1665 results about "Ultrasound diagnostics" patented technology

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is equipped with an ultrasonic probe that transmits / receives ultrasound to / from an examined body, a probe position sensor that detects the position and the direction of the ultrasonic probe, an image generator that generates image data based upon the output of the ultrasonic probe, a probe position sensor that detects the position and the direction of a puncture probe inserted into the examined body, a display image generator that generates the data of a display image in which the end position of the puncture probe is fixed to a specific position in an image display area according to the position and the direction of the ultrasonic probe and the position and the direction of the puncture probe based upon the image data and a display for displaying the display image in the image display area.

A technology, wherein unstable operation of the ultrasonic motor is prevented, when the ultrasonic motor is driven at the lower speed out of at least two types of speeds, and life extension is attempted, is disclosed, and according to this invention, when the ultrasonic motor 3 is driven at a comparatively low-speed during normal driving, unstable operation due to driving at a comparatively low-speed can be prevented and life extension can be attempted by driving the ultrasonic motor at a comparatively high-speed every predetermined period of time.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including: an ultrasonic observation device that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave by an ultrasonic transducer arranged on a tip end of a probe, and that acquires a plurality of two-dimensional ultrasonic tomographic images for a subject in a living body; a position data calculator that detects information indicating a reference position of each of the two-dimensional ultrasonic tomographic images and an orientation of a tomographic plane of the each two-dimensional ultrasonic tomographic image; and an image processor is provided. The image processor generates a band-shaped longitudinal image including a curved plane along a moving path of the ultrasonic transducer.

A backing material for suppressing the surface temperature rise of an ultrasonic probe. This backing material is provided on a back face of at least one vibrator for transmitting and / or receiving ultrasonic waves in an ultrasonic probe, and includes: a backing base material containing a polymeric material; and a heat conducting fiber provided in the backing base material, having a larger coefficient of thermal conductivity than that of the backing base material, and running through without disconnection from a first face of the backing material in contact with the at least one vibrator to a second face different from the first face.

An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic endoscope having ultrasonic transducers for scanning ultrasonic wave in a living body three-dimensionally, an ultrasonic image creating portion of an ultrasonic observing apparatus for creating ultrasonic volume data based on an ultrasonic signal captured by the ultrasonic endoscope, a two-dimensional image select knob, keyboard, trackball, computing / control portion and display control portion for selecting a tomographic plane from the ultrasonic volume data by designating the angle of rotation about the straight line through two points designated on the ultrasonic volume data as the axis of rotation, and a monitor for displaying the tomographic plane selected during a scanning operation as a two-dimensional ultrasonic image.

In one aspect of the present invention, an object is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic device that simultaneously displays an IMT and the elastic indices of a blood vessel to accurately determine, through composite observations, the risk for developing arteriosclerosis. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic device including: an ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasound to a body under test and that receives ultrasonic echo reflected of the body under test to output a reception signal; image data generation means that generates, based on the reception signal output from the ultrasonic probe, image data representing an ultrasonic image on a blood vessel of the body under test; IMT measurement means that measures, based on the image data generated by the image data generation means, an IMT (intima media thickness) of the blood vessel; elastic index measurement means that determines, based on the image data generated by the image data generation means, a value representing an elastic index of the blood vessel; and display means that displays a two-dimensional coordinate system in which the IMT is represented on a first coordinate axis and the value representing the elastic index of the blood vessel is represented on a second coordinate axis.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic probe transmitting and receiving ultrasound toward and from a subject, a puncture adaptor configured to be fixed to the ultrasonic probe and to hold a puncture needle, wherein the puncture adaptor has moving part movable in relation to the ultrasonic probe with the puncture needle, and a sensor provided at the ultrasonic probe, and configured to detect the position of the moving part. As the puncture needle is moved relative to the probe, the movable part is correspondingly moved relative to the probe, and movement of the movable part, and therefore also of the puncture needle, is detected by the sensor.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, ultrasound image generation apparatus and method transmit ultrasound waves to a subject into which a puncture tool is inserted, receive reflected waves reflected from the subject and the puncture tool, and generate echo signals of time-sequential frames based on the received reflected waves, and generate an ultrasound image of the subject based on the generated echo signals. These apparatus and method generate a differential echo signal between time-sequential frames from the echo signals, perform a tip detection process based on the differential echo signal to thereby detect at least one tip candidate including a tip end of the puncture tool, highlight a tip candidate of the puncture tool detected to thereby generate a tip image, and display the tip image of the highlighted puncture tool so as to be superimposed on the generated ultrasound image.

