Provided is a non-invasive system and method of determining muscle tissue size based on image processing. The method includes receiving at least one 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 tissue from remaining elements and determines the muscle tissue size. Associated apparatuses and computer program products are also disclosed.

A probe for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is used for performing a test upon a subject is provided. The probe includes a case which forms an exterior of the probe, a piezoelectric object which is provided on an inside of the case and which generates an ultrasonic wave, a sound absorbing layer which is provided at a rear surface of the piezoelectric object and which prevents the ultrasonic wave from being delivered to a rear portion of the piezoelectric object, an acoustic matching layer which delivers the generated ultrasonic wave to a subject by matching a sound impedance of the piezoelectric object with a sound impedance of the subject, and a sound lens which concentrates the generated ultrasonic wave and radiates the concentrated ultrasonic wave toward the subject.

An ultrasound imaging scan head includes a fluid chamber including a gearless voice-coil motor therein. The voice-coil motor mechanism includes a rigid mechanical assembly, capable of moving with the fluid chamber, having one or more transducer elements and motor windings. Within the fluid chamber are motor magnets physically separated from the rigid mechanical assembly. The ultrasound imaging scan head further includes an inductive position sensor and internal bladder wherein the one or more transducer elements are capable of moving within the fluid chamber when a current is passed through the motor windings in a presence of a magnetic field generated by the one or more motor magnets.

Ultrasound imaging systems and methods for generated clutter-reduced images are provided. For example, an ultrasound imaging system can include an array of acoustic elements in communication with a processor. The processor is configured to activate the array to perform a scan sequence to obtain a plurality of signals, identify off-axis signals from the plurality of signals by comparing the right subaperture and the left subaperture, and create a clutter-reduced image based on the comparison. Because off-axis signals are more likely to create image clutter, reducing the influence of off-axis signals on the image can therefore improve the quality of the image. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, methods, and devices for generating ultrasound images that have reduced or minimized clutter, even for images obtained using arrays that do not satisfy the Nyquist criterion.

Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for synthetic aperture ultrasound imaging using spread-spectrum, wide instantaneous band, coherent, coded waveforms. In one aspect, a method includes synthesizing a composite waveform formed of a plurality of individual orthogonal coded waveforms that are mutually orthogonal to each other, correspond to different frequency bands and including a unique frequency with a corresponding phase; transmitting an acoustic wave based on the composite waveform toward a target from one or more transmitting positions; and receiving at one or more receiving positions acoustic energy returned from at least part of the target corresponding to the transmitted acoustic waveforms, in which the transmitting and receiving positions each include one or both of spatial positions of an array of transducer elements relative to the target and beam phase center positions of the array, and the transmitted acoustic waveforms and the returned acoustic waveforms produce an enlarged effective aperture.

An ultrasound system includes a transducer array having three or more rows of transducer elements extending in the azimuth dimension and located adjacent to each other in the elevation dimension. The rows have different mechanical foci in the elevation dimension, with an inner row elevationally focused in the near field and outer rows elevationally focused in the far field. When the user is imaging a subject in the near field, the system beamformer transmits with the inner row with a near field elevation focus. When imaging in the far field a plurality of rows elevationally focused in the far field are used for transmission. When the user is imaging in the mid-range, the beamformer uses both the inner row and the plurality of outer rows to provide an extended mid-range elevation focus.

An ultrasound (US) system is discloses and includes a plurality of transducer elements forming a one-dimensional array and a plurality of bias voltage circuits. Each bias voltage circuit is in communication with a respective first set of the transducer elements and configured to apply a bias voltage to its respective first set of the transducer elements. The US system also included a second plurality of transmit and receive circuits. Each transmit and receive circuit is in communication with a respective second set of transducer elements and configured to stimulate signal transmission or reception of the respective second set of transducer elements.

An endoscope button for an endoscope including a cylinder communicating with tubes includes: a first unit and a second unit that are attachable and detachable with respect to a fitting part fixed to the cylinder, and that are separable from each other in a state being removed from the fitting part. The first unit has a cylindrical shape, and includes a cylindrical member that is attachable and detachable with respect to the fitting part. The second unit includes: a fixing member that is inserted inside the cylindrical member in a state in which the endoscope button is attached to the fitting part, and is fixed to the cylindrical member; and a first movable member that is installed movably with respect to the fixing member, and that is movable back and forth inside the cylinder in the state in which the endoscope button is attached to the fitting part.

A radial endobronchial ultrasound system providing localization of visualized lung lesions or nodules in the airways of a patient is provided herein. The system has three, main components: a guide sheath with a distal end, a flexible bronchoscope with a tip, and a radial endobronchial ultrasound probe. The guide sheath directs insertion of the bronchoscope into the patient, with the tip of the bronchoscope extending beyond the distal end of the guide sheath. The bronchoscope has an echogenic discrete marker formed inside and proximate its tip and a working channel configured to include and direct the probe. The probe is configured for insertion into the airways of the patient where the probe rotates to capture a 360-degree circumferential image perpendicular to the probe itself. The echogenic discrete marker on the bronchoscope provides a reference point for localization of the lung lesions or nodules visualized by the image.

An ultrasound treatment system operable to deliver ultrasound energy to a patient's brain, the system comprises a treatment ultrasound transducer comprising a plurality of treatment elements, the treatment ultrasound transducer locatable to deliver ultrasound into the head of the patient. The system further comprises a data store, one or more position sensors configured to detect relative movement between the head of the patient and the treatment ultrasound transducer, and a data processor.