Abstract: Data is communicated from an implanted section to an external location. The implanted section includes a transducer such as a piezoelectric element with an ultrasound reflecting surface that moves in response to an applied driving signal. A sensor generates an output signal that depends on a sensed parameter, and a control circuit drives the transducer based on the sensor's output. The transducer's response to the driving signal is repeatable such that the value of the output signal can be determined by measuring the variations in the velocity of the surface using externally applied Doppler ultrasound, and computing the value of the sensor's output from the measured variations in velocity.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave and a controller configured to control the ultrasonic probe such that an ultrasonic wave for imaging a contrast agent injected into an object and an ultrasonic wave for imaging a tissue movement of the object are transmitted in time division. A method of ultrasound imaging comprises transmitting a first ultrasonic wave and a second ultrasonic wave which hardly destroys bubbles of a contrast agent, obtaining blood flow information based on a signal generated from the first ultrasonic wave, and obtaining tissue movement information based on a signal generated from the second ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously measuring the absolute intracranial pressure in a non-invasive manner is described by using an ultrasonic Doppler device which detects the pulsatility indexes of the blood flow inside the eye artery for both intracranial and extracranial eye artery portions. The eye in which the blood flow is monitored is subjected to a small pressure, sufficient to equalize the pulsatility index measurements of the internal and external portions of the eye artery. The pressure at which such equalization occurs is used as a reference for autocalibration of the apparatus so that continuous absolute intracranial pressure measurements may be taken over a particular sampling period.

Abstract: An assessment device and assessment method are provided. The assessment device includes a tube, a flexible tip secured to the tube, and a rotatable sensor section proximal to the flexible tip, the rotatable sensor section including a Doppler transducer and a phased array arranged and disposed to provide a Doppler assessment data point corresponding to an assessment angle of the Doppler transducer. The rotatable sensor section is rotatable between a first assessment angle and a second assessment angle. The assessment method includes providing an assessment device including the rotatable sensor section, inserting the rotatable sensor section, positioning the rotatable sensor section with respect to a target assessment area, rotating the rotatable sensor section through a range of assessment angles between a first assessment angle and a second assessment angle, and obtaining the Doppler assessment data point with the rotatable sensor section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for adaptive three-dimensional derivation of a proximal isokinetic shell of a proximal flow convergence zone that forms in an observation area in a moving fluid, wherein the magnitude of the velocity of the fluid at each point of the proximal isokinetic shell is identical and equal to a velocity reference value, the method including: a) preparing locally distributed velocity measurements in a surrounding area of the observation area, the measurements representing at least one directional component of the local velocity of the fluid in a respective measurement direction, b) preparing an approximation surface as an initial proximal isokinetic shell) in such a way that the entire flow, at least substantially, in the flow convergence zone penetrates the approximation surface, c) establishing a plurality of approximation points on the approximation surface, d) determining the respective velocity measurements at the respective approximation points, e) calculating a

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging apparatus for imaging information changing with time and displaying it in real time, composed of an ultrasonic probe (2), having piezoelectric elements arranged in an array form that transmit ultrasonic waves to a target object (1) and acquires a reflection signal from the target object; a body movement measuring unit (12) that constitutes a two-dimensional ultrasonic image using the reflection signal acquired by the ultrasonic probe, sets, in the image plane, a plurality of measuring areas used for measuring the body movement of the target object, and measures the body movement and deformation amounts in the measuring areas; and an image accumulating (subtracting) unit for accumulating or subtracting images using body movement measured by the body movement measurement unit.

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: There are provided embodiments for performing a frame average process based on a change of a frame rate are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to sequentially acquire ultrasound data corresponding to a living body; and a processing unit configured to sequentially form a plurality of ultrasound images based on the ultrasound data, estimate a frame average coefficient corresponding to a change of a frame rate based on an ith (i is a positive integer) ultrasound image and an ith frame average image, and perform a frame average process between the ith frame average image and an (i+1)th ultrasound image based on the frame average coefficient to form an (i+1)th frame average image.

