Provided is a non-invasive system and method of determining pennation angle and/or fascicle length based on image processing. An ultrasound scan image is processed to facilitate distinguishing of muscle fiber and tendon. The processed ultrasound scan image is then analyzed. The pennation angle and/or fascicle length is determined based on the analysis. An example method includes receiving an ultrasound scan image of at least a portion of a skin layer as disposed above one or more additional tissue layers, the image provided by a plurality of pixels. The method continues by introducing noise into the pixels of the image and thresholding the pixels of the image to provide a binary image having a plurality of structural elements of different sizes. The method continues with morphing the structural elements of the binary image to remove small structural elements and connect large structural elements. With this resulting image, the method distinguishes muscle fiber and tendon from remaining elements and determines the pennation angle and/or the fascicle length from the muscle fiber and the tendon. Associated apparatuses and computer program products are also disclosed.

This present invention discloses a fetal monitoring device that enables the monitoring of an unborn baby's heartbeat and its movements inside the womb. The fetal monitoring device includes an elastic strap with a fetal monitor disposed centrally on the strap. The fetal monitoring device is worn such that the strap fits to the abdomen of the pregnant woman, and the fetal monitor is placed adjacent to the location of the fetus, so as to monitor the fetus' condition and further project real-time imagery of the unborn baby on a related display device.

An ultrasonic diagnostic system that may include a transducer having a deformable housing, at least one securing member, and an ultrasonic transducer array disposed in the deformable housing. The transducer array may include a plurality of transducer elements and the deformable housing flexes to conform to a surface contour of a selected region on a body of a patient. An information processing device may be in signal communication with the transducer and may include at least one beamforming algorithm and at least one image enhancement algorithm. The at least one beamforming algorithm may be configured to correct for arbitrary positions of the transducer elements of the ultrasonic transducer array.

A method for diagnosing a joint condition includes in one embodiment: creating a 3d model of the patient specific bone; registering the patient's bone with the bone model; tracking the motion of the patient specific bone through a range of motion; selecting a database including empirical mathematical descriptions of the motion of a plurality actual bones through ranges of motion; and comparing the motion of the patient specific bone to the database.

An ultrasound system is disclosed comprising an ultrasound transducer array (100) comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer cells (130), each of said cell having an independently adjustable position and/or orientation such as to conform an ultrasound transmitting surface of the cell to a region of a body and a controller (140). The controller is configured to register the respective ultrasound transducer cells by simultaneously operating at least two ultrasound transducer cells in a transmit mode in which the cells transmit distinguishable ultrasound signals and operating the remaining ultrasound transducer cells in a receive mode. The controller extracts time-of-flight information of the respective ultrasound signals between transmitter and receiver and by systematically selecting different ultrasound transducer cells as transmitters, the controller collects sufficient time-of-flight information from which the respective position and/or relative orientation of the ultrasound transducer cells within the ultrasound transducer array may be derived. A method for operating the ultrasound system in this manner as well as a computer program product is also disclosed.

An ultrasound transducer probe holder device comprising a support piece; a base connected to the support piece; a cylindrical orifice within the support piece; a housing extending from the orifice and defining a cavity; a sleeve for insertion within the orifice; and an adjustment screw fitted in the housing for contact with the sleeve. The device supports and maintains the position of an ultrasound transducer probe to provide for a hands-free application of the device during different modalities of exercise required to instigate hyperemic conditions while providing x, y, z, positional adjustments of the probe relative to the patient.

A method includes emitting an acoustic signal into an airway of a user. The method further includes, detecting an acoustic reflection of the acoustic signal caused by one or more physical features within the airway of the user. The method also includes analyzing acoustic data associated with the acoustic reflection. The method also further includes characterizing an occurrence of the physical obstruction in the airway of the user. The characterization is based, at least in part, on the analyzed acoustic data. The characterization is indicative of an apnea event or a hypopnea event in the user, wherein the apnea event comprises an obstructive apnea event, a central apnea event or a mixed apnea event, and further distinguishes between the occurrence of the obstructive apnea event, the central apnea event, the mixed apnea event or the hypopnea event in the user.

Techniques of this disclosure are for a transducer array device, method and system. An ultrasound wrap for securing an array of piezoelectric transducers at a thoracic cavity anterior for echocardiology imaging, the ultrasound wrap including a transducer portion having an array of piezoelectric transducers mounted to an inner concave surface of a semi-rigid structure, and a securing portion extending from the transducer portion and comprising flexible material securely fitting around the thorax of a patient limiting the movement of the transducer portion.

Provided is a non-invasive system and method of determining pennation angle and/or fascicle length based on image processing. An ultrasound scan image is processed to facilitate distinguishing of muscle fiber and tendon. The processed ultrasound scan image is then analyzed. The pennation angle and/or fascicle length is determined based on the analysis. An example method includes receiving an ultrasound scan image of at least a portion of a skin layer as disposed above one or more additional tissue layers, the image provided by a plurality of pixels. The method continues by introducing noise into the pixels of the image and thresholding the pixels of the image to provide a binary image having a plurality of structural elements of different sizes. The method continues with morphing the structural elements of the binary image to remove small structural elements and connect large structural elements. With this resulting image, the method distinguishes muscle fiber and tendon from remaining elements and determines the pennation angle and/or the fascicle length from the muscle fiber and the tendon. Associated apparatuses and computer program products are also disclosed.

Systems and methods can include a system for positioning an ultrasound probe proximal to anatomy of a patient on an overlay on a radiation couch including a substantially planar base including engagement features to directly or indirectly index the substantially planar base to the radiation couch and a centrally located guide extending longitudinally along a top side of the base, a probe holder, configured to be coupled to, to translate longitudinally, and to be user-accessed and user-controlled from within, a central region of the substantially planar base, a clamp, configured to localize the probe holder at a specified location along a translation path in the central region of the substantially planar base, leg supports shaped to accommodate a patient's legs from behind, the pair of leg supports being shaped and arranged to provide a space therebetween that can accommodate an ultrasound probe holder.