A photoacoustic measurement apparatus includes: a main light source; a sub-light source; a light guide member that guides the light which has been emitted from the main light source and the sub-light source and has been incident on a base end to a leading end; an insert of which at least a leading end portion is inserted into a subject and which includes at least the leading end of the light guide member and a light absorption member that absorbs the pulsed laser light, and generates photoacoustic waves; and a photoacoustic wave detection unit that detects the photoacoustic waves. The photoacoustic measurement apparatus has, as an operation mode, a failure detection mode that drives the sub-light source and detects a failure of a photoacoustic wave generation unit including the light guide member and the light absorption member.

A probe handle accessory for use with a probe includes an outer housing having a first hollow interior and an outer surface for being gripped by a user. The accessory also includes an inner sleeve that is disposed within the first hollow interior and moves axially therein. The inner sleeve having a second hollow interior that is configured to receive the probe and the inner sleeve is configured for securely holding the probe in place within the second hollow interior. At least one biasing element is provided and is coupled to the outer housing and to the inner sleeve and configured to apply a force to the inner sleeve in a distal direction for maintaining the probe in position against a surface of interest during examination thereof, while permitting axial movement of the inner sleeve within the outer housing.

Disclosed is a patient monitor control unit (10) comprising a processor arrangement (11, 13) adapted to receive a series of ultrasound measurements received from a sensor (30) comprising at least one configurable ultrasound transducer; process said series of ultrasound measurements to obtain haemodynamic data of a patient coupled to the sensor; control a patient monitor (20) to display the obtained haemodynamic data; evaluate the obtained haemodynamic data to detect a variance in said data; and generate a reconfiguration signal for the at least one configurable ultrasound transducer, wherein the timing of said generation is a function of said evaluation. Also disclosed are a patient monitoring system, a method of operating a patient monitor control unit and a computer program product for implementing such a method.

The present disclosure describes imaging systems configured to generate volumetric images of a target feature based on anatomical landmarks identified during an ultrasound scan and in accordance with a user-selected view. Systems can include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echo signals responsive to ultrasound pulses transmitted toward a target region. A processor coupled with the transducer may present illustrative volumetric images of the target feature, each image corresponding to a particular view, for a user to select. The processor can then identify anatomical landmarks corresponding to the target feature embodied within 2D image frames, and based on the identified landmarks and user-selected view, provide instructions for manipulating the transducer to a target local to generate a 2D image frame specific to the view. Echo signals are then acquired at the target locale and used to generate an actual volumetric image of the target feature corresponding to the user-selected view.

A main image includes a tomographic image and a reference image as ultrasonic images. A sub-image includes a site-of-interest map and a site-of-interest list. During execution of ultrasonic inspection, each time a new site of interest is identified, a site-of-interest symbol is added to the site-of-interest map and a site-of-interest record is added to the site-of-interest list. The position of the site-of-interest symbol is determined according to the position of a probe mark.

A wireless system and method for measuring and analyzing blood in a user's body is provided. The system includes a processing, power, and communication component (PPC) having a hardware unit and first housing enclosing the hardware unit; a probe having a piezoelectric crystal and second housing enclosing the piezoelectric crystal; a dock having a sensor and third housing enclosing the sensor. The second housing is spaced apart from the first housing. The third housing is adapted to removably couple to the first housing. The piezoelectric crystal can transmit an ultrasound wave into the body, receive a return ultrasonic wave, convert the return wave into an electrical signal, and transmit the signal to the sensor. The sensor is configured to receive and then transmit the electronic signal to the hardware unit, which is configured to wirelessly transmit a data set based on the electronic signal to a computer device.

A method for non-invasive detection of ingested medication which provide for one or more processors to receive images of medications designated for a user prior to ingestion of the medications by the user. The one or more processors capture an ultrasound image during ingestion by the user by an ultrasound device removably adhered to a throat area of the user. The one or more processors determine whether contents of the ingestion by the user includes one or more of the medications designated for the user, and responsive to determining the contents of the ingestion by the user includes one or more of the medications designated for the user, the one or more processors generate a confirmation that includes identification of the detected medications ingested by the user.

A portable ultrasound imaging assembly includes a probe management system to facilitate the positioning of accessories, such as containers and/or probes of various types and associated cords utilized with a portable ultrasound imaging system forming a part of the ultrasound imaging assembly. The probe management system includes dedicated attachment locations and/or handles that enable a user to readily grasp, move and carry the imaging assembly or components thereof into the desired position. The attachment locations and/or handles are formed with uniform cross-sectional shapes and include mounting locations thereon where various probe/accessory holders can be removably secured. The holders are formed with clips that conform to the cross-sectional shape of the attachment locations/handles, such that the holders can be mounted in a modular manner to either handle in the desired mounting location.

A medical ultrasound (US) imaging system includes a US probe and a processor. The US probe includes an array of transducers arranged in a reflection geometry, the probe configured to emit US waves and to receive reflected ultrasound waves that are reflected from a body portion of a patient. The processor is configured to generate an image of the body portion of the patient by applying an inverse model to the emitted and reflected US waves.

A method and ultrasound imaging system includes transmitting first ultrasound energy with a first transmit pattern, receiving first ultrasound data based on the first ultrasound energy, and generating a first image based on the first ultrasound data. The method and system includes entering a shadow reduction mode and performing the following steps in the shadow reduction mode: transmitting second ultrasound energy with a second transmit pattern configured to have greater penetration than the first transmit pattern, receiving second ultrasound data based on the second ultrasound energy, generating a mask identifying a shadow region and generating an enhanced image including an enhanced shadow region, wherein the second ultrasound data is used to generate the enhanced shadow region, and displaying the enhanced image.