Abstract: According to one embodiment, a transmission processing unit transmits, to a subject via the ultrasonic probe, ultrasonic waves corresponding to a Doppler mode and remaining modes. A reception processing unit receives the ultrasonic wave reflected by the subject via the ultrasonic probe as an echo signal. An ultrasonic image generation unit generates images in the Doppler mode and the remaining modes based on the echo signal. A control unit changes a ratio of transmission of the ultrasonic wave corresponding to the Doppler mode to transmission of the ultrasonic waves corresponding to the remaining modes in accordance with a degree of a pulsatory of the subject.

Abstract: The ultrasonic diagnostic system estimates a desired time phase or one cycle period of a moving region (e.g., a heart) that repeats contraction and relaxation cyclically and which can be specified by a presystole, an end systole, a prediastole, an end diastole, and other clinical characteristics for one cycle of the moving region on the basis of the velocity information on multiple positions of the moving region which is obtained for each time phase. More specifically, assuming that, for example, the end systole phase=a time phase in which the myocardial velocity comes to zero or close to zero, the system calculates |myocardial velocity| for each time phase in a predetermined period, and estimates a time phase in which this value comes closest to zero as an end systole phase.

Abstract: Provided is a method of representing a pressure variation in an object on an image of the object. The method includes: measuring all velocity components of the object; selecting a first position on the image of the object; estimating a pressure variation between the first position and a second position that is separate from the selected first position; and displaying an estimated pressure variation on the image of the object by using a predetermined indicator.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic equipment is equipped with an ultrasound probe which transmits an ultrasound wave toward an inner part of a subject and receives the ultrasound wave reflected with a particle body in the subject and acquires a received signal to displays internal body information in the subject based on the received signal. The ultrasound diagnostic equipment includes: an acquisition section to acquire the received signal for each of ultrasound waves of which frequencies differ; an intensity ratio calculation section to calculate an intensity ratio of the ultrasound wave for each of frequencies; and a display section to display the information on the intensity ratio.

Abstract: An automatic vessel access device based on real time volumetric ultrasound is provided. The automatic vessel access device comprises a probe configured to generate a VOI image of a candidate vessel in a real time volume ultrasound scan mode, a control device coupled to the probe, and at least one motor coupled to the control device. The control device comprises at least one processing module configured to determine at least one control parameter based on the VOI image, and a driver module coupled with the at least one processing module and configured to drive the at least one motor to automatically access the candidate vessel according to the at least one control parameter.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus in which ultrasonic tomographic images can be obtained without repeating ultrasonic transmission/reception at many times while sequentially changing the direction of the ultrasonic beam.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for simulating a modal frequency response of a real-world object. The computer-implemented method includes dividing a plurality of excitation frequencies into a plurality of excitation frequency subsets, calculating modal frequency responses for at least a portion of the excitation frequencies in a given excitation frequency subset, and generating a simulation of the real-world object based at least in part on the modal frequency responses.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured to execute an imaging mode of alternately executing a continuous wave Doppler mode of acquiring time-series Doppler data by performing continuous wave transmission/reception with respect to an object and a B mode of acquiring tomogram data represented by luminance by transmitting and receiving a pulse wave to and from the object, the apparatus includes a data acquisition unit configured to acquire continuous wave Doppler data and the tomogram data by alternately executing the continuous wave Doppler mode and the B mode while switching the modes, and a display unit configured to simultaneously display Doppler spectrum information generated based on the continuous wave Doppler data and a tomogram generated based on the tomogram data.

Abstract: A method of adaptively scheduling ultrasound device actions starts with an electronic circuit included in an adaptive scheduler selecting a next task in a task list. The task list may include tasks scheduled to be performed by an ultrasound system. Each of the tasks may include a plurality of task actions. The electronic circuit may then determine if a task action included in the next task can start. This determination may include determining if the task action can be completed without interfering with a start of a higher priority task in the task list. When the electronic circuit determines that the next task action can start, the electronic circuit may signal to a beam associated with the task action to start and perform the task action. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided embodiments for providing a compound image of Doppler spectrum images corresponding to at least two sample volumes. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: a processing unit configured to form at least two Doppler spectrum images corresponding to at least two sample volumes based on ultrasound data corresponding to the at least two sample volume, the processing unit being further configured to perform an image process for forming a compound image upon the at least two Doppler spectrum images to form the compound image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating waveform parameter estimation. In accordance with one aspect, time-based waveforms are generated based on analysis planes positioned along a centerline of the vessel. A surface may be fitted to upslope regions of the waveforms to determine one or more waveform parameters based on intersection of the surface with the upslope regions.

