The present invention relates to ultrasound imaging on a capsule endoscope platform. It relates to the generation of a focused ultrasound acoustic signal and the receiving of echo signals from the wall of a body lumen with an array of acoustic transducers wrapped around the circumference of the capsule. It relates to sending the generated echo image signals to receiver devices attached or worn on the body. It relates to the generation of 360 overlapping sidewall ultrasound scans of a body lumen, and image processing techniques to assemble these scans into a high resolution continuous ultrasound image. Finally, it relates to the manufacture and assembly of such an ultrasound scanning capsule endoscope (USCE). The concept is extendable to conventional endoscopes and catheters.

The present invention provides improved medical imaging apparatuses, systems and methods, especially those using ultrasonography. For example, an imaging system can include a transducer, a scanner, a signal processing unit, and a display unit. The scanner, coupled to the transducer, can convert analog signals to a plurality of digital signals. The signal processing unit, coupled to the scanner, can be configured to: receive the plurality of digital signals; multiply a first magnitude estimate of the plurality of digital signals by a probability that an actual magnitude of the plurality of digital signals is greater than zero to determine a second magnitude; and form an image based on the second magnitude estimate. The display unit displays the image. The present invention also provides for products produced by the methods of the present invention and for apparatuses used to perform the methods of the present invention.

An ultrasound image system has a plurality of channels. At least one of the plurality of channels has a capacitive T/R switch.

A system for high voltage protection may comprise a high voltage protection module electrically connected to a transmitter module and a receiver module and a muting module connected to the high voltage protection module and the receiver module. A method for high voltage protection may comprise disposing a downhole tool into a wellbore, transmitting an excitation signal from the transmitter module to transceiver as a high voltage pulse signal to the high voltage protection module, reducing the high voltage pulse signal with the high voltage protection module, and preventing saturation of the receiver with a low impedance interface from the muting module.

An ultrasound (US) imaging system (100) is disclosed. The US imaging system (100) includes an ultrasound imaging device (110) comprising a transducer; and a digital transducer interface (DTI (206)). The DTI (206) includes a plurality of transducer ports (309) each comprising a plurality of digital data streams adapted to transmit digitized echo output data from the ultrasound imaging device (110). The transducer ports (309) are adapted to connect to the ultrasound imaging device (110). The US system also includes: a switching circuit (301) connected to each of the plurality of transducer ports (309); and a controller (102) adapted to control switches (24) of the switching circuit (301) to transmit digital input data to and the digital echo output data from one of the plurality of transducer ports (309) at a time.