Apparatus and methods are described that include ultrasound imaging devices, which may operate in a transmissive ultrasound imaging modality, and which may be used to detect properties of interest of a subject such as index of refraction, density and/or speed of sound. Devices suitable for performing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as well as HIFU and ultrasound imaging, are also described.

The present invention discloses a probe robot device, comprising: a probe housing; a probe transducer connected to the probe housing and configured to collect a lesion; and a probe connecting line connected to the probe transducer and configured to transmit the lesion information collected by the probe transducer; wherein the probe robot device further comprises a probe movement mechanism, and the probe movement mechanism is capable of controlling the probe transducer to respectively perform rotational movement around at least two angled axes within a preset angle range. According to the probe robot device in the present invention, the probe transducer can perform the rotation and positioning movements in multiple directions, so that the information of the scanned and examined lesion is more comprehensive, and the operation is simpler and more convenient.

A carrier assembly and related sterile kits are disclosed. The carrier assembly is configured to be used with a sensor assembly for determining a characteristic of a human body. The carrier assembly comprises a frame member comprising a sidewall defining a central opening configured to receive at least a portion of the sensor assembly and laterally extending wing members hingedly attached at a proximal end thereof to the sidewall of the frame member. The laterally extending wing members each comprise a cavity proximate a distal end thereof and configured to receive a magnet. Related kits and systems are also disclosed.

A system and method for ultrasound treatment of skin laxity are provided. Systems and methods can include ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, delivering ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and/or monitoring the treatment area to assess the results and/or provide feedback. In an embodiment, a treatment system and method can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal or deep dermal components of tissue.

Devices and methods for fetal imaging with shear waves are described. In some embodiments, a fetal imaging device includes, but is not limited to, at least one ultrasound source configured to apply one or more ultrasonic signals to a body; at least one ultrasound receiver configured to receive one or more ultrasonic signals from the body, the received one or more ultrasonic signals being associated with one or more shear waves transmitted through one or more portions of the body as a result of the applied one or more ultrasonic signals; and a controller configured to identify one or more portions of a fetus within the body based upon the one or more shear waves transmitted through the one or more portions of the body.

Devices and methods for fetal imaging are described. In some embodiments, a method of fetal imaging includes, but is not limited to, detecting at least one portion of a fetus within a body based upon one or more ultrasonic signals received from the body; identifying the at least one detected portion of the fetus; determining at least one non-detected portion of the fetus based upon the identification of the at least one detected portion of the fetus; and inferring an identification of the non-detected portion of the fetus based on the identification of the at least one detected portion of the fetus.

Devices and methods for fetal imaging are described. In some embodiments, a fetal imaging device includes, but is not limited to, a garment wearable over a portion of a body bearing a fetus; one or more ultrasound sources coupled to the garment and configured to apply one or more ultrasonic signals to the body; a first array of ultrasound receivers coupled to the garment and configured to receive one or more ultrasonic signals from the body; and a second array of ultrasound receivers coupled to the garment and configured to receive one or more ultrasonic signals from the body, the second array of ultrasound receivers being independently addressable and spatially separated from the first array of ultrasound receivers.

An ultrasound calibration phantom comprises a portion including at least one fiducial structure having a selected geometric arrangement; a portion adapted for mechanical coupling of the ultrasound calibration phantom to a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) stepper; and a guide for at least one surgical instrument, the guide being mechanically coupled to the fiducial structure and/or to the TRUS stepper at a selected pose relative to the fiducial structure. A calibration method uses the calibration phantom and provides automatic, intraoperative calibration of ultrasound imaging systems. The invention is useful in ultrasound-guided clinical procedures.

Various embodiments of a breast ultrasound scanning apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises an imaging assembly comprising an ultrasound transducer, a frame housing the imaging assembly, and a membrane directly and removably coupled to the frame. In this way, the cost of performing an ultrasound scan with the imaging assembly may be reduced while the comfort for a patient being scanned with the imaging assembly is increased.

An apparatus for the ultrasound guided refilling of a drug delivery pump includes an ultrasound imaging transducer having a nosepiece and a support device coupled to the nosepiece of the ultrasound imaging transducer. The support device can have two support holes whose centers are positioned along a horizontal axis of the support device. A marker can be placed in each of the two support holes. The vertical axis of the ultrasound imaging transducer coincides with the vertical axis of the support device. When imaging using this apparatus and the port inlet of the pump is visualized using the ultrasound transducer, two primary marks on skin can be created by inserting a marker into the support holes. The apparatus can then be rotated around its vertical axis, and a marker again inserted into the support holes to create two secondary marks. The inlet port of the pump is then marked at the intersection of lines which connects the primary marks and respectively the secondary marks.