An operation method of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes executing one or more imaging series of steps with an ultrasound transducer; and applying a polarization processing to the ultrasound transducer one or more of before, after, and interleaved between the one or more imaging series of steps, where the polarization processing is separate from the one or more imaging series of steps.

An endoscope add-on assembly adapted to be attached to a target endoscope. The assembly includes an ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, including a communications cable connected to an ultrasound imaging head and an imaging head movement sub-assembly, including a conduit, holding a tension member that is attached to the ultrasound imaging head. Further included are connective elements, adapted to permit the endoscope add-on assembly to be attached to the target endoscope. Finally, the imaging head movement sub-assembly is detachable from the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, thereby permitting the imaging head movement subassembly to be processed separately from the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, after use.

Methods include capturing intravascular ultrasound images. A drive motor is used to actively drive an ultrasound transducer at a set rotation speed. A temporary sensing window is created in which the ultrasound transducer is driven with a fixed drive signal. A plurality of signals from are received the ultrasound transducer during the temporary sensing window.

An ultrasound catheter and an ultrasound catheter system that can acquire an image of an observation target with high accuracy when inserted into a large inner lumen. An ultrasound catheter includes: an outer sheath having an accommodation lumen; an inner sheath that can move along an axis; a drive shaft that can rotate in the inner sheath and the outer sheath; and a transducer that is disposed in the accommodation lumen and fixed to a distal end of the drive shaft. The outer sheath includes a first bent portion bent and shaped in advance at a predetermined angle on a proximal side of a most distal end of the accommodation lumen, and a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion positioned on a distal side of the first bent portion and on the proximal side of the most distal end of the accommodation lumen.

An elongated access device used in a medical system. The elongated access device slidably receives a medical tool and an ultrasound probe. The elongated access device includes a sheath and an intraluminal tip attached to the distal end of the sheath. The intraluminal tip includes ramp and nose donuts being spaced apart from one another and configured to be attached to one or more elongated sleeves. One or more orientation pins are engaged with the respective ramp and nose donuts and may be anchored within the sheath. The medical tool is engaged with a ramp formed in the ramp donut or a ramp received within the ramp donut. The ultrasound probe is configured to engage with the intraluminal tip so as to ensure that the medical tool directionality is oriented toward a target during a procedure.

The invention relates to ultrasound imaging method and apparatus suitable for minimally invasive ultrasound diagnostic devices in cardiac ablation monitoring and in tumor ablation monitoring. The present invention proposes an assembly of forward and side-facing transducers and a system of embedded forward and side-facing transducers in apertures on surfaces of the assembly. This provides control of the acoustic properties of the transducer and improved ablation monitoring when the assembly is incorporated in a medical device.

A bending neck comprising a plurality of pivotally connected hollow links is formed by machining a tube to form individual, pivotally connected links. A second tube may be located inside the first tube and simultaneously machined with the first tube. Grooves are formed on opposite sides of the outer surface of the second tube to provide a passageway for control cables which control the articulation of the links. In a second implementation indentations are formed in the side of the single tube to form ring-like projections into the inner lumen of each link, through which the control cables may pass.

An ultrasound transducer includes: an acoustic matching layer; plural piezoelectric elements arrayed on the acoustic matching layer; and plural blocks arranged adjacent to at least one of ends of the piezoelectric elements in an elevation direction of the piezoelectric elements, each of the plural blocks including an abrasive.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for controlling the sampling of tissue using a guidewire. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a handle, a flexible dual lumen catheter couplable to the handle, and a guidewire guide disposed at a distal end of the flexible dual lumen catheter.

Imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly directed to imaging a region of interest in tissue with photoacoustic and ultrasound modalities. In some embodiments, a medical sensing system (100) includes a measurement apparatus (102) configured to be placed within a vascular pathway. The measurement apparatus may include a sensor array (106) comprising two or more sensor modalities. The sensor array may be configured to receive sound waves created by the interaction between emitted optical pulses and tissue, transmit and receive ultrasound signals, and rotate around a longitudinal axis of the measurement device. The medical sensing system may also include a processing engine operable to produce images of the region of interest and a display configured to visually display the image of the region of interest.