Abstract: The method of one embodiment for multi-grid tomographic inversion tissue imaging comprises receiving acoustic waveform data characterizing a volume of tissue, determining and refining models of the distributions of a first and second acoustomechanical parameter within the volume of tissue using a series of grids with progressively finer discretization levels, and generating an image based on at least one of the refined models of the first and second acoustomechanical parameters.

Abstract: An ultrasonic observation apparatus includes: a reference spectrum storage unit that stores a first reference spectrum in a first reception depth range and a second reference spectrum in a second reception depth range obtained based on a frequency of an ultrasonic wave received from a reference reflector; a frequency analyzer that calculates a frequency spectrum by analyzing a frequency of the received ultrasonic wave; and a corrected frequency spectrum calculator that calculates a corrected frequency spectrum by determining whether a reception depth of the frequency spectrum calculated by the frequency analyzer is the first reception depth range or the second reception depth range, and obtaining a difference, in a case of the first reception depth range, between the first reference spectrum and the frequency spectrum and a difference, in a case of the second reception depth range, between the second reference spectrum and the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A medical device is configured to diagnose whether a nodule of a bodily organ is malignant or benign using ultrasound elastography to determine a nodule stiffness index. Using either an external compression source or an in vivo pulsation source, the stiffness of the nodule of the bodily organ can be quantified by either its static properties or dynamic properties. The nodule can be classified as Type I, which is benign requiring further observation, or Type II, which is malignant requiring invasive procedures.

Abstract: Actual ultrasound attenuation in tissue is used to calculate gain compensation profiles which are used to create a uniform image. Axial, lateral, elevation gain profiles are used to correct the attenuation and ultrasound variation in each direction. In addition, automatic activation of the automatic gain compensation is described.

Abstract: An ultrasonic observation apparatus is provided with a signal amplifier which amplifies a signal of an ultrasonic wave received from a sample with an amplification factor according to a receiving depth in order to use the signal in generating a B-mode image, a B-mode image data generator which generates B-mode image data in which the amplitude of the signal of the ultrasonic wave amplified by the signal amplifier is converted into brightness for display, an amplification corrector which performs correction to cancel the influence of the amplification by the signal amplifier in order to make the amplification factor constant with respect to the signal of the ultrasonic wave amplified by the signal amplifier regardless of the receiving depth, a frequency analyzer which calculates a frequency spectrum by analyzing the frequency of the signal of the ultrasonic wave corrected by the amplification corrector, and a feature data extractor which extracts feature data of the sample by performing an approximation proces

Abstract: To obtain ambient sound velocity of a subject with high accuracy in a ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus. In an ambient sound velocity obtaining method that transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe, receives reflected waves reflected by a subject to obtain received signals, performs a receive focusing process on the received signals using receive delay times based on a plurality of sound velocity settings to obtain in-phase sum signals with respect to each sound velocity setting, and obtains an ambient sound velocity of the subject based on the in-phase sum signals with respect to each sound velocity setting, the in-phase sum signals with respect to each sound velocity setting is separated into an in-phase sum signal corresponding to a boundary portion in the subject and an in-phase sum signal corresponding to portions other than the boundary portion, an index is obtained based on at least either one of the in-phase sum signals, and the ambient sound velocity is obtained based on the index.

Abstract: A system and method for performing an ultrasound may include generating a set of continuous tone signals for injection into an object. A corresponding set of reflected tone signals in the frequency domain may be received The set of reflected tone signals may be converted from the frequency domain to the time domain to create a set of time domain signals. At least one region of interest may be identified from the set of time domain signals. A window may be defined around the identified region of interest in the set of time domain signals. The windowed time domain signals may be converted from the time domain to the frequency domain to create a set of windowed frequency domain signals. At least one characteristic parameter may be calculated from the set of windowed frequency domain signals. Information may be output based on the calculate at least one characteristic parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus including: a unit for analyzing a frequency of the received ultrasonic wave; a unit to extract feature data of the frequency spectrum by performing an approximation to the calculated-frequency spectrum; a storage to store feature data of a frequency spectrum extracted based upon the ultrasonic wave reflected from plural specimens, and to store the specimens as being classified into groups; a unit to calculate a degree of association between the extracted feature data and each group by using a statistics of a population including at least the feature data of each group; a unit to allow the degree of association of the specimen to each group to correspond to different color components, and to generate ultrasonic image data by using a parameter formed by combining the different color components, based upon the calculation result; and a display to display the image corresponding to the ultrasonic image data.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes a frequency analyzing unit that analyzes frequencies of received ultrasonic sound waves and calculates a frequency spectrum; a feature data extracting unit that performs approximation and correction of the frequency spectrum so that there is a decrease in the contribution of attenuation, and extracts feature data of the specimen; a storing unit used to store feature data of frequency spectrums, each being extracted based on ultrasonic sound waves reflected from one of a plurality of known specimens, and tissue characterizations of the known specimens in a corresponding manner; and a tissue characterization determining unit that determines tissue characterization of a predetermined area of the specimen by referring to feature data, which is stored by the memory unit in a corresponding manner to the tissue characterizations of the plurality of known specimens, and by referring to the feature data extracted by the feature data extracting unit.

