A device for treatment of a tissue (8) of a living being, including a transducer (4) for emitting a beam of ultrasound waves mounted on a movable treatment head (1), an ultrasonic imaging device (2, 3), optionally an inflatable balloon (5) surrounding the treatment head (1) and containing a coupling fluid, and a control unit for controlling movement of the treatment head (1) and operation of the transducer (4) and the imaging device (2, 3). In order to avoid displacement of tissues (7, 8) during displacement of the treatment head (1) and increase imaging quality, the treatment head (1) is adjustable to at least two of a treatment position (T), a monitoring position (M) and a travel position (S).

A multi-row ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an ultrasonic imaging instrument are disclosed. The multi-row ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a housing, and a first ultrasonic transducer, a second ultrasonic transducer, and an adjustment mechanism that are installed in the housing. Ultrasonic waves emitted by the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer can intersect to form a confocal point. At least one of the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer is connected to the adjustment mechanism to move relative to the housing under the action of the adjustment mechanism, so as to adjust the position of the confocal point.

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.

Intravascular systems, devices, and methods having a captively-held filling are provided. An intravascular imaging device can include a flexible elongate member including a lumen having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a drive cable disposed within the lumen such that an ultrasound transducer coupled to the drive cable is positioned within the distal portion of the lumen; and a filling captively held within at least the distal portion of the lumen and surrounding the ultrasound transducer, the filling facilitating transmission and receipt of ultrasound signals. A method of manufacturing an intravascular imaging device can include acquiring a flexible elongate member including a lumen; inserting a drive cable into the lumen, a rotational ultrasound transducer being coupled to the drive cable; inserting a filling that facilitates transmission and receipt of ultrasonic signals into the lumen such that the filling surrounds rotational ultrasound transducer; and sealing the filling within the lumen.

A catheter-type ultrasound endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasound module for acquiring an ultrasound image, and a biopsy needle, wherein the ultrasound module includes a pMUT module and an ASIC signal processing circuit, and the ASIC signal processing circuit uses CMOS-MEMS technology. This steerable catheter-type ultrasound endoscope capable of performing tissue biopsies according to the present invention obtains ultrasound images from representative digestive organs, such as the bile duct and the pancreatic duct, through the miniaturization of the ultrasound module, and performs a biopsy while the ultrasound images are observed in real time, and thus can improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

An ultrasound endoscope includes: a first rigid portion that is positioned at a front end of an insertion portion to be inserted inside a subject; a supporting portion that is connected to a proximal end of the first rigid portion and that has a long side along a longitudinal direction of the insertion portion; a second rigid portion that is connected to a proximal end of the supporting portion; an ultrasound transducer that is fixed to the supporting portion and that includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged therein along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion; a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the supporting portion and the ultrasound transducer in an integrated manner; and an angle display portion configured to indicate a state of the insertion portion corresponding to a rotation amount of the ultrasound transducer.

A clamping apparatus for an ultrasonic detection device is disclosed. A remote control device for remotely controlling a first motor to control a rotational position of a base. The remote control device for remotely controlling a second motor to control a moving position of a movable base relative to a first arc-shaped rack. The remote control device for remotely controlling a third motor to control a moving position of a second arc-shaped rack relative to the movable base, so as to achieve the technical effect of providing an accurate three-dimensional detection angle to the ultrasonic detection device.

An ultrasonic transducer module including: a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each being aligned in the same direction that is a longitudinal direction thereof; an electrode formed on a surface of each of the piezoelectric elements; a wiring member configured to be joined with the electrode and electrically connected with the electrode; and a dematching layer provided on a surface of each of the piezoelectric elements, the surface being opposite to another surface of the corresponding piezoelectric element on which the electrode and the wiring member are joined.

A method for automatic identification of a measurement item includes: acquiring gray values of pixels of a specified section image, where the gray values of the pixels correspond to ultrasound echoes generated by reflection of ultrasound waves by a tissue under examination; determining a section type of the specified section image based on one or more characteristics defined by the gray values of the pixels, the section type identifying a particular section of a particular area of the tissue from which the specified section image is acquired; identifying at least one measurement item which is measurable in the specified section image according to the section type of the specified section image; and obtaining a value of the identified at least one measurement item according to the specified section image.

Methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Methods of lifting sagging tissue are described.