Abstract: Some embodiments include acquisition of color Doppler data, detection of one or more transitions of the color Doppler data, each of the one or more transitions being between a first area representing flow velocity in a first direction and a second area representing flow velocity not in the first direction, and application of a first set of aliasing corrections to the color Doppler data to generate second color Doppler data. For each of the one or more transitions, a first energy function is calculated based on the one or more pairs of color Doppler values in the second color Doppler data, and a first total energy function associated with the first set of aliasing corrections is determined based on the calculated first energy functions. Next, a second total energy function associated with a second set of aliasing corrections is determined based on calculated second energy functions.

Abstract: A medical device that can have at least one sensor for obtaining data relating to at least one physiological condition of a patient. Some embodiments of the medical device can include internet communication which can allow the data obtained by the sensor(s) to be transmitted to a computer monitored by either a physician or the patient.

Abstract: An ultrasound system and a clutter filtering method thereof are provided. The clutter filtering method includes: transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object; receiving a reflection signal reflected from the object; performing a singular value decomposition (SVD) on a plurality of doppler signals constituting the reflection signal; dividing a representation of the object into a plurality of regions according to a result of performing the SVD; determining cutoff frequencies of the plurality of regions according to different methods; and performing clutter filtering on the plurality of regions by using the determined cutoff frequencies.

Abstract: Methods and systems for color flow imaging are provided.

Abstract: A blood rheology measurement device measures a blood rheology of blood flowing through an artery inside of a living body from outside of the living body. The blood rheology measurement device has a sensor that detects a flow rate of blood flowing through the artery and a pulsatile displacement that varies with an elapse of time. The pulsatile displacement corresponds to a displacement of the artery in a diameter direction thereof due to expansion and contraction of the artery resulting from a pulsatile motion of the heart. A calculating section calculates the blood rheology of blood flowing through the artery on the basis of the blood flow rate and the pulsatile displacement detected by the sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for calculating cardiac output (CO) of a living subject. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods build a nonlinear mathematical model to correlate physiologic source data vectors to target CO values. The source data vectors include one or more measurable or derivable parameters such as: systolic and diastolic pressure, pulse pressure, beat-to-beat interval, mean arterial pressure, maximal slope of the pressure rise during systole, the area under systolic part of the pulse pressure wave, gender (male or female), age, height and weight. The target CO values are acquired using various methods, across a plurality of individuals. Multidimensional nonlinear optimization is then used to find a mathematical model which transforms the source data to the target CO data. The model is then applied to an individual by acquiring physiologic data for the individual and applying the model to the collected data.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring a fetal heart rate includes a reference fetal heart rate detected across an ultrasound depth zone of sensitivity. The ultrasound depth zone of sensitivity is scanned in overlapping increments of a first depth. An average fetal heart rate detected for each overlapping increment is tested for a coincidence with the reference fetal heart rate. Overlapping increments with the coincidence and a maximized signal quality rate are identified. An ultrasound depth increment of a second depth is selected representing the selected adjacent increments. Fetal heart rate is determined from an ultrasound signal returned from a scan depth of the second depth.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for displaying, on a confidence gauge comprising a set of lights, a confidence level of whether a blood vessel is an artery or a vein, wherein a number of illuminated lights of the set of lights indicates the confidence level.

Abstract: A device and method for improving the identification accuracy of fetal heart rate deceleration. The method includes: collecting fetal heart rate data (101); performing baseline identification on the collected fetal heart rate data (102); preprocessing the collected fetal heart rate data (103); performing deceleration identification on the preprocessed fetal heart rate data according to preset deceleration judgment standards and a fetal heart rate data baseline to obtain a decelerated data segment (104); and calculating a deceleration attribute value of each decelerated data segment (105), and outputting the decelerated data segment and calculation result (106).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic image processing method. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmission unit; An ultrasonic probe emits; An ultrasonic reception unit; An image processing unit; A sound velocity determination unit; and A control unit. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the actual sound velocity of a reflected wave is estimated, so that high-quality ultrasonic images can be provided, and the time required for the estimation of a sound velocity can be reduced.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for using dynamic ultrasonic imaging to analyze a subject's carpal tunnel and generate risk factors indicative of the health of the subject's subsynovial connective tissue and the subject's risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. The system and method uses speckle imaging techniques to track dynamic structures within the carpal tunnel and statistical analysis techniques to compare the properties of these dynamic structures of the subject to those of normal subjects and subjects having carpal tunnel syndrome.