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: The surgical operation system includes a treatment section for treating a living tissue of a treatment target; an ultrasound generation section for providing ultrasound to the treatment section; an ultrasound drive power supply section for supplying ultrasound drive power to generate ultrasound to the ultrasound generation section; a high-frequency power supply section for supplying high-frequency power to the treatment section; an impedance detection section for detecting the impedance of the ultrasound provided to the living tissue and the impedance of the high-frequency power supplied to the living tissue; and a control section for controlling the ultrasound energy amount and the amount of high-frequency power or a crest factor value thereof in response to the detected impedance values of ultrasound and high-frequency wave.

Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to a method of correcting attenuation in a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner and a positron emission tomography (PET) unit. The method includes acquiring PET sinogram data of an object within a field of view of the PET unit. The method further includes producing an attenuation map based on a maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) of a parameterized model instance and the PET sinogram data.

Abstract: An ultrasonograph contains a probe provided with a transmitting/receiving ultrasonic transducer at the center thereof, and the probe has a transmitting ultrasonic transducer and a receiving ultrasonic transducer which are symmetrically movable with respect to the transmitting/receiving ultrasonic transducer. Contacting the probe with the skin of a diagnosis area, a direction of the probe is adjusted to be perpendicular to the diagnosis object using echo signals of the transducer. Then the echo signals of the transmitting ultrasonic transducer and the transmitting/receiving ultrasonic transducer, and a distance between the ultrasonic transducers are processed to obtain a signal intensity. Results are displayed on a display to indicate the thickness, hardness of an articular cartilage, and a surface condition thereof visually so that it is possible to diagnose the articular cartilage without inserting a probe into the cavitas articulare.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured to appropriately display a region of interest that is intended to be observed in a 3-dimensional elastic image, and also provided is an ultrasonic image display method. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an elastic opacity table creating section for creating, on the basis of the elasticity values, an elastic opacity table used for setting an opacity in the volume rendering of the elastic volume data.

Abstract: An ultrasound machine processes ultrasonic data according to acoustoelastic properties of the materials to obtain strain information without specific assumptions with respect to the material properties of the measured material or a variety of different material properties normally not obtained by ultrasound machines.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining a condition of a selected region of epithelial tissue. At least two current-passing electrodes are located in contact with a first surface of the selected region of the tissue. A plurality of measuring electrodes are located in contact with the first surface of the selected region of tissue as well. Electropotential and impedance are measured at one or more locations. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological characteristics. The condition of the tissue is determined based on the electropotential and impedance profile at different depths of the epithelium, tissue, or organ, together with an estimate of the functional changes in the epithelium due to altered ion transport and electrophysiological properties of the tissue.

Abstract: A needle electrode deployment shaft includes a central member and a plurality of needle electrodes. The central member has a plurality of needle advancement channels formed therein. The needle electrodes are disposed within the advancement channels and each advancement channel terminates in a ramp portion which deflects the needles radially outwardly as they are axially advanced. The ramps may be spirally or acutely configured in order to increase the distance through which the needles may be bent as they are axially advanced. Additionally, the central member may have a radially reduced distal tip in order to decrease tissue insertion forces.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a condition of a selected region of epithelial tissue and/or an organ in a body as well as to diagnose disease, susceptibility, premalignancy or cancer and to measure response to therapy, introduction of a drug and to assess the margins of a tumor or resection. The methods utilize through the tissue or organ electrical measurements with alternating current applied using one or more surface or internal electrodes and measuring the electrical response using one or more surface electrodes, preferably in combination with one or more electrodes in direct or indirect contact with epithelium comprising the organ or tissue under test. The methods are also useful in combination with DC measurements on the surface of the organ or tissue under test. Measurement of impedance, admittance, electropotential and dielectric properties is particularly useful, particularly as a function of frequency and position on and in the tissue or organ.

