An example monitoring device for detecting and measuring a vital sign of a subject includes: a base; a battery mounted to the base; first and second transceivers attached to the base at opposing angles, and powered by the battery to transmit pulses and receive reflected pulses; an antenna powered by the battery, and configured to wirelessly transmit data acquired from the first and second transceivers; and a computing device powered by the battery, and operatively coupled to the first and second transceivers and the antenna, the computing device having a processing device and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the monitoring device to determine a respiration rate by detecting a cyclical change in distance based on the reflected pulses.

The medical imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a bath tank for accommodating a test subject, the test subject being at least a portion of a body of a human subject; a measurement device movable in a predetermined direction, the measurement device including ab group of elements to emit a radiation wave into the bath tank and receive a scattered radiation wave; and a control unit for measuring by the measurement device when at least one of a location of the test subject within a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction, a location of the test subject in the predetermined direction, and continuity of data measured by the measurement device satisfies a predetermined condition. Because of this configuration, the medical imaging apparatus is able to acquire data covering the entire measurement target site.

An ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment comprises an ultrasonic-transducer element array, an offset and an exterior member. The ultrasonic-transducer element array is formed by a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements. The offset is provide on an ultrasonic-transmitting and receiving side of the ultrasonic-transducer element array and includes a contact portion with a subject. The exterior member supports the offset. The offset has at least a first region that is formed by a curved surface having a first curvature and arranged in the middle of the contact portion and a second region that is formed by a curved surface having a second curvature greater than the first curvature and arranged on an edge of the contact portion.

Even when an insertion object is inserted to a deep position of a subject or even when the insertion object is inserted into the subject at an angle close to a right angle, it is possible to confirm the position of the insertion object in a photoacoustic image. The insertion object is, for example, a hollow puncture needle 15 that includes an opening at a tip thereof. The puncture needle 15 includes a light guide member 152 that guides light emitted from a first light source to the vicinity of the opening, and a light emitting portion 153 that is provided in the vicinity of the opening and emits the light. First photoacoustic waves, which are caused by the light emitted from the light emitting portion 153, are generated in the puncture needle 15. A first photoacoustic image is generated on the basis of the first photoacoustic waves.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for managing one or more patients. In one implementation, an imaging window is determined based on a location of a probe. A primary image cross-section for the imaging window is identified for the imaging window. At least one image is generated along the primary image cross-section using patient data captured using the probe. The at least one image is compared to an expected image contour scaffold of the primary image cross-section. The probe is commanded to fine-tune an imaging plane based on the comparison until the at least one image matches the expected image contour scaffold of the primary image cross-section.

Arrangements described herein relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods for a disposable kit containing medical items configured for a medical device including a head cradle to support a head of a subject, the disposable kit includes a container that encloses a head cradle pad configured to be affixed to the head cradle, at least one fiducial marker configured to be disposed on a location at the head of the subject, and at least one enclosure configured to cover a portion of the medical device.

An ultrasonic probe includes: a piezoelectric element that is used for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a signal electrode that is disposed at a rear surface side of the piezoelectric element; and a backing that is disposed at a rear surface side of the signal electrode, wherein the backing has a thermal resistance of 8 K/W or less, and the backing attenuates an ultrasonic wave with the lowest frequency by 10 dB or more, among frequencies at which transmittance and reception sensitivity of the ultrasonic probe is decreased from the maximum value thereof by 20 dB.

Even when an insertion object is inserted to a deep position of a subject or even when the insertion object is inserted into the subject at an angle close to a right angle, it is possible to confirm the position of the insertion object in a photoacoustic image. The insertion object is, for example, a hollow puncture needle 15 that includes an opening at a tip thereof. The puncture needle 15 includes a light guide member 152 that guides light emitted from a first light source to the vicinity of the opening, and a light emitting portion 153 that is provided in the vicinity of the opening and emits the light. First photoacoustic waves, which are caused by the light emitted from the light emitting portion 153, are generated in the puncture needle 15. A first photoacoustic image is generated on the basis of the first photoacoustic waves.

An ultrasound probe is disclosed including a body (102), a lens included on head portion (44) of the body, a stabilizing portion (146) extending from the body and configured to stabilize the body on a skin surface of a patient without user assistance, and a finger-grip portion (110) configured to enable a user of the ultrasound probe to grasp and maneuver the ultrasound probe during use thereof with no more than two or three fingers on a single hand of the user. The ultrasound probe may further include a cable conduit (194) and a cable boot (195) configured to house a distal-end portion of a power-and-data cable and to keep the cable away from the head portion. The stabilizing portion may include a latitudinal channel (147) that reduces a surface area of the stabilizing portion intended to face the skin surface of the patient, in order to facilitate movement of the ultrasound probe across the skin surface and to reduce suction hen gel is present and the ultrasound probe is removed from the patient.

A method of non-destructive evaluation of mechanical properties of a material using ultrasonic waves in a monostatic configuration is disclosed. The method comprises remotely scanning a sample of the material without directly contacting the sample, measuring an acoustic impedance of the scanned sample, and calculating mechanical properties of the material using the acoustic impedance.