A target biopsy system employing an ultrasound probe (20), a target biopsy needle (30) and a ultrasound guide controller (44). In operation, the ultrasound probe (20) projects an ultrasound plane intersecting an anatomical region (e.g. a liver). The target biopsy needle (30) include two or more ultrasound receivers (31) for sensing the ultrasound plane as the target biopsy needle (30) is inserted into the anatomical region. In response to the ultrasound receiver(s) (31) sensing the ultrasound plane, the ultrasound guide controller (44) predicts a biopsy trajectory of the target biopsy needle (30) within the anatomical region relative to the ultrasound plane. The prediction indicates the biopsy trajectory is either within the ultrasound plane (i.e., an in-plane biopsy trajectory) or outside of the ultrasound plane (i.e., an out-of-plane biopsy trajectory).

Apparatuses, systems, and methods of monitoring lesion formation using one-dimensional echograms are disclosed. In certain aspects, lesion formation progress is monitored using the intensity of reflectors in successive echograms during ablation. In another aspect, lesion formation progress is monitored based upon actual or apparent movement of acoustic reflectors before and after ablation. In still another aspect, the presence or absence of resonant microbubbles known to populate forming lesions are used to provide feedback on lesion formation. A lesion analysis processor can be programmed to determine lesion formation progress using any of the foregoing approaches, either alone or in various combinations.

An interposer with a spring on a surface of the interposer is disclosed. The spring may apply a force to a surface of a component adjacent to the interposer. The interposer may be secured to the surface by a fastener. The fastener may be offset from the center of the interposer. The fastener may be a fulcrum of a lever including the interposer and the spring. The spring may cause a portion of the interposer on the other side of the fastener from the spring to apply an increased amount of pressure to the surface to which the interposer is secured. A transesophageal exam ultrasound probe including an interposer is disclosed.

A puncture assistance system provides information on a collapse state of a blood vessel to be punctured, caused by pressing action of an ultrasonic probe, when ultrasonic images of the blood vessel are acquired. A puncture assistance system 10 includes: vascular diameter detecting means 18 for detecting a vascular diameter during acquisition of the ultrasonic images from an ultrasonic diagnostic device 11; puncture assistance information generating means 12 for generating puncture assistance information for determination of whether or not puncture is allowed to be performed based on a collapse state of a blood vessel B caused by pressing action of an ultrasonic probe 15 against skin S by comparing a current vascular diameter detected by the vascular diameter detecting means 18 with a standard vascular diameter stored in advance; and a monitor 19 that presents the puncture assistance information.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe for transmitting ultrasonic waves to a target object and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected from the object; a beamforming unit for beamforming the received ultrasonic wave and outputting a beamforming signal; a sampling unit for adjusting the number of sampling times of the beamforming signal according to the amount of motion of the object; and an image processing unit for matching and synthesizing the sampled signals.

Examples disclosed herein relate to determining a power difference in sensor signals. Examples include a first sensor to transmit a first ultrasonic signal into a pregnant woman and to receive a second ultrasonic signal; and a second sensor to transmit a third ultrasonic signal into the pregnant woman and to receive a fourth ultrasonic signal. A processing resource determines a first power difference of the first sensor according to a difference between respective powers of the first ultrasonic signal and the second ultrasonic signal and is to determine a second power difference of the second sensor according to a difference between respective power of the third ultrasonic signal and the fourth ultrasonic signal. In examples, the processing resource is to determine a relative location of the fetal heart according to a comparison of the first power difference and the second power difference.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for preclinical ultrasound imaging of subjects are provided. In one aspect, the apparatus can include a platform on which a subject is positionable and at least one motion stage for controlling a spatial position of at least one ultrasound transducer relative to the platform in order to acquire ultrasound image data of the subject. Methods for preclinical ultrasound raster scanning of at least one organ or tissue in a subject are also provided, where the at least one organ or tissue is a heart.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for preclinical ultrasound imaging of subjects are provided. In one aspect, the apparatus can include a platform on which a subject is positionable and at least one motion stage for controlling a spatial position of at least one ultrasound transducer relative to the platform in order to acquire ultrasound image data of the subject. Methods for preclinical ultrasound raster scanning of at least one organ or tissue in a subject are also provided, where the at least one organ or tissue is a heart.

Intelligent multi-scale image parsing determines the optimal size of each observation by an artificial agent at a given point in time while searching for the anatomical landmark. The artificial agent begins searching image data with a coarse field-of-view and iteratively decreases the field-of-view to locate the anatomical landmark. After searching at a coarse field-of view, the artificial agent increases resolution to a finer field-of-view to analyze context and appearance factors to converge on the anatomical landmark. The artificial agent determines applicable context and appearance factors at each effective scale.

A device and methods for performing a simulated CT biopsy on a region of interest on a patient. The device comprises a gantry (22) configured to mount an x-ray emitter (24) and CT detector (26) on opposing sides of the gantry, a motor (28) rotatably coupled to the gantry such that the gantry rotates horizontally about the region of interest, and a high resolution x-ray detector (172) positioned adjacent the CT detector in between the CT detector and the x-ray emitter.