An actual shape estimation method for a flexible ultrasound device and to an ultrasound imaging system includes an actual shape estimation module. The module, when executed, performs the steps of the method, including determining a series of shape metrics based on a predetermined series of assumed shapes of the flexible ultrasound device, and selecting an optimal shape metric, corresponding with the smallest or largest shape metricdepending on how the shape metric is defined, of the determined series of shape metrics, wherein the assumed shape of the predetermined series of assumed shapes of the flexible ultrasound device corresponding to the optimal shape metric provides an estimation of the actual shape of the flexible ultrasound device.

An ultrasound system includes a transducer array including a flexible substrate, ultrasound transducer elements disposed on the flexible substrate and configured to transmit and acquire ultrasound signals that propagate in a body of a patient, and strain sensors coupled to or integrated into the flexible substrate and configured to measure a strain in the flexible substrate generated by flexing the flexible substrate. The ultrasound system also includes a processor coupled to the ultrasound transducer elements and the strain sensors, wherein the processor is configured to process the signals acquired by the ultrasound transducer elements based at least in part on the strain measured by the strain sensors.

A method includes free hand rotating or translating a first transducer array by rotating or translating the probe (102) about or along a longitudinal axis (206) of the probe through a plurality of angles or linear displacements in a cavity, moving a first imaging plane through an extent of a structure of interest. The method further includes transmitting signals and receiving echoes with the first transducer array concurrently with the rotating or the translating, and generating two-dimensional images of the structure of interest with the received echo for the plurality of the angles or the linear displacements. The method further includes identifying the plurality of the angles or the linear displacements based on the generated images and secondary information, aligning the two-dimensional images based on the identified plurality of the angles or the linear displacements, and combining the aligned two-dimensional images to construct a three-dimensional volume of the structure of interest.

A synthetic aperture ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe, and an ultrasound signal processor configured to communicate with the ultrasound probe to receive phase and amplitude information from a plurality of ultrasonic echo signals from a corresponding plurality of ultrasound pulses. The synthetic aperture ultrasound system also includes a positioning system configured to communicate with the ultrasound signal processor to provide probe position information. The positioning system is configured to determine a first position and a second position of the ultrasound probe relative to a region of interest. The ultrasound signal processor is further configured to coherently sum, utilizing the probe position information, at least one of the plurality of ultrasonic echo signals from the first position with at least one of the plurality of ultrasonic echo signals from the second position to provide a synthetic aperture that is larger than a physical aperture of the ultrasound probe.

A system and method for scanning a body anatomy. The system or method includes at least one first ultrasound transducer for collecting a first data set of the scanned anatomy, and at least one second ultrasound transducer for collecting a second data set of the scanned anatomy. Also are provided means for transforming at least one of the first and second data sets so that both scanned data sets are aligned together in a common coordinate system, preferably during a given scanning session.

A method and system for providing ultrasound treatment to a tissue that contains a lower part of dermis and proximal protrusions of fat lobuli into the dermis. An embodiment delivers ultrasound energy to the region creating a thermal injury and coagulating the proximal protrusions of fat lobuli, thereby eliminating the fat protrusions into the dermis. An embodiment can also include ultrasound imaging configurations using the same or a separate probe before, after or during the treatment. In addition various therapeutic levels of ultrasound can be used to increase the speed at which fat metabolizes. Additionally the mechanical action of ultrasound physically breaks fat cell clusters and stretches the fibrous bonds. Mechanical action will also enhance lymphatic drainage, stimulating the evacuation of fat decay products.

A three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging method and system based on a Lidar. The system comprises an ultrasonic probe, used for performing ultrasonic scanning on a region of interest of a target object; a two-dimensional ultrasonic imaging device, used for generating two-dimensional ultrasound images of the region of interest of the target object on the basis of ultrasonic scanning; a three-dimensional space information acquisition device, used for acquiring three-dimensional space information of the ultrasonic probe by means of the LiDAR; a three-dimensional reconstruction module, used for reconstructing a three-dimensional ultrasound image on the basis of the three-dimensional space information of the ultrasonic probe and the two-dimensional ultrasound image; and a user terminal, used for displaying the three-dimensional ultrasound image. The system reconstructs the three-dimensional ultrasound image in a flexible, low-cost and small-size manner, thereby improving accessibility of the three-dimensional ultrasonic technology, and expanding application scenarios in the field of three-dimensional sensing.

A method and system for providing ultrasound treatment to a tissue that contains a lower part of dermis and proximal protrusions of fat lobuli into the dermis. An embodiment delivers ultrasound energy to the region creating a thermal injury and coagulating the proximal protrusions of fat lobuli, thereby eliminating the fat protrusions into the dermis. An embodiment can also include ultrasound imaging configurations using the same or a separate probe before, after or during the treatment. In addition various therapeutic levels of ultrasound can be used to increase the speed at which fat metabolizes. Additionally the mechanical action of ultrasound physically breaks fat cell clusters and stretches the fibrous bonds. Mechanical action will also enhance lymphatic drainage, stimulating the evacuation of fat decay products.

Systems and methods described herein allow for compact calibration of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound probes. In one embodiment, a calibration device for an ultrasound probe has an open end to receive a nose portion of the ultrasound probe; a closed end including an inner surface; and a target secured to the inner surface, the target includes an echo-absorbing or echo-reflective material with different acoustic properties than the inner surface. The calibration device has an inner width dimension that is no more than two times the maximum nose diameter of the ultrasound probe.

A method for determining mechanical properties of tissue in an individual includes attaching a stretchable and/or flexible ultrasound imaging device to the individual. The imaging device includes at least a one-dimensional array of transducer elements that transmit ultrasound waves into the individual. A first series of ultrasound waves are received from the tissue in the individual before applying a strain to the tissue by compression and a second series of ultrasound waves are received from the tissue after applying the compression to the tissue. Data from the first and second series of ultrasound waves are compared to obtain displacement data of the tissue from which strain data representing strain applied to the tissue is obtainable. A 2D image representing a 2D modulus distribution within the tissue is generated using the displacement data. One or more mechanical properties of the tissue is identified based on the 2D modulus distribution.