A local user obtains data on the response of internal tissues of a subject to a non-invasive imaging system, choosing sensor positions according to a geometric display. The data obtained are evaluated with respect to predefined quantitative values. The process of obtaining and processing the internal tissue response data is repeated until an image meeting predetermined image quality characteristics is obtained. Specific or general content of the image may be restricted by the local processor, with a distal processor receiving the obtained image data, so as to limit specific or general types of image information from being viewed by the local user, such as image data that can be used to identify the sex of a fetus within the subject.

In a medical ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, a reference image and a guidance display are provided as probe operation support information. The reference image contains a recorded probe mark generated based on coordinate data recorded during a past diagnosis and a current probe mark generated based on current coordinate data. A user adjusts a position and an orientation of a probe so that these marks match. The guidance display has a plurality of indicators provided corresponding to a plurality of coordinate components. Each indicator displays proximity and match for each coordinate component. With the probe operation support information, it is possible to quickly and easily match a current diagnosis part to a past diagnosis part.

A composite piezoelectric material capable of reducing a peak temperature of a vibrator array to be used for transmitting or receiving ultrasonic waves in ultrasonic imaging. The composite piezoelectric material includes: plural piezoelectric materials arranged along a flat surface or curved surface; and an anisotropic heat conducting material having a higher coefficient of thermal conductivity in at least one direction and provided between the plural piezoelectric materials and / or at outer peripheries of the plural piezoelectric materials.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises: an ultrasound probe which performs transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams using a transducer array according to a mode selected by an operator from a low image quality mode and a high image quality mode, and which processes reception signals outputted from the transducer array in reception signal processors to generate digital reception data; a diagnostic apparatus body for producing an ultrasound image based on the reception data transmitted from the ultrasound probe and displaying the produced ultrasound image on a monitor; a temperature detecting unit for detecting an internal temperature of the ultrasound probe, and an uptime manager for calculating an uptime in the high image quality mode based on the internal temperature of the ultrasound probe detected by the temperature detecting unit to display the calculated uptime on the monitor.

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is equipped with an ultrasonic probe that transmits / receives ultrasound to / from an examined body, a probe position sensor that detects the position and the direction of the ultrasonic probe, an image generator that generates image data based upon the output of the ultrasonic probe, a probe position sensor that detects the position and the direction of a puncture probe inserted into the examined body, a display image generator that generates the data of a display image in which the end position of the puncture probe is fixed to a specific position in an image display area according to the position and the direction of the ultrasonic probe and the position and the direction of the puncture probe based upon the image data and a display for displaying the display image in the image display area.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 comprises an ultrasonic probe 2 for transmitting the ultrasound while three-dimensionally scanning, and receiving ultrasound reflected from biological tissue, an image processor 5 (and a signal processor 4) for generating image data for an MPR image based on results received thereof, an information memory 6 for storing cross-sectional-position information D showing a cross-section of this MPR image, a display part 81, and a controller 9. The image processor 5 generates image data for the new MPR image for the relevant cross-sectional position, based on the cross-sectional position shown in the cross-sectional-position information D1 obtained when the MPR image was obtained in the past and the received results obtained by the new three-dimensional scan performed with the ultrasonic probe 2. The controller 9 causes the display part 81 to display the new MPR image.

When a transfer signal according to ultrasonic echoes is wirelessly transmitted from an ultrasonic probe to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, the main body and the probe are reliably connected without false recognition. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body, and the ultrasonic probe includes a probe ID transport unit having a transport distance shorter than that of a first wireless communication unit for transporting a probe ID for identification of itself in contact or noncontact to an outside, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body includes a probe ID acquiring unit for acquiring the probe ID transported from the probe ID transport unit, and a second wireless communication unit receives the transfer signal from the ultrasonic probe having the probe ID acquired by the probe ID acquiring unit.

With the objective of definitely generating a biopsy needle on an ultrasonic image, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention brings a probe connected thereto into contact with the surface of a body and applies ultrasound thereto, receives signals reflected from within the body and the biopsy needle inserted in the body, and generates ultrasonic images (tomograms) in the body and at the biopsy needle on the basis of the received signals. Picture elements are added every pixels with respect to range-specified portions of these ultrasonic images to thereby generate an ultrasonic image formed by superimposing the respective pixels. Even while the so-superimposed ultrasonic image is being created, ultrasonic images are sequentially stored. The so-superimposed ultrasonic image and the latest ultrasonic image are displayed on an output unit in combination.

An ultrasonic diagnostic device includes an automatic contour extracting unit that contains an initial contour extracting unit for roughly extracting an initial contour of an object to be examined from an ultrasound image by performing a predetermined operation (such as equalization, binarization, and degeneration) on the ultrasound image. The automatic contour extracting unit also contains a dynamic contour extracting unit for accurately extracting a final contour of the object by using the extracted initial contour as an initial value and by applying an active contour model, such as the SNAKES model, to the object within the ultrasound image.

