Fujifilm Sonosite, Inc.

Sonosite, Inc.

Paul Thurman Dunham

N Chris Chaggares

Wei Li

Chak-Yoon Aw

Keith David Williams

Carl E Fabian

Qinglin Ma

Steven R Marquis

Wealth Mele Salvador

Brian R Twehues

Thomas Houck

Hiroshi Murakami

Dustin Green

A laser light source transmits laser light to a tip of an interventional instrument such as a needle via an optical fiber. The laser light is absorbed at the distal tip of the instrument and generates a photoacoustic signal. The laser light source is configured to receive a trigger signal from an ultrasound machine when a laser pulse is to be produced. The light source signals the ultrasound machine when an optical connector is connected to the laser light source to automatically begin a needle tip (NTV) visualization mode. If the optical connector is removed from the laser light source, the laser light source stops producing laser light pulses.

Laser light source for instrument tip visualization

Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.

Acoustic lens for micromachined ultrasound transducers

Ultrasound scanners with anisotropic heat distributors and associated methods of operation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ultrasound scanner can include a housing having a surface enclosing an internal cavity, an electronic component in the internal cavity of the housing, and a heat distributor between the surface of the housing and the electronic component. The heat distributor is in thermal communication with both the electronic component and the surface of the housing. The heat distributor includes a laminated structure having a conductive layer and a insulative layer stacked one on the other.

Ultrasound scanners with anisotropic heat distributors for ultrasound probe

Systems and methods which determine the position of an instrument internal to an object using an opto-mechanical sensor are shown. Embodiments utilize an opto-mechanical sensor system in which a mechanical instrument interface provides instrument movement information to a corresponding optical sensor system to determine instrument movement. Determinations of instrument movement preferably provide information regarding movement direction and speed. Such information, when used in combination with other information such as starting position or starting position offset, insertion angle or angle of attack, and/or insertion plane, is utilized by embodiments of the invention to determine the position of an instrument or portion thereof. Embodiments are adapted to accommodate different instrument configurations. Position information may be utilized in combination with an ultrasound image to display a visual representation of the instrument, or portion thereof, within a object being imaged.

Systems and methods for assisting with internal positioning of instruments

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

Paul Thurman Dunham