Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitter; a receiver; a Doppler processor that detects a Doppler shift frequency resulting from a blood flow in a subject, based on a reception signal corresponding to a reflected wave from a sample gate position in the subject; and a velocity scale adjuster that adjusts a velocity scale determining a pulse repetition frequency, based on a Doppler waveform corresponding to the Doppler shift frequency during an observation target period. In a case where a recommendation value of the velocity scale calculated based on the Doppler waveform is larger than a critical value of the velocity scale at which a measurement state calculated based on the sample gate position transitions from a non-high-pulse-repetition-frequency state to a high-pulse-repetition-frequency state, the velocity scale adjuster sets the critical value as the velocity scale to be used in measurement.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to speculate saturation of reflected-wave signals observed before a phased addition process performed by using the reflected-wave signals, in accordance with an intensity of reflected-wave data generated through the phased addition process, the reflected-wave signals being generated by transmitting an ultrasound wave with respect to mutually the same scanning line, and the processing circuitry is configured to output a result of the speculation. The processing circuitry is configured to cause a display to display data based on the result of the speculation.

Abstract: A blood-vessel recognizing method for recognizing blood vessels present in biological tissue, the method including: obtaining real-time Doppler spectra on the basis of time waveforms data of intensities of scattered light generated in the biological tissue due to irradiation with laser light; calculating average frequencies of the real-time Doppler spectra; correcting the calculated average frequencies on the basis of peak intensities of the real-time Doppler spectra; and determining whether or not blood vessels are present in regions of the biological tissue irradiated with the laser light on the basis of the corrected average frequencies.

Abstract: A system for visualization and quantification of ultrasound imaging data according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include a display unit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display unit and to an ultrasound imaging apparatus for generating an image from ultrasound data representative of a bodily structure and fluid flowing within the bodily structure. The processor may be configured to estimate axial and lateral velocity components of the fluid flowing within the bodily structure, determine a plurality of flow directions within the image based on the axial and lateral velocity components, differentially encode the flow directions based on flow direction angle to generate a flow direction map, and cause the display unit to concurrently display the image including the bodily structure overlaid with the flow direction map.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for color flow ultrasound imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring color flow data, detecting, with a neural network, a flash artifact in the color flow data, adjusting an adaptive filter cutoff of a clutter filter based on a classification result of the neural network, filtering, with the clutter filter, the flash artifact from the color flow data, and displaying a color flow image generated from the filtered color flow data. In this way, strong flash artifacts caused by strong tissue movement or probe movement may be dynamically suppressed during color flow ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: A method of processing cardiac ultrasound data for determining information about a mechanical wave in the heart. The method comprises receiving data representative of a time series of three-dimensional data frames, generated from ultrasound signals from a human or animal heart, each frame comprising a set of voxels, each voxel value representing an acceleration component of a respective location in the heart at a common time. The method also comprises identifying, for each voxel, a frame of the series in which the voxel value is at a maximum. A three-dimensional time-propagation data set is generated by assigning each voxel a value representative of the time of the respective frame in the time series for which the corresponding voxel is at a maximum. The method then comprises generating data representative of a three-dimensional velocity vector field by calculating time derivatives from the three-dimensional time-propagation data set.

Abstract: A medical imaging device connector assembly for connecting a medical imaging device to a terminal of a medical imaging system is provided. The medical imaging device connector assembly includes a top housing having a first base cutout; a bottom housing configured to couple to the top housing, the bottom housing including a second base cutout; a base housing positioned within the first and second base cutouts; a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) disposed between the top housing and the bottom housing; an electrical connector positioned within the base housing; and an elastic seal member surrounding a circumference of the base housing. When the top housing is coupled to the bottom housing, the elastic seal member is compressed by the plurality of PCBs in a first direction and by the top and bottom housings in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to prevent fluid ingress.

