Improved ultrasound imaging devices and methods of operating the devices that minimize grating lobe artifacts in an ultrasound image are provided. For example, an ultrasound imaging system analyzes the ultrasound data at different frequency bands and generates a grating-lobe-minimized image based on minimum signals identified for each pixel among the plurality of frequency ranges. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound transducer array configured to obtain ultrasound data, and a processor in communication with the ultrasound transducer array. The processor is configured to receive the ultrasound data, generate an ultrasound image based on a first frequency range of the ultrasound data, generate a grating-lobe-minimized ultrasound image based on a plurality of second frequency ranges of the ultrasound data, combine the ultrasound image and the grating-lobe-minimized ultrasound image to generate a combined ultrasound image, and output the combined ultrasound image to a display.

A dual-mode ultrasound system provides real-time imaging and therapy delivery using the same transducer elements of a transducer array. The system may use a multi-channel driver to drive the elements of the array. The system uses a real-time monitoring and feedback image control of the therapy based on imaging data acquired using the dual-mode ultrasound array (DMUA) of transducer elements. Further, for example, multi-modal coded excitation may be used in both imaging and therapy modes. Still further, for example, adaptive, real-time refocusing for improved imaging and therapy can be achieved using, for example, array directivity vectors obtained from DMUA pulse-echo data.

There are provided an ultrasound image generating apparatus, which generates a high-quality ultrasound image even in a deep portion of a subject, and a control method thereof. In an ultrasound image (Img), for a portion (Ar1) equal to or less than a depth threshold value (D1), a real scanning line (L1) obtained from an acoustic wave echo signal is used. In the ultrasound image (Img), for a portion (Ar2) deeper than the depth threshold value (D1), an interpolation scanning line (L2) located between the real scanning lines (L1) is generated from an acoustic wave echo signal having a positional deviation between a focusing position of ultrasound waves and an observation target position. Also for a portion deeper than the interpolation scanning line (L2), a high-quality ultrasound image (Img) is obtained.

Various approaches for focusing an ultrasound transducer include introducing at least one transient acoustic reflector located in proximity to at least one target region; generating multiple sonications to the at least one target region; measuring a reflection signal of each of the sonications off the at least one transient acoustic reflector; selecting the measured reflection signals, and based at least in part on the selected reflection signals, adjusting a parameter value associated with at least one of the transducer elements so as to improve an ultrasound focus at the target region.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus generates an ultrasound image based on an ultrasound signal acquired by an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer transmits an ultrasound wave to an observation target and receives the ultrasound wave reflected from the observation target. The apparatus includes: an analysis unit configured to generate analysis data based on the ultrasound signal received from the observation target; and a correction unit configured to correct the analysis data using correction data based on first reference data and second reference data, the first reference data being obtained from an ultrasound signal received from a reference reflector by using the ultrasound transducer or another ultrasound transducer of a same type as that of the ultrasound transducer, the second reference data being obtained from the ultrasound signal received from the reference reflector by using still another ultrasound transducer of different type from that of the ultrasound transducer.

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.

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.

In an ultrasound transducer array (T) having a plurality of transducer elements (TE) each having a respective field of view (FOV-1-FOV-5), the ultrasound transducer array (T) being capable of being positioned around an object having a curved surface (S) resulting in a convergence of the respective fields of view of the transducer elements (TE), the transducer elements (TE) are arranged, or capable of being arranged, on the ultrasound transducer array (T) in a manner opposite to a curvature of the curved surface (S) so as to counteract the convergence of the respective fields of view.

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 of ultrasound imaging are provided. In some embodiments, unfocused and diverging ultrasound signals can be transmitted into a target medium from an apparent point source located aft of a concave probe surface. The echoes can be received, and a location of a reflector within the target medium can be determined. The location can be determined by obtaining element position data describing a position of the spherical center point of the apparent point source r and a position of the receive element, calculating a total path distance as a sum of a first distance between the spherical center point and the reflector and a second distance between the reflector and the receive element, and determining a locus of possible points at which the reflector may lie. A data set can then be produced for the entire target medium.