An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a plurality of transducers that transmit ultrasonic waves and a transmission unit that supplies drive signals to the plurality of transducers. An amplitude control voltage generation unit and a transmission circuit unit are connected to a common voltage power supply. An amplitude control voltage generation unit receives an output voltage of the voltage power supply and an attenuation degree setting signal instructing an attenuation degree of the drive signal for each of the transducers for weighting of the drive signal, and generates an amplitude control voltage corresponding to a voltage obtained by attenuating the output voltage by the attenuation degree. The output voltage of the voltage power supply is reduced to a voltage corresponding to the amplitude control voltage, and a drive signal having a predetermined waveform is generated whose amplitude is the voltage after the reduction for each of the transducers.

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.

A method of processing cardiac ultrasound data for determining information about a mechanical wave in the heart. The method comprises receiving data representative of a time series of three-dimensional data frames, generated from ultrasound signals from a human or animal heart, each frame comprising a set of voxels, each voxel value representing an acceleration component of a respective location in the heart at a common time. The method also comprises identifying, for each voxel, a frame of the series in which the voxel value is at a maximum. A three-dimensional time-propagation data set is generated by assigning each voxel a value representative of the time of the respective frame in the time series for which the corresponding voxel is at a maximum. The method then comprises generating data representative of a three-dimensional velocity vector field by calculating time derivatives from the three-dimensional time-propagation data set.

An intraluminal imaging catheter includes: a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient; an ultrasound transducer array coupled to the flexible elongate member and configured to obtain imaging data while positioned within the body lumen; and a memory comprising a plurality of regions configured to store one or more values for one or more fields, wherein the plurality of regions comprises a first region, wherein the one or more fields in the first region comprises at a device identification, a serial number, and/or a manufacturing date, wherein the plurality of regions comprises at least a second region, wherein the one or more fields in the at least the second region comprises a current use count, a maximum number of uses, and a status of the intraluminal imaging catheter. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Systems and techniques are provided for an event-based ultrasound system. An event-based ultrasound system may include a transducer array, a computing and imaging device, and a connection. The transducer array may include transducer elements and a timing system. The transducer elements may be connected to event-detection circuits. The event-detection circuits may generate events based on the electrical signals of the transducer elements. Data for an event may include an up-down value, a timestamp based on the timing system, and an address of a transducer element. The connection may connect the transducer array to the computing and imaging device. Data for the events generated by the event-detection circuits may be transmitted to the computing and imaging device across the connection.

An intravascular imaging device is provided. In one embodiment, the intravascular imaging device includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a conductor extending between the proximal and distal portions of the flexible elongate member; an imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the imaging assembly including: a flex circuit including a body and a tab extending therefrom, the tab having a conductive portion coupled to the conductor; and a support member around which the flex circuit is disposed, the support member including a shelf on which tab is positioned.

A system and method for acquiring standard ultrasound scan plane views is provided. The method includes acquiring a scan plane by an ultrasound probe positioned at a scan position over a region of interest. The method includes identifying the scan plane as a first standard view. The method includes automatically adjusting a scan acquisition angle until a second standard view is determined. The adjusting the scan acquisition angle includes rotating and/or tilting the scan acquisition angle. The method includes acquiring, by the ultrasound probe positioned at the scan position, an additional scan plane at the adjusted scan acquisition angle until the second standard view is determined. The method includes automatically determining whether the additional scan plane is the second standard view. The method includes presenting the additional scan plane having the second standard view at a display system.

An ultrasonic device includes a first substrate including a first surface on which a first electrode coupled to a piezoelectric element is placed, a second substrate including a second surface on which a second electrode is placed, an intermediate substrate placed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a third surface joined to the first surface and a fourth surface facing the second surface, and a bonding portion, wherein the intermediate substrate has a through hole penetrating from the third surface to the fourth surface and a third electrode provided in the through hole and coupled to the first electrode, the second electrode is coupled to the third electrode and electrically coupled to the first electrode via the third electrode, a plurality of the bonding portions are provided in island shapes apart from one another between the second substrate and the intermediate substrate, and at least one of the bonding portions is provided to surround the third electrode.

An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array in which a plurality of transducers that transmit/receive an ultrasound signal to/from an object are arranged in two dimensions; an analog beamformer configured to perform analog beamforming in a first direction, and perform analog beamforming in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on signals respectively received by the plurality of transducers; and a digital beamformer configured to perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction, and perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction.

Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an intraluminal ultrasound imaging system includes a patient interface module (PIM) in communication with an intraluminal imaging device comprising an ultrasound imaging component, the PIM comprising a processing component configured to detect information associated with the intraluminal imaging device; and determine a waveform characteristic for ultrasound wave emissions at the ultrasound imaging component based on the detected information; and a trigger signal generation component in communication with the processing component and configured to generate a trigger signal based on the determined waveform characteristic to control the ultrasound wave emissions at the ultrasound imaging component.