Abstract: A method includes receiving ultrasound echo signals produced in response to a pulsed ultrasound field interacting with anatomical tissue and flow of structure therein. The method further includes generating electrical signals indicative thereof. The method further includes beamforming the electrical signals producing beamformed data. The method further includes constructing a real-time image of the anatomical tissue with the beamformed data. The method further includes constructing a de-aliased color images of the flow with the beamformed data. The method further includes visually presenting the real-time image of the anatomical tissue with the de-aliased color images of the flow superimposed thereover.

Abstract: An ultrasound apparatus of a body cavity insertable type includes: a handpiece; a supporting rod which is elongated from the handpiece; an ultrasound probe which is connected to the supporting rod and is configured to be able to be inserted in the body cavity; and a sealing cover which is separably coupled to the ultrasound probe to at least partially surround the ultrasound probe in a longitudinal direction from a distal end thereof. The ultrasound probe includes: a piezoelectric element; and a housing to which the piezoelectric element is mounted. An end of the housing is connected to the supporting, and the housing is provided with an ultrasound passing hole which is disposed outside the supporting rod. The sealing cover has an ultrasound passing window which is formed at a position corresponding to the ultrasound passing hole.

Abstract: Described herein are technologies for facilitating reconstruction of flow data. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives a four-dimensional projection image dataset and registers one or more pairs of temporally adjacent projection images in the image dataset. Two-dimensional flow maps may be determined based on the registered pairs. The framework may then sort the two-dimensional flow maps according to heart phases, and reconstruct a three-dimensional flow map based on the sorted two-dimensional flow maps.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sensor processing system including an acquisition unit, a time series analysis unit, and a decision unit. The acquisition unit acquires measurement data from a measuring unit. The measuring unit measures a physical quantity, of which a value varies depending on whether a human is present in, or absent from, an object space. The time series analysis unit obtains an analysis model for a time series analysis in which the measurement data acquired at a predetermined timing is represented by multiple items, acquired before the predetermined timing, of the measurement data. The decision unit decides, depending on a decision condition including a condition concerning a coefficient of the analysis model, whether the human is present or absent at the predetermined timing.

Abstract: Provided are a medical imaging apparatus and a method of generating a medical image that are capable of generating a Doppler image by using a Doppler effect as well as an ultrasound image. The method of generating a medical image includes: acquiring received signals; acquiring an ultrasound image and displaying the acquired ultrasound image; acquiring a Doppler signal corresponding to a sample volume set on the ultrasound image; generating a Doppler image based on the Doppler signal and displaying the generated Doppler image; calculating at least one selected from an average magnitude, a maximum value, and a minimum value of the Doppler signal; and changing image displaying mode by suspending the displaying of the Doppler image and updating the ultrasound image, in response to the at least one selected from the average magnitude, the maximum value, and the minimum value is less than or equal to a threshold value thereof.

Abstract: A system for monitoring blood flow in a patient comprises a first unit having an ultrasound transducer and a fastener for fastening the unit to the patient. A controller subsystem comprises the first unit and a separate second unit. The controller subsystem is configured to: control the ultrasound transducer to transmit plane-wave pulses into the patient in a propagation direction; sample reflections of the plane-wave pulses, received at the ultrasound transducer, from a region within the patient, to generate pulse-Doppler response signals; and process the pulse-Doppler response signals to estimate a series of values, over time, of a measure proportional, but not equal, to the total blood volume flow passing through the region. A monitoring subsystem is configured to monitor the series of values over time and to generate a signal if a set of one or more of the values satisfies a predetermined criterion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cavitation-guided opening of a targeted region of tissue within a primate skull are provided. In one example, a method includes delivering one or more microbubbles to proximate the targeted region, applying an ultrasound beam, using a transducer, through the skull of the primate to the targeted region to open the tissue, transcranially acquiring acoustic emissions produced from an interaction between the one or more microbubbles and the tissue, and determining a cavitation spectrum from the acquired acoustic emissions.

