A61B8/4477

SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR BEAMFORMING SOUND SPEED SELECTION
20230065683 · 2023-03-02 ·

Methods and systems are provided for receiving beamforming of ultrasound signals to generate ultrasound images with increased resolution. In one example, a method for an ultrasound system including a plurality of ultrasound transducers each coupled to a respective receive channel includes time-delaying a set of ultrasound receive channel signals to form a plurality of time-delayed sets of ultrasound receive channel signals, each time-delayed set of ultrasound receive channel signals time-delayed based on a different beamforming sound speed, calculating a beamforming quality metric for each receive channel and for each time-delayed set of ultrasound receive channel signals, and generating an ultrasound image from ultrasound receive channel signals selected from the plurality of time-delayed sets of ultrasound receive channel signals based on each beamforming quality metric.

Point source transmission and speed-of-sound correction using multi-aperture ultrasound imaging
11464492 · 2022-10-11 · ·

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging system and methods of use are provided with any number of features. In some embodiments, a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound energy to and from separate physical ultrasound apertures. In some embodiments, a transmit aperture of a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit an omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a first point source through a target region. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with a single receiving aperture. In other embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with multiple receiving apertures. Algorithms are described that can combine echoes received by one or more receiving apertures to form high resolution ultrasound images. Additional algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the ultrasound system to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.

Ultrasonic imaging and energy delivery device and method
11623243 · 2023-04-11 · ·

An ultrasonic device includes a driving circuit to provide drive power, a first transducer array to generate ultrasonic waves, the first transducer array being connected to receive power from the driving circuit, and a second transducer array to detect reflected or elicited ultrasonic waves incident on the device from a target and generate a signal based on those waves, the second transducer array being acoustically transmissive and disposed over the first transducer array such that the generated ultrasonic waves pass through the second transducer array. The second array is tuned to operate on top of the first. The functions of the two arrays may be reversed and the array tuned to operate with the first array receiving and the second array transmitting.

CARDIOTOCOGRAPHY GIRDLE
20230103987 · 2023-04-06 ·

The invention relates to a cardiotocography girdle. It is in the form of a spherical cap and comprises at least nineteen ultrasound transducers, denoted USTs, which are positioned on a first support layer (23) made of an elastic material, each UST being positioned in a support cavity (20), said girdle comprising a second support layer (24), likewise made of an elastic material and which encapsulates said USTs housed in the support cavities (20) with the first support layer (23), assembly being performed by adhesively bonding the first support layer (23) to the second support layer (24).

Method and system for measuring a central pulse wave velocity in a pregnant woman

The present invention relates to a method and system for determining a central pulse wave velocity in a pregnant woman. The method comprises receiving an indication of a measurement of a length of a human aortic path outside the body to provide an aortic length, arranging a sound transducer at the position of the anatomical projection of the uterine artery, identifying the opening of the maternal aortic valve with measurement from the sound transducer as a first time, and the pulse wave arrival time at the uterine artery with measurements from the sound transducer as a second time, determining the central transit time based on the difference between the second time and the first time, and calculating the central pulse wave velocity based on the aortic length and the central transit time.

DEVICES AND METHODS FOR APPLYING ULTRASOUND TO BRAIN STRUCTURES WITHOUT MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
20220314032 · 2022-10-06 ·

Ultrasound treatment of neurological conditions with energy levels that do not cause damage such as heating or cavitation. A method includes detecting a plurality of Doppler signals from a plurality of arteries near a brain structure, aligning an ultrasound transducer with the brain structure based on the plurality of Doppler signals, and applying ultrasound waves from the ultrasound transducer to the brain structure.

Method for positioning a heart valve

Systems and methods for delivery a medical device to a heart valve annulus are disclosed. A method of delivering a medical device to a heart valve annulus includes: (1) aligning a first imaging sensor such that a view of the first imaging sensor is along a primary plane of the heart valve annulus; (2) aligning a second imaging sensor such that a view of the second imaging sensor is along a longitudinal axis of the heart valve annulus; (3) attaching a delivery system holding the medical device to a delivery arm; (4) adjusting the delivery arm to set an angle of the delivery system perpendicular to the primary plane using images from the first imaging sensor; (5) adjusting the delivery arm to center the delivery device in the heart valve annulus using images from the second imaging sensor; and (6) deploying the medical device into the heart valve annulus.

Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus connected to wireless ultrasound probes and method of operating the same

Provided are an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus connected to wireless ultrasound probes and a method of operating the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a communicator connected with a plurality of different wireless probes through a wireless communication method by receiving pairing reception signals from the plurality of wireless ultrasound probes; a controller configured to control the communicator to wirelessly connect the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus with the plurality of wireless ultrasound probes and to wirelessly receive status information regarding the connected plurality of wireless ultrasound probes; and a display configured to display a user interface (UI) indicating the received status information regarding the plurality of wireless ultrasound probes.

Interconnectable ultrasound transducer probes and related methods and apparatus

Ultrasound devices and methods are described, including a repeatable ultrasound transducer probe having ultrasonic transducers and corresponding circuitry. The repeatable ultrasound transducer probe may be used individually or coupled with other instances of the repeatable ultrasound transducer probe to create a desired ultrasound device. The ultrasound devices may optionally be connected to various types of external devices to provide additional processing and image rendering functionality.

ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS DEVICE PROVIDED WITH SAME
20170370886 · 2017-12-28 · ·

Provided is an ultrasonic probe having an adjustable slew rate, the ultrasonic probe having minimal dimensions and circuit sizes. The ultrasonic probe includes: a transducer; a transmitting circuit; a correcting unit; and a distributing unit. The transmitting circuit includes a transducer driving unit and a current source. The transducer driving unit includes a current mirror of a low voltage transistor and a high voltage transistor. The high voltage transistor is connected to the transducer and the current source supplies an operating current to the low voltage transistor of the transducer driving unit. The correcting unit includes a transmission circuit driving unit replica, a bias unit, and an observing unit. The distributing unit transfers a signal to a current source of the transmitting circuit so that the same current value as the current value extracted by the observing unit flows.