor concurrently with displaying an image.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a transducer array with at least one transducer element. The system further includes an echo processor that processes ultrasound echo signals received by at least one transducer element, producing an image of scanned tissue of interest. The system further includes memory that stores a plurality of 3D pictogram, each representing different anatomical regions of a subject. The system further includes a pictogram processor that identifies a 3D pictogram of the plurality of 3D pictogram corresponding to the scanned tissue of interest. The 3D pictogram includes a 3D pictorial representation of an anatomical region including the scanned tissue of interest. The system further includes a display monitor. The system further includes a rendering engine that displays the image and the 3D pictogram via the display monitor. The 3D pictogram is overlaid over a pictogram region of the displayed image.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal from a first touch screen control in response to invocation of the first touch screen control. The first touch screen control is a control from a first cluster of touch screen controls of a plurality of different clusters of touch screen controls of an ultrasound imaging system touch screen user interface. The method further includes identifying a type of the first touch screen control based on the signal. The method further includes obtaining a control configuration for the touch screen controls based on the type of control. The method further includes constructing a control layout for the touch screen user interface based on the configuration. The method further includes visually rendering the control layout via the touch screen user interface.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (102) includes a touch screen user interface (122) and a touch screen controller (148). The touch screen user interface includes a touch panel (124). The touch panel includes a plurality of different clusters (510-522) of controls including a first cluster (512) in first sub-region and with a tactile control and one or more other cluster (510 and 514-522) in one or more other different sub-regions and with soft controls. The touch screen controller visually renders the one or more other clusters in the one or more different sub-regions spatially arranged with respect to each other based on a predetermined control cluster configuration for the touch screen user interface. The one or more other clusters include controls that correspond to different groupings of ultrasound imaging operations of the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (102) includes a probe (104) with a transducer array (106) with at least one transducer element (108). The ultrasound imaging system further includes a console (112) with a controller (124) and an echo processor. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a display monitor (122). The ultrasound imaging system further includes a touch screen user interface (128), including: a touch panel (130) with a first major surface (402, 1402) and a first recess (408, 1408) in the first major surface; and at least one touch sensitive control (134) disposed in the recess. A method includes sensing a first physical contact with a touch control recessed in a surface of a touch screen user interface, generating a signal indicative of the gesture, sensing a second physical contact with the touch control recessed in the surface of the touch screen user interface, and performing a predetermined action based on the first and second physical contact.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a console (132) of an ultrasound imaging system (102), a first signal indicative of actuation of a touch control (128) of a touch screen user interface (122) of the ultrasound imaging system, wherein the touch control is one of a plurality of different touch controls of the ultrasound imaging system. The method further includes identifying, with a processor of the ultrasound imaging system, the touch control from the plurality of different touch controls based on the first signal. The method further includes identifying, with the processor of the ultrasound imaging system, a graphic representation of the touch control based on the identification of the touch control. The method further includes visually displaying, with the processor of the ultrasound imaging system, the graphic representation on a display monitor concurrently with displaying an image.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a probe with a transducer array with at least one transducer element that transmits ultrasound signal and receives echo signals produced in response thereto. The system further includes a console with a controller that controls the at least one element to transmit the ultrasound signals and receive the echo signals, and an echo processor that processes the received echoes and generates images indicative thereof. The system further includes a user interface with at least one control for interacting with the console. The user interface includes at least one recessed physical feature that facilitates identifying, through sense of touch, an operation activated by the at least one control.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a transducer array with at least one transducer element. The system further includes an echo processor that processes ultrasound echo signals received by at least one transducer element, producing an image of scanned tissue of interest. The system further includes memory that stores a plurality of 3D pictogram, each representing different anatomical regions of a subject. The system further includes a pictogram processor that identifies a 3D pictogram of the plurality of 3D pictogram corresponding to the scanned tissue of interest. The 3D pictogram includes a 3D pictorial representation of an anatomical region including the scanned tissue of interest. The system further includes a display monitor. The system further includes a rendering engine that displays the image and the 3D pictogram via the display monitor. The 3D pictogram is overlaid over a pictogram region of the displayed image.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a console and a key pad. The console includes a two dimensional display region having a vertical dimension and a horizontal dimension, wherein the horizontal dimension is smaller than the vertical dimension. The display region includes an upper portion configured to display image data and a lower portion configured to display, concurrently with displaying the image data in the upper portion, a touch screen menu including a set of soft controls that are respectively configured to control a secondary set of ultrasound imaging functions. The key pad includes a set of physical controls that are respectively configured to control a primary set of ultrasound imaging functions, wherein the key pad has a width that is less than a width of the console. In one embodiment, the key pad is hermetically sealed, and is easily cleanable, disinfectable and/or sterilizable.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a probe with a transducer array with at least one transducer element that transmits ultrasound signal and receives echo signals produced in response thereto. The system further includes a console with a controller that controls the at least one element to transmit the ultrasound signals and receive the echo signals, and an echo processor that processes the received echoes and generates images indicative thereof. The system further includes a user interface with at least one control for interacting with the console. The user interface includes at least one recessed physical feature that facilitates identifying, through sense of touch, an operation activated by the at least one control.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a console and a key pad. The console includes a two dimensional display region having a vertical dimension and a horizontal dimension, wherein the horizontal dimension is smaller than the vertical dimension. The display region includes an upper portion configured to display image data and a lower portion configured to display, concurrently with displaying the image data in the upper portion, a touch screen menu including a set of soft controls that are respectively configured to control a secondary set of ultrasound imaging functions. The key pad includes a set of physical controls that are respectively configured to control a primary set of ultrasound imaging functions, wherein the key pad has a width that is less than a width of the console. In one embodiment, the key pad is hermetically sealed, and is easily cleanable, disinfectable and/or sterilizable.