151 results about "Ultrasound scanner" patented technology

An ultrasound scanner is equipped with one or more fuzzy control units that can perform adaptive system parameter optimization anywhere in the system. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises a plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems configured to generate an ultrasound image, the plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems including a transmitter subsystem, a receiver subsystem, and an image processing subsystem; and a fuzzy logic controller communicatively coupled with at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems. The fuzzy logic controller is configured to receive, from at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems, input data including at least one of pixel image data and data for generating pixel image data; to process the input data using a set of inference rules to produce fuzzy output; and to convert the fuzzy output into numerical values or system states for controlling at least one of the transmit subsystem and the receiver subsystem that generate the pixel image data.

An ultrasonic transducer probe having a highly integrated interface circuit array. Low-voltage transmit control signals from the system are transmitted on the system transmit channels via the ultrasound probe cable and into the interface circuit array. These transmit control signals are routed through the interface circuit array using a dense switching matrix. Once the low-voltage transmit control signals reach individual cells within the interface array, they are decoded and used to control local high-voltage pulser circuits to drive individual ultrasound transducer elements made up of selected subelements that are co-integrated with the interface electronics. The interface cell circuitry further comprises a high-voltage transmit / receive switch, which is closed when the high-voltage pulser is transmitting to protect the low-voltage components.

A virtual control system for substantially real-time imaging machines, such as, for example, ultrasound, is presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a virtual control system comprises a physical interface communicably connected to a scanner / imager, such as, for example, an ultrasound machine. The scanner / imager has, or is communicably connected to, a processor that controls the display of, and user interaction with, a virtual control interface. In operation, a user can interact with the virtual control interface by physically interacting with the physical interface. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention the physical interface can comprise a handheld tool and a stationary tablet-like device. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention the control system can further include a 3D tracking device that can track both an ultrasound probe as well as a handheld physical interface tool. In such exemplary embodiments a user can control scan and display functions of the ultrasound machine by moving a handheld tool relative to the stationary tablet, and can perform 3D interactive display and image processing operations on a displayed 3D image by manipulating the handheld tool within a defined 3D space. Alternatively, all control functions, those associated with scan and display control as well as those associated with 3D interactive display and image processing can be mapped to manipulations of the handheld tool in a defined 3D space.

A balloon anchor for use with an endoscopically inserting ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer element accommodated in an ultrasound scanner head at the fore distal end of a flexible cord to be placed in an endoscopic biopsy channel. The balloon anchor includes an anchor tube which is adapted to be fitted in the endoscopic biopsy channel in such a way that it is partly projected from fore distal end of the endoscopic biopsy channel. Connected to the projected fore end of the anchor tube is a balloon support member of a larger diameter as compared with the endoscopic biopsy channel. A passage of a large diameter is formed axially through the anchor tube and through the balloon support member. A balloon stopper portion is provided on the outer periphery of the balloon support member to anchor a resilient ring of a balloon therein.

System and method for ganged ultrasound scanners is described. The described system includes a plurality of ultrasound scanners configured as a network and at least one connector for connecting a single ultrasound probe to the plurality of ultrasound scanners. The connector is configured to provide communication between the plurality of ultrasound scanners and the ultrasound probe.

The invention provides a three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging system which comprises an ultrasonic probe, a camera, a positioning module, an ultrasonic scanner and a computing module; wherein the camera is attached to the ultrasonic probe; the positioning module is placed within the viewfinder range of the camera; the ultrasonic scanner provides ultrasonic images corresponding to each part of a body, and meanwhile, the camera provides real time video; and the computing module simultaneously collects scanned pictures and videos and conducts corresponding three-dimensional pictures generated by computing. The invention has the advantages of low cost and is capable of increasing the accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging space tracking.

A lithotripter with stone tracking and locking localization system comprises an X-ray machine, an ultrasound scanner, an ultrasound probe, a movable platform, a monitor, a system controller and a stone tracking and locking localization system. The X-ray generator is mounted on the end of rotational arm, capable of illuminating across a range from 0 to 30 degrees, especially at 0 and 30 degrees, whereby the position of stones embedded in a patient's body can be located in a three-dimensional way. The ultrasound probe is located under the movable platform and shock-cup, whereby the image of a stone embedded in the patient can be displayed on the monitor after the ultrasound probe moves and contacts the surface of body. The stone tracking and locking localization system then lock on the position of the stone. And starts the tracking process by driving the movable platform to always keep the stone in the focal point F2 or using the locking process to pulverize the stone which is on the focal point F2 (if the stone moves out of the focal point F2, the shock waves will not be triggered until the stone moves into the F2 again).

An apparatus and method for real-time visualization of particulate matter suspended in a static or flowing fluid and fluid flow patterns in a pipe, tube, conduit, or other container, are described. Ultrasonic scanning and detection of scattered sound from the particles in the fluid create a real-time image of the particles, or of flow patterns in the liquid. A mechanical wobbler directs a piezoelectric transducer over a chosen angle in an oscillatory manner. The transducer is operated in a pulse-echo mode wherein the same transducer detects the return signal from the target region through which particles are passing and / or a flow is present. The pulse-echo measurements are made rapidly and continuously during a single sweep of the transducer over the chosen angle. Received signals are processed in the ultrasound scanner electronics module and displayed as an image in real-time.

