TRANSMISSIVE IMAGING AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHODS
Apparatus and methods are described that include ultrasound imaging devices, which may operate in a transmissive ultrasound imaging modality, and which may be used to detect properties of interest of a subject such as index of refraction, density and/or speed of sound. Devices suitable for performing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as well as HIFU and ultrasound imaging, are also described.
1 - 405 . (canceled)
406 . An apparatus, comprising:
a support;
a mount physically coupled to the support; and
ultrasound elements physically coupled to the mount;
wherein the mount is moveable relative to the support such that the mount contacts a subject being ultrasonically imaged.
407 . The apparatus of claim 406 , wherein the mount is configured to be moveable relative to the support by sliding.
408 . The apparatus of claim 406 , wherein the support is configured to provide a force directed toward the subject.
409 . The apparatus of claim 408 , wherein the support is configured, when providing the force directed toward the subject, to provide a compression fit of the mount to the subject.
410 . The apparatus of claim 406 , wherein the support is a rigid support.
411 . The apparatus of claim 406 , wherein the support comprises plastic.
412 . The apparatus of claim 406 , wherein the mount is flexible such that the ultrasound elements conform to the subject.
413 . The apparatus of claim 406 , further comprising transmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry, and wherein the ultrasound elements, the transmitter circuitry, and the receiver circuitry are integrated on a single substrate.
414 . The apparatus of claim 406 , wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate wireles sly with reconstruction hardware configured to reconstruct ultrasound images of the subject based on ultrasound data collected by the ultrasound elements.
415 . The apparatus of claim 406 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the mount and configured to detect a position and/or orientation of the mount.
416 . The apparatus of claim 415 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, an inclinometer, a range finder, an inertial navigation system, a laser, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor.
417 . The apparatus of claim 415 , wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a remote device configured to determine the position and/or orientation of the mount based on data from the sensor.
418 . The apparatus of claim 406 , wherein the apparatus is configured to determine a position and/or orientation of the mount based on ultrasound data collected by the ultrasound elements.
419 . The apparatus of claim 406 , further comprising a bag filled with gel or liquid and coupled to the mount.
420 . The apparatus of claim 406 , further comprising a bolus comprising a material having substantially a same impedance as that of human tissue and coupled to the mount.