Patent classifications
A61B8/0858
Ultrasonic image construction method, ultrasonic image construction apparatus, ultrasonic image construction program, and skin evaluation method
An ultrasonic-image-construction apparatus can construct an ultrasonic-tomographic image of a thin, layer-structured target object to be measured relatively easily and highly accurately in a manner in which such layered structure is easily understood. An ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic-image-constructing apparatus transmits ultrasonic waves to the target object. A reference substance makes contact with a base substrate, with such ultrasonic waves being incident on the target object via the base substrate, then receives an impulse response of an ultrasonic waveform. A computing means performs calculation to estimate acoustic-physical-property distribution in consideration of the multiple-reflections influence based on normalized-impulse information obtained from impulse-response information of such ultrasonic waveform incident on the reference substance and from impulse-response information of such ultrasonic waveform incident on the target object. The image-construction means constructs acoustic-physical-property-image data based on acoustic-physical-property distribution in the depth direction obtained by computing means.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS PORTABLE ULTRASOUND IMAGING
Presented is a wireless portable ultrasound acquisition system for dental imaging, having an ultrasound probe with a control switch connected through a cable to a portable ultrasound acquisition system that communicates wirelessly with a smart tablet or a phone display to display the ultrasound images. The system uses ultrasound signals to create images of alveolar bone structure and boundaries of enamel, dentin and gingiva of a patient.
INTRAVASCULAR ENERGY DELIVERY
A method to apply a nerve inhibiting cloud surrounding a blood vessel includes creating a treatment plan, wherein the treatment plan prescribes application of the nerve inhibiting cloud towards at least a majority portion of a circumference of a blood vessel wall, and applying the nerve inhibiting cloud towards the majority portion of the circumference of the blood vessel wall for a time sufficient to inhibit a function of a nerve that surrounds the blood vessel wall.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIQUID FLOODING OF LUNG TO ENHANCE ENDOBRONCHIAL ENERGY TRANSFER FOR USE IN IMAGING, DIAGNOSIS AND/OR TREATMENT
An improved system and method of endobronchial imaging of lung nodules comprises the introduction of a perfluorocarbon (PFC) liquid into pulmonary passages of the lungs, the introduction of which enables better coupling between an endobronchial ultrasonic imaging system and a target tissue site within the pulmonary passages of the lungs, the improved coupling between the ultrasonic imaging system and a target tissue site being imparted by the removal (at least in part) the air interface present between the ultrasonic imaging system and the surface of the target tissue site. Furthermore, the unique properties of perfluorocarbon liquids (for example, the properties of superb biocompatibility, high affinity for dissolving oxygen, and extremely low surface tension) further position these substances to be particularly well-suited for this application.
Systems and methods for ultrasound imaging
In some embodiments, a method comprises: obtaining a 2D ultrasound image of an imaged region of a subject, the imaged region comprising bone; identifying model template cross-sections of a 3D model of the bone corresponding to the 2D image at least in part by registering the 2D ultrasound image to the 3D model, wherein the model template cross-sections are defined prior to obtaining such 2D image, the model template cross-sections having size and shape representative of a population of potential subjects; identifying at least one location of at least one landmark feature of the bone in the 2D image based on results of the registration; and generating a visualization that includes: a visualization of the 2D image and a visualization of one of the identified cross-sections of the 3D model, wherein the visualization indicates the at least one location of the at least one landmark feature.
BLADDER MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD USING ULTRASONIC SENSOR
Provided is a bladder monitoring apparatus including: an ultrasonic sensor module including an ultrasonic sensor configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave toward a front wall of a bladder and receive the reflected ultrasonic wave; a control module configured to measure a passage time interval, calculate distance information, and calculate a volume of the bladder from the distance information and configuration information; and an output module configured to output the bladder volume calculated by the control module.
Ovarian follicle count and size determination using transvaginal ultrasound scans
Disclosed is a computer-implemented method for determining an ovarian follicle count and size (diameter) from a pair of 2-D transvaginal ultrasound scans. The method comprises receiving the pair of 2-D (two-dimensional) transvaginal ultrasound scans, each scan comprising a plurality of 2-D ultrasound images captured along a translation direction of an ultrasound probe used to capture said scan, the respective translation directions being at least approximately orthogonal, and for each of said scans, the method further comprising detecting candidate follicles in the plurality of 2-D ultrasound images of the at least one 2-D transvaginal ultrasound scan; and segmenting the detected candidate follicles to determine an average diameter for each candidate follicle; selecting the 2-D transvaginal ultrasound scan including the candidate follicle having the largest average diameter; and presenting the determined average diameters and the segmentations of the detected candidate follicles of the selected 2-D transvaginal ultrasound scan. A computer program product, ultrasound image processing device and ultrasound imaging system adapted to implement this method are also disclosed.
Noninvasive diagnostic system
A method for diagnosing a joint condition includes in one embodiment: creating a 3d model of the patient specific bone; registering the patient's bone with the bone model; tracking the motion of the patient specific bone through a range of motion; selecting a database including empirical mathematical descriptions of the motion of a plurality actual bones through ranges of motion; and comparing the motion of the patient specific bone to the database.
Intelligent guided wave elastography
The present disclosure describes systems and methods configured to determine shear wave velocity and tissue stiffness levels of thin tissue of finite size, also referred to as bounded tissue, via shear wave elastography. Systems can include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echoes responsive to pulses transmitted toward a tissue. Systems can also transmit a push pulse into the tissue for generating shear waves, and tracking pulses intersecting the shear waves. The system can also apply a directional filter to received echo data and generate directionally filtered shear wave data based on a dimension and angular orientation of the bounded target relative to the ultrasound transducer. The system can estimate velocities of the shear waves at different shear wave frequencies based on the filtered shear wave data and angular orientation relative to the transducer, and determine a tissue stiffness value independent of the shape or form of the tissue.
Multi-modal ultrasound probe for calibration-free cuff-less evaluation of blood pressure
The embodiments herein provide a system for calibration-free cuff-less evaluation of blood pressure. The system includes an ultrasound-based arterial compliance probes and a controller unit connected to the said probe. The ultrasound transducers are configured to measure the change in arterial dimensions, pulse wave velocity, and other character traits of an arterial segment over continuous cardiac cycle, which is then used to evaluate blood pressure parameters without any calibration procedure using dedicated mathematical models. The pressure sensor/force sensor/bio-potential transducers/accelerometric sensors are configured to measure a pressure acting on a skin surface at a measurement site, an internal arterial transmural pressure level, an applied pressure or a hold-down pressure on the skin surface or an arterial site, biopotential and/or plethysmograph signal, arterial vibrations acting on the measurement site as a function of the arterial pressure and the mechanical characteristics and/or a function of the applied/hold-down pressure and/or function of external factors.