Abstract: A region of interest which is considered to be a vascular wall of an artery is set in a B-mode image, and tracking processing is performed for each region of interest. A maximum displacement velocity Vu in a positive direction and a maximum displacement velocity Vd in a negative direction are obtained as a peak value of a displacement velocity of the vascular wall. If a first peak ratio (Vu/Vd) of a region of interest corresponding to an anterior wall is equal to or greater than a predetermined first feature threshold value (for example, 2.0) using the obtained maximum displacement velocity Vu in the positive direction and maximum displacement velocity Vd in the negative direction, it is determined that the region of interest is an artery.

Abstract: An object information obtaining apparatus according to the present invention includes a fixed signal processing unit configured to perform addition processing with a predetermined weight by using a plurality of receiving signals to obtain first distribution information, and an adaptive signal processing unit configured to perform adaptive signal processing with a weight adaptively changing according to the receiving signals by using the plurality of receiving signals to obtain second distribution information, wherein the display control unit, upon reception of information about a specified area in the image of the first distribution information input by the user in a state where the image of the first distribution information is displayed, is configured to output image information for displaying on the display unit an image of the second distribution information or the combined image for the first and second distribution information, corresponding to the specified area.

Abstract: An object information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of conversion elements configured to receive waves reflected at each position inside an object, and convert the reflected waves into a plurality of received signals, a fixed signal processing unit configured to apply addition with a predetermined weight to the plurality of received signals to acquire first distribution information, an adaptive signal processing unit configured to apply adaptive signal processing to the plurality of received signals to acquire second distribution information, and a display control unit configured to input the first distribution information and the second distribution information, and output image information to a display unit, wherein the display control unit outputs image information for displaying in parallel in the same screen an image of the first distribution information, an image of the second distribution information or a combined image of the first and second distributio

Abstract: The majority of such software attacks exploit software vulnerabilities or flaws to write data to unintended locations. For example, control-data attacks exploit buffer overflows or other vulnerabilities to overwrite a return address in the stack, a function pointer, or some other piece of control data. Non-control-data attacks exploit similar vulnerabilities to overwrite security critical data without subverting the intended control flow in the program. We describe a method for securing software against both control-data and non-control-data attacks. A static analysis is carried out to determine data flow information for a software program. Data-flow tracking instructions are formed in order to track data flow during execution or emulation of that software. Also, checking instructions are formed to check the tracked data flow against the static analysis results and thereby identify potential attacks or errors. Optional optimisations are described to reduce the resulting additional overheads.

Abstract: A first ultrasound pulse is applied to biological tissue to create shear waves in the biological tissue, a focused ultrasound pulse is transmitted into the biological tissue, one or more ultrasound signals is received from the biological tissue, and shear waves are detected in the biological tissue based on the received one or more ultrasound signals. At least one propagation property associated with the detected shear waves is determined, and the determined at least one propagation property is displayed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for realizing a synchronization image. The method includes transmitting an ultrasonic signal to an object, obtaining vector components of at least two points included in the object based on an echo signal reflected from the object, and realizing a synchronization image of the object, which indicates whether motions of the at least two points have been synchronized, by using the obtained vector component.

Abstract: A BC-mode image with an improved frame rate in an ultrasound system is formed. A transmit/receive unit forms first and second receive signals responsive to first and second control signals. An image processing unit is configured to form a B-mode image and a C-mode image based the first and second receive signals and to combine them to form a BC-mode image. The control signal generates a third control signal for a B-mode scan along scan lines, which are not within the color box to form third receive signals. The control unit repeatedly generates the second and third control signals. The image processing unit is further operable to form a B-mode image based on the third receive signals and the second signals.

Abstract: Provided is a technology which quantitatively measures blood flow in the vicinity of circulatory organs. An ultrasound image capture device according to the present invention removes an image portion corresponding to an organ shape by taking the difference of a multi-frame ultrasound image, and thereafter computes a measured value of a blood flow velocity vector on the basis of a plurality of images at different timings (as per FIG. 3).

Abstract: A device and method for ultrasonic inspection of a test object is disclosed. A plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements and electrical pulser circuits are provided for generating and transmitting electrical pulses. The device has an interface configured to communicate with a single channel ultrasonic testing unit.

Abstract: A method of providing multi spectral Doppler images, including displaying an ultrasound image of an object in a first region; setting a plurality of sample volumes in the displayed ultrasound image; obtaining a plurality of Doppler signals corresponding to the set plurality of sample volumes; and tridimensionally displaying in a second region the multi spectral Doppler images that are generated based on the obtained plurality of Doppler signals.

