Abstract: A fluorescence detection device comprises: a plurality of light sources that apply an excitation light from an outside of a living body toward fluorescent dye previously injected into the living body; and a plurality of detectors that detect fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent dye by the excitation light, and output the detected fluorescence as an electric signal. The plurality of light sources and the plurality of detectors are arranged in at least one line. At least one detector is placed between two light sources, and at least one light source is placed between two detectors.

Abstract: An optical imaging device and system can be used to visualize and/or provide a quantitative measure of changes in patient vasculature, for example, to monitor responsiveness of a tumor to a particular chemotherapy treatment. A plurality of detectors (e.g., two) are spaced from a plurality of substantially monochromatic light sources (e.g., four) on an interrogation face of the handheld device. Wavelengths of light in the near-infrared range are used to measure the content of hemoglobin, water, and lipid of the tissue that the interrogation face comes in contact with. The light can be modulated so that the effect of ambient light is not minimized or at least reduced. The detected signal is amplified, filtered, and digitized within the device by appropriate electronics. In embodiments, handheld device can include a wireless communication module, such as a Bluetooth device, for wireless transmission of data to/from the remote processor or computer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanning system includes a host device, an ultrasonic probe, and at least two electrodes. The ultrasonic probe is electrically connected to the host device for performing an ultrasonic scanning operation toward a detecting region to generate a scanning signal and to transmit the scanning signal to the host device. The at least two electrodes are disposed on the ultrasonic probe and are connected to the host device for detecting a physiological signal of the detecting region and transmitting the physiological signal to the host device.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a system and method for imaging living tissue and processing laser speckle data anisotropically to calculate laser speckle contrast preferentially along the direction of blood flow. In the present invention, raw laser speckle images are obtained and processed resulting in the anisotropic laser speckle images. The system and method involve the determination of the direction of blood flow for every pixel within the region of interest (primary pixel) and subsequent extraction of a set of secondary pixels in the spatio-temporal neighborhood of the primary pixel that is anisotropic in the direction of blood flow. Speckle contrast is then calculated for every primary pixel as the ratio of standard deviation and mean of all secondary pixels in this anisotropic neighborhood and collectively plotted using a suitable color mapping scheme to obtain an anisotropic laser speckle contrast image of the region of interest.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable continuous non-invasive monitoring of blood pressure with a minimum of interference. The various embodiments may provide a method for adaptation for the calibration for continuous measurements of blood pressure, wherein the measured quantity may be related to an arterial lumen or arterial cross sectional area comprising calibrating the conversion for incremental variations of arterial properties and absolute value adaptation by exploitation of the exponential decay during the diastole. In various embodiments, continuous calibration of a non-interfering blood pressure measurement device may be initiated based on a change in mean arterial pressure being greater than a threshold value, such as a pressure value associated with an actual measured distension of a patient's artery.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining the concentration of one or more analytes from a sample such as blood or plasma are described. The systems described herein can be configured to withdraw a sample from a source of fluid, direct a first portion of the withdrawn sample to an analyte monitoring system and return a second portion of the sample. The analyte monitoring system can be connected to the fluid source via a connector that is configured to improve fluid flow and reduce blood clotting risk. These goals can be accomplished, for example, by employing coatings in or on a connector, positioning a resilient substance at or near the junction, by reducing dead space volume, by using resiliency to improve fit, by extending a portion of one connector to better mate with a portion of another connector, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting held breath events. A physiological signal, such as a photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal, is processed to extract respiration-related morphology metric signals. The morphology signals are analyzed to determine when a patient's breath is being held.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device includes transmission circuitry, reception circuitry, and signal processing circuitry. The transmission circuitry causes an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of elements to transmit plane waves at a plurality of different deflection angles. The reception circuitry generates reception signal groups based on reflection waves that the individual elements included in the probe receive in response to the transmission of the plane waves.

Abstract: A sensing assemblage for capturing a transit time, phase, or frequency of energy waves propagating through a medium is disclosed to measure a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The sensing assemblage comprises a transducer and a waveguide. The transducer is coupled to the waveguide at a first location. A reflective surface can be coupled to the waveguide at a second location. The reflective surface is configured to reflect energy waves away from the reflective surface. An interface material that is transmissive to acoustic energy waves can be placed between the transducer and a waveguide to improve transfer.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of outputting an appropriate ultrasound image with no distortion regardless of a sound velocity distribution in a subject. In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, sound velocities are calculated at two or more points in a subject, and coordinate transformation of a generated ultrasound image is performed based on the calculated sound velocities.

Abstract: An ultrasound system for estimating tissue deformation in ultrasound elasticity imaging includes a controller configured to deliver a plurality of tracking pulses and to obtain a plurality of data sets for a region of interest from an ultrasound transducer array; a harmonic data analyzing circuit configured to receive the plurality of data sets and to extract one or more harmonic data sets including harmonic signals from the plurality of image data sets; and a displacement estimator circuit configured to estimate tissue deformation in the region of interest responsive to the one or more harmonic data sets.

