A system for aiding a user to perform a medical ultrasound examination comprises a memory comprising instruction data representing a set of instructions; a processor; and a display. The processor is configured to communicate with the memory and to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: i) receive a real-time sequence of ultrasound images captured by an ultrasound probe during the medical ultrasound examination; ii) use a model trained using a machine learning process to take an image frame in the real-time sequence of ultrasound images as input, and output a predicted relevance of one or more image components in the image frame to the medical ultrasound examination being performed; and iii) highlight to the user, in real-time on the display, image components that are predicted by the model to be relevant to the medical ultrasound examination, for further consideration by the user.

Disclosed are a method for quickly creating a scanning protocol, and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus using the method. According to the apparatus and the method, a user's scanning operation is recorded to obtain a to-be-examined target section and a setting parameter of the to-be-examined target section, and a target scanning protocol is generated accordingly. In this way, the user only needs to do a scanning operation the user is familiar with, and the target scanning protocol is created in a simple, rapid and efficient manner.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image obtaining unit, a contour position obtaining unit, a volume information calculating unit, and a controlling unit. The image obtaining unit obtains a plurality of groups of two-dimensional ultrasound image data each of which is generated by performing ultrasound scans, the ultrasound scans being performed on each of a plurality of predetermined cross-sectional planes, and performed for predetermined time. The contour position obtaining unit obtains, by performing a tracking process over the predetermined time period, time-series data of contour positions, the contour positions being either one of, or both of, a cavity interior and a cavity exterior of a predetermined site. The volume information calculating unit calculates, on a basis of a plurality of the time-series data of contour positions, volume information of the predetermined site. The controlling unit exercises control so as to output the volume information.

A device for a mobile ultrasound unit having an ultrasound probe includes a trained orientation neural network and a result converter. The trained orientation neural network receives a non-canonical image of a body part from the mobile ultrasound unit and generates a transformation transforming between a position and rotation associated with a canonical image and a position and rotation associated with the non-canonical image. The result converter converts the transformation into position and/or rotation instructions of the probe and displays the position and/or rotation instructions to a user to change the position and/or rotation of the probe.

Depiction, within a single imaging modality, of an intervention device and body tissue surrounding the device, is improved by interrogating a subject that includes the intervention device and the tissue. An image is created using, for a parameter, a value, of the parameter (160), better suited to one or the other of a device region depicting the intervention device and a tissue region depicting the tissue. The value is used to yield respectively either a first image (152) or a second image (154). Respective presets may correspondingly have different values for the parameter. From jointly the first image and the second image which are both of the single modality, a combination is formed that is an image of the intervention device depicted as surrounded by the tissue. The combinations may be formed dynamically and ongoingly. An apparatus for the improved depiction may be configured for the use of the parameter in a stage prior to image processing conducted on a scan-converted image (146) if such image processing is employed.

A replica control tool (70) for remotely controlling a control handle (71) of an interventional tool (e.g., a probe, a catheter and a flexible scope) robotically controlled by a robotic actuator (50). The replica control tool (70) employs a replica control handle (71) substantially being a replica of a structural configuration of the control handle (71) of the interventional tool, and a control input device (72) (e.g., a joystick or a trackball) movable relative to the replica control handle (71). The replica control tool (70) further employs a robotic actuator controller (75) for remotely controlling the robotic actuator (50) in response to any movement of the control input device (72) relative to the replica control handle. The replica control tool (70) may further employ an electromechanical device (73) (e.g., an accelerometer) co-rotatable with the replica control handle (71) whereby the controller (75) remotely controls the robotic actuator (50) in response to a rotation of the electromechanical device (73).

A guidance apparatus is provided for use with a portable imaging apparatus and an image display. The guidance apparatus comprises a coupling mechanism which may include a slip ring portion structured for receiving the imaging apparatus therein. The coupling mechanism can be structured for: facilitating orienting the image display device to provide a direct line of sight of an area imaged by the imaging apparatus; adjusting to facilitate rotation of the image display device in at least one 360-degree plane of rotation about a longitudinal axis extending through the imaging apparatus; allowing selection of an image display device position associated with a viewing angle of the image display device; and allowing the coupling mechanism, the image display device, and the imaging apparatus, in combination, to be held in a single hand of a user during performance of an imaging procedure.

A delta-sigma beamformer includes a beamsummer and a plurality of delta-sigma modules. Each of the delta sigma modules includes a delta-sigma modulator configured to receive analog ultrasound signals from one or more transducer elements and output a delay line including a plurality of samples based on the analog ultrasound signals. Each delta-sigma modulator includes a comb filter connected to the delta-sigma modulator and configured to output a difference between two of the plurality of samples in the delay line. Each delta-sigma modulator includes an accumulator module. Each accumulator module includes an accumulator connected to the comb filter. Each accumulator module is configured to integrate signals received from the comb filter during a non-delay-expansion period and transmit the integrated signals to the beamsummer during the non-delay-expansion period. Each accumulator module is configured to output a zero to the beamsummer during a delay-expansion period.

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 universal ultrasound device having an ultrasound probe includes a semiconductor die; a plurality of ultrasonic transducers integrated on the semiconductor die, the plurality of ultrasonic transducers configured to operate a first mode associated with a first frequency range and a second mode associated with a second frequency range, wherein the first frequency range is at least partially non-overlapping with the second frequency range; and control circuitry configured to: control the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to generate and/or detect ultrasound signals having frequencies in the first frequency range, in response to receiving an indication to operate the ultrasound probe in the first mode; and control the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to generate and/or detect ultrasound signals having frequencies in the second frequency range, in response to receiving an indication to operate the ultrasound probe in the second mode.