Abstract: Vector Doppler Imaging (VDI) improves on conventional Color Doppler Imaging (CDI) by giving speed and direction of blood flow at each pixel of a display generated by a computing system. Multiple angles of Plane wave transmissions (PWT) via an ultrasound transducer conveniently give projected Doppler measurements over a wide field of view, providing enough angular diversity to identify velocity vectors in a short time window while capturing transitory flow dynamics. A fast, aliasing-resistant velocity vector estimator for PWT is presented, and VDI imaging of a carotid artery with a 5 MHz linear array is shown using a novel synthetic particle flow visualization method.

Abstract: A peripheral region is detected by using original image data acquired by ultrasound scan. Blend processing is executed in the peripheral region such that a rate of a smoothed image increases and a rate of an original image decreases as a distance from a blood flow region increases.

Abstract: The present invention enables ultrasonic propagation time values after correction of refraction to be calculated in parallel for each receive channel, by using a recurrence relation in the depth direction. Moreover, accumulation of errors can be avoided by using an accurate propagation time value obtained in advance at a reference depth to correct the propagation time value each time the reference depth is reached. For this error correction, the recurrence relation to calculate the propagation time value can be an approximate expression. For example, the propagation time value can be calculated using the inclination of reference propagation time values between reference depths. In an actual circuit, received signals are sequentially stored in a memory, and a receive beam is formed by calculating an address position corresponding to the propagation time value of the ultrasonic wave, and adding the received signals stored in the calculated addresses.

Abstract: A method displays ultrasound color flow image data in a plurality of output frames by continuously acquiring color flow image data. Each output frame includes a plurality of scan lines that collectively represent a field of view for an ultrasound image. The method includes sequentially transmitting a plurality of ultrasound beams. For each of the transmitted beams, multiple receive beams are formed along respective parallel scan lines. As the sequence progresses, sets of co-linear receive beams are formed along each of the respective scan lines at a predetermined rate both within a particular frame and between successive frames. The method also includes processing the sets of co-linear receive beams along each of the respective scan lines to generate color flow image data corresponding to the respective scan lines, and displaying a color flow image representing the generated color flow image data.

Abstract: A tissue-image creating unit creates a tissue image including depth values by volume rendering from three-dimensional tissue data stored in a three-dimensional data storage unit. A blood-flow data converting unit scatters a blood flow in three-dimensional blood-flow data stored in the three-dimensional data storage unit into particles, and converts the three-dimensional blood-flow data into three-dimensional particle data. A blood-flow image creating unit creates a blood-flow image including depth values from the three-dimensional particle data. A composite-image creating unit then creates a composite image by coordinating the order of rendering particles and tissue based on the depth values of respective pixels included in the tissue image and the depth values of respective particles included in the blood-flow image. A display control unit then controls display of the composite image so as to be displayed in order onto a monitor included in an output unit.

Abstract: A blood vessel ultrasonic image measuring method capable of facilitating the positioning of an ultrasonic probe and acquiring sufficient positioning accuracy. Because of inclusion of an around-X-axis positioning step of causing a multiaxis driving device to position an ultrasonic probe such that distances from respective ultrasonic array probes to the center of a blood vessel are equalized, and an X-axis direction positioning step and an around-Z-axis positioning step of causing the multiaxis driving device to position the ultrasonic probe such that the image of the blood vessel is positioned at the center portion in the width direction of the first short axis image display area and the second short axis image display area, the positioning may be performed by using the positions in the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic array probes relative to the blood vessel or the distances of the ultrasonic array probes to the blood vessel.

Abstract: Methods and systems for simultaneously displaying a Doppler image, a B-mode image, and a color blood flow image are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasound system, which comprises: a signal acquiring unit to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and acquire an echo signal reflected from the object; a signal processing unit to control TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC (Lateral Gain Compensation) of the echo signal; a TGC/LGC setup unit adapted to set TGC and LGC values based on TGC and LGC curves inputted by a user; and an image producing unit adapted to produce an ultrasound image of the object based on the echo signal. The signal processing unit is further adapted to control the TGC and the LGC of the echo signal based on the TGC and LGC values set by the TGC/LGC setup unit.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus: in conjunction with change of a projection region using an operation part, changes a viewpoint to a position where a reference cross section is in front and the changed projection region is on the back; in conjunction with change of the viewpoint using the operation part, changes a region where the reference cross section is in front and the changed viewpoint is on the back to the projection region; in conjunction with change of a scanning region using the operation part, changes the viewpoint to a position where the reference cross section is in front and the changed scanning region is on the back; in conjunction with change of the viewpoint using the operation part, changes the scanning region to a region where the reference cross section is in front and the viewpoint is on the back; and then executes rendering.