Abstract: Methods for imaging the internal structures of an object using an acoustic wave field are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method of imaging internals of a physical object using acoustic waves may include transmitting an acoustic wave field toward the object, receiving a resultant acoustic wave field with a receiver, where the resultant acoustic wave field is in response to the transmitted acoustic wave field reflected from or transmitted through the object, and determining a predicted resultant acoustic wave field derived from a model of the object. The method may also include determining a residual between the predicted resultant acoustic wave field and the resultant acoustic wave field, and back propagating the residual to determine corrections to the model of the object. In another aspect, the above recited steps may be further iterated to successively refine the model of the object over a number of iterations until a predefined condition is reached.

Abstract: A method for automatic image optimization in ultrasound imaging of an object is provided. The method includes transmitting a first ultrasound signal into the object, wherein the signal has a plurality of first signal parameters. The method also includes receiving a first set of electrical signals representing reflections of the first ultrasound signals from the object and processing the first set of electrical signals into a first image. The method evaluates an image quality cost function for the first image to produce a first image quality metric and determines a second plurality of signal parameters based upon the first image quality metric. Similarly, the method includes transmitting a second ultrasound signal into the object, wherein the signal has the second plurality of signal parameters and receiving a second set of electrical signals representing reflections of the second ultrasound signal from the object and processing the second set of electrical signals into a second image.

Abstract: Strain is directly estimated in ultrasound elasticity imaging without computing displacement or resorting to spectral analysis. Conventional ultrasound elasticity imaging relies on calculating displacement and strain is computed from a derivative of the displacement. However, for typical parameter values used in ultrasound elasticity imaging, the displacement can be as large as a hundred times or displacement differences. If a tiny error in the calculation of displacement occurs, this could drastically affect the calculation of strain. By directly estimating strain, image quality is enhanced and the reduction in computational effort facilitates commercialization to aid in diagnosing disease or cancerous conditions.

Abstract: A method for measuring at least one property of biological tissue, including: positioning an ultrasonic transducer opposite the biological tissue to be measured; generating an ultrasonic signal within the biological tissue; acquiring at least one ultrasonic signal reflected by the biological tissue; determining at least one parameter of the biological tissue using the acquisition of the ultrasonic signal reflected by the biological tissue, the at least one parameter being representative of the biological tissue; comparing the at least one parameter of the biological tissue with at least one reference parameter of a target biological tissue so as to confirm the hypothesis of the presence of the target biological tissue opposite the ultrasonic transducer; and determining at least one property of the biological tissue on the basis of the result of the comparison. The method can be directly used in the field of humans or animals.

Abstract: A method for determining a shear modulus of an elastic material with a known density value is provided. In this method, a spatially modulated acoustic radiation force is used to initially generate a disturbance of known spatial frequency or wavelength. The propagation of this initial displacement as a shear wave is measured using ultrasound tracking methods. A temporal frequency is determined based on the shear wave. The shear modulus of the elastic material at the point of excitation may be calculated using the values of the spatial wavelength, material density, and temporal frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus providing a map of an interest index. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a calculating unit for calculating a mechanical index (MI) corresponding to a depth value in a direction in which ultrasound travels from an ultrasound output part of a transmission transducer; a visualization unit for generating an MI map in which a relationship between the calculated MI and the depth value is visualized in the form of a graph; and a display unit for displaying the MI map.

Abstract: A contact force sensor is used to detect an instantaneous contact force for an ultrasound probe while an ultrasound image is obtained. The contact force can be used to evaluate tissue deformation in response to the applied force, which permits enhanced imaging such as estimation of undeformed tissue shapes and a determination of tissue elasticity.

Abstract: A clinical apparatus includes an ultrasound transducer having at least one oscillator, a transmitter circuit which supplies drive signals to the oscillator of the ultrasound transducer, a receiver circuit which receives echo signals outputted from the oscillator of the ultrasound transducer and which performs phase matching processing on the echo signals, and a data processor which yields superimposed echo signals by superimposing plural beams generated in different directions, where the plural beams are generated by performing at least one of (i) a mechanical scan, (ii) transmission and reception of steered beams in the different directions, and (iii) aperture synthesis in the different directions with respect to the received echo signals.

