Ultrasound scanners that are initialized and placed to the side in a sterile bag for use in a sterile environment may suffer overheating and cut out early, because the bag represents a poor cooling environment. The rate of increase in temperature of a scanner is monitored and a determination is made as to whether the scanner is in a regular environment or a poor cooling environment. If the scanner is in a poor cooling environment, the scanner is switched from a regular state of operation to a poor cooling state of operation. In the poor cooling state of operation, the scanner settings consume less power and generate less heat on the whole than the regular scanner settings. The scanner reverts to higher power settings as and when needed to perform the desired scan. The user interface on an associated display device also changes in response to the scanner entering the poor cooling state of operation.

A system and method for ultrasound treatment of skin laxity are provided. Systems and methods can include ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, delivering ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and/or monitoring the treatment area to assess the results and/or provide feedback. In an embodiment, a treatment system and method can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal or deep dermal components of tissue.

An ultrasound probe includes: a casing; a plurality of piezoelectric devices that are arranged inside the casing; an acoustic matching layer that is attached to ultrasound radiation surfaces of the piezoelectric devices; a shared ground that is arranged on a surface of the acoustic matching layer to allow at least a part of the shared ground to come in contact with the piezoelectric devices; a deformation preventing member that is arranged in contact with the surface of the acoustic matching layer to surround an outer periphery of the piezoelectric devices and to be separated from the piezoelectric devices; a coaxial line configured to transmit a signal to each of the piezoelectric devices; and a circuit board that is arranged on an opposite side to the ultrasound radiation surfaces of the piezoelectric devices, the circuit board being configured to electrically connect the piezoelectric devices and the coaxial line.

A matrix array ultrasound probe passively dissipates heat developed by the matrix array transducer and beamformer ASIC away from the distal end of the probe. The heat developed in the transducer stack is coupled to a metallic frame inside the handle of probe. A metallic heatspreader is thermally coupled to the probe frame to convey heat away from the frame. The heatspreader surrounds the inside of the probe handle and has an outer surface which is thermally coupled to the inner surface of the probe housing. Heat is thereby coupled evenly from the heatspreader into the housing without the development of hotspots in the housing which could be uncomfortable to the hand of the sonographer.

Some embodiments provide a method of providing ultrasound energy having a stable power output. The method can comprise providing ultrasound energy from a ultrasound transducer; determining a power level threshold of the ultrasound energy; monitoring a power level of the ultrasound energy over time of the ultrasound energy; communicating a power level to a controller; adjusting the frequency of the ultrasound energy upon a change in the power level; and maintaining the power level threshold of the ultrasound energy.

A cryosurgical system including a computer system programmed with software configured to perform the following steps: a) capturing at least one first view of a region of interest in a human body; b) capturing at least one second view of the region of interest; c) outlining the region of interest and at least one area outside the region of interest with the assistance of an operator; d) constructing a 3-dimensional model of the region of interest and the at least one area outside the region of interest utilizing the at least one first view and the at least one second view of the region of interest; and e) utilizing the 3-dimensional model of the region of interest and the at least one area outside the region of interest to determine at least one cryosurgical probe placement location.

A method and system for noninvasive face lifts and deep tissue tightening are disclosed. An exemplary method and treatment system are configured for the imaging, monitoring, and thermal injury to treat the SMAS region. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary method and system are configured for treating the SMAS region by first, imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area and surrounding structures, second, delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth, distribution, timing, and energy level to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, and third to monitor the treatment area before, during, and after therapy to plan and assess the results and/or provide feedback.

An ultrasound probe which is connected to an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an acoustic element for converting an electric signal and an ultrasound to each other, an electric signal processing circuit electrically connected to the acoustic element, a case for storing the acoustic element and the electric signal processing circuit, an acoustic element board for electrically connecting the acoustic element to the electric signal processing circuit, and a partition part which is arranged to contact with the case and separates the acoustic element and the electric signal processing circuit. A space on the side of the acoustic element in the case separated by the partition part is filled with a first material having lower thermal conductivity than that of a material for forming an inner wall surface of the case. Accordingly, the heat generated by a circuit unit such as the electric signal processing circuit can be more efficiently dissipated.

Various methods and systems are provided for a removable transducer module having memory. In one example, a transducer module for an ultrasound imaging system comprises a casing configured to fit into a module receiver of the ultrasound imaging system, an array of transducer elements, and a non-transitory memory configured to store at least one of usage data and specification data for the transducer module.

A distributed ultrasound system includes a portable ultrasound system comprising: one or more transmitters configured to transmit ultrasound waves into a subject region; one or more receivers configured to receive ultrasound waves from the subject region in response to the ultrasound waves transmitted into the subject region; and a portable ultrasound processing unit configured to perform ultrasound image processing for generating one or more ultrasound images of the subject region using, at least in part, the ultrasound waves received from the subject region by the one or more receivers, wherein the portable ultrasound system is handheld and capable of being moved over a patient's body to an area proximate to the subject region; and an external ultrasound docking unit configured to receive and electrically couple with the portable ultrasound system and offload at least a portion of the ultrasound image processing from the portable ultrasound system when the portable ultrasound system is coupled to the external ultrasound docking unit, wherein the portable ultrasound system determines whether to offload the at least a portion of the ultrasound image processing based at least one of a temperature or a battery level of portable ultrasound system.