According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires first echo data in a first mode, and acquires second echo data in a second mode. The processing circuitry sequentially generates a first image including a B-mode image based on the first echo data in the first mode, and sequentially generates a second image not including a B-mode image based on the second echo data in the second mode. The processing circuitry sequentially generates a third image from pre-acquired volume data. The processing circuitry directs a display to sequentially display the first image and the third image in the first mode, and to sequentially display the second image and the third image in the second mode.

An ultrasound imaging system and method accesses an imaging protocol for an ultrasound imaging session. The imaging protocol includes designated views that are to be obtained to complete the imaging protocol. Image data is acquired with an ultrasound imaging system, and artificial intelligence is used to identify a portion of the image data corresponding to at least one of the designated views of the imaging protocol. The identified portion of the image data corresponding to the designated view(s) of imaging protocol is automatically saved, and a graphical progress-of-completeness indicator of the imaging protocol is displayed that indicates that one or more of: the designated views of the imaging protocol that have been acquired and/or that one or more additional designated views of the imaging protocol have yet to be acquired.

A medical image diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry configured to acquire signals from a subject over time, calculate a first similarity representing a similarity of the signals between frames with respect to each of a plurality of frames and a plurality of positions and calculate a second similarity representing a similarity of change of the first similarity over time between the positions, and output the second similarity.

A method and a system for producing images of a subject, such as the heart of a human being. The method may comprise acquiring ultrasound images of the subject with a catheter comprising a position sensor. The method may also comprise capturing a plurality of 4D surface registration points in the acquired ultrasound images corresponding to points on the subject. The method may also comprise registering, in space and time, a high-resolution 4D model of the subject with the plurality of 4D surface registration points. The method may also comprise displaying high resolution, real-time images of the subject during a medical procedure based on the registration of the high resolution 4D model to the 4D surface registration points. Embodiments of the present invention are especially useful in left atrium ablation procedures.

Systems and methods for triggering the acquisition of elastography measurements based on motion data are disclosed. Motion data may be acquired by Doppler mode imaging in some embodiments. The motion data may be used to generate a trigger signal. The trigger signal may be provided to a transmit controller. The transmit controller may cause an ultrasound transducer to acquire elastography measurements responsive to the trigger signal.

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system acquires volume image flow data sets of subvolumes of a blood vessel over at least a cardiac cycle. Image data of the subvolumes is then aligned both spatially and temporally to produce 3D images of the volume flow of the blood vessel over a heart cycle. A volume flow profile curve is produced from the acquired volume image flow data sets. The subvolumes are scanned starting with the center of the blood vessel and proceeding outward therefrom. The blood vessel center may be designated manually by a user or automatically by the ultrasound system by Doppler or other methods. Each subvolume is scanned over a heart cycle, with the systolic phase in the temporal center of the acquisition interval. The subvolumes are scanned in synchronism with the heart cycle and the estimation of a heart cycle is updated during each subvolume data acquisition interval.

The present disclosure describes systems and methods configured to determine shear wave velocity and tissue stiffness levels of thin tissue of finite size, also referred to as bounded tissue, via shear wave elastography. Systems can include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echoes responsive to pulses transmitted toward a tissue. Systems can also transmit a push pulse into the tissue for generating shear waves, and tracking pulses intersecting the shear waves. The system can also apply a directional filter to received echo data and generate directionally filtered shear wave data based on a dimension and angular orientation of the bounded target relative to the ultrasound transducer. The system can estimate velocities of the shear waves at different shear wave frequencies based on the filtered shear wave data and angular orientation relative to the transducer, and determine a tissue stiffness value independent of the shape or form of the tissue.

A device for vibration controlled transient elastography, in particular to quantify liver fibrosis, includes an ultrasound probe for elastography comprising a probe casing, at least one ultrasound transducer having a symmetry axis, a vibrator, and a force sensor, wherein the vibrator is arranged to induce a movement of the probe casing along the symmetry axis of the ultrasound transducer, the ultrasound transducer being bound to the probe casing with no motion of the ultrasound transducer relative to the probe casing, and wherein the device includes a signal generator configured to issue a contact ready signal when the force applied by the probe on the to-be-measured viscoelastic medium is greater than a minimum contact force threshold. The signal generator may further be configured to issue a measurement ready signal when the force is greater than a minimum measurement force threshold.

A method for measuring viscoelastic properties of a viscoelastic medium, the method including positioning a probe in contact with the viscoelastic medium, the probe extending along a longitudinal axis and being adapted to carry out transient elastography measurements and including a casing, at least one ultrasound a transducer arranged at a tip of the probe and adapted to generate ultrasounds, a force sensor configured to measure a force applied by the tip of the probe, and a vibrator arranged in the casing and adapted to generate a low-frequency wave, measuring a contact force by the force sensor; generating a measurement ready signal by the probe when the measured contact force is higher than a minimum measurement force threshold, and when the measurement ready signal has been generated, triggering a transient elastography measurement.

An ultrasound image processing apparatus includes an image processor arrangement that receives a plurality of ultrasound images. Each ultrasound image shows an invasive medical device relative to an anatomical feature during a cardiac cycle. At different phases of the cardiac cycle, the anatomical feature has a different shape. The ultrasound processing apparatus compiles groups of the ultrasound images with ultrasound images in each group belonging to the same phase of the cardiac cycle. The ultrasound image processing apparatus generates an augmented ultrasound image from one of the ultrasound images by removing a shadow region on the anatomical feature of interest caused by the invasive medical device based on a displacement of the invasive medical device.