An elevator attachment attachable to and detachable from an endoscope includes a holding body including an inclined surface plate covering a part of the inclined surface of the endoscope, a first plate raising from an edge of the inclined surface plate and located along the first inner wall and a second plate abutting against the second inner wall, and an elevator pivotally supported between the first and second plates and including a lever connection part to be connected to the lever, and the elevator attachment is to be attached to a first jig including a first abutting portion abutting against the inclined surface plate, an elastic plate projecting from the first abutting portion toward a space between the first and second plates, and a first retention projection projecting from an edge of the elastic plate toward the first plate and abutting against an end surface of the first plate.

The use of power-efficient transmitters to establish acoustic wave energy having low undesirable harmonics is achieved by adjusting the transmitter output waveform to minimize the undesirable harmonics. In one embodiment, both the timing and slope of the waveform edges are adjusted to produce the desired output waveform having little or no second harmonics. In the embodiment, output waveform timing adjustments on the order of fractions of the system clock interval are provided. This then allows for very fine control of a coarsely produced waveform. In one embodiment, the user can select the fine tuning to match the transmitter output signal to a particular load transducer.

Rotational intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments are directed to transducer mounting configurations that enable polymer piezoelectric micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs) to be used with a Doppler color flow rotational IVUS imaging system. In one embodiment, a rotational intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device includes: a flexible elongate body; a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (PMUT) coupled to a distal portion of the flexible elongate body; and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to the distal portion of the flexible elongate body. The ASIC is electrically coupled to the PMUT and includes a pulser, an amplifier, a protection circuit, and timing and control circuitry for coordinating operation of the pulser, amplifier, and protection circuit. The PMUT transducer is mounted with a tilt angle such that the IVUS catheter can be used to collect Doppler ultrasound blood flow data in conjunction with the IVUS imaging.

A probe for transient elastography includes a probe casing, at least one ultrasound transducer having a symmetry axis, a vibrator located inside the probe casing, a position sensor coupled to the probe casing, the position sensor being arranged to measure the displacement of the probe, wherein the vibrator is arranged to induce a movement of the probe casing along a predefined axis, the predefined axis being the symmetry axis of the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer is bound to the probe casing with no motion of the ultrasound transducer with respect to the probe casing, and the probe includes a feedback circuit including the position sensor and a control loop and configured to use the displacement of the probe as a feedback signal and to control the movement of the vibrator inside the probe casing and the shape of a low frequency pulse applied by the probe.

Methods and systems for monitoring a transducer array in an ultrasound probe are provided. One method includes acquiring ultrasound data using an ultrasound probe during an imaging mode of operation, wherein the ultrasound data includes echo information. The method further includes comparing the echo information from a plurality of transducer elements of a transducer array of the ultrasound probe during the imaging mode of operation, wherein the echo information is non-beamformed signal data. The method also includes determining non-uniformity information for the transducer array using the compared echo information during the imaging mode of operation.

A system and method for noncontact ultrasound imagery capable of generating images in a manner that is safer for eyes and skin is provided. A photoacoustic excitation source may be employed to direct light signals with wavelengths of 1400-1600 nanometers into the patient to generate acoustic disturbances that induce propagating photoacoustic waves. The acoustic disturbances may be translated in defined directions to cause coherent summation of the propagating photoacoustic waves and, thereby, generate a resultant acoustic and/or elastic wave to probe structures within the patient. Vibrations created by the scatter of the resultant wave are detected at the surface of the patient and ultrasound images of the structures within the patient may be generated. Detection of the vibrations may be performed using a laser vibrometer. The excitation and detection systems may be used separately or in combination. Ultrasound images can be generated without physically contacting the patient.

To reduce noise which leaks to the outside in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. An internal AC wiring unit 34 is composed of internal AC wiring which is installed on the input side of a power source circuit, and a shield case 38 which accommodates it. The internal AC wiring includes an inlet, a plurality of connectors, a relay substrate, and a plurality of internal AC cables. The internal AC wiring is protected from radiation noise which is generated in a casing 22 by the shield case 38. Thereby, the noise which leaks to the outside via an external AC cable is reduced.

A probe cable support (146) includes a leg (202) with a top side (208) and a bottom side (210). The leg further includes a plurality of supports (216.sub.1, 216.sub.2, . . . , 216.sub.N) protruding from the bottom side and intermittently arranged with non-zero gaps there between. The leg further includes an arm (226) protruding from the top side. A system (101) includes an ultrasound imaging system (100) configured with at least one probe (102) and a console (104), a cable (116) configured to electrically connect the probe and the console, a cart (106) configured to support the ultrasound imaging system, and a probe cable support (146) configured to support the cable.

An ultrasound imaging device, including: a processor (10), N ultrasound systems (20), a communication channel (30) and an ultrasonic probe (40); where N is a positive integer greater than 1; the processor (10) is configured to receive an ultrasound system setting instruction input by a user, so that a ultrasound system (20) of the N ultrasound systems (20) is in an enabled state; the ultrasound system (20) in the enabled state is configured to send a control instruction to the ultrasonic probe (40) via the communication channel (30); and the ultrasonic probe (40) is configured to cooperate with the ultrasound system (20) in the enabled state to operate according to the control instruction.

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for use in tomographic ultrasound imaging, large aperture ultrasound imaging and therapeutic ultrasound that provide for coupling acoustic signal transducers to body structures for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals. The acoustic signal transmission couplants can conform to the receiving medium (e.g., skin) of the subject such that there is an acoustic impedance matching between the receiving medium and the transducer. In one aspect, an acoustic coupling medium includes a hydrogel including polymerizable material that form a network structured to entrap an aqueous fluid inside the hydrogel. The hydrogel is structured to conform to the receiving body, and the acoustic coupling medium is operable to conduct acoustic signals between acoustic signal transducer elements and a receiving medium when the hydrogel is in contact with the receiving body such that there is an acoustic impedance matching between the receiving medium and the acoustic signal transducer elements.