Rivanna Medical, Inc.

University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Kevin Owen

Frank William Mauldin

Adam Dixon

John Alexander Hossack

William F Walker

F William Mauldin, Jr

Drake A Guenther

Christopher Murray

Jr F William Mauldin

Bruce Ferris

An ultrasound imaging scan head includes a fluid chamber including a gearless voice-coil motor therein. The voice-coil motor mechanism includes a rigid mechanical assembly, capable of moving with the fluid chamber, having one or more transducer elements and motor windings. Within the fluid chamber are motor magnets physically separated from the rigid mechanical assembly. The ultrasound imaging scan head further includes an inductive position sensor and internal bladder wherein the one or more transducer elements are capable of moving within the fluid chamber when a current is passed through the motor windings in a presence of a magnetic field generated by the one or more motor magnets.

Imaging scan head apparatus having a fluid chamber with an inductive position sensor and a gearless voice-coil motor mechanism

The position and orientation of an ultrasound probe is tracked in three dimensions to provide highly-accurate three-dimensional bone surface images that can be used for anatomical assessment and/or procedure guidance. The position and orientation of a therapy applicator can be tracked in three dimensions to provide feedback to align the projected path of the therapy applicator with a desired path for the therapy applicator or to provide feedback to align the potential therapy field of a therapy applicator with a target anatomical site. The three-dimensional bone surface images can be fit to a three-dimensional model of the anatomical site to provide or display additional information to the user to improve the accuracy of the anatomical assessment and/or procedure guidance.

Three-dimensional imaging and modeling of ultrasound image data

In some embodiments, a method comprises: obtaining a 2D ultrasound image of an imaged region of a subject, the imaged region comprising bone; identifying model template cross-sections of a 3D model of the bone corresponding to the 2D image at least in part by registering the 2D ultrasound image to the 3D model, wherein the model template cross-sections are defined prior to obtaining such 2D image, the model template cross-sections having size and shape representative of a population of potential subjects; identifying at least one location of at least one landmark feature of the bone in the 2D image based on results of the registration; and generating a visualization that includes: a visualization of the 2D image and a visualization of one of the identified cross-sections of the 3D model, wherein the visualization indicates the at least one location of the at least one landmark feature.

Systems and methods for ultrasound imaging

Handheld ultrasound imaging devices for identification of target regions are generally described. Medical ultrasound is a popular medical imaging modality primarily used for diagnostic imaging of soft tissue but also for interventional procedures such as guidance of a needle or catheter placement. Examples include diagnostic imaging of organs, such cardiac or liver structures. Common interventional procedures that rely on ultrasound guidance are central line placement and guidance of nerve blocks, both of which are high volume procedures in certain hospital settings such as the intensive care unit (ICU). Handheld ultrasound imaging devices with integral display screens and improve portability are described, along with systems and methods for orienting displayed ultrasound images so as to improve their usefulness in guiding interventional procedures.

Localization of imaging target regions and associated systems, devices and methods

Systems and methods for processing ultrasound data are provided. The disclosure includes using at least one computer hardware processor to perform obtaining ultrasound data generated based, at least in part, on one or more ultrasound signals from an imaged region of a subject, the ultrasound data comprising fundamental frequency ultrasound data and harmonic frequency ultrasound data, calculating shadow intensity data based at least in part on the harmonic frequency ultrasound data, generating, based at least in part on the fundamental frequency ultrasound data, an indication of bone presence in the imaged region, generating, based at least in part on the shadow intensity data, an indication of tissue presence in the imaged region, and generating an ultrasound image of the subject at least in part by combining the indication of bone presence and the indication of tissue presence.

System and method for ultrasound imaging of regions containing bone structure

An ultrasonic transducer element can configured to generate ultrasonic energy directed into tissue of a subject and configured to receive a portion of the ultrasonic energy reflected by a target located within the tissue. The ultrasonic transducer can include a surface configured to provide or receive the ultrasonic energy, the surface including an area of greater than or equal to about 4&#x3bb;, or the ultrasonic transducer element can be included in an array having a spacing between at least two adjacent ultrasound elements of less than or equal to about &#xbd;&#x3bb;, and the array comprising an aperture that is at least approximately symmetrical in two axes. A three-dimensional representation of one or more of a location, shape, or orientation of at least a portion of the target can be presented via the display.

Bone surface image reconstruction using ultrasound

Ultrasonic imaging apparatus or techniques can include obtaining at least an approximation of samples of reflected ultrasonic energy and constructing a representation of an imaging plane within the tissue region. Such apparatus or techniques can include separately determining, for respective focusing locations respective first sums of at least approximated complex samples of reflected ultrasonic energy obtained via respective first lines of transducers, and separately determining, for the specified focusing location, a second sum of at least some the respective first sums of at least approximated complex samples of reflected ultrasonic energy, the second sum corresponding to a second line of transducers in the ultrasonic transducer array. The separately determining the first or second sums of at least approximated complex samples can include phase-rotating at least some of the complex samples. The second line of transducers can be orthogonal to respective first lines in the transducer plane.

Separable beamforming for ultrasound array

Techniques for processing ultrasound data. The techniques include using at least one computer hardware processor to perform obtaining ultrasound data generated based, at least in part, on one or more ultrasound signals from an imaged region of a subject; calculating shadow intensity data corresponding to the ultrasound data; generating, based at least in part on the shadow intensity data and at least one bone separation parameter, an indication of bone presence in the imaged region, generating, based at least in part on the shadow intensity data and at least one tissue separation parameter different from the at least one bone separation parameter, an indication of tissue presence in the imaged region; and generating an ultrasound image of the subject at least in part by combining the indication of bone presence and the indication of tissue presence.

Ultrasound apparatus or techniques can include obtaining reflected ultrasound echo information, which can be used to construct a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation of an at least approximately specular reflected target, such as bone. In an example, echo information can be obtained from spatially-overlapping tissue regions, such as using one or more of an array of ultrasonic transducers, or mechanically-scanning one or more ultrasonic transducers. In an example, one or more of a deformable housing or a deformable coupling pad can be used, such as to couple ultrasonic energy between one or more transducers and a tissue region.

Ultrasound imaging of specular-reflecting target

Methods, systems and system components for optimizing contrast resolution of an imaging or sensing system utilizing multiple channels of broadband data associated with an array of transducers. Channels of data are filtered by passing the channels of data through finite impulse response (FIR) filters on each channel. The filters each have multiple taps having tap weights pre-calculated as a function of distance of the array from an object that energy is being transmitted to or reflected from. The weights are pre-computed through a deterministic equation based on an a priori system model.

Imaging or communications system utilizing multisample apodization and method

Methods, systems and system components for optimizing contrast resolution of an imaging or sensing system utilizing multiple channels of broadband data associated with an array of transducers. Channels or data are filtered by passing the channels of data through finite impulse response (FIR) filters on each channel. The filters each have multiple taps having tap weights pre-calculated as a function of distance of the array from an object that energy is being transmitted to or reflected from. The weights are pre-computed through a deterministic equation based on an a priori system model.

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Kevin Owen