The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging methods and apparatus that allow for multiple modes of imaging using a single ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements. In an embodiment, there is provided an ultrasound imaging machine that is: operable in a first imaging mode in which the plurality of transducer elements are activated; and operable in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, and in the second imaging mode, a subset of the plurality of transducer elements are activated so that ultrasound signals are steered from the subset of the plurality of transducer elements, where any remaining transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements not part of the subset are inactive when operating in the second imaging mode.

An ultrasound imaging apparatus and a control method thereof. The ultrasound imaging apparatus may include: a display; a communication unit; and a processor configured to be operatively connected to the display and the communication unit. The processor may obtain a first ultrasound image of a subject and a result of an analysis of the first ultrasound image. The processor may also control the display to display a user interface, which allows selection of an operating mode of the ultrasound imaging apparatus, based on the result of the analysis.

An ultrasound imaging system includes a cine buffer in which image frames produced during an examination are stored. A processor is programmed to select one or more image frames from the cine buffer for presentation to an operator for approval and inclusion in a patient record or other report. The operator can accept the proposed image frames or can select one or more other image frames from the cine buffer. The processor may select image frames at spaced intervals in the cine buffer for presentation. Alternatively, the processor compares image frames in the cine buffer with one or more target image frames. Image frames that are similar to the target image frames are presented to the operator to confirm. Alternatively, image frames can be selected by the processor that contain a specific feature or that are similar to image frames that were previously selected by the operator when performing a particular type of examination.

A method includes receiving a selection of an examination template including a hierarchical examination workflow and baseline configuration parameters corresponding to the examination template, wherein the examination template is associated with an anatomical area; automatically configuring an imaging system with the baseline configuration parameters from the examination template; capturing image data of a patient using the imaging system according to the hierarchical examination workflow; storing the image data on a storage system, such that the image data is associated with the anatomical area; displaying an anatomical model of a plurality of anatomical areas of the patient; and displaying thumbnails of the image data on respective areas of the anatomical model corresponding to anatomical areas of the patient where the image data was captured by the imaging system.

Controlling an image appearance in ultrasound system comprises: providing a set of image appearance feature control parameters, each of which relates to an image appearance feature according to a pre-defined relation between a value scale of the said image appearance feature control parameter and an image appearance related to a certain condition of the corresponding image appearance feature; generating a function between the value of each image feature control parameter and the value of the standard workflow setting parameters of a combination of standard workflow setting parameters influencing the said image appearance feature; and varying automatically the value of the one or more of the standard workflow setting parameters of the combination of standard workflow setting parameters influencing an image appearance feature as a function of a variation of the value of the corresponding image appearance feature control parameters for obtaining the requested image appearance feature variation.

The medical imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a bath tank for accommodating a test subject, the test subject being at least a portion of a body of a human subject; a measurement device movable in a predetermined direction, the measurement device including ab group of elements to emit a radiation wave into the bath tank and receive a scattered radiation wave; and a control unit for measuring by the measurement device when at least one of a location of the test subject within a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction, a location of the test subject in the predetermined direction, and continuity of data measured by the measurement device satisfies a predetermined condition. Because of this configuration, the medical imaging apparatus is able to acquire data covering the entire measurement target site.

A system for operating an ultrasound probe that is provided with sensor operation portions for operating the ultrasound probe that acquires ultrasound echo images of a blood vessel, and a control portion that controls operations of the sensor operation portions. The control portion may switch the arrangement of the ultrasound probe using the sensor operation portions between a first arrangement for acquiring an image of a cross section in the transverse direction of the blood vessel and a second arrangement for acquiring an image of a cross section in the longitudinal direction of the blood vessel.

In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an operation method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the invention, a control circuit performs polarization processing on a plurality of ultrasound transducers in a non-diagnosis period, during which transmission of ultrasound waves and reception of reflected waves for performing ultrasound diagnosis are not performed, in a case where the cumulative driving time of the plurality of ultrasound transducers for performing the ultrasound diagnosis becomes equal to or longer than a specified time. A transmission circuit generates a first transmission signal having a driving voltage for performing ultrasound diagnosis using a pulse generation circuit in the case of performing the ultrasound diagnosis, and generates a second transmission signal having a polarization voltage for performing polarization processing using the same pulse generation circuit as in the case of generating the first transmission signal in the case of performing the polarization processing.

During acquisition of an ultrasound image feed, ultrasound control data frames are acquired that may be interspersed amongst the ultrasound data frames. The control data frames may use consistent reference scan parameters, irrespective of the scanner settings, and may not need to be converted to image frames. The control data frames can be passed to an artificial intelligence model, which predicts the suitable settings for scanning the anatomy that is being scanned. The artificial intelligence model can be trained with a dataset containing different classes of ultrasound control data frames for different settings, where substantially all the ultrasound control data frames in the dataset are consistently acquired using the reference scan parameters.

Method for scanning for second object on or within first object starts by receiving information on first object and second object. Task lists are generated that include at least one task action based on information on first object and second object. Based on task lists, beamer is then signaled to generate and send first signal to first probe unit to perform first beam firing. Receiver processes first data signal from first probe unit that is then analyzed to determine if first object is identified using processed first data signal. Upon determination that first object is identified, based on task list, beamer is signaled to generate and send second signal to second probe unit to perform second beam firing. Receiver processes second data signal from second probe unit that is then analyzed to determine if second object is identified using processed second data signal. Other embodiments are described.