An image compounding apparatus acquires, via ultrasound, pixel-based images (126-130) of a region of interest for, by compounding, forming a composite image of the region. The image includes composite pixels (191) that spatially correspond respectively to pixels of the images. Further included is a pixel processor for beamforming with respect to a pixel from among the pixels, and for assessing, with respect to the composite pixel and from the data acquired (146), amounts of local information content of respective ones of the images. The processor determines, based on the assessment, weights for respective application, in the forming, to the pixels, of the images, that spatially correspond to the composite pixel. In some embodiments, the assessing commences operating on the data no later than upon the beamforming. In some embodiments, brightness values are assigned to the spatially corresponding pixels; and, in spatial correspondence, the maximum and the mean values are determined. They are then utilized in weighting the compounding.

For noise reduction in elasticity imaging, frequency compounding is used. Displacements caused by the acoustic radiation force impulse are measured using signals at different frequencies, either due to transmission of tracking pulses and reception at different frequencies or due to processing received signals at different sub-bands. The displacements are (a) combined to compound and the compounded displacements are used to determine elasticity or (b) are used to determine elasticity and the elasticities from information at the different frequencies are compounded.

An ultrasound probe user's capture of image frames of a patient's organ is assisted by capturing one or more image frames of the ultrasound probe's a field of view; processing the captured image frames to detect a predetermined anatomical feature of the patient having a known positional relationship with the organ; and directing the user to adjust the ultrasound probe so as to locate the organ within its field of view, based on the known positional relationship.

According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a transmission/reception circuit and processing circuitry. The transmission/reception circuit performs a first scan and a second scan, which are different in acoustic field in an elevation direction, by controlling at least one of transducers arranged along an azimuth direction and the elevation direction. The processing circuitry generates a first needle-enhanced image by using data acquired in the first scan, and generates a second needle-enhanced image by using data acquired in the second scan.

A device and system for and methods of using an ultrasound probe housing containing ultrasound probes configured to produce images inside the body of a patient for procedures requiring needle or probe insertion. The ultrasound probe housing can be configured with a guide channel cut-out or aperture between the ambient side and body side of a patient. A needle guide assembly may be pivotally connect internal to the guide channel cut-out or aperture of the ultrasound probe housing at a pivot point such that during use the needle enters the patient through the needle guide assembly within the ultrasonic probe housing so that the needle can be visualized by the ultrasonic probes in real time. The ultrasound probe housing may also provide an adhesion or suction quality to the body side of the device to facilitate aspects of the invention.

Provided is a device for elasticity detection, comprising a processor (1), an imaging device (2), an ultrasonic transducer (3) and a puncturing device (4). The ultrasonic transducer (3) is connected to the processor (1) and is configured to detect and obtain morphology characteristic information and elasticity characteristic information of a tissue. The imaging device (2) is connected to the processor (1) and is configured to obtain a morphology image and an elasticity image of the tissue according to the morphology characteristic information and the elasticity characteristic information, respectively, under the control of the processor (1), and merge and display the elasticity image in the morphology image. The puncturing device (4) is connected to the processor (1) and is configured to determine a puncture position according to guidance of the merged image and perform a puncturing and sampling on the tissue.

A plurality of transmit foci (a plurality of virtual sources) (F1-F7) are formed upon a scan plane with a two-dimensional pattern. Specifically, first transmission beams having first transmission foci and second transmission beams having second transmission foci are formed alternately in a scan direction. A plurality of first sub-images (LRI1, LRI3, LRI7) are formed by the forming of the plurality of first transmission beams, and a plurality of second sub-images (LRI2, LRI4, LRI6) are formed by the forming of the plurality of second transmission beams. At time of reception, a parallel reception technology is applied.

Embodiments for aligning a volume to a standard alignment are provided. One example method of aligning a volume constructed from captured image data to a standard orientation includes determining an orientation and a scale of the volume based on a comparison of a volume model representing the volume to captured image data of the volume over time and adjusting the volume according to the determined orientation and scale.

A device for intraoperative, image-controlled navigation during surgical procedures in the spinal and/or adjacent thorax, pelvis or head regions, includes multiple non-x-ray detection devices to be distributed about at least one object to be operated on, and to intraoperatively capture real time image and position data, respectively including information relating to the outer contour of at least one subregion of the object, and to the subregion position relative to the respective detection device. Also, a position determining device for determining respective detection device position relative to a stationary reference system, and a data processing device operatively connected with the detection devices and the position determining device are designed to create, based on the respective detection device image and position data and the position determining device position data, a virtual real-time image, referenced with respect to the reference system, of the object, and displayed on an image display device.

A method for providing multiple review modes in a single acquisition scan includes acquiring (204) image frames for a plurality of imaging modes by switching image acquisition modes in real-time during a single acquisition sequence. The image frames are stored (208) in non-transitory memory for each acquisition mode for subsequent review. During review, a display is selectively generated (210) for each of the plurality of imaging modes from stored images for a selected imaging mode such that each of the plurality of image modes is available for review from the single acquisition sequence.