Approaches for performing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of an anatomic region in conjunction with an ultrasound operation on the anatomic region include transmitting multiple ultrasound waves or pulses having a fundamental frequency and multiple harmonics to the anatomic region; transmitting an MR pulse sequence to the anatomic region and receiving, therefrom, MR signals within a band of frequencies; and causing the band of frequencies to be located between two adjacent frequencies of the harmonics.

The invention relates to ultrasound imaging method and apparatus suitable for minimally invasive ultrasound diagnostic devices in cardiac ablation monitoring and in tumor ablation monitoring. The present invention proposes an assembly of forward and side-facing transducers and a system of embedded forward and side-facing transducers in apertures on surfaces of the assembly. This provides control of the acoustic properties of the transducer and improved ablation monitoring when the assembly is incorporated in a medical device.

A bending neck comprising a plurality of pivotally connected hollow links is formed by machining a tube to form individual, pivotally connected links. A second tube may be located inside the first tube and simultaneously machined with the first tube. Grooves are formed on opposite sides of the outer surface of the second tube to provide a passageway for control cables which control the articulation of the links. In a second implementation indentations are formed in the side of the single tube to form ring-like projections into the inner lumen of each link, through which the control cables may pass.

A medical system includes: an endoscope; an ultrasonic probe; and a control device that is connected to the endoscope and the ultrasonic probe, generates a display image from a captured image acquired by the endoscope, and generates an echo image from an ultrasonic wave acquired by the ultrasonic probe, wherein the control device acquires a first echo image in which a target tissue is displayed on a central axis, acquires a second echo image obtained by scanning a cross section different from the first echo image at a reference position of the ultrasonic probe from which the first echo image was acquired, and compares a central axis of the second echo image with a position of the target tissue in the second echo image.

An ultrasound transducer includes: an acoustic matching layer; plural piezoelectric elements arrayed on the acoustic matching layer; and plural blocks arranged adjacent to at least one of ends of the piezoelectric elements in an elevation direction of the piezoelectric elements, each of the plural blocks including an abrasive.

The ultrasonic probe according to a present embodiment includes a piezoelectric vibrator and an acoustic lens. The piezoelectric vibrator is configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave. The acoustic lens is provided on an ultrasonic-wave transmission/reception side. The acoustic lens is formed in such a manner that a surface shape of each of end regions located on both sides of a central region of a surface of the acoustic lens is formed to have a curvature different from a curvature of a surface shape of the central region of the surface of the acoustic lens.

Disclosed is an intraluminal ultrasound imaging system, including a processor circuit in communication with an intraluminal ultrasound imaging catheter, and configured to receive a plurality of intraluminal ultrasound images obtained by the imaging catheter while the imaging catheter is moved through a body lumen of a patient. The processor circuit is further configured to determine a longitudinal translation speed of the imaging catheter based on the plurality of images and a known time interval between images, and display a speed indicator based on the longitudinal translation speed.

Methods of processing images, such as ultrasound images, to determine integrity of an implant are described. The method may include receiving an ultrasound image of an implant in a body of a subject; determining one or more characteristics of a surface of the implant based on an intensity of pixels of the ultrasound image; generating a predicted status of the implant based on the one or more characteristics by comparison of the one or more characteristics with a database of image data; and displaying the predicted status of the implant. The implant may be a breast implant, for example, wherein the method is useful for analyzing the presence or probability of extracapsular ruptures, contractures, and combinations thereof.

One or more devices, systems, methods and storage mediums for performing medical procedure (e.g., needle guidance, ablation, biopsy, etc.) planning and/or performance, and/or for performing guidance of multiple probes or multiple needles, are provided. Examples of applications for such devices, systems, methods and storage mediums include imaging, evaluating and diagnosing biological objects, such as, but not limited to, lesions and tumors, and such devices, systems, methods and storage mediums may be used for radiotherapy applications (e.g., to determine whether to place seed(s) for radiotherapy). Even in instances where communication between a medical tool or needle guidance device and a system is wireless or wired, preferably guidance information is still gathered and transmitted, especially in instances where wireless or wired communication signals are intermittent or interrupted.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a stabilization feature configured to be coupled to an ultrasound probe, or similar medical device and grasped by one or more fingers of a user. The user can then manipulate the stabilization feature and probe assembly without requiring any opposing pressure to be applied by the thumb. As such a user is free to use the thumb to operate controls disposed on the probe, or stabilize a skin surface, or the like. The stabilization feature can include a first portion configured to be grasped by one or more fingers, and a second portion configured to engage the probe. Further, the second portion can engage the probe through a sheath to maintain a sterile barrier therebetween. Alternatively, the first portion can be grasped by one or more fingers through a sheath to maintain a sterile barrier therebetween.