Abstract: Ultrasound aberration, especially in transcranial imaging or therapy, is corrected by capturing the laterally two-dimensional nature of the aberration in the ultrasound being received, as by means of a two-dimensional receiving transducer array (104, 108). In some embodiments, transmissive ultrasound (164) is applied through the temporal window and is, for example, emitted from one or more real or virtual point sources (160) at a time, each point source being a single transducer element or patch or the geometrical focus of a collection of elements or patches. A patch may serve, in one aspect as a small focused transducer in the near field. A contralateral array (104, 108) is, in one version, comprised of the point sources.

Abstract: A method for the assessment of various properties of bone is provided. The method includes applying a pair of ultrasound transducers to skin on opposite sides of the bone and generating an ultrasound signal and directing the signal through both the bone to obtain a bone output signal. The method further includes establishing a set of parameters associated with the bone output signal and then further processing the parameters in order to obtain the desired bone property. Two novel parameters are also disclosed, namely the net time delay (NTD) and mean time duration (MTD) parameters. An apparatus for the assessment of various properties of bone is also provided. The apparatus includes a pair of ultrasound transducers which may be single-element transducers or array transducers in any combination. The apparatus further includes various computer hardware components and computer software for generating and directing the ultrasound signal, establishing the parameter set and performing the processing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis device having a data collector that collects ultrasonic image data, obtained by scanning a predetermined site of a sample periodically moving, a strain gauge setting unit that sets a predetermined number of strain gauges which includes a plurality of segments connecting two end points one or more middle points existing between the end points in the interesting area, a motion vector information generator that generates motion vector information of the tissue including at least the strain gauges, an image generator that sets a predetermined number of strain gauges in the ultrasonic image data at different time phases during the period and generates a strain gauge image in which the strain gauges are overlapped at a corresponding position, by the use of a tracking process using the set strain gauges and the motion vector information of the tissue, and a display that displays the strain gauge image.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which degradation in calculation accuracy and increase in calculation time can be prevented while an ultrasonic image with high resolving power is generated by using appropriate acoustic velocities for respective regions within an object. The apparatus includes: a transmitting and receiving unit for processing reception signals; a reception control unit for performing focusing processing based on acoustic velocity values to generate a sound ray signal; an image generating unit for generating an image signal based on the sound ray signal; a focusing determining unit for determining a degree of beam focusing in the focusing processing with respect to plural first regions; and an acoustic velocity value correcting unit for obtaining acoustic velocity values with respect to the plural first regions and further obtaining acoustic velocity values with respect to plural second regions segmented in smaller regions than the plural first regions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a probe and a device for detecting abnormality of an intervertebral disc. More particularly, the present invention relates to a probe and a device for detecting abnormality of an intervertebral disc that gives vibration stimulation to the inner part of the intervertebral disc and obtains an ultrasonic image in order to sense the abnormality of the intervertebral disc causing discogenic pains and inspects whether the intervertebral disc is abnormal by measuring impedance in the intervertebral disc. The present invention provides a probe for detecting abnormality of an intervertebral disc including: a shaft connector; a vibration generator connected to the shaft connector; and an inspector connected to the vibration generator, wherein the vibration generator vibrates the inspector by using a piezoelectric element and a device for detecting abnormality of an intervertebral disc.

Abstract: Highly specific measurements of flow in vessels, such as the coronary artery, can be obtained by processing cubic fundamental information. By showing flow in vessels with a high degree of contrast-to-tissue specificity, ultrasound based 3D contrast agent based coronary artery angiograms may be possible. Measurement and display of the velocity of agent from the cubic fundamental signal is provided simultaneously with display of cubic fundamental energy, such as providing a display map indexed by both energy and velocity. High pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for cubic fundamental detection in conjunction with long velocity measurement intervals may increase low velocity sensitivity and measurement precision. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler may be improved by using a cubic fundamental sensitive pulse sequence.

Abstract: A system for evaluating health, wellness and fitness, and in particular, to a system that uses an ultrasound transducer to accurately measure fat thickness at a plurality of sites on the human body, records these measurements for long term monitoring, and based on the plurality of measurements calculates the total body composition. The system includes a central control unit to analyze the measurement and display the results in a variety of formats.

