Embodiments described provide an ultrasound method, and an ultrasound apparatus and computer program product operable to perform that method. In some embodiments, the method allows for provision of a multi-transducer ultrasound imaging system by providing a robust method to accurately localize the transducers in the system in order to beamform a final image. The method and apparatus described allow for improvements in imaging quality in terms of resolution, depth penetration, contrast and signal to noise ratio (SNR).

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for visualizing a target anatomy of a patient in preparation of a medical procedure. A system can have transducers defining a grid to collect data about the target anatomy. A user interface (22014) can be disposed on area of the system to visualize the target anatomy. The visualization can include a virtual representation (22016) formed by an imager processor based on the data collected by the transducers. The method can include positioning the visualization device at an orientation where the transducers face the target anatomy. The method can further include adjusting the position of the visualization device to a target anatomy displayed on the virtual representation. The method can further include directing a medical instrument towards a target displayed on the virtual representation.

A device and method for imaging, measuring and identifying multiphase fluid flow in wellbores using phased array Doppler ultrasound. The device includes a radially-configured or ring-shaped ultrasound transducer that when deployed in a well in Doppler mode can measure the velocity of radially flowing fluids in the wellbore and generate a 3D image of radial flow in the wellbore, including flowback into the wellbore after fracturing operations, or flow leaving the wellbore during water injection operations. The ring-shaped ultrasound transducer can also simultaneously operate in a B-mode to generate a B-mode image of the wellbore liner upon which the Doppler image can be overlaid. The device may also include a forward facing ultrasound transducer either instead of or in place of the ring-shaped transducer for obtaining information and images on axial flow in the wellbore in Doppler mode, and the location of phase boundaries and phase locations in B-mode.

Disclosed herein are devices and methods for visualizing a target anatomy of a patient in preparation of a medical procedure. The device can include a pad having a conductive material. The pad can include an engaging element that can engage the conductive material to a medical imaging device. The method can include attaching the gel pad to a visualization device. The gel pad can contact the patient. The method can further include viewing the target anatomy using the visualization device. The visualization device can include transducers to collect data on the target anatomy and a user interface to visualize the target anatomy. A medical instrument can be directed into the gel pad and towards the target anatomy. A device can be provided to manage pain during the procedure. The device may include a stimulating element to decrease pain experienced by the patient.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for visualizing a target anatomical site of a patient using one or more imagers. The method can include placing multiple imagers on multiple locations at an anatomical site. The method can further include generating separate image data sets from the multiple images and combining the image data sets to generate a volumetric imaging data of the anatomical site. The volumetric imaging data can include all anatomical features within the target anatomical site. A visualization system for medical imaging can include transducers on the imagers to visualize the target anatomical site. The system can further include a processor to combine the image data sets to generate the volumetric imaging data set. The system can further include a display device to display the volumetric imaging data set.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for inserting a needle and a method for cannulation of a blood vessel. The apparatus can include a targeting assembly to identify a target location and an insertion path for the needle. The apparatus can further include a frame and insertion assembly to hold and place the needle. A user interface can be provided to provide feedback to an operator. The apparatus can include an adjustable band that engages a body portion of the patient. The method can include placing and securing the frame to the body portion. The method can further include locating the target location and inserting the needle through a target area.

This application relates to a transmitting/receiving dual-mode focused ultrasonic transducer and a microbubble cavitation image visualization method using the transducer. In one aspect, a plurality of mounting holes are formed in a transducer body with a limited area according to the Fibonacci pattern that allows for the maximum number of objects to be mounted in the transducer body. A plurality of transducer elements are mounted in the mounting holes so as to form a transducer element arrangement having highly nonlinearity. According to various embodiments, microbubble cavitation can be induced and visualized by using a small number of receiving elements.

Systems and methods for network-based ultrasound imaging are provided, which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, an ultrasound imaging system images an object with three-dimensional unfocused pings and obtains digital sample sets from a plurality of receiver elements. A sub-set of the digital sample sets can be electronically transferred to a remote server, where the sub-set can be beamformed to produce a series of two-dimensional image frames. A video stream made up of the series of two-dimensional images frames can then be transferred from the remote server to a display device.

A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer having a wide reception band is provided. The capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer includes an element including a first sub-element and a second sub-element each including a cell. The cell includes a vibrating membrane that includes one of two electrodes formed with a spacing therebetween and that is vibratably supported. The capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer further includes a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit, and a combining circuit that combines a signal from the first detection circuit and a signal from the second detection circuit. The first sub-element is electrically connected to the first detection circuit, and the second sub-element is electrically connected to the second detection circuit. The first detection circuit and the second detection circuit have different cut-off frequencies.

A device, system, and method for volumetric ultrasound imaging is described. The device and system include an array of transducer elements grouped in triangular planar facets and substantially configured in the shape of a hemisphere to form a cup-shaped volumetric imaging region within the cavity of the hemisphere, A plurality of data-acquisition assemblies are connected to the transducers, which are configured to collect ultrasound signals received from the transducers and transmit image data to a network of processors that are configured to construct a volumetric image of an object within the imaging region based on the image data received from the data-acquisition assemblies.