A processor in an ultrasound imaging system identifies faults or errors in the system. In one embodiment, fault or error conditions are detected by monitoring system parameters during a self-test. In another embodiment, a processor provides ultrasound image data to a trained neural network to identify fault conditions in a transducer or the imaging system. In some embodiments, the processor makes adjustments to one or more operating parameters to compensate for the identified fault conditions so that the system continues to operate and produce images with the detected fault condition.

Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.

An example medical probe apparatus includes a main body; and a head which is detachably provided in the main body, and includes a transducer array configured to output an ultrasound for diagnosis of an object, the main body including: a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal to and from the transducer array through a plurality of channels; and at least one processor configured to control the transceiver to transmit a predetermined test signal to the transducer array of the head mounted to the main body, determine a probe type corresponding to the transducer array of the mounted head based on a feedback signal received through the transceiver in response to the test signal, and make the probe apparatus operate corresponding to the determined probe type.

Techniques for operating an ultrasonic sensor array, the ultrasonic sensor array disposed under a platen, include: making a determination whether or not to recalibrate the ultrasonic sensor array based on whether a first screen protector disposed above the platen has been removed or replaced by a second screen protector; and recalibrating the ultrasonic sensor array, when the determination is to recalibrate the ultrasonic sensor array. In some cases, the techniques include prompting a user to indicate whether or not the screen protector has been changed or removed, and recalibrating the ultrasonic sensor array only after confirmation from the user.

The invention is directed to an ultrasound probe (1) configured to be operatively coupled to a cable (10), the cable (10) comprising a plurality of lanes adapted to carry signals between the ultrasound probe (1) and a data processing unit, which is adapted to process the signals, in particular to beamform the signals and to reconstruct ultrasound images of an imaging region. The ultrasonic probe (1) comprises a transducer head comprising a plurality of transducer elements, which are adapted to insonify the imaging region according to an insonification scheme and to receive ultrasound signals, and a controller adapted to, responsive to the information of a faulty lane from a fault detection module adapted to detect integrity of each of the plurality of lanes, redistribute and/or reconfigure the signals carried by the faulty lane onto one or more of the non-faulty lanes.

Some disclosed methods involve acquiring, via an ultrasonic sensor system, first (reference) ultrasonic signals at a first time and acquiring second ultrasonic signals via the ultrasonic sensor system at a second time. Such methods may involve determining, based at least in part on a comparison of the first ultrasonic signals and the second ultrasonic signals, whether one or more layers reside on the cover glass at the second time. If it is determined that the one or more layers reside on the cover glass at the second time, some methods may involve determining one or more signal characteristics corresponding to properties of the one or more layers and determining, based at least in part on the one or more properties, whether the one or more layers are compatible with the ultrasonic sensor system. If so, the method may involve calibrating the ultrasonic sensor system.

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate apertures of ultrasound arrays. Some embodiments provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound probes having continuous arrays of ultrasound transducers which may have a substantially continuous concave curved shape in two or three dimensions (i.e., concave relative to an object to be imaged). Other embodiments herein provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound imaging probes having other unique configurations, such as adjustable probes and probes with variable configurations.

A method of determining a position of a target using a metric comprises receiving a plurality of ultrasound signals representative of ultrasound energy received from the target and, for each of a plurality of different foci, adjusting the ultrasound signals in dependence on the focus and determining a value of the metric using the adjusted ultrasound signals. The method further comprises using the determined values for the metric for the different foci to determine a position of the target.

In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a control method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, the ultrasound probe generates an ultrasound image, assigns a time stamp for each frame to the ultrasound image, and wirelessly transmits the ultrasound image to which the time stamp is assigned, to the diagnostic apparatus main body. The diagnostic apparatus main body receives the ultrasound image, determines continuity of frames on the basis of the time stamp, assigns a weight to the ultrasound image of the past frame on the basis of the continuity of the frames, performs correlation processing between the ultrasound image of the current frame and the ultrasound image of the past frame to which the weight is assigned, generates a display image, and displays the display image on the monitor.

An ultrasonic imaging system including an array transducer that includes a plurality of elements each performing at least one of emission or reception of ultrasonic waves, at least some of the plurality of elements being disposed so as to face each other. The ultrasonic imaging system performs malfunction inspection including specifying one emitting element among emitting elements that emit ultrasonic waves and a group of receiving elements that are at least some of the plurality of elements and that receive transmitted waves emitted from the emitting element and transmitted through an imaging region; collecting measurement data of the transmitted waves via the group of receiving elements while switching the emitting element; calculating transfer characteristic values from the measurement data; and detecting a malfunctioning element among the plurality of elements on the basis of the transfer characteristic values.