Abstract: The characterization of tissue viscoelastic properties requires the measurement of tissue displacements over a region of interest at frequencies that exceed significantly the frame rates of conventional medical imaging devices. The present invention involves using bandpass sampling to track high-frequency tissue displacements. With this approach, high frequency signals limited to a frequency bandwidth can be sampled and reconstructed without aliasing at a sampling frequency that is lower than the Nyquist rate. With bandpass sampling, it is feasible to use conventional beam-forming on diagnostic ultrasound machines to perform high frequency dynamic elastography. The method is simple to implement as it does not require beam interleaving, additional hardware or synchronization and can be applied to magnetic resonance elastography.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to receive a plurality of samples of an ultrasound beam, each of the plurality of samples associated with a tissue depth, determine, for each of a plurality of candidate depths, a difference between the sum of each of the plurality of samples which is associated with a tissue depth from the candidate depth to a predetermined distance below the candidate depth, and the sum of each of the plurality of samples which is associated with a tissue depth from the candidate depth to the predetermined distance above the candidate depth, determine the largest determined difference, and determine the one of the plurality of candidate depths associated with the largest determined difference.

Abstract: Reduction of motion artifacts from flexible transducers are provided in ultrasound imaging. Temporal and/or amplitude modulation of an acoustic radiation force impulse pushing pulse may be designed to control the motion of a moveable transducer. The motion may be controlled to stabilize the transducer in one position or in a predictable (e.g. linear) movement in order to better estimate tissue displacement. Reduced motion artifact may be provided with transmitted waveforms requiring less time and power than required of a brute force approach. For example, pre-loading transmissions may not be provided. As another example, pre-loading transmissions may require less than 10 ms.

Abstract: A method and system for providing ultrasound treatment to a deep tissue that contains a lower part of dermis and proximal protrusions of fat lobuli into the dermis. The invention delivers ultrasound energy to the region creating a thermal injury and coagulating the proximal protrusions of fat lobuli, whereby eliminating the fat protrusions into the dermis. The invention can also include ultrasound imaging configurations using the same or a separate probe before, after or during the treatment. In addition various therapeutic levels of ultrasound can be used to increase the speed at which fat metabolizes. Additionally the mechanical action of ultrasound physically breaks fat cell clusters and stretches the fibrous bonds. Mechanical action will also enhance lymphatic drainage, stimulating the evacuation of fat decay products.

Abstract: A probe device is for performing a bone density measurement is disclosed. The device comprises at least one ultrasound source for providing ultrasonic pulses; a plurality of ultrasound detectors for measuring the differences in arrival times of said ultrasonic pulses; at least one dedicated data processing element adapted for determining differences in arrival times of ultrasonic pulses; means for transferring data from said at least one measurement transducer to said at least one dedicated data processing element; and communication means adapted to transmit data from said dedicated data processing element to a non-dedicated computing means. Unlike systems known in the art, the measurements of the times of arrival of the ultrasonic pulses are performed within the probe itself, obviating the need for a dedicated computer system or measurement card.

Abstract: Ultrasound data of a biological tissue is acquired in a relaxed state and a tensed state. A strain is estimated directly from the relaxed state ultrasound data and the tensed state ultrasound data by way of an imaginary part of a complex correlation function. In estimating the strain, the tensed state ultrasound data is re-stretched, and the imaginary part of the complex correlation function is calculated from this re-stretched ultrasound data and the relaxed state ultrasound data. A slope factor is also calculated, and the strain is estimated from this slope factor and the imaginary part of the complex correlation function.