Abstract: An ultrasound system and method for generating an elastic image are disclosed. The ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe and a processor. The ultrasound probe is configured to transmit ultrasound signals into a target object and receive ultrasound echo signals from the target object while the ultrasound probe applies a variable compression force on the target object.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking an anatomical structure over time based on Pulsed-Wave (PW) Doppler signals of a Multi-Gated Doppler (MGD) signal is provided. The method may include identifying a gate corresponding with a selected anatomical structure. The method may include analyzing an MGD signal to track the selected anatomical structure over an extended period of time by selecting, at a plurality of sample times during the extended period of time, a PW Doppler signal from a plurality of PW Doppler signals of the MGD signal. Each of the selected PW Doppler corresponds with the selected anatomical structure at the particular sample time. The method may include presenting a continuous PW Doppler signal generated from each of the PW Doppler signals selected at each of the sample times during the extended period of time at a display system.

Abstract: A positive pressure therapy device for congestive heart failure includes: a pressure raising unit configured to raise a pressure of an air or a gas mixture of the air and other gases to a positive pressure; an introducing unit configured to introduce the air or the gas mixture that is set to a positive pressure into the airway of a patient; and a blood oxygen level measuring unit configured to measure a value of a blood oxygen level of the patient. A control unit monit is configured to control the pressure raising unit based on the value of the blood oxygen level that is measured by the blood oxygen level measuring unit.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for mapping a section of a vasculature of a subject are described herein, including moving a probe to a first position adjacent the section of the vasculature; transmitting, by the probe, a first ultra-sound beam into a first portion of the section of the vasculature through the body of the subject; receiving first ultra-sound data including at least one imaging parameter; moving the probe to a second position at the body of the subject adjacent the section of the vasculature and different from the first position; transmitting, by the probe, a second ultrasound beam into a second portion of the section of the vasculature through the body of the subject; receiving second ultrasound data including the at least one imaging parameter; and constructing a map of the section of the vasculature based on the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe; a transmission and reception unit that transmits an ultrasound beam from the ultrasound probe toward a subject, receives an ultrasound beam reflected from the subject, and processes a received signal output from the ultrasound probe to generate received data; a complex data generation unit that generates first complex data including amplitude information and phase information by orthogonally detecting the received data generated by the transmission and reception unit using a first center frequency and a first cutoff frequency and generates second complex data by orthogonally detecting the same data as the received data using a second cutoff frequency and a second center frequency lower than the first center frequency; a B-mode processing unit that generates a B-mode image using amplitude information of at least one of the first complex data or the second complex data; a phase difference calculation unit that calculates a first phase difference

Abstract: A method for determining a flow acceleration directly from beamformed ultrasound data includes extracting a sub-set of data from the beamformed ultrasound data, wherein the sub-set of data corresponds to predetermined times and predetermined positions of interest, determining the flow acceleration directly from the extracted sub-set of data, and generating a signal indicative of the determined flow acceleration. An apparatus includes a beamformer (112) configured to processes electrical signals indicative of received echoes produced in response to an interaction of a transmitted ultrasound signal with tissue and generate RF data, and an acceleration flow processor (114) configured to directly process the RF data and generate a flow acceleration therefrom.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an elastic image data generating unit which generates elastic image data having color information corresponding to strain calculated by a physical quantity data generating unit, and a displayer which causes an elastic image having a color corresponding to the strain to be displayed on an ultrasound image of the biological tissue, based on the elastic image data. The elastic image data generating unit generates the elastic image data, based on a color conversion table which is indicative of information of association of strain and the color information with each other and in which the color information changes depending on strain in a predetermined range of strain set in advance. The displayer displays an elasticity index image indicating an elasticity index indicative of a relative relationship of an average value of strain in a region set to the ultrasound image and the predetermined range of strain.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing imaging with a crossed-electrode ultrasound transducer array, where ultrasound transducer array is configured for focusing in one direction via conventional time-delay phased array beamforming, and for focusing in a second direction via a Fresnel aperture formed via the application of bias voltages. The ultrasound transducer array connections are switched between transmit and receive operations, such that the Fresnel aperture is generated in the first direction upon transmit, and in the second direction upon receive. One or both of the transmit Fresnel aperture and the receive Fresnel aperture are configured as a set of delay-corrected Fresnel sub-apertures, where the delay associated with each Fresnel sub-aperture is selected to compensate for variations in path lengths between the Fresnel sub-apertures and the focal point.

