The invention provides a system (1) for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device (3) carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321). The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321) upon a drive signal. The system (1) can identify the medical device from a database (211,511) of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system (1) can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device (3) and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (3) when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

Disclosed is a ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus an a method of controlling the same, capable of allowing a sonographer to take an appropriate rest by measuring the usage time and the angle of bend of the probe and assigning weights to the usage time and the angle of bend of the probe such that the wrist fatigue of a sonographer is determined, and warning the sonographer about the determined wrist fatigue, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a probe configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal to a target object and receive a ultrasonic signal reflected from the target object; a storage configured to store a weight that is determined on the basis of a type of the probe and an application of the probe; and a controller configured to determine a wrist fatigue of a user who uses the probe on the basis of the stored weight and a usage time of the probe.

A dual-mode ultrasound system provides real-time imaging and therapy delivery using the same transducer elements of a transducer array. The system may use a multi-channel driver to drive the elements of the array. The system uses a real-time monitoring and feedback image control of the therapy based on imaging data acquired using the dual-mode ultrasound array (DMUA) of transducer elements. Further, for example, multi-modal coded excitation may be used in both imaging and therapy modes. Still further, for example, adaptive, real-time refocusing for improved imaging and therapy can be achieved using, for example, array directivity vectors obtained from DMUA pulse-echo data.

Ultrasound imaging systems including transducer probes having wireless tags, and associated systems and methods, are described herein. For example, the wireless tags can store supplemental data about the transducer probes, and the ultrasound system can include a base unit configured to wirelessly communicate with nearby ones of the wireless tags to receive the supplemental data. The base unit can be further configured to display the transducer probes that are nearby. In some embodiments, the operator can filter or sort the displayed nearby transducer probes based on the supplemental data to identify a particular one of the nearby transducer devices that has one or more desired attributes.

The present embodiments relate generally to methods for providing viewing access to an ultrasound image feed generated at an ultrasound imaging machine. A multi-use display device may form a first link-layer connection with the ultrasound image machine for transmitting commands that control imaging parameters of the ultrasound image feed. The multi-use display device may then: determine link-layer connection parameters that allow the ultrasound imaging machine to form a second link-layer connection with a receiving device (the receiving device having no link-layer connection with the ultrasound imaging machine), and provide the connection parameters to the receiving device. The ultrasound imaging machine forms a second link-layer connection with the receiving device, based the connection parameters. The second link-layer connection is then used for receiving, at the receiving device, the ultrasound image feed controlled by the multi-use display device.

A percutaneously delivered medical device and its method of use includes a catheter, at least two electromagnetic sensing coils located within the distal tip of the catheter, and at least one within the proximal handle, and a multi-element planar ultrasound transducer array located within the distal tip of the catheter and configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy in at least two imaging modes. The device also includes an imaging system coupled to the ultrasound transducer and is used for creating an image of tissue in a first target plane that extends orthogonally from the catheter body. The medical device also includes a backscatter evaluation system for use in receiving and evaluating the acoustic spectral characteristics of tissues within a second target area within the first target plane.

In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the controller writes and reads element data of one frame into and out from two or more buffer memories 21a, 21b, . . . 21i sequentially frame by frame and assigns the element data of one frame sequentially read out from the buffer memories to a plurality of arithmetic blocks of a signal processor, wherein the element data assigned is subjected to processing by each of a plurality of arithmetic cores in the plurality of arithmetic blocks to produce an image signal.

An ultrasound imaging system comprising a multi-use electronic display device and an ultrasound imaging device. The multi-use electronic display device is capable of communicating with one or more ultrasound imaging devices and selecting which to connect with based on at least one of previously store information, user input, and information gathered from the ultrasound imaging devices. The multi-use electronic display device may communicate with the ultrasound imaging devices while they are in a low power standby state. This approach reduces the complexity of the pairing process and provides a means for quickly and easily selecting between multiple ultrasound imaging devices.

An ultrasound imaging system comprising a multi-use electronic display device and an ultrasound imaging device. The multi-use electronic display device is capable of communicating with one or more ultrasound imaging devices and selecting which to connect with based on at least one of previously store information, user input, and information gathered from the ultrasound imaging devices. The multi-use electronic display device may communicate with the ultrasound imaging devices while they are in a low power standby state. This approach reduces the complexity of the pairing process and provides a means for quickly and easily selecting between multiple ultrasound imaging devices.

Embodiments provide an ultrasound treatment system. In some embodiments, the system includes a removable transducer module having an ultrasound transducer. In some embodiments, the system can include a hand wand and a control module that is coupled to the hand wand and has a graphical user interface for controlling the removable transducer module, and an interface coupling the hand wand to the control module. The interface may provide power to the hand wand or may transfer a signal from the hand wand to the control module. In some embodiments, the treatment system may be used in cosmetic procedures on at least a portion of a face, head, neck, and/or other part of a patient.