An ultrasound imaging system is provided with virus protection. Each file that enters the system (via the hard disk or the networking port) is scanned to detect the presence of any virus in the file. Before each file is written to the hard disk of the scanner, the Checksum and Size of the file are verified, along with other virus-identifying attributes, to determine if the file is infected with a virus or if the file itself is a virus. If there is a discrepancy in either the Checksum or Size, then a dialogue box appears, warning the system operator that the file being installed may contain a virus. In order to provide additional protection for the ultrasound scanner, all processes starting to run on the scanner are monitored. Each time a new process is started on the scanner, virus protection monitoring software will suspend the process and search for encrypted data identifying the starting process in a Registry table. If the starting process is listed in the table, then the starting process is un-suspended without the user ever knowing what happened. If the virus protection monitor does not find a match in the table, then a dialogue box appears on the screen, warning the system operator that the application may be a virus.

System and method for ganged ultrasound scanners is described. The described system includes a plurality of ultrasound scanners configured as a network and at least one connector for connecting a single ultrasound probe to the plurality of ultrasound scanners. The connector is configured to provide communication between the plurality of ultrasound scanners and the ultrasound probe.

Therapy control and / or monitoring is performed with an ultrasound scanner. The ultrasound scanner detects temperature to monitor therapy, and perform HIFU beam location refocusing of the therapy system based on the temperature. The monitoring is synchronized with the therapy using a trigger output of the ultrasound scanner. The trigger output responds to a scan sequence of the ultrasound scanner. To meet a given therapy plan, the scan sequence is customized, resulting in the customized trigger sequence. Three dimensional or multi-planar reconstruction rendering is used to represent temperature for monitoring feedback. The temperature at locations not being treated may be monitored. If the temperature has an undesired characteristic (e.g., too high), then the therapy is controlled by ceasing, at least temporarily.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an ultrasound scanner equipped with an image data processing unit that can perform adaptive parameter optimization during image formation and processing. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises a channel data memory to store channel data obtained by digitizing ultrasound image data produced by an image scan; an image data processor configured to process the stored channel data in the memory to reconstruct an ultrasound image for each of a plurality of trial values of at least one parameter to be optimized; and a parameter optimization unit configured to evaluate an image quality of the reconstructed ultrasound image for each trial value of the at least one parameter, and to determine the optimized value of the at least one parameter based on the evaluated image quality.

A method, signal processor, device, and system for estimating a parametric or functional image 47 mapping a biological process on the basis of a limited or incomplete sequence of biological process images 40 recorded as a function of time, e.g. by a PET or SPECT scanner after injection of a radio tracer. One or more kinetic parameters 43 are first extracted by applying a pharmacokinetic model 42 (compartmental model of the underlying tracer kinetics) to the sequence of biological process images 40. Additional data 41 are used in the model, comprising at least a predetermined kinetic parameter range (e.g. from the literature), and optionally an input function or a blood clearance function. Next, an iterative algorithm 44 is applied to arrive at a modified sequence of images 45, e.g. by inserting an estimated image into the incomplete sequence of images, utilizing the one or more kinetic parameters 43. After a stop criterion has been fulfilled, the resulting image 47 is finally estimated 46 from the modified sequence of images 45. The method can be used e.g. to estimate a hypoxia parameter k3 image in the case of a FMISO data set where only late-time images are available. The method may be implemented as part of existing PET, SPECT, CT, MR or Ultrasound scanner software, and since only a limited amount of late time post injection images are necessary to provide a reliable result, the method helps to increase patient comfort and clinical throughput.

The invention discloses a method of estimating the lean meat percentage of a live pig and relates to the field of detection technique, which aims at solving the problems of detection technique for lean meat percentage of the live pig. The method of estimating the lean meat percentage of the live pig comprises steps as follows: 1) measuring the weight of the pig with empty stomach, and determining the sizes of back fat and eye muscles of the live pig by a B-typed ultrasound scanner; 2) substituting the weight, thickness of the back fat and size of the eye muscles into a regression equation of estimating the lean meat percentage of the live pig as follows: y is equal to 67.264 plus ax1 plus bx2 plus cx3; wherein, y refers to the estimated lean meat percentage, x1 the weight, x2 the thickness of the back fat and x3 the size of eye muscles; a represents a number between -0.067 and -0.059, b represents a number between -2.206 and -2.038, and c represents a number between 0.195 and 0.215; then finally gaining an estimated lean meat percentage of the detected pig. The method of estimating the lean meat percentage of the live pig has the advantages of high accuracy and measuring speed, and can determine the lean meat percentage of live pigs, without bringing any loss caused by the slaughtering.

An ultrasound scanner (100) which has a pluralityofultrasound transducers (104) directed normal to a scanning surface (106) to scan a workpiece (114), the scanner (100) comprising a couplant filled latex rubber sheath (106) shaped to the surface of a workpiece (114).

An imaging, guidance, planning and treatment system integrated into a single unit or assembly of components, and a method for using same, that can be safely and effectively deployed to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in ail medical settings, including in a physician's office or in an outpatient setting. The system utilizes the novel process of Radio-Frequency Electrical Membrane Breakdown (“EMB” or “RFEMB”) to destroy the cellular membranes of unwanted BPH tissue without damaging sensitive anatomical structures in the prostate. The system preferably comprises at least one EMB treatment probe 20, at least one ultrasound scanner, at least one trackable anesthesia needle 300, and at least one controller unit for at least partially automating the treatment process.