Abstract: A device is provided for automatically assessing functional hemodynamic properties of a patient is provided, the device comprising: a housing; an ultrasound unit coupled to the housing and adapted for adducing ultrasonic waves into the patient at a vessel; a detector adapted to sense signals obtained as a result of adducing ultrasonic waves into the patient at the vessel and to record the; and a processor adapted for receiving the recorded signals as data and transforming the data for output at an interface. Other devices, systems, methods, and/or computer-readable media may be provided in relation to assessing functional hemodynamics of a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body and a dilation catheter operatively coupled with the body and configured to translate between proximal and distal positions. The dilation catheter includes a dilation member configured to dilate an anatomical passageway when the dilation catheter is in the distal position. A guide catheter is coupled to the body and defines a longitudinal axis. The guide catheter is selectively positionable in a plurality of rotational orientations about the longitudinal axis relative to the body, and is configured to guide the dilation catheter therethrough between the proximal and distal positions. The apparatus further includes at least one illuminating indicator feature configured to emit light to facilitate positioning of the guide catheter in one or more of the rotational orientations.

Abstract: Methods of ultrasound imaging, some of which comprise: generating one or more transmit beams, wherein the boresight of each of the transmit beams points to a direction associated with a target region generating one or more receive beams using a probe (26) comprising a transducer array (30); for each receive beam or group of receive beams, sampling the received signal one or more times, wherein each sample is associated with a certain volume within the target region (“volume-gate”), and wherein multiple space-dependent samples are taken over the probe for each volume-gate; and processing the space-dependent samples, said processing comprising: applying beamforming sample alignment such that each space-dependent sample associated with a volume-gate is aligned; for each aligned volume-gate, computing one or more clutter suppression features, wherein a clutter suppression feature is dependent on the signal variability of the space-dependent samples; for each aligned volume-gate, computing a metric value wherein t

Abstract: An improvement to sensor detection performance is described through use of novel least squares based (or other) sensor measurements fitting, which can significantly improve or increase the sensor Probability of Detection (Pd) while simultaneously improving or decreasing the sensor Probability of False Alarm (Pfa). Instead of just thresholding a scalar magnitude as is done in prior art signal detection methods, the new method seeks to classify time (or space, or spatio-temporal) sequenced Signal measurements from time (or space, or spatio-temporal) sequenced Noise measurements through unique features characteristic of each. The proposed method ma be implemented on most modern Radar Signal Data Processors (SDP) and therefore affords a near term, low cost opportunity to both significantly increase detection and tracking performance and/or enable ready adoption of new additional auxiliary missions currently not possible with resource constrained sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory device with computer readable instructions and a processor configured to execute the computer readable instructions encoded on the memory device. The processor, in response to executing the computer readable instructions, obtains an ensemble of ultrasound images with diversity in an ensemble dimension, extracts a sub-set of data from each of the images, constructs a data matrix with the extracted data, wherein the data matrix has a dimension of space versus the ensemble dimension, identifies a largest eigenvalue(s) and a corresponding eigenvector(s) in the data matrix, computes a coherent signal projection matrix with the identified corresponding eigenvector(s), filters the data matrix with the coherent signal projection, and generates an ultrasound image with the filtered data matrix.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for managing and minimizing chronic pain. In particular, provided herein are systems and methods for managing and minimizing chronic pain with light therapy.

