Aspects of the technology described herein relate to techniques for guiding an operator to use an ultrasound device. Thereby, operators with little or no experience operating ultrasound devices may capture medically relevant ultrasound images and/or interpret the contents of the obtained ultrasound images. For example, some of the techniques disclosed herein may be used to identify a particular anatomical view of a subject to image with an ultrasound device, guide an operator of the ultrasound device to capture an ultrasound image of the subject that contains the particular anatomical view, and/or analyze the captured ultrasound image to identify medical information about the subject.

Disclosed are systems and methods for providing virtual reality guidance to a user performing a procedure on a virtual instance of an item. The systems and methods may be used in training the user to perform the procedure on a physical instance of the item.

A 3D ultrasound imaging device including an ultrasound probe assembly and echo analyzer. The ultrasound probe assembly includes a housing and an acoustic window abutted against the housing to form a sealed chamber, wherein the surface of the acoustic window contacts with the breast of the human body to be examined; an ultrasound transducer moves at a first speed back and forth within the sealed chamber and performs high-speed pre-scanning through the acoustic window to obtain initial ultrasound signals; the echo analyzer analyzes the initial ultrasound signals to determine a quality of a ultrasound image acquired by the high speed pre-scanning; and the ultrasound transducer then moves at a second speed to perform another scan to acquire new ultrasound signals. A 3D ultrasound imaging method is also disclosed.

A first signal is generated with a first light detector in response to an ultrasound signal encountering a first measurement beam. A second signal is generated with a second light detector in response to the ultrasound signal encountering a second measurement beam. The second measurement beam propagates through the sample and the first measurement beam propagates outside the sample.

A system for providing navigational guidance to a sonographer acquiring images is disclosed. The system may provide haptic feedback to the sonographer. The haptic feedback may be provided through an ultrasonic probe or a separate device. Haptic feedback may include vibrations or other sensations provided to the sonographer. The system may analyze acquired images and determine the location of acquisition and compare it to a desired image and a location for obtaining the desired image. The system may calculate the location for obtaining the desired image based, at least in part, on the acquired image. The system may then provide the haptic feedback to guide the sonographer to move the ultrasonic probe to the location to acquire the desired image.

A method may include generating a series of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images of the tissue volume associated with a plurality of positions along a scanning direction of the tissue volume; estimating, for each pair of consecutive 2D ultrasound images of the series of 2D ultrasound images, a distance between the positions associated with the pair of consecutive 2D ultrasound images based on a classification of a difference image generated from the pair of consecutive 2D ultrasound images using a deep neural network to produce a plurality of estimated distances associated with the plurality of pairs of consecutive 2D ultrasound images, respectively; modifying the number of 2D ultrasound images in the series of 2D ultrasound images based on the plurality of estimated distances to produce a modified series of 2D ultrasound images; and rendering the 3D ultrasound image of the tissue volume based on the modified series of 2D ultrasound images.

A method may include generating a series of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images of the tissue volume associated with a plurality of positions along a scanning direction of the tissue volume; estimating, for each pair of consecutive 2D ultrasound images of the series of 2D ultrasound images, a distance between the positions associated with the pair of consecutive 2D ultrasound images based on a classification of a difference image generated from the pair of consecutive 2D ultrasound images using a deep neural network to produce a plurality of estimated distances associated with the plurality of pairs of consecutive 2D ultrasound images, respectively; modifying the number of 2D ultrasound images in the series of 2D ultrasound images based on the plurality of estimated distances to produce a modified series of 2D ultrasound images; and rendering the 3D ultrasound image of the tissue volume based on the modified series of 2D ultrasound images.

Methods for providing real-time, three-dimensional (3D) augmented reality (AR) feedback guidance to a user of an equipment system for training or improved performance, including comparing sensed, real-time user positioning data and data received from the equipment system during use to reference positioning and procedure outcome data, and generating and providing to a user real-time position-based and outcome-based 3D AR feedback based on comparing the sensed and reference data.

An ultrasound imaging system includes an interventional medical device having a first tracking element that generates tip location data based on a locator field. An ultrasound probe has an ultrasound transducer mechanism and a second tracking element. The ultrasound transducer mechanism has an active ultrasound transducer array that generates two-dimensional ultrasound slice data at any of a plurality of discrete imaging locations within a three-dimensional imaging volume. The second tracking element generates probe location data based on the locator field. A processor circuit is configured to execute program instructions to generate an ultrasound image for display, and is configured to generate a positioning signal based on the tip location data and the probe location data to dynamically position the active ultrasound transducer array so that the two-dimensional ultrasound slice data includes the distal tip of the interventional medical device.

A 3D ultrasound imaging device including an ultrasound probe assembly and echo analyzer. The ultrasound probe assembly includes a housing and an acoustic window abutted against the housing to form a sealed chamber, wherein the surface of the acoustic window contacts with the breast of the human body to be examined; an ultrasound transducer moves at a first speed back and forth within the sealed chamber and performs high-speed pre-scanning through the acoustic window to obtain initial ultrasound signals; the echo analyzer analyzes the initial ultrasound signals to determine a quality of a ultrasound image acquired by the high speed pre-scanning; and the ultrasound transducer then moves at a second speed to perform another scan to acquire new ultrasound signals. A 3D ultrasound imaging method is also disclosed.