A method and system enable to-be-processed medical image data and its corresponding noise characteristic information to be normalized to resemble noise characteristic information of training data used to train at least one neural network for at least one ultrasound data acquisition mode. After normalizing, this processed medical image data is input into the trained neural network for producing output data used for generating cleaner images. Noise characteristic information can be used directly in training a neural network, generating a trained neural network that can handle medical image data with various noise characteristics.

A medical ultrasound device is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end (10) and a distal end region (1). One or more ultrasound transducers (4) for generating acoustic radiation are positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body. A transmission element (5) which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation is positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, and a controller unit is operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer. The controller unit detects the acoustic path length through the transmission element and determines the temperature at the distal end from the detected acoustic path length. In an embodiment, the medical device is an ultrasound RF ablation catheter.

An ultrasound probe including a probe body having a mounting area and a flexible lip around said mounting area for sealing a space between the mounting area and a subject contacted by the ultrasound probe; and a number of ultrasound transducer elements mounted in the mounting area. The probe body further includes an inlet to said space and an outlet from said space for facilitating a fluid flow through said space when sealed. Also included are an ultrasound system including such an ultrasound probe and a method of subjecting a subject to ultrasound waves generated with such an ultrasound probe.

A photoacoustic tomography system includes a first ring-shaped mirror having a central axis therethrough and configured to converge light inwardly towards the central axis and a subject, and an adjustment mechanism configured to move the first ring-shaped mirror along the central axis to a plurality of different positions. Each position of the plurality of different positions allows the first ring-shaped mirror to illuminate a respective ring of light around a respective portion of the subject, and an acoustic signal detector is movable along the central axis such that acoustic signals can be detected from the respective portion of the subject when illuminated by the first ring-shaped mirror while at each respective position of the plurality of different positions.

Provided is a semiconductor chip, including: a semiconductor substrate; a thin film formed on the semiconductor substrate, the thin film having internal stress; and a semiconductor device formed on the semiconductor substrate that has the thin film formed thereon, wherein the semiconductor chip warps due to the internal stress of the thin film.

An ultrasonic device includes a first substrate including a first surface on which a first electrode coupled to a piezoelectric element is placed, a second substrate including a second surface on which a second electrode is placed, an intermediate substrate placed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a third surface joined to the first surface and a fourth surface facing the second surface, and a bonding portion, wherein the intermediate substrate has a through hole penetrating from the third surface to the fourth surface and a third electrode provided in the through hole and coupled to the first electrode, the second electrode is coupled to the third electrode and electrically coupled to the first electrode via the third electrode, a plurality of the bonding portions are provided in island shapes apart from one another between the second substrate and the intermediate substrate, and at least one of the bonding portions is provided to surround the third electrode.

An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array in which a plurality of transducers that transmit/receive an ultrasound signal to/from an object are arranged in two dimensions; an analog beamformer configured to perform analog beamforming in a first direction, and perform analog beamforming in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on signals respectively received by the plurality of transducers; and a digital beamformer configured to perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction, and perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction.

A piezoelectric member including metal electrodes with improved adhesiveness to piezoelectric elements is to be provided. A piezoelectric member 102 includes a piezoelectric element 21, and a pair of electrodes 41, 42 respectively formed on a pair of opposing surfaces 21b, 21c of the piezoelectric element 21. The electrodes 41, 42 includes: a base film 41a that is formed on the opposing surfaces 21b, 21c of the piezoelectric element 21 and contains a thiol group; a metal adhesive film 41b formed on the base film 41a; and an electrode film 41c that is formed on the metal adhesive film 41b and is for applying voltage to the piezoelectric element 21. The metal adhesive film 41b is formed with a different material from the electrode film 41c, and has a thickness of 1 to 10 nm.

The invention relates to a method for processing a set of signals of a transducer device comprising a respective set of transducer elements, the method comprising the following steps: a processing step in which the received set of signals is processed to a plurality of synthetic waves, and an output step in which the plurality of synthetic waves is outputted through a plurality of channels.

A system for characterizing tissue includes a probe that delivers a continuous and periodic mechanical vibration to a tissue of a subject; an ultrasound emitter that emits a sequence of ultrasound shots and an ultrasound receiver that receives corresponding echo signals to track how the tissue is moved by the periodic mechanical vibration delivered to the tissue; and a control module programmed to provide homogeneity information to an operator of the system, the homogeneity information being determined from at least some of the echo signals and being representative of the ability of the tissue to transmit elastic waves and of the homogeneity of the tissue with respect to the propagation of elastic waves.