Abstract: In spectral pulsed wave Doppler imaging, spatial variance in signal and/or noise are reduced by combination of multiple spectra with at least partially decorrelated noise. Rather than requiring oversampling in time, the multiple spectra for one Doppler gate are created from different spatial signals. The Doppler gate is divided into sub-gates, the beamformed sample locations in the Doppler gate are grouped into two or more groups using any selection criterion, and/or different receive apertures are used to simultaneously sample the Doppler gate. Spectra for the gate are estimated from the samples with the different spatial content and then combined.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound device for measuring blood flow velocity in a blood vessel of a subject without imaging functionality in the device. The measurement depends upon reflections of a collimated beam of ultrasound from a subject's body part. Received electrical signals representative of the reflected ultrasound energy is used for generating a representation of blood flow at a plurality of predetermined locations in the volume and calculating a first blood flow velocity at each of the locations. The representation of flow is used for delineating the blood flow in the blood vessel in the volume. An angle calculating unit calculates the Doppler angle between the direction of the radiated collimated beam in the delineated blood flow at each point. A velocity calculator calculates a second blood flow velocity at the plurality of points based on the calculated first velocities and the calculated angle at the point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to discriminating between normal and abnormal left ventricles in echocardiography. In some embodiments, a first region of a first image of a heart is located by clustering. The first region depicts a chamber of the heart. The chamber has a chamber shape. A boundary of the first region is determined by contour tracing a retaining the traced contour overlapping the first region. A predetermined shape is compared to the boundary. The predetermined shape had been determined without reference to the first image. A first plurality of parameters is determined that, when applied to the predetermined shape, conforms the predetermined shape to the boundary and minimizes at least one error between the predetermined shape and the boundary. An indication of normality or abnormality is determine from the first plurality of parameters.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (100) includes a velocity processor (118) that processes ultrasound data representing structure flowing through a tubular object and generates vector flow imaging information indicative of the structure flowing through a tubular object based thereon. The vector flow imaging information includes an axial velocity component signal and a lateral component signal, and the axial and lateral component signals indicate a direction and a speed of the structure flowing through the tubular object. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a flow parameter processor (120) that determines at least one flow parameter based on the vector flow imaging information and generates a signal indicative thereof.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry causes an ultrasound probe to execute first ultrasound scanning to acquire blood flow information within a first scanning area and causes the ultrasound probe to execute second ultrasound scanning to acquire tissue shape information within a second scanning area. The processing circuitry receives an instruction for changing a flow-velocity value to be displayed in display of the blood flow information. When, because of a change of the flow-velocity value according to the instruction, a time for transmitting/receiving ultrasound per scanning line in the first ultrasound scanning exceeds a transmitting/receiving time before the change, the processing circuitry assigns a time corresponding to the excess to at least one of the first ultrasound scanning and the second ultrasound scanning.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a housing, a display disposed on the front face of the housing, a contact interface, to be contacted by a test site, disposed on a different surface than the front face of the housing, a laser light source that emits laser light from the contact interface, a light receiver that receives scattered laser light from the test site, a biological information generator that generates biological information based on output from the light receiver, and a controller that controls emission of laser light in the laser light source.

Abstract: An image generating device is an apparatus for acquiring an image which shows a direction of an electric current flowing through a semiconductor device. The image generating device comprises a signal application unit configured to apply a stimulation signal to the semiconductor device, a magnetic detection unit configured to output a detection signal based on a magnetism generated by an application of the stimulation signal, and an image generation unit configured to generate phase image data comprising a phase component which indicates a phase difference based on the phase difference between the detection signal and a reference signal which is generated based on the stimulation signal and generate an electric current direction image which shows the direction of the electric current based on the phase image data.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a quadrature detection section configured to perform quadrature detection on reception radio-frequency data generated by a reception circuit to generate complex data, a frequency analyzer configured to perform a first frequency analysis using the complex data of a set number of sample points starting from a first start point and a second frequency analysis using at least one group of the complex data of the set number of sample points starting from a second start point that is different from the first start point, and to acquire a spectral signal corresponding to each pixel of a Doppler waveform image based on results of the first frequency analysis and the second frequency analysis, and a Doppler waveform image generator configured to generate the Doppler waveform image using the spectral signal.

