The present disclosure provides systems and methods for predicting a disease state of a subject using ultrasound imaging and ancillary information to the ultrasound imaging. At least two quantitative measurements of a subject, including at least one measurement taken using ultrasound imaging, as part of quantified information can be identified. One of the quantitative measurements can be compared to a first predetermined standard, included as part of ancillary information to the quantified information, in order to identify a first initial value. Further, another of the quantitative measurements can be compared to a second predetermined standard, included as part of the ancillary information, in order to identify a second initial value. Subsequently, the quantitative information can be correlated with the ancillary information using the first initial value and the second initial value to determine a final value that is predictive of a disease state of the subject.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for predicting a disease state of a subject using ultrasound imaging and ancillary information to the ultrasound imaging. At least two quantitative measurements of a subject, including at least one measurement taken using ultrasound imaging, as part of quantified information can be identified. One of the quantitative measurements can be compared to a first predetermined standard, included as part of ancillary information to the quantified information, in order to identify a first initial value. Further, another of the quantitative measurements can be compared to a second predetermined standard, included as part of the ancillary information, in order to identify a second initial value. Subsequently, the quantitative information can be correlated with the ancillary information using the first initial value and the second initial value to determine a final value that is predictive of a disease state of the subject.

An ultrasound detection device comprising: an ultrasound receiver configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure of ultrasound that impinges on the receiver; and a coded mask comprising an ultrasound-blocking material perforated by an array of a plurality of apertures, the apertures arranged such that when the coded mask is placed over the receiver between the receiver and a source of ultrasound in a predetermined lateral position, the ultrasound is transmitted from the ultrasound source to the receiver via a known unique pattern of active apertures of the plurality of apertures such that the signal that is generated by the receiver is a multiplexed signal.

An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus including: an ultrasound probe having a transducer array; and a processor configured to: perform transmission and reception of an ultrasonic beam from the transducer array toward a subject, into which contrast media including microbubbles is introduced; image a reception signal output from the transducer array to generate an ultrasound image of the subject; acquire trajectories of the microbubbles in a one cross section of the subject by tracking movement of the microbubbles based on the ultrasound image corresponding to the one cross section of the subject; detect, as a feature point, a trajectory, in which a distance between a start point and an end point in a prescribed time range is less than a prescribed value, among the trajectories of the microbubbles; and display the ultrasound image, the acquired trajectories and the detected feature point on the display unit.

An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus including: an ultrasound probe having a transducer array; and a processor configured to: perform transmission and reception of an ultrasonic beam from the transducer array toward a subject, into which contrast media including microbubbles is introduced; image a reception signal output from the transducer array to generate an ultrasound image of the subject; acquire trajectories of the microbubbles in a one cross section of the subject by tracking movement of the microbubbles based on the ultrasound image corresponding to the one cross section of the subject; detect, as a feature point, a trajectory, in which a distance between a start point and an end point in a prescribed time range is less than a prescribed value, among the trajectories of the microbubbles; and display the ultrasound image, the acquired trajectories and the detected feature point on the display unit.

According to one embodiment, an analysis apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry configured to generate a harmonic signal and a fundamental wave signal based on a reception signal that is collected by an ultrasound probe, the harmonic signal corresponding to a harmonic component of a reflected wave of a ultrasound generated in the subject, the fundamental wave signal corresponding to a fundamental wave component of the reflected wave, calculate a first index value indicating tissue properties of the subject based on the harmonic signal, and calculate a second index value indicating the tissue properties based on the fundamental wave signal, and display an analysis result based on the first index value and the second index value.

According to one embodiment, an analysis apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry configured to generate a harmonic signal and a fundamental wave signal based on a reception signal that is collected by an ultrasound probe, the harmonic signal corresponding to a harmonic component of a reflected wave of a ultrasound generated in the subject, the fundamental wave signal corresponding to a fundamental wave component of the reflected wave, calculate a first index value indicating tissue properties of the subject based on the harmonic signal, and calculate a second index value indicating the tissue properties based on the fundamental wave signal, and display an analysis result based on the first index value and the second index value.

A device (10) is provided for ultrasound-based reflection and transmission tomography. The device (10) comprises: a transducer holder (14) configured to hold a plurality of ultrasonic transducers around an imaging volume (30) to be filled with an ultrasonic coupling medium, the transducer holder (14) having an opening for inserting, into the imaging volume (30), at least one part of a body to be imaged, wherein the transducer holder (14) is configured to move, during imaging of the at least one part of the body to be imaged, with respect to the body to be imaged; a support member (11) configured to support, during imaging, the body to be imaged, the support member (11) having a support-member-opening allowing access to the transducer holder (14) by the at least one part of the body to be imaged; a diaphragm (12) having a diaphragm-opening (13), the diaphragm (12) being arranged across the support-member-opening such that a center of the diaphragm-opening (13) is placed substantially at a predetermined position, wherein the diaphragm (12) comprises a material that has a higher transmissivity of ultrasound than a material of the support member (11); an outlet (15) for the ultrasonic coupling medium to flow out of the imaging volume (30) when the at least one part of the body to be imaged is inserted into the imaging volume (30) filled with the ultrasonic coupling medium and/or during imaging; and an elastic membrane (16) comprising a fluidtight material connecting the transducer holder (14) and the outlet (15) in order to guide the ultrasonic coupling medium flowing out of the imaging volume (30) towards the outlet (15).

A device (10) is provided for ultrasound-based reflection and transmission tomography. The device (10) comprises: a transducer holder (14) configured to hold a plurality of ultrasonic transducers around an imaging volume (30) to be filled with an ultrasonic coupling medium, the transducer holder (14) having an opening for inserting, into the imaging volume (30), at least one part of a body to be imaged, wherein the transducer holder (14) is configured to move, during imaging of the at least one part of the body to be imaged, with respect to the body to be imaged; a support member (11) configured to support, during imaging, the body to be imaged, the support member (11) having a support-member-opening allowing access to the transducer holder (14) by the at least one part of the body to be imaged; a diaphragm (12) having a diaphragm-opening (13), the diaphragm (12) being arranged across the support-member-opening such that a center of the diaphragm-opening (13) is placed substantially at a predetermined position, wherein the diaphragm (12) comprises a material that has a higher transmissivity of ultrasound than a material of the support member (11); an outlet (15) for the ultrasonic coupling medium to flow out of the imaging volume (30) when the at least one part of the body to be imaged is inserted into the imaging volume (30) filled with the ultrasonic coupling medium and/or during imaging; and an elastic membrane (16) comprising a fluidtight material connecting the transducer holder (14) and the outlet (15) in order to guide the ultrasonic coupling medium flowing out of the imaging volume (30) towards the outlet (15).

A system and method for capturing ultrasound signals from a hemispheric imaging region (e.g., by a stationary array of transducer elements arranged in the shape of a faceted hemisphere) and estimating scattering measurements that would be made by a virtual array in the opposite hemisphere (e.g., by a network of processors that receive and process the transmitted ultrasound signals in parallel) by forming an initial estimate of a medium variation for each of a plurality of subvolumes in the scattering object to form an estimated object, calculating residual scattering by using a difference between a scattering response calculated for the estimated object and measured ultrasound signals received from the scattering object, forming an initial three-dimensional image of the scattering object, and extrapolating a difference between the scattering response calculated for the estimated object and the measured ultrasound signals received from the scattering object.