Abstract: A method and system uniquely capable of generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy. Several embodiments of the method and system contemplates the use of unfocused, focused, or defocused acoustic energy at variable spatial and/or temporal energy settings, in the range of about 1 kHz-100 MHz, and at variable tissue depths. The unique ability to customize acoustic energy output and target a particular region of interest makes possible highly accurate and precise thermal bubble formation. In an embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy. In other embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other energy forms, such radio frequency electric currents (including monopolar and bipolar radio-frequency current). In an embodiment, the energy is various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling.

Abstract: A method of displaying an ultrasound image may improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis by enabling a user to recognize an accurate direction of a bloodstream. The method includes: obtaining first Doppler data that is generated by transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving an echo signal reflected from the object by using a probe; displaying a sound source marker at a first position on a screen; and generating and displaying a first color Doppler image from the first Doppler data in consideration of the first position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for treatment of an organ or tissue of a living being. The device comprises at least one treatment transducer for emission of ultrasound waves, preferably high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) waves, focusable on a focal point within or on the surface of said organ or tissue, as well as means for rotating said treatment transducer around an axis which intersects said focal point. The device further comprises synchronization means for synchronizing the rotation of the treatment transducer with at least the emission of ultrasound waves from said treatment transducer and/or an additional imaging transducer.

Abstract: An object information acquisition apparatus includes a holding member, a probe unit, a transducer, a housing, an opposing member, and a separating member. The holding member holds an object. The probe unit scans with respect to the holding member and includes a housing and a transducer positioned to form a space between the transducer and the holding member. The transducer receives an acoustic wave from the object through the holding member and is housed in the housing. The opposing member is provided at an upper position relative to an area that is scannable with the probe unit. The separating member is provided in at least one of the probe unit and the opposing member and having a shape that is changeable. The separating member reduces spreading of a matching liquid that has flowed onto the housing from the space between the transducer and the holding member.

Abstract: A mitral valve is detected in transthoracic echocardiography. The ultrasound transducer is positioned against the chest of the patient rather than being inserted within the patient. While data acquired from such scanning may be noisier or have less resolution, the mitral valve may still be automatically detected. Using both B-mode data representing tissue as well as flow data representing the regurgitant jet, the mitral valve may be detected automatically with a machine-learnt classifier. A series of classifiers may be used, such as determining a position and orientation of a valve region with one classifier, determining a regurgitant orifice with another classifier, and locating mitral valve anatomy with a third classifier. One or more features for some of the classifiers may be calculated based on the orientation of the valve region.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for ultrasound diagnostics using spread spectrum, coherent, frequency- and/or phase-coded waveforms.

Abstract: Responsive power saving is provided for ultrasound imaging, such as in portable ultrasound systems. By reducing scan line density in response to removal of a transducer from a patient, power usage may be reduced while still monitoring for return of the transducer to the patient. By disabling the display, power usage may be reduced while still monitoring for return of the transducer to the patient. All or most electronics not associated with monitoring for the return of the transducer to the patient may be disabled or not used to conserve power.

Abstract: Flow estimation is provided. The flow is predicted. A mathematical, logic, machine learning or other model is used to predict flow. For example, the boundary conditions associated with a previous flow, the previous flow, and current boundary conditions are used to predict the current flow. The current flow is corrected using the predicted flow. Velocities may be unaliased based on the predicted flow. The predicted flow may replace the current flow. Prediction may additionally or alternatively be used in determination of lateral or elevational flow.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits and receives an ultrasound wave to and from a subject; a first image data generating unit that generates first image data based on a first parameter, from a reception signal received by the transmitting and receiving unit; a second image data generating unit that generates second image data having an image taking region of which at least a part overlaps with that of the first image data and being based on a second parameter that is different from the first parameter, from a reception signal received by the transmitting and receiving unit; and an image processing unit that calculates a feature amount from at least such a part of the second image data that overlaps with the first image data and corrects the overlapping part of the first image data on a basis of the calculated feature amount.

Abstract: A system and method for quantitative determination of density of vasa vasorum in an arterial wall that utilizes a detection of temporal and/or spatial displacement of blood-flow with the use of intravascular ultrasound system. Locations of extrema in the spatial distribution can be identified to detect vascular defects. The system and method support a clinically-useful application for early detection of indicators of diseases, such as coronary atherosclerosis.