Abstract: An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor is disclosed. The anchor is adapted to be secured to an anatomical structure and contains a sensor housing. A receiver is located within the sensor housing and is adapted to sense reference signals generated by a surgical guidance system. A transmitter, connected to the receiver, conveys to a processor signals received by the receiver, so that the signals transmitted by the receiver are indicative of a current position of the anchor. Various other structures and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis system and strain distribution display method utilizing an ultrasonic probe for performing transmission/reception of ultrasonic signals to/from a subject, a storage arrangement for storing the properties of signals detected with the ultrasonic probe, a correlation computer for calculating a correlation coefficient between the properties with and without pressure applied to the subject, and a phase difference between the received signals with and without application of pressure, based upon the properties stored in the storage arrangement with and without pressure applied to the subject, a computer for calculating a displacement of each measurement point, and a strain distribution of tissue of the subject due to application of pressure, based upon the correlation coefficient and phase difference calculated by the correlation computer, and a display for displaying the strain distribution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating mechanical waves within a viscoelastic medium (11) comprising a step of generating an acoustic radiation force (15) within the viscoelastic medium (11) by application of acoustic waves focused on an interface (13) delimiting two zones (11, 14) having distinct acoustic properties.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus has a pulse transmission and reception unit, an envelope curve detection unit, a time difference detection unit, and an attenuation characteristic obtaining unit. The pulse transmission and reception unit transmits a first transmitted pulse that a frequency increases with time and a second transmitted pulse that the frequency decreases with time, further receives a first received pulse corresponding to the first transmitted pulse and a second received pulse corresponding to the second transmitted pulse. The envelope curve detection unit detects a first envelope curve based on the first received signal and a second envelope curve based on the second received signal, respectively. The time difference detection unit detects a time difference between the first envelope curve and the second envelope curve. The attenuation characteristic obtaining unit obtains a frequency dependent-attenuation characteristic of an ultrasonic base on the time difference.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasound system for forming strain images by decreasing decorrelation of receive signals, which vary with time or space. More specifically, the decorrelation between the receive signals obtained without and with applying stress to a target object is reduced to decrease an error, which occurs during the calculation of a delay. Also, a center frequency, which varies with depth of a target object, is compensated to form the strain image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging method comprises: providing a probe that includes one or more transducer elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves; generating a sequence of spatially distinct transmit beams which differ in one or more of origin and angle; determining a transmit beam spacing substantially based upon a combination of actual and desired transmit beam characteristics, thereby achieving a faster echo acquisition rate compared to a transmit beam spacing based upon round-trip transmit-receive beam sampling requirements; storing coherent receive echo data, from two or more transmit beams of the spatially distinct transmit beams; combining coherent receive echo data from at least two or more transmit beams to achieve a substantially spatially invariant synthesized transmit focus at each echo location; and combining coherent receive echo data from each transmit firing to achieve dynamic receive focusing at each echo location.

Abstract: A system and method for screening tissue is provided. The system provides a computer-based system for distinguishing between normal and potentially abnormal tissue. The system includes computer components for generating and receiving ultrasonic waves, for storing a tissue model, and for analyzing received ultrasonic waves in the context of the tissue model.

Abstract: Image processing adapts to speckle. Speckle is identified from signal transitions. For example, peaks, valleys or mean crossings of image signals as a function of space or spatial location are identified. A speckle characteristic, such as speckle size, is estimated from the signal transitions. The estimation may be limited to soft tissue regions to reduce the effects of specular targets and noise on speckle estimation. The speckle is estimated for local regions or an entire image. By estimating speckle for local regions, image processing may account adaptively for regional variation in speckle size.

Abstract: Contrast agent destruction transmissions have reduced biological effect in medical diagnostic ultrasound. Ramping-up amplitude and/or ramping-down frequency reduce biological effect. The amplitude ramps up linearly or non-linearly. The change in amplitude or frequency occurs over a single waveform or over a sequence of separate transmissions. An envelope of the single waveform or the sequence of separate transmissions has a non-uniform, asymmetrical, symmetrical, rectangular or other shape. For example, the frequency ramp-down is provided with a non-Gaussian envelope. The amplitude ramp-up or frequency ramp-down is a progressively increasing destructive characteristic or ability, destroying contrast agent at different regions relative to focal regions with a minimum of acoustic energy.

Abstract: A method of determining the total body fat of a person comprising measuring a subcutaneous fat thickness at four points on the person's body, located in the right anterior part of the left mid-thigh, in the left anterior part of the right mid-thigh, in the right dorsal part navel level and in the left dorsal part at navel level, respectively, and determining a first estimate of the person's total body fat as a function of these measurements.

Abstract: A robotic 5D ultrasound system and method, for use in a computer integrated surgical system, wherein 3D ultrasonic image data is integrated over time with strain (i.e., elasticity) image data. By integrating the ultrasound image data and the strain image data, the present invention is capable of accurately identifying a target tissue in surrounding tissue; segmenting, monitoring and tracking the target tissue during the surgical procedure; and facilitating proper planning and execution of the surgical procedure, even where the surgical environment is noisy and the target tissue is isoechoic.