Sonosite, Inc.

Liposonix, Inc.

Fujifilm Sonosite, Inc.

Biim Ultrasound As

Sonosight, Inc.

Medicis Technologies Corporation

Blake W Little

Juin-Jet Hwang

Justin M Coughlin

Steven M Bunce

Craig Robert Bockenstedt

Randy Holmberg

Leo R Catallo

Stephanie A Barnes

Bryan S Cabatic

Bill Purdue

John D Schultz

Kari L Rice

Hung Nguyen

Clinton T Siedenburg

Jens Ulrich Quistgaard

Thomas M Duffy

Tanar Ulric

Anthony R Vannelli

D Scott Hirschi

Lauren S Pflugrath

Gregory T Wing

Frederick Jay Bennett

Ramachandra Pailoor

William R Ogle

Trygve Burchardt

Juin Jet Hwang

Steven G Danielson

Jari Huhtamaki

Tuomo Liedes

Larry Greisel

Ramchandra Pailoor

Charles S Desilets

Davin Dhatt

Jeffrey Robert Crunkilton

Geoffrey Hugh Jones

Lee David Dunbar

Jacques Souquet

Ethan Albright

Martin J Kenney

Brent Chauvin

Donn E Gabrielson

John P Collins

Richard L Fix

Jen U Quistgaard

Lauren S Plflugrath

Martin Kenney

A portable ultrasound probe is described having a mechanical transducer, rotating mirror, and mirror motor. The transducer can be used for diagnostic imaging and procedural guidance imaging. The probe has a light weight design for easy one-handed use, and can use external processors to provide proper image display with accompanying software.

Hand held ultrasound probe

A portable ultrasound probe is described having a mechanical transducer, rotating mirror and mirror motor. The transducer can be used for diagnostic imaging and procedural guidance imaging. The probe has a light weight design for easy one handed use, and can use external processors to provide proper image display with accompanying software.

A method and system for checking functionality of an ultrasound therapy head. The waveform profile for typical ultrasound reflections for a functional therapy head are stored, and before use of a therapy head, an ultrasound energy burst () is sent, and the actual waveform profile of the returned reflections () are compared to the stored waveform profiles (). If the actual profiles are not sufficiently close to the stored profiles, then a first signal () may be generated, which may cause the ultrasound therapy device to shut down or may generate a warning. If the actual profiles are sufficiently close to the stored profiles, then operation may continue (), or a second signal may be produced, permitting operation of the ultrasound therapy device.

Analysis of real time backscatter data for fault signal generation in a medical HIFU device

Disclosed are systems and methods which efficiently control storage of and/or access to data which includes repetitive data or data which is used by different modes, processes, etcetera. Embodiments provide control for storage of and/or access to large amounts of data used in ultrasound system beam forming for image generation using a hierarchy of sequencers for controlling storage of and/or access to data. A frame sequencer may provide control at a frame level while an address sequencer is implemented to provide control at a data access level.

Systems for ultrasound beam forming data control

Methods and apparatus () are described for modifying unwanted tissue for cosmetic reasons. The methods provide a non-invasive manner to perform body contouring by destroying adipose tissue while simultaneously causing collagen contraction in a single procedure. Adipose tissue destroyed during the medical procedure may be removed from a treatment volume during the wound healing process, allowing the treatment volume to gradually shrink (). The gradual shrinkage may promote better skin tone in the treatment area. The procedure may involve multiple treatments to the same treatment area or location.

Ultrasonic treatment of adipose tissue at multiple depths

An ultrasound transducer and methods of fabricating and using the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer includes a composite layer having a first surface and comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements separated by isolating material filled kerfs. The composite layer is configured so that the first surface includes an exposed face of each element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. The transducer further includes a plurality of electrodes defined on the first surface, the electrodes having boundaries configured so that none of the exposed faces are in contact with more than one of the plurality of electrodes. The electrodes may be defined in a conductive layer deposited on the first surface of the composite body by forming a channel in the conductive layer that is aligned vertically with the dielectric kerfs. The transducer may be used to scan a treatment region with both HIFU and imaging ultrasound signals.