Abstract: Provided are a photo-acoustic imaging apparatus and a method of displaying a photo-acoustic image by the photo-acoustic imaging apparatus. The method of displaying a photo-acoustic image by a photo-acoustic imaging apparatus includes: obtaining a first reception signal, which converts a first acoustic wave generated as light having a first wavelength is absorbed by a subject, and a second reception signal, which converts a second acoustic wave generated as light having a second wavelength is absorbed by the subject; determining a first correction coefficient for the first reception signal and a second correction coefficient for the second reception signal based on a ratio between a size of the first reception signal and that of the second reception signal; and displaying a photo-acoustic image which is corrected based on the first and second correction coefficients.

Abstract: Volume scanning along different planes is provided using angling of the elements. Rather than orthogonal dicing of the slab, kerfs are formed at non-parallel and non-perpendicular angles to the azimuth axis of the array or longitudinal axis of the slab. Apertures formed from selected groups of the angled elements and/or parts of angled elements may be used to steer along planes that extend at an angle of 5 degrees or more away from the azimuth or longitudinal axis. By walking the aperture, different parallel planes are scanned with a one-dimensional array of elements.

Abstract: A medical device can be localized by providing at least three non-colinear localization elements (e.g., electrodes) thereon. Once placed in a non-ionizing localization field, three adjacent localization elements, at least one of which will typically be a spot electrode, may be selected, and the non-ionizing localization field may be used to measure their locations. A cylinder is defined to fit the measured locations of the selected localization elements. The cylinder is rotationally oriented using the measured location of a spot electrode. Location and rotational attitude information may be used to construct a three-dimensional representation of the medical device within the localization field. The electrodes may be provided on the medical device or on a sheath into which the medical device is inserted. The invention also provides systems and methods for identifying and calibrating deflection planes where the medical device and/or sheath are deflectable.

Abstract: The ultrasonic diagnostic system estimates a desired time phase or one cycle period of a moving region (e.g., a heart) that repeats contraction and relaxation cyclically and which can be specified by a presystole, an end systole, a prediastole, an end diastole, and other clinical characteristics for one cycle of the moving region on the basis of the velocity information on multiple positions of the moving region which is obtained for each time phase. More specifically, assuming that, for example, the end systole phase=a time phase in which the myocardial velocity comes to zero or close to zero, the system calculates |myocardial velocity| for each time phase in a predetermined period, and estimates a time phase in which this value comes closest to zero as an end systole phase.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a hyperspectral/multispectral system referred to as the OxyVu-1 system. The hyperspectral imaging technology performs spectral analysis at each point in a two-dimensional scanned area producing an image displaying information derived from the analysis. For the OxyVu-1 system, the spectral analytical methods determined in superficial tissues approximate values of oxygen saturation (HT-Sat), oxyhemoglobin levels (HT-Oxy), and deoxyhemoglobin levels (HT-Deoxy). The OxyVu-1 system displays the tissue oxygenation in a two-dimensional, color-coded image. The system contains a system console, a cart, system electronics, CPU, monitor, keyboard, pointing device and printer. The hyperspectral instrument head with support arm contains broadband illuminator, camera and spectral filter for collecting hyperspectral imaging cube. The single use OxyVu Check Pads and Targets are used to perform an instrument check prior to patient measurements.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. For one preferred embodiment, an IGRT apparatus is provided comprising a ring gantry having a central opening and a radiation treatment head coupled to the ring gantry that is rotatable around the central opening in at least a 180 degree arc. For one preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a gantry translation mechanism configured to translate the ring gantry in a direction of a longitudinal axis extending through the central opening. Noncoplanar radiation treatment delivery can thereby be achieved without requiring movement of the patient. For another preferred embodiment, an independently translatable 3D imaging device distinct from the ring gantry is provided for further achieving at least one of pre-treatment imaging and setup imaging of the target tissue volume without requiring movement of the patient.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes an imaging assembly located in a scan room and a controller coupled to the imaging assembly and located in a separate control room. A display is coupled to the controller and located in the scan room. The display is configured to display at least one graphical user interface relating to the set up of a patient and a scan for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam. An input device is also located in the scan room and is coupled to the display and the controller. The input device is configured to receive data regarding the set up of a patient and a scan for the MRI exam.

Abstract: An ultrasound energy barrier for avoiding energy accumulation in a to-be-protected region during tumor treatment has a barrier element and a positioning element. The barrier element is attached to a body surface of an animal outside a to-be-protected region and a to-be-treated tumor in turn, the barrier element has an outline matched with the to-be-protected region to thus shield the to-be-protected region, so as to avoid energy accumulation in the to-be-protected region during an ultrasound focusing treatment of the to-be-treated tumor. The positioning element positioning the barrier element on the body surface during the ultrasound focusing treatment.

Abstract: A method for determining, in real time, the probability that target biological tissue is opposite an ultrasonic transducer, the method including: transmitting, via an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic signal into biological tissue; the ultrasonic transducer receiving the transmitted ultrasonic signal which has been backscattered by the biological tissue; calculating at least two instantaneous parameters of the backscattered ultrasonic signal; calculating a predictive value of the presence of an acoustic signature of target biological tissue, the predictive value being calculated via a statistical law using the at least two calculated instantaneous parameters; estimating the probability that the target biological tissue is opposite the ultrasonic transducer, the estimation depending on the calculated predictive value and/or on at least one strength condition based on at least one of the two calculated instantaneous parameters.