The invention is directed to an ultrasound probe (1) configured to be operatively coupled to a cable (10), the cable (10) comprising a plurality of lanes adapted to carry signals between the ultrasound probe (1) and a data processing unit, which is adapted to process the signals, in particular to beamform the signals and to reconstruct ultrasound images of an imaging region. The ultrasonic probe (1) comprises a transducer head comprising a plurality of transducer elements, which are adapted to insonify the imaging region according to an insonification scheme and to receive ultrasound signals, and a controller adapted to, responsive to the information of a faulty lane from a fault detection module adapted to detect integrity of each of the plurality of lanes, redistribute and/or reconfigure the signals carried by the faulty lane onto one or more of the non-faulty lanes.

An ultrasound probe is tested for failure of 5 elements of its array transducer by operating the probe with its lens in contact with the air. The echo signals produced during this mode of operation are beamformed into the usual set of scanlines produced by the probe. The frequency response of 10 each scanline is analyzed and compared with a reference signal of the frequency response of the corresponding scanline of a known good probe of the same type as the probe under test. If a comparison reveals a variance greater than a predetermined 15 deviation, the user is alerted that the probe should be replaced.

Provided is an ultrasound imaging apparatus including: an ultrasound probe including a transducer module including an ultrasound transducer array, a driving device configured to rotate the transducer module, a magnet configured to rotate as a result of rotation of the transducer module, and a position sensor configured to output one of a first signal and a second signal on the basis of a change in magnetic flux density according to rotation of the magnet; and a controller configured to determine a first time for which the first signal is output as the transducer module rotates in a first direction, control the driving device to switch the rotating direction of the transduce module from the first direction to a second direction at a first switching time point at which an output signal is switched from the first signal to the second signal, control the driving device to switch the rotating direction of the transducer module one or more times during a time corresponding to the first time with respect to a second switching time point at which the output signal is switched from the second signal to the first signal after the first switching time point, determine a second time for which the first signal is output after the second switching time point, and determine a backlash value on the basis of a difference value between the first time and the second time.

Disclosed herein is a medical system (100, 300, 500) comprising: a memory (110) storing machine executable instructions, at least one set of predetermined coordinates (124), and a position identifying algorithm (122). The position identifying algorithm is configured for outputting a set of current coordinates (128) for each of the at least one set of predetermined coordinates in response to receiving a current image descriptive of an object (306, 310). The execution of machine executable instructions (120) causes a computational system (104) to repeatedly receive (200) a current image (126) from a camera system (304). The execution of machine executable instructions (120) causes a computational system (104) to perform the following for the current image: receive (202) the set of current coordinates for each of the at least one set of predetermined coordinates in response to inputting the current image into the position identifying algorithm; calculate (204) a positional difference (130) between the at least one set of predetermined coordinates and its set of current coordinates; calculate (206) a one-dimensional value (134) from positional difference using an objective function; and provide (208) a one-dimensional position indicator (136, 314, 600, 602, 608, 800, 900, 1002) for each of and controlled by each one-dimensional value in real time using a user interface (108, 308, 416, 418).

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate apertures of ultrasound arrays. Some embodiments provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound probes having continuous arrays of ultrasound transducers which may have a substantially continuous concave curved shape in two or three dimensions (i.e., concave relative to an object to be imaged). Other embodiments herein provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound imaging probes having other unique configurations, such as adjustable probes and probes with variable configurations.

Systems and methods for improving spectral-shift methods for calculating acoustic attenuation coefficients are disclosed. Systems, methods, and apparatuses for transmitting ultrasound pulse sequences for improved signal-to-noise outside the main passband of ultrasound transducers are disclosed. Systems, methods, and apparatuses for using the echoes from the transmitted pulse sequences to calculate the attenuation coefficient are disclosed.

A monitoring system includes a wearable patch device configured to be secured to a body of a patient, the wearable patch device comprising a patch body, a first discrete transducer associated with a first position of the patch body, a second discrete transducer associated with a second portion of the patch body, and a wireless transmitter, and electronics including one or more processors and one or more memory devices and configured to receive signals based on transducer readings of the first and second discrete transducers and determine an amount of blood flow through one or more valves of a heart of the patient based on the signals.

A method of determining a position of a target using a metric comprises receiving a plurality of ultrasound signals representative of ultrasound energy received from the target and, for each of a plurality of different foci, adjusting the ultrasound signals in dependence on the focus and determining a value of the metric using the adjusted ultrasound signals. The method further comprises using the determined values for the metric for the different foci to determine a position of the target.

A system is disclosed for determining a position and a change in the position of an anatomical structure. The system utilizes a surgical navigation system and a substrate that is capable of being removably mounted to an outer surface of a body. A sensor is attached to the substrate to be tracked by the surgical navigation system. An ultrasonic imaging device is attached to the substrate to determine a position of the anatomical structure. A first circuit calculates a global position of the anatomical structure by correlating a position of the sensor and the position of the anatomical structure. The first circuit determines the global position without the use of an image of the anatomical structure, and may do so without the use of a reference device invasively affixed to the body. A second circuit displays the global position of the anatomical structure.

An ultrasonic imaging system including an array transducer that includes a plurality of elements each performing at least one of emission or reception of ultrasonic waves, at least some of the plurality of elements being disposed so as to face each other. The ultrasonic imaging system performs malfunction inspection including specifying one emitting element among emitting elements that emit ultrasonic waves and a group of receiving elements that are at least some of the plurality of elements and that receive transmitted waves emitted from the emitting element and transmitted through an imaging region; collecting measurement data of the transmitted waves via the group of receiving elements while switching the emitting element; calculating transfer characteristic values from the measurement data; and detecting a malfunctioning element among the plurality of elements on the basis of the transfer characteristic values.