Ultrasonic transducer

Systems and methods for ultrasound beam forming data control

A medical ultrasound system. A base unit is included having system electronics, a user interface and ultrasound control electronics. An ultrasound therapy head is in electronic communication with the base unit. The therapy head includes a replaceable, sealed transducer cartridge with a coupling fluid therein. A cooling system is provided for cooling the coupling fluid. A plurality of guide indicators are positioned around the therapy head to align with crossed lines on a patient so as to properly align the therapy head prior to use. The therapy head can provide variable treatments to an area while the therapy head is in contact with a patient.

Medical ultrasound device with liquid dispensing device coupled to a therapy head

Therapy heads and related medical systems having an actuation assembly for controlling the position/orientation of a directional energy applicator in at least two planes are disclosed. A therapy head includes an enclosure, a partition separating a lower compartment from an upper compartment, an aperture in the partition, a control arm extending through the aperture, an actuation assembly positioned within the upper compartment, and a directional energy applicator positioned in the lower compartment for transmitting energy through a window. The control arm includes an upper end disposed within the upper compartment and a lower end disposed within the lower compartment. The actuation assembly is coupled with the upper end of the control arm such that the control arm is movable by the actuation assembly in at least two planes. The directional energy applicator is coupled with the lower end of the control arm.

Therapy head for use with an ultrasound system

The present invention relates to a hand held ultrasound system having a balance body, a transducer assembly connected to said balance body via a communication means and a plurality of control elements arranged in an ergonomic fashion on said balance body, such that a user may hold said system and operate at least one of said control elements with the same hand. In particular a medical ultrasound system comprising a balance body incorporating system electronics, a power supply and a user interface wherein the user interface comprises a D-controller and a touch screen and a transducer assembly attached to the balanced body by a cable.

Balance body ultrasound system

A system comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) adapted for use in a plurality of circuit configurations. The circuit configurations provide for different numbers of signal channels for further processing using same circuitry of said application specific integrated circuit.

Systems and methods providing ASICs for use in multiple applications

Systems and methods are shown which provide feedback with respect to the desired or proper placement of a medical device guide without introducing protuberances or other perturbations to the surface of devices used in medical procedures. Embodiments provide a biopsy needle guide bracket for use with an ultrasound transducer assembly, wherein the biopsy needle guide bracket and ultrasound transducer assembly are adapted to detect when the biopsy needle guide bracket is properly located on the ultrasound transducer assembly using one or more sensors. Embodiments may implement various sensor technology, such as Hall effect sensors, optical sensors, capacitive coupled sensors, inductive coupled sensors, and/or the like to provide feedback with respect to placement of a medical device guide.

Medical device guide locator

Systems and methods providing clocking between various components or sub-components are shown. Embodiments implement an implied clock technique which reduces the number of signal lines, signaling overhead required for an encoded clock signal, and/or and power consumption for a high speed communication link. In accordance with embodiments efficient communication is provided between a core device and a remote device by the core device providing both clock and data signals to the remote device and the remote device providing a data signal at a predetermined clock rate without communicating its clock signal. The core device of this embodiment determines an 'implied clock' suitable for accurately receiving data from the remote device.

Implied clock

A modular diagnostic ultrasound apparatus is provided comprising a core unit, system electronics and an I/O port. The core unit comprises a housing and a system electronics package within the housing. The system electronics has one or more concatenated filters, including a front end transmit/receive circuit, a processor, a back end circuit for scan conversion, a system clock and a programmable system memory device. There is at least one I/O port connected to the front end and the back end of the system electronics package and extending through the core unit housing wherein all system data processing information is transmitted or received through the I/O port.

Modular apparatus for diagnostic ultrasound

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

Blake W Little