Abstract: To accurately detect a shape and derive information of cartilage based on detected echoes, an ultrasonic diagnosing device includes an ultrasonic transmitter, an ultrasonic receiver, a low-frequency component extracting module, and a deriving module. The ultrasonic transmitter transmits ultrasonic waves to a cartilage in a plurality of bent states, in a state where a relative position of a wave transmitting and receiving surface to the cartilage is fixed. The ultrasonic receiver receives echo signals corresponding to respective frames in each of the plurality of bent states. The low-frequency component extracting module extracts, in a frame direction, low-frequency echo data which is echo data of a frequency component below a given frequency. The deriving module derives information of the cartilage based on the low-frequency echo data.

Abstract: A method includes receiving ultrasound echo signals produced in response to a pulsed ultrasound field interacting with anatomical tissue and flow of structure therein. The method further includes generating electrical signals indicative thereof. The method further includes beamforming the electrical signals producing beamformed data. The method further includes constructing a real-time image of the anatomical tissue with the beamformed data. The method further includes constructing a de-aliased color images of the flow with the beamformed data. The method further includes visually presenting the real-time image of the anatomical tissue with the de-aliased color images of the flow superimposed thereover.

Abstract: An exemplary device for detecting a heartbeat of a patient can be provided which can include a transmitter which can provide ultrasonic waves, a receiver that can receive Doppler-shifted ultrasonic waves, and a hardware analyzer coupled to the receiver and which can evaluate a particular moment of the heartbeat of the patient based on a time-dependent signal obtained from the receiver. The hardware analyzer device can comprise a spectrum analyzer configured to extract time-varying frequency component(s) from the time-dependent signal provided by the receiver, and a processing module which can evaluate the moment of the heartbeat based on a variation of at least one of the frequency components in time. The processing module can determine a window of interest (WOI) in time from the variation of the frequency component(s) in time, and the moment when the time-dependent signal provided by the receiver assumes a maximum within the WOI as the moment of the heartbeat.

Abstract: A method allowing particles to be tracked in a moving fluid, via an optical method. The particles are in motion in a fluidic chamber. An image of the fluidic chamber is acquired, so as to obtain three-dimensional positions of particles in the fluidic chamber at a first time. Three-dimensional positions of 10 particles at a second time are also obtained, the second time being subsequent to the first time. On the basis of the obtained three-dimensional positions, potential movements of particles, between said times, are established. On the basis of a model of movement of the particles, potential movements are validated. The validated movements allow the particles in the fluid to be counted. In addition, if 15 the particles are of different nature, the movement model may comprise a component of movement of the particles with respect to the fluid that is characteristic of this difference. Determining this component then allows the particles to be characterized.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cavitation-guided opening of a targeted region of tissue within a primate skull are provided. In one example, a method includes delivering one or more microbubbles to proximate the targeted region, applying an ultrasound beam, using a transducer, through the skull of the primate to the targeted region to open the tissue, transcranially acquiring acoustic emissions produced from an interaction between the one or more microbubbles and the tissue, and determining a cavitation spectrum from the acquired acoustic emissions.

Abstract: The display system includes a display system including an image-capturing apparatus including an image-capturing element; an image processing apparatus that performs image processing on the image; and a display apparatus including a display device that displays the image resulting from the image processing. The image processing apparatus includes an image processor that performs the image processing on a predetermined number of line images corresponding to a part of a frame image captured by the image-capturing element, sequentially outputs the image to the display apparatus per the predetermined number of line images, and causes the display apparatus to display the frame image; and a storage device that stores the predetermined number of line images until the frame image is completed. The image processor is configured to perform the image processing including frame unit processing on the predetermined number of line images associated with the frame image to be output.