Abstract: A method for Tissue Doppler Imaging is provided. The method for Tissue, Doppler Imaging comprises steps of: a) transmitting ultrasound signals to a target area including the tissue to be imaged, and receiving the echo signals returned from the target area; b) performing Doppler estimation on Doppler signals extracted from the echo signals, to acquire Doppler parameters of stationary tissue or nonstationary tissue or blood flow within the target area, wherein the Doppler parameters comprise at least velocity and power; c) processing the acquired power of the Doppler parameters to obtain the power related to the nonstationary tissue within the target area, so as to display the tissue motion.

Abstract: Described herein is a sensing wire for locating a blood vessel in a patient. The sensing wire comprises a hollow, rigid tube including a lumen extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion, an ultrasonic sensor coupled to the distal portion of the tube, and a communication assembly positioned at the distal portion and coupled to the ultrasound sensor. Also described is a system for accessing and evaluating a blood vessel in a patient. The system comprises an access sensor wire, an access needle sized to receive the access sensor wire, and a second sensing wire configured to be positioned within the access needle. A method is also disclosed for accessing a blood vessel with an introduction needle, where a short access sensing wire is replaced by a much longer second sensing wire after the needle is positioned in the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a Doppler signal by using volume data. In detail, the method and apparatus measure a Doppler signal by obtaining a sub volume by using a color component of volume data and locating a sample volume on a scan line of a cell whose corresponding sub volume is scanned.

Abstract: A heart rate of a subject is determined using a probabilistic segmental model. Reflections of ultrasound signals from the subject, for instance, are down modulated to an audio band and velocity samples are obtained. For a signal analysis window of the samples, e.g., 25 msec. of samples, features of the samples are obtained. Based on the features, a first set of probabilities is obtained for different candidate current heartbeat periods. A second set of probabilities is determined based on combinations of different previous heartbeat periods. One of the candidate current heartbeat periods is determined to be most probable, based on the first and second sets of probabilities.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for assuring validity of monitoring parameters in combination with a therapeutic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present technique comprises perturbing a treatment administered to a patient, measuring at least one parameter of the patient reflecting the underlying physiological state and associated with the treatment, and comparing the perturbations of the treatment to measurements of the at least one parameter to determine if the perturbations to the treatment are reflected by the parameter.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an automatic diagnosis support apparatus includes extracting a plurality of parameters associated with a predetermined object by using medical information acquired by a medical image diagnosis apparatus and extracting the plurality of parameters for each disease associated with a disable-bodied person by using medical information associated with the disable-bodied person, calculating a ruler associated with each disease case by executing an MT system using the plurality of parameters for each disease associated with the disable-bodied person, calculating a distance between the object and a state space of the disable-bodied person associated with the each disease by executing the MT system using a plurality of parameters associated with the object, determining a disease type of the object by using the ruler and a distance between the object and a state space of a disable-bodied person, and generating diagnosis support information based on the determination result.

Abstract: There are disclosed embodiments for an ultrasound system for performing segmentation of vessels. The ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to a target object including vessels, receive an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the target object and form ultrasound data corresponding to the target object; a volume data forming unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data; and a processor configured to form a 3-dimensional ultrasound image based on the volume data, set a plurality of slices on the 3-dimensional ultrasound image and perform segmentation of the vessels based on a degree of registration between the respective vessels on the adjacent slices.

Abstract: A placement mechanism for placing a sensor for non invasive measurement of at least one parameter. The placement mechanism comprises a angling unit which angles a sensor in relation to a sensor positioning site on a skin of a target patient in proximity to the ribs while maintaining a front side contact zone of the sensor in contact with the sensor positioning site and an attachment element for attaching the placement mechanism to a body of the target patient so that the front side contact zone being in contact with the sensor positioning site.