Abstract: Gap filling is provided in spectral Doppler ultrasound. Due to the cyclical nature of the cardiac system, data likely to be similar to data that would have been acquired without interleaving is copied into the gap generated by interleaving. Acquired data associated with the gap, such as adjacent to the gap, is correlated with other acquired data. By identifying similar data, acquired data temporally related to the similar data as the gap associated data is temporally related to the gap is found. This found data is likely to be similar to data that would have been acquired during the gap. The gap is filled with a copy of this data.

Abstract: The present invention obtains certainty of the blood-flow velocity information that is estimated in the blood-flow mapping display. The signal processor in the ultrasound imager is provided with a Doppler velocity operation part configured to calculate a Doppler velocity from echo signals by using the Doppler effect, and a first blood-flow velocity operation part configured to generate a tissue tomographic image from the echo signals and calculate a blood-flow velocity of a predetermined portion from a motion of the tissue, on the basis of the tissue tomographic image. It is further provided with a second blood-flow velocity operation part configured to calculate the blood-flow velocity of the predetermined portion by using the Doppler velocity calculated by the Doppler velocity operation part.

Abstract: Feedback of position is provided for high intensity focused ultrasound. The location of a beam from a HIFU transducer is determined using ultrasound imaging. The ultrasound imaging detects tissue displacement caused by a beam transmitted from the HIFU transducer. The displacement or information derived from the displacement may be used to determine a center line or point location (e.g., foci) of the tissues response to HIFU. The location of the line or point may be displayed in an image, such as an overlay or by color coding.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a fastening part having a band shape and wound around a diagnosis object, and a mover moving a probe along the fastening part.

Abstract: Systems and methods of optimal pulse compression are described. A method of determining an optimal pulse takes as an input a function of the impulse response of a transducer and produces a pulse optimized for transmission through that transducer. Images then produced with that transducer will have both superior range and spatial resolution.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe, from which heat generated in an integrated circuit which is bonded to a cMUT is released, is provided. The ultrasonic probe includes a transducer which is configured to generate ultrasound radiation, an integrated circuit which is installed on the rear surface of the transducer, a printed circuit board which is installed on the rear surface of the integrated circuit and has an opening via which the rear surface of the integrated circuit is at least partially exposed, a heat spreader which has a protrusion inserted into the opening of the printed circuit board and is configured to absorb heat generated in the integrated circuit, and a heat dissipation module which is configured to release heat absorbed by the heat spreader to the outside.

Abstract: A system and method for real-time quantitative analysis of heart wall motion is provided. A Doppler imaging system is used to monitor the movement of a heart, or other organ. A B-mode reference image of the target organ is made and then a region-of-interest is defined through the use of a gate. Then pulsed wave spectral tissue Doppler data of the region-of-interest is formed and used to determine the velocity of a region of the target organ. The system may be used for determining appropriate biventricular pacemaker settings for patients suffering from heart disease.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound image acquirer, an evaluation target determiner, a disease progression score calculator, a selector, and a display controller. The ultrasound image acquirer acquires ultrasound image signals of a plurality of frames. The evaluation target determiner analyzes the ultrasound image signal of each frame and determines the frame to be an evaluation target frame when the ultrasound image signal includes a target image section depicting a joint. The disease progression score calculator calculates, for each evaluation target frame, a disease progression score quantifying disease activity using an ultrasound image signal of the target image section included in the ultrasound image signal of the evaluation target frame. The selector selects at least one disease progression score in accordance with a predetermined numerical process.

Abstract: A system monitors and characterizes internal elasticity of a blood vessel to detect abnormality. A catheter system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection, comprises an ultrasound device for emitting ultrasound wave signals within patient anatomy and acquiring corresponding ultrasound echo signals. A signal processor processes the ultrasound echo signals to, determine a signal indicating displacement of a tissue wall over at least one heart cycle and identify a displacement value in the displacement signal. The displacement value indicates a tissue wall displacement occurring at a point within a heart cycle. A comparator compares the tissue wall displacement value with a threshold value to provide a comparison indicator. A patient monitor, in response to the comparison indicator indicating the tissue wall displacement value exceeds the threshold value, generates an alert message associated with the threshold.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system that includes an ultrasound receiver configured to receive ultrasound signals scattered from a sample in real time; an acoustic beam former; and an ultrasound data demodulation system. In one embodiment, the ultrasound imaging system further includes a processing system configured to process demodulated scan data and perform ultrasound image generation and flow processing and a display configured to show ultrasound image data and blood flow velocity data relative to such image data. Signals that include positive flow information and negative flow information are separated from received signals using phase-filters and analytic signal transforms such that a first and a second autocorrelation signal processing stage is used to generate mean positive flow, mean negative flow, and variance data for such flows.