Abstract: A method for measuring a myocardial physiologic parameter according to an embodiment includes placing an at least partially convex portion of a spectral sensor against an intercostal space of a human over a heart of the human and measuring the physiologic parameter of a myocardium of the heart with the spectral sensor over time during an emergency medical event. The spectral sensor may be configured to determine and visually display a suggested position adjustment for directing the spectral radiation more directly toward the tissue of interest (e.g. the myocardium), and/or for placing the operative elements of the spectral sensor closer to the tissue of interest (e.g. the myocardium).

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the vibrations of a test object, such as a machine shaft or other rotating equipment. The system includes a probe sensor fitting having an ultrasonic speaker and an ultrasonic microphone. The probe sensor fitting includes a temperature and relative humidity sensor. The system further includes a probe analyzer circuit with a microcomputer that generates vibration analysis data and probe health diagnostics.

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: Adjustment of operation of an ultrasound imaging system may be based at least in part on one or more characteristics represented in ultrasound return signals from two or more sample volumes. Adjustment may include adjusting a principal sample volume location or selecting a new principal sample volume. For example, a location of a principal sample volume may be adjusted or new principal sample volume selected so as to remain focused on an identified region of interest or to maintain the principal sample volume relative to some structure or reference. The principal sample volume may be maintained in the center or along a centerline of an artery or other structure, as the transducer array is moved along the artery or structure.

Abstract: Methods, computing devices, and computer-readable medium are described herein related to producing detection signals configured to induce an excited state of an object. A computing device may receive reflection signals, where the reflection signals correspond to at least one detection signals reflected from the object. Based on the received reflection signals, a presence of the object in the excited state may be determined. Further, an output device may provide an indication of the presence of the object in the excited state.

Abstract: Methods and systems for hybrid radio frequency digital beamforming may include, in an electronic device comprising an antenna array including antennas arranged along first and second directions, beamforming signals in an analog domain along the first direction of the antenna array and in a digital domain along the second direction of the antenna array. The antenna array may include subsets of antennas, where each subset has a system-on-chip (SOC) with analog and digital beamforming circuitry. Signals may be beamformed in the analog domain by amplifying signals received by the antenna array using a configurable gain and shifting the phase of at least one of the amplified signals. The phase-shifted signals may be summed and converted to a digital signal. A frequency-dependent coefficient may be applied to the digital signal. The antenna array may have a fewer number of antennas along the first direction as compared to along the second direction.

Abstract: Shading of a site other than a site of interest is disabled to allow construction of a visually good three-dimensional image even when the site other than the site of interest is displayed in a translucent manner. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a sending section that sends an ultrasonic wave to a diagnosing object via an ultrasound probe, a receiving section that receives a reflected echo signal from the diagnosing object, a three-dimensional elasticity image constructing section that performs volume rendering with shading on elasticity volume data with an elasticity value based on the reflected echo signal to construct a three-dimensional elasticity image, and an image display section that displays the three-dimensional elasticity image. The three-dimensional elasticity image constructing section performs the volume rendering using an elasticity opacity according to the elasticity value and disables the shading of a portion with the elasticity opacity with a predetermined value.

Abstract: An ultrasound system may include a curved probe having a first set of elements that define a first aperture, and a second set of elements that define a second aperture. The probe may be configured to simultaneously transmit first and second ultrasound signals from the first and second apertures, respectively. The first ultrasound signal is configured to be transmitted in a first direction that is parallel with a first beam axis of the first ultrasound signal. The second ultrasound signal is configured to be transmitted in a second direction that is parallel with a second beam axis of the second ultrasound signal. At least one processor is configured to independently steer each of the first and second ultrasound signals.