Abstract: An approximate distance between an ultrasonic transducer and a fetal heart is determined. A range of distances from the ultrasonic transducer is sensed using the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the range has a minimum distance based upon the approximate distance. A heart rate of the fetal heart is monitored using ultrasonic echo signals from the range.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe is constituted by ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in a direction. A beam forming unit forms acoustic field sensitivity modulated in a direction substantially orthogonal to scan lines in a subject by focusing an ultrasonic wave on a sequence of sampling points existing along the scan lines, and applying delay and apodization on a transmission/reception signal of each of the ultrasonic transducer elements. A detecting unit detects displacements at each sampling point in a direction tangential to the scan lines and in a direction tangential to curves substantially orthogonal to the scan lines by arithmetic between reception signals for the sampling point at different time points. Each curve of the curves substantially orthogonal to the scan lines is constituted by a sequence of points for which a total of times taken for ultrasonic pulses to reach from two points fixed to the ultrasonic probe is substantially the same.

Abstract: Embodiments of adaptively performing clutter filtering are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to output a plurality of ultrasound data corresponding to each pixel of a color Doppler mode image; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit and being configured to calculate a power difference value corresponding to each of the pixels based on the plurality of ultrasound data, determine whether the power difference value is equal to or larger than a first threshold value, and if the power difference value is equal to or larger than the first threshold value, then perform first clutter filtering upon the plurality of ultrasound data, or if the power difference value is less than the first threshold value, then perform second clutter filtering upon the plurality of ultrasound data.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a data acquisition unit, a correction unit and a display unit. The data acquisition unit acquires phase signals as Doppler data from a moving object in an object by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from the object. The correction unit performs global aliasing correction processing of the phase signals based on a continuity in a two-dimensionally phase change. The display unit displays phase signals after the aliasing correction processing.

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: An ultrasound imaging system includes a transducer array, with an array of transducer elements that transmits an ultrasound signal and receives a set of echoes generated in response to the ultrasound signal traversing a flowing structure. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a beamformer that beamforms the set of echoes, generating a beamformed signal. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a pre-processor that performs basebanding, averaging and decimation of the beamformed signal and determines an autocorrelation of the basebanded, averaged and decimated beamformed signal. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a velocity processor that generates an axial velocity component signal and a lateral velocity component signal based on the autocorrelation. The axial and lateral velocity components indicate a direction and a speed of the flowing structure in the field of view.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving unit, an extracting unit, a generating unit, a brightness information controlling unit and a display unit. The transmitting and receiving unit transmits an ultrasonic wave to and receives an ultrasonic wave from a diagnosis part including a moving body in an object. The extracting unit extracts a Doppler signal based on a reception signal obtained by the transmitting and receiving unit. The generating unit executes a frequency analysis on the basis of the Doppler signal and generates a Doppler spectrum. The brightness information controlling unit controls brightness information on the Doppler spectrum on the basis of a brightness correction value appropriate for a frequency subjected to the frequency analysis. The display unit displays, on a display device, the Doppler spectrum on which the brightness information is controlled by the brightness information controlling unit.

Abstract: An ultrasound array uses information about contact quality with the body to weight produced ultrasound data.

Abstract: An ultrasound array uses information about contact quality with the body to weight produced ultrasound data.

Abstract: Equipment (10) for non-invasively measuring a physiological process includes at least one receiver (12) to be placed relative to a body of a subject being examined to detect at least one signal from the body of the subject. A discrimination unit (20.1) determines if the at least one signal is a signal of interest associated with the physiological process. A processor (20) processes the signal of interest to enhance the signal of interest and suppresses other received signals that are not of interest.

Abstract: A method for High Pulse Repeat Frequency (HPRF) Doppler ultrasonic imaging comprises: collecting parameters including a selected PRF level, real sample volume depth and sampling gate size; setting a selectable PRF range according to a standard PRF value corresponding to the selected PRF level; evaluating each PRF successively selected from the selectable PRF range with a preset step; and taking the PRF with best evaluation as the best PRF of the selected PRF level to be used in ultrasonic pulses transmission.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring flow velocities, including ultrasound systems, are provided. A Doppler angle between a direction of ultrasound signals and an axis of a flow may be estimated to improve the accuracy of the flow velocity estimation that is based on Doppler effects. A sensor may be mounted on or in an ultrasound probe to obtain a reference orientation of the ultrasound probe and an orientation of the ultrasound probe relative to the reference orientation when the ultrasound probe is moved to other positions. The Doppler angle may be estimated based on the orientation of the ultrasound probe.

