333 results about "Ultrasound beam" patented technology

An ultrasound imaging probe for real time 3D ultrasound imaging from the tip of the probe that can be inserted into the body. The ultrasound beam is electronically scanned within a 2D azimuth plane with a linear array, and scanning in the elevation direction at right angle to the azimuth plane is obtained by mechanical movement of the array. The mechanical movement is either achieved by rotation of the array through a flexible wire, or through wobbling of the array, for example through hydraulic actuation. The probe can be made both flexible and stiff, where the flexible embodiment is particularly interesting for catheter imaging in the heart and vessels, and the stiff embodiment has applications in minimal invasive surgery and other procedures. The probe design allows for low cost manufacturing which allows factory sterilized probes to be disposed after use.

Disclosed are methods and systems for optimized deep or superficial deep-brain stimulation using multiple therapeutic modalities impacting one or multiple points in a neural circuit to produce Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) or Long-Term Depression (LTD). Also disclosed are methods for treatment of clinical conditions and obtaining physiological impacts. Also disclosed are: methods and systems for Guided Feedback control of non-invasive deep brain or superficial neuromodulation; patterned neuromodulation, ancillary stimulation, treatment planning, focused shaped or steered ultrasound; methods and systems using intersecting ultrasound beams; non-invasive ultrasound-neuromodulation techniques to control the permeability of the blood-brain barrier; non-invasive neuromodulation of the spinal cord by ultrasound energy; methods and systems for non-invasive neuromodulation using ultrasound for evaluating the feasibility of neuromodulation treatment using non-ultrasound/ultrasound modalities; neuromodulation of the whole head, treatment of multiple conditions, and method and systems for neuromodulation using ultrasound delivered in sessions.

A needle guidance device for use with an ultrasound transducer is made up of a frame for housing the transducer, a needle guide unit which has a sleeve in line with an ultrasound beam and two arms which affix the frame to the needle guide unit.

One aspect of the invention provides a method of stimulating a nerve in tissue of a patient. The method includes the following steps: applying a focused ultrasound beam to the tissue; applying a first magnetic field to the tissue; and applying a second magnetic field to the tissue, the ultrasound beam and the first and second magnetic fields combining to stimulate the nerve. Another aspect of the invention provides a nerve stimulation device having two magnetic coils of opposite polarity each adapted to generate a magnetic field in a patient's tissue, the coils being positioned to generate a substantially toroidal magnetic field within the patient's tissue; and an ultrasound source adapted to transmit a focused ultrasound beam into the patient's tissue.

The disclosed method and apparatus employ ultrasound beams to monitor the tissue type composition of body tissue that is to be treated and the temperature at each body tissue type or layer in real time. Additionally, the disclosed method and apparatus also provides ultrasound-based thermo-control of an aesthetic body treatment session.

A digital ultrasound beam former for ultrasound imaging, that can be configured by a control processor to process the signals from ultrasound transducer arrays with variable number of elements at variable sampling frequencies, where the lowest sampling frequency allows for the highest number of array elements. The maximal number of array elements is reduced in the inverse proportion to the sampling frequency. Parallel coupling of transmit/receive circuits for each element allow adaption of the receive Noise Figure and transmit drive capabilities to variations in the electrical impedance of the array elements.

A first mobile station (102) can be wirelessly linked to a second mobile station (104). A physical location of the second mobile station with respect to a physical location of the first mobile station can be determined. A first player (112) using the first mobile station can be presented an icon (402) representing a second player using the second mobile station. The icon can be presented from a perspective of an eye level view. At least one targeting icon (410) can be presented to the first player to facilitate targeting of the second player. A physical stimuli can be generated from the first mobile station and/or the second mobile station in response to a simulated weapon activation on the first mobile station. The physical stimuli can be a narrowly focused ultrasound beam (302) modulated to generate an audible sound when a propagation of the ultrasound beam is disrupted by a physical object.

A system and method for imaging the localized viscoelastic properties of tissue is disclosed. An oscillatory radiation force is applied to tissue in order to induce a localized oscillatory motion of the tissue. The phase and amplitude of the induced localized oscillatory motion of the tissue is also detected while the oscillatory radiation force is being applied. The viscous properties of the tissue are determined by a calculation of a phase shift between the applied oscillatory radiation force and the induced localized oscillatory motion of the tissue. The oscillatory force force inducing local oscillatory motion may be a single amplitude modulated ultrasound beam.

There is an air coupled ultrasonic contactless method and an installation for non-destructive determination of defects in laminated structures with a width (W) and a multiplicity of n lamellas with intermediate N−1 bonding plants (B), whereas at least one transmitter (T) in a fixed transmitter distance (WTS) radiates ultrasound beams at multiple positions and at least one receiver (R) in a sensor distance (WSR) is receiving re-radiated ultrasound beams at multiple positions relative to the laminated structure (S). The method images the position and geometry of for example lamination defects and allows for inspection of laminated structure (S) of arbitrary height (H) and length (L), and an individual assessment of specific bonding planes (e.g. B1, B2, B3), as well in situations with constrained access to the faces of the sample parallel to the bonding planes.

The method determines parameters to generate confocal ultrasound beams (B1,B2) inside a medium (4), and uses a device (1) comprising first and second ultrasound means (11,12) and first and second displacement members (13,14) for moving the ultrasound means (11,12). The parameters include signals s1,s2 to the ultrasound means (11,12), and the positions x1,x2 of the ultrasound means (11,12). The parameters are optimized for having a minimum amplitude a1,a2 of the signals s1,s2 and having an acoustic effect inside the medium (4).

Disclosed are methods and systems for optimized deep or superficial deep-brain stimulation using multiple therapeutic modalities impacting one or multiple points in a neural circuit to produce Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) or Long-Term Depression (LTD). Also disclosed are methods for treatment of clinical conditions and obtaining physiological impacts. Also disclosed are: methods and systems for Guided Feedback control of non-invasive deep brain or superficial neuromodulation; patterned neuromodulation, ancillary stimulation, treatment planning, focused shaped or steered ultrasound; methods and systems using intersecting ultrasound beams; non-invasive ultrasound-neuromodulation techniques to control the permeability of the blood-brain barrier; non-invasive neuromodulation of the spinal cord by ultrasound energy; methods and systems for non-invasive neuromodulation using ultrasound for evaluating the feasibility of neuromodulation treatment using non-ultrasound/ultrasound modalities; neuromodulation of the whole head, treatment of multiple conditions, and method and systems for neuromodulation using ultrasound delivered in sessions.

Disclosed are methods and devices for ultrasound-mediated non-invasive deep brain neuromodulation impacting one or a plurality of points in a neural circuit using patterned inputs. These are applicable whether the ultrasound beams intersect at the targets or not. Depending on the application, this can produce short-term effects (as in the treatment of post-surgical pain) or long-term effects in terms of Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) or Long-Term Depression (LTD) to treat indications such as neurologic and psychiatric conditions. The ultrasound transducers are used with control of frequency, firing pattern, and intensity to produce up-regulation or down-regulation.