A system for creating customized learning content for ultrasound simulators using materials from an existing library of curated content including images, volumetric data sets, and metadata, or otherwise acquired, overcoming numerous challenges to ultrasound education and training, including the ability to seamlessly create real-patient based ultrasound training curriculum, the creation of an expansive library that that represents multiple pathologic conditions, and the dissemination of training content to multiple users in an asynchronous manner.

Apparatus, including an insertion tube, configured to be inserted into a body cavity and having a first lumen having a first lumen diameter and a distal opening, and a tubular channel, having a second lumen and an outer channel diameter smaller than the first lumen diameter, inserted into the first lumen. The apparatus includes a support structure, configured to be passed through a space between an inner wall of the insertion tube and an outer wall of the tubular channel to the distal opening in a folded state and to unfold, upon exit of the support structure through the distal opening, in a direction transverse to the first lumen to reach a support dimension that is greater than the first lumen diameter. A plurality of planar two-dimensional arrays of ultrasonic transducers are supported by the support structure, the arrays having transverse dimensions less than the first lumen diameter.

An ultrasound imaging system with an inertial tracking sensor (20) rigidly fixed to an ultrasound probe (10). In a first embodiment, a real-time pose estimation unit (32) enhances image based tracking using the inertial data stream to calculate out-of-plane angles of rotation and determine an out-of-plane translation by iteratively selecting planes with the estimated out-of-plane rotations with varying out-of-plane offset, computing the differences between sub-plane distances computed by speckle analysis and the selected plane minimizing for the root mean square of the differences for all selected planes. In another embodiment, the real-time pose estimation unit enhances inertial tracking using the ultrasound image data stream to estimate an in-plane rotation angle; and substituting the in-plane rotation angle for an angle of rotation estimated using the inertial data stream.

An ultrasound probe positioning system comprises a positioning unit for holding an ultrasound probe unit and for moving the ultrasound probe unit and positioning it at a target position and a positioning control unit configured to provide target positioning data indicative of a target position that establishes a mechanical contact of the ultrasound probe unit with an external object and to control the mechanical positioning unit in moving and positioning the ultrasound probe at the target position. The positioning unit comprises a force actuation unit configured to adapt a pressing force amount of a mechanical pressing force exerted on the object in response to a variation of a counterforce amount so as to maintain a predetermined net pressing force amount exerted by the mechanical pressing force against the counterforce.

An ultrasound diagnostic system (1) includes an ultrasound probe (2), a handheld type diagnostic apparatus main body (3), and a server (4), the ultrasound probe (2) includes a position sensor (14) that detects a measurement position of the ultrasound probe (2), the diagnostic apparatus main body (3) includes an image generation unit (22) that generates an ultrasound image and a monitor (24), the server (4) detects an organ of a subject by analyzing the ultrasound image and calculates a score of the measurement position with respect to an optimum position in a case of measuring the detected organ by the ultrasound probe (2), and the score is transmitted from the server (4) to the diagnostic apparatus main body (3) and displayed on the monitor (24).

In accordance with the invention, a reliable apparatus for guiding an ablation probe to a target location inside a human body is thus provided. The apparatus allows incorporation of a conventional metal operating room table, but further comprises a substantially non-conductive separation structure positioned over the metal operating room table and underneath a horizontally oriented electromagnetic field generator. The resultant structure is adapted to support a human body in the prone or supine position over the operating table. Further support padding may also be provided. The electromagnetic field generator creates an electromagnetic field that extends through the torso of said human body positioned over the electromagnetic field generator. An ultrasound probe and ablation probe interacts with the electromagnetic field to generate positional information that is processed by a computing device to generate a graphic representation of location information on a display device.

An interventional instrument (30) having ultrasound sensors (S1, S2, S3, S4, . . . ) is tracked using an ultrasound imaging device (10) that acquires and displays a 2D ultrasound image of a visualization plane (18), and performs 2D ultrasound sweeps for a range of plane angles (θ) obtained by rotating the ultrasound probe (12) and encompassing the visualization plane angle. For each ultrasound sensor, an optimal plane is found based on its emitted signal strength over the range of plane angles, and the ultrasound sensor is located in its optimal plane by analyzing the sensor signal as a function of the timing of the beams fired by the ultrasound probe. These locations in their respective optimal planes are transformed to a 3D reference space using a transform (42) parameterized by plane angle, and a visual indicator is displayed of spatial information (T, L) for the interventional instrument generated from the locations of the one or more ultrasound sensors in the 3D reference space.

An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes a position detector, and control circuitry. The position detector detects a position in a three-dimensional space of one of an ultrasonic image and an ultrasonic probe. The control circuitry uses a vivisection view defined in a three-dimensional space. The control circuitry associates a structure related to a subject included in the ultrasonic image with a structure included in the vivisection view using a position and orientation in a first three-dimensional coordinate system of the structure related to the subject included in the ultrasonic image and a position and orientation in a second three-dimensional coordinate system of the structure included in the vivisection view.

An ultrasound system including an ultrasound machine and an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound transducer, ultrasound circuitry, a six degree of freedom (6-DOF) sensor, and a probe housing. The probe housing encases the ultrasound transducer and the 6-DOF sensor. By embedding motion-sensing technology directly within the housing of the ultrasound transducer, the position and orientation of the ultrasound probe can be tracked in an automated manner in relation to an indicator mark on the ultrasound screen. This allows assisting technologies to mitigate human error that arises from misalignment of the transducer indicator.

An ultrasound probe in combination with at least an operating unit such as a tracking sensor or receiver and/or a keypad and/or a surgical tool support, wherein the probe and the at least one operating unit are each one provided with one of two parts of a releasable joint, the said two parts of the joint being releasably engageable one with the other by magnetic force and by mechanical coupling.