A beamforming apparatus configured to beamform ultrasound waves transmitted through an ultrasound transducer having a two-dimensional transducer array includes a transmitter configured to output transmission pulses configured to drive elements constituting the transducer array, and a transmission switch configured to select at least two elements among the elements to form an aperture such that the transmission pulses drive the elements forming the aperture.

Disclosed is a technology that prevents a part of a touch panel-equipped display displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image from getting dirty with a fingerprint or scratch when using a drag operation to change the content of the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the touch panel-equipped display. According to this technology, the display screen is divided into an ultrasonic image area A1 which displays an ultrasonic image P and an operating part display area A2 which displays buttons (Fov, Pos, ROI, and Dop) for selecting a change to be made in the ultrasonic image P. The operating part display area A2 has a touch panel, and when a finger F selectively touches one of the displayed buttons and is dragged, the displayed image P of the ultrasonic image area A1 is changed on the apparatus side according to the selected changes and drag direction.

An ultrasonic probe in which a 3-dimensional position detecting means can be attached detachably to the ultrasonic probe and operability of the ultrasonic probe does not degrade even when the position detecting means is contained in the ultrasonic probe.An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus employing such an ultrasonic probe is also provided.The ultrasonic probe comprises a transducer for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to / from an object to be examined, a probe head for securing the transducer, and a grip coupled on the probe head wherein the grip has a groove for detachably containing a position detecting means for detecting 3-dimensional positional information of the ultrasonic probe.

An ultrasonic observing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a machine-side connector receptacle, an electronics-side connector receptacle, a mechanical echo signal detecting unit for detecting an echo signal obtained by receiving waves in a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe connecting to the machine-side connector receptacle, an electronic echo signal detecting unit for detecting an echo signal obtained by receiving waves in an electronic scanning ultrasonic endoscope connecting to the electronics-side connector receptacle, and a signal processing unit for performing signal processing on the echo signal from the mechanical echo signal detecting unit and the echo signal from the electronic echo signal detecting unit.

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system not depending on an operator who operates the apparatus is provided. The system includes a measuring unit (coordinate calculation section 2034) that measures a relative position and a relative posture of the ultrasonic probe with respect to an examinee using image information on the examinee acquired by the ultrasonic probe, a control amount calculation unit (2035) that calculates an amount of control of the position and posture of the ultrasonic probe based on the measurement result of the measuring unit and at least one of a probe control mechanism that controls the position and posture of the ultrasonic probe using the amount of control calculated by the control amount calculation unit and a guiding information presentation unit that presents information for guiding movement of the position and posture of the ultrasonic probe using the amount of control calculated by the control amount calculation unit.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus acquires images different in a frequency. The invention is composed of a transducer including plural elements for sending an ultrasonic wave and receiving the reflected ultrasonic wave, analog to digital converters that digitize plural received signals, first mixers that respectively multiply a signal from the converter and a first digital reference signal, first filters that respectively extract a signal having a predetermined center frequency from a signal from each first mixer, digital delay units that respectively delay a signal from each first filter, an adder that adds plural signals from the digital delay units, and a second mixer that multiplies a signal from the adder and a second digital reference signal. An envelope detector detects a signal from the second mixer, and a scan converter converts a signal from the detector to a picture signal for display, so the pass band of the filter is not required to be changed.

An ultrasonic diagnostic system has a tablet type electronic device for ultrasonic diagnosis and a docking station for mounting thereto the electronic device removably. The docking station includes a receptacle section against which one side of the electronic device comes into abutment when mounting the electronic device, and a hold-down section for holding down the electronic device releasably on the side opposite to the one side when mounting the electronic device.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is configured as follows. Namely, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided with a control unit which collets a heart synchronized signal, etc. synchronizing with workings of a heart of a patient, etc., and an image processing unit which detects an overlapped area of the three-dimensional data acquired by ultrasonic scanning from different echo windows, for the three dimensional image data group acquired in the same time phase in synchronization with the heart synchronized signal or aspiration synchronized signal, combines the three-dimensional image data, and generates a panorama three-dimensional image data group consisting of panorama three-dimensional image data which are continued in time and have a display area larger than each of the three-dimensional image data.

A structure for adjusting the positional relationship between an ultrasonic transducer and a blood vessel such that an acoustic line from the ultrasonic transducer passes the center of a cross-section of the blood vessel for measuring an elasticity characteristic is provided.An ultrasonic probe includes a transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by a tissue of a biological body; and a driving device for physically moving the transducer. For measuring the elasticity characteristic of the blood vessel by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the driving device moves the transducer based on a control signal from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to change at least one of a direction and a position at which the ultrasonic wave is to be transmitted. A determination section of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus specifies a position of the transducer at which the reflection intensity is maximum based on intensity information representing an intensity of the reflected wave. A calculation section of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus calculates the elasticity characteristic of the blood vessel at the specified position.