An ultrasound system includes a display device and a processor module. The display device is configured to display an ultrasound image. At least a portion of the display device includes a touch sensitive portion that is responsive to a touch in each of a plurality of user selectable elements presented on the display device. The processor module is configured to adjust at least one of the ultrasound image and an imaging setting based on the touch in at least one of the user selectable elements of the display device. The ultrasound image and the user selectable elements are concurrently displayed on the display device.

An ultrasound endoscope includes: an insertion portion; an ultrasound functional unit including an ultrasound transducer; an endoscope functional unit that at least includes an imaging optical system; and a balloon locking portion configured to connect the ultrasound functional unit and the endoscope functional unit, the balloon locking portion having a groove shape that can lock a balloon. A first plane passes, in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, through a first end portion of the ultrasound transducer near the endoscope functional unit, the first plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, and the first plane is positioned closer to a proximal end than a second plane passing through a second end portion of the balloon locking portion near the ultrasound functional unit, the second plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion.

A system comprising a multi-modal ultrasound probe configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes associated with a respective plurality of configuration profiles; and a computing device coupled to the handheld multi-modal ultrasound probe and configured to, in response to receiving input indicating an operating mode selected by a user, cause the multi-modal ultrasound probe to operate in the selected operating mode.

A portable electronic device for assessing a human cardiovascular activity includes first and second probes substantially parallel to each other and located on either side of a third probe, substantially perpendicular to the first and second probes, each probe comprising an array of ultrasound transducers, and a control circuit configured to: a) estimate, by means of a first ultrasound beam emitted by the first probe, a position of a blood vessel with respect to the device; and b) adjust a second ultrasound beam, emitted by the third probe, according to the estimated position of the blood vessel.

Medical systems and methods are provided in which a processor receives the 3D ultrasound images and receives position signals from a position tracking device, indicating the position of a corresponding probe relative to the 3D ultrasound images. Based on the probe position, a region of interest is selected that contains the position the medical probe within the 3D ultrasound images, and the selected region of interest is rendered to a display together with a representation of the medical probe superimposed on the region of interest.

An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging system includes an IVUS imaging device positionable within a blood vessel. The IVUS imaging device includes a circumferential array of acoustic elements. The system includes a processor circuit. The processor circuit controls the circumferential array to emit ultrasound pulses. The ultrasound pulses include a first pulse emitted by a first subset of the circumferential array and a second pulse emitted by a second subset of the circumferential array. The second pulse occurs immediately after the first pulse. The first subset and the second subset are circumferentially spaced from one another around the circumferential array. The second subset is outside of a line of sight of first ultrasound echoes associated with the first ultrasound pulse. The processor circuit generates an IVUS image based on the ultrasound pulses and outputs the IVUS image to a display.

An ultrasound wireless probe adapter is presented. The adapter includes a first coupling unit configured to detachably couple the adapter to ultrasound probe assemblies, a second coupling unit configured to wirelessly couple the adapter to a smart device, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to wirelessly communicate with the smart device to accept user inputs, generate and transmit one of excitation signals and control and configuration signals to the ultrasound probe assemblies based on the user inputs and a category of the ultrasound probe assemblies to initiate emission of acoustic signals towards a region of interest in a subject, receive echo signals generated by the ultrasound probe assemblies in response to one of the transmitted excitation signals or the transmitted control and configuration signals, and process received beam signals based on a processing capability of the smart device to generate one of partially-processed image data and fully-processed image data.

A portable ultrasound imaging assembly includes a probe management system to facilitate the positioning of accessories, such as containers and/or probes of various types and associated cords utilized with a portable ultrasound imaging system forming a part of the ultrasound imaging assembly. The probe management system includes dedicated attachment locations and/or handles that enable a user to readily grasp, move and carry the imaging assembly or components thereof into the desired position. The attachment locations and/or handles are formed with uniform cross-sectional shapes and include mounting locations thereon where various probe/accessory holders can be removably secured. The holders are formed with clips that conform to the cross-sectional shape of the attachment locations/handles, such that the holders can be mounted in a modular manner to either handle in the desired mounting location.

A method (100) for visualizing a section of a patient's vascular system (155) with an ultrasound image processing system (3) is disclosed. The method comprises receiving (103) ultrasound data generated by an ultrasound probe (10) being displaced across a part of the patients anatomy (150) containing the section of the patients vascular system, said ultrasound data comprising image data and Doppler data; generating (107) ultrasound images (170) from said image data, each ultrasound image corresponding to a subsection of the patients vascular system having a determined location within the patients vascular system and combining (109) said ultrasound images into a map (180) of said section of the patients vascular system; processing (111) the received Doppler data to obtain blood flow characteristics for the section of the patients vascular system; identifying (113) landmarks within the section of the patients vascular system based on the obtained blood flow characteristics; annotating (115) said map with said landmark identifications (181, 183); and generating (117) an output signal comprising said annotated map. Also disclosed are a computer program product and ultrasound image processing system for implementing this method.

An ultrasound imaging probe includes a housing, a circuit board assembly disposed within the housing including a microcontroller, and a motion sensor operably connected to the microcontroller and capable of sensing motion of the housing based on at least one operator interaction with the housing to generate sensor data, a memory chip disposed within the housing and storing information regarding particular operational configurations for the ultrasound imaging probe associated with stored sensor data representing types of stored operator interactions, and a power source disposed at least partially within the housing and operably connected to the assembly. The microcontroller is configured to receive sensor data from the motion sensor in response to the operator interaction with the housing, to compare the received sensor data with the stored sensor data, and to change an operational configuration of the ultrasound probe in response to matching the received sensor data with stored sensor data.