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: A Doppler gate is automatically positioned in spectral Doppler ultrasound imaging. Samples acquired for multiple PW Doppler gates are used for B-mode and/or F-mode detection over time without interleaving transmissions for the PW Doppler. The B-mode and/or F-mode information are used to track gate placement. Alternatively or additionally, characteristics spectra from different gate locations are used to select a gate location. Either tracking may be used to change the locations sampled and/or beam characteristics, such as centering the locations and beam focus on the selected gate location.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a transcranial Doppler probe. The transcranial Doppler probe includes a spherical bearing, a piezoelectric transducer pivotally attached to the spherical bearing, and first and second rods coupled to the piezoelectric transducer. The first rod is configured to pivot the piezoelectric transducer around a first pivot axis and the second rod is configured to pivot the piezoelectric transducer around a second pivot axis.

Abstract: A fetal heart signal contribution is determined from an ultra sound signal by suppressing any maternal contribution from the ultrasound signal. The fetal heart signal contribution is canceled or subtracted from the ultrasound signal. An alarm is outputted based upon a result of the cancellation.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods and compositions for the use of ultrasound for detection of cells and nanoparticles.

Abstract: Though mechanocardiogram is considered to have a high medical value, mechanocardiogram recording device is large in size and very expensive, obtained data lacks reliability, a measurement algorithm has not been settled, use of an apexcardiogram for diagnosis is not useful for diagnosis of the circulatory system, and there has been no measuring equipment capable of measuring pexcardiogram which contribute to determination of heal condition of a living body to be measured. For measurement of heartbeat of a living body, measuring device which allows simple measurement of apexcardiogram at bedside has been developed using a pressure sensor and/or wave sensor capable of measuring change in pressure at multiple portions adjacent to one another, and simple electronic circuit.

Abstract: Ultrasonic devices and methods are provided that diagnose one or more pain generators. In some embodiments, the ultrasonic devices and methods are utilized to map one or more pain generators at or near the spine so that appropriate diagnostic and treatment methods can be performed.

Abstract: A processor generates a first Doppler spectrum image representing the velocity of a moving body at each observation point by analyzing the frequency of signals received at the plurality of observation points acquired via Doppler scanning. An interpolator acquires a second Doppler spectrum image consecutively at each observation point time when the ultrasound has not been transmitted to and received from each observation point by the Doppler scanner transmitting and receiving the ultrasound toward and from the plurality of observation points at a plurality of respective times, based on interpolation of the first Doppler spectrum image at each observation point. The interpolator generates a third Doppler spectrum at each observation point by combining the first Doppler spectrum at each observation point and the second Doppler spectrum image at each observation point per observation point.

Abstract: A transmit amplifier (12) drives an ultrasound transducer (11) to emit a pulse, and a receive amplifier (13) amplifies the echo signal detected by the transducer. The receive amplifier's gate opens a fixed delay after the end of the transmit pulse, and a demodulator (14) multiplies the received signal by the local oscillator signal. A low-pass filter removes the sum of the frequencies and passes the difference of the frequencies (the received signal's Doppler frequency) to be digitized by an ADC. ADC readings are made for each of several range bins in intervals during the receive gate-open interval. One or two of the Doppler audio signals will contain the signal from the fetal heart. When a periodic signal is found, its rate is tested to see if it lies within or outside the typical range of a fetal heart.

Abstract: Systems are described to acquire color Doppler data associated with a pulse repetition frequency (fPRF), detect a first area of the color Doppler data representing a zero color Doppler value, detect a second area of the color Doppler data adjacent to the first area and representing non-zero color Doppler values in a first direction, detect a first transition between the second area and a third area of the color Doppler data adjacent to the second area and representing non-zero color Doppler values in a second direction opposite the first direction, determine that the absolute difference between color Doppler values of the second area and the third area at the first transition is more than a preset value, subtract, in response to the determination, a color Doppler value corresponding to a Doppler shift frequency of fPRF from each of the color Doppler values of the third area if the second direction is positive, and add, in response to the determination, the color Doppler value corresponding to a Doppler shift

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are described which produce tissue harmonic images containing both fundamental and harmonic frequency components. Such a blended image takes advantage of the performance possible with the two types of ultrasonic echo information and can advantageously reduce near field clutter while improving signal to noise performance in the far field of the image.