Abstract: A method includes performing a contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of tissue of interest of a subject, with an imaging system (100) having a radiation source (112) and a detector array (118), in which a peak contrast enhancement of the tissue of interest, a full range of motion of the tissue of interest, and an entire volume of interest of the tissue of interest are concurrently imaged during a single rotation of the radiation source and the detector array of the imaging system over an entire or a predetermined sub-portion of a breathing cycle.

Abstract: A respiration suppressing member includes a main body of an elastic material which is formed into a shape having a pressurizing portion for pressurizing that portion of the abdomen of a subject under imaging diagnosis by a medical modality which is located below the sternum and between the right and left ribs of the subject.

Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus includes a probe configured to detect a photoacoustic wave generated from an object irradiated with light, a signal collector configured to generate a first detection signal from the photoacoustic wave, a signal processor configured to generate, from the first detection signal, a second detection signal in which a component having a phase inverted from the phase of a component deriving from the photoacoustic wave is reduced, by using a differential signal of an impulse response of the probe, and an image generator configured to generate image data on the inside of the object using the second detection signal.

Abstract: A device for monitoring a skin surface for leakage of blood at, for example, a wound or a vascular access. The device comprises a patient unit, a connection unit and a monitor unit. The patient unit comprises a patch, including an adhesive layer to be attached to the skin surface of the patient. The adhesive layer is arranged to attach the patch to the skin so that a predetermined removal force, such as 30N, is required for removing the patch from the skin surface. A patient optical fiber is arranged at the patch and has a proximal end for connection to the connection unit. A patient connector is arranged at the distal end of a connection optical fiber. The connector has an opening passing through the connector, whereby the connection optical fiber is arranged in one end of the opening.

Abstract: A skin care apparatus suitable for use in proximity to a subject's eyes. The apparatus includes a treatment device and a stimulus device. Upon activation by a user, such as the subject or a technician, a stimulus delivered by the stimulus device causes the subject's eyelid to close prior to the administration of a skin care treatment by the treatment device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device evaluates the sound velocity of a nail to determine the overall health of a patient and to monitor cosmetological effects of certain products on the nail. The ultrasonic device includes a handhold probe having an piezoelectric transducer encased in cover that emits high-frequency ultrasonic impulses directed towards the nail. The nail reflects returning ultrasonic echoes back to the piezoelectric transducer. The returning ultrasonic echoes vibrate the piezoelectric transducer. A processor of a computer converts the vibrations into electrical pulses. The processor evaluates amplitude values of the electrical pulses to determine the parameters of the human nail, including the thickness, density and elasticity. The parameters are displayed on a display and analyzed by a technician to determine the nail condition. The health of the person or the effect of products on the nail can be determined based on the nail parameters.

Abstract: An intracranial implant to position a fiber bundle to a specified region of a brain of an animal. The implant may include a base support to be fixed to a skull of the animal over an orifice drilled in the skull, a hollow conduit arranged through the base support to guide the fiber bundle to the brain of the animal through the drilled orifice and a first locking member arranged on the base support, to cooperate with a ferrule of the fiber bundle, the first locking member configured to lock the fiber bundle to the specified region of the brain of the animal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for electrically addressing multiple ultrasonic transducers that are connected to a common electrical channel and housed within an imaging probe. An imaging probe may comprise an imaging ultrasonic transducer and a moveable element for controlling the direction of an emitted imaging beam, and an angle sensing ultrasonic transducer, where the angle sensing ultrasonic transducer is configured for determining the direction of an ultrasonic imaging beam. The angle-sensing transducer may be configured to direct an angle sensing ultrasonic beam towards an acoustically reflective substrate and provide a signal by detecting a reflected ultrasonic beam reflected from the acoustically reflective substrate, where the acoustically reflective substrate is positioned relative to the movable element such that motion of the movable element produces a change in the signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image guided surgery system comprising —a surgical instrument (14), —a tracking system for locating and tracking an object (20) in a surgical environment, the tracking system including a tracking sensor system, in particular a tracking camera system (16); and —a medical navigation system (15) processing tracking data from the tracking system and image data of the object (20), and outputting image data and navigational assistance on a display (13). The instrument (14), the tracking system including the sensor system (16) and the medical navigation system including the display are integrated in one single portable unit (10), or the instrument (14) and the medical navigation system including the display are integrated in one single portable unit (10), while at least the sensor system (34) of the tracking system is arranged at a location near a region of interest determined by the object (20) and the field of surgery.

Abstract: The present invention is related generally to a method for screening subjects to determine those subjects more likely to develop diabetes by quantization of insulin producing cells. The present invention is also related to the diagnosis of diabetes and related to monitor disease progression or treatment efficacy of candidate drugs.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system with pixel oriented processing is provided in which an acoustic signal is generated, echoes from the acoustic signal are received at a plurality of receiving elements to obtain echo signals that are then stored, a given pixel is mapped into a region of the stored signals, the mapped region of the stored echo signals is organized into array for the given pixel after which the array is processed to generate a signal response for the given pixel to obtain acoustic information for the given pixel. The system can be implemented entirely on plug-in cards for a commercial PC motherboard. The system and method can be implemented for pixel-oriented or voxel-oriented image processing and display, eliminating intermediate data computations and enabling extensive use of software processing methods. Advantages include improved acquisition of signal dynamic range, flexible acquisition modes for high frame rate 2D, 3D, and Doppler blood flow imaging.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and method of monitoring a position of a joint. An inertial monitoring unit is configured to be coupled to a portion of a patient, such as a thigh. Another inertial monitoring unit is configured to be attached to another portion of the patient, such as a shank, that is connected to the other portion by a joint, such as a knee. The inertial monitoring units detect motion of their respective portions of the patient and transmit data indicative of this motion. These transmissions may be received by a computer and used to determine an orientation of the joint. The inertial monitoring units may also be coupled to vibration detection units and/or ultrasound modules that provide additional data regarding a condition of the joint.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for examination and removal of polyps. Using methods and systems of the present disclosure, one can determine whether a polyp is benign or cancerous in situ.

Abstract: A heterogeneous antenna array containing antenna elements of different antenna element sizes interleaved among one another is disclosed. Heterogeneous antenna arrays as disclosed herein can efficiently cover a broad range of frequencies without loss of optimality at higher frequencies. Also disclosed are methods of frequency-domain oriented image reconstruction which are suitable for use with heterogeneous antenna arrays.

Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus, comprising: a plurality of detecting elements which detect an acoustic wave generated from an object irradiated with light and convert the acoustic wave into detection signals; a signal determining unit which determines a detection signal detected by a detecting element which is not in acoustic contact with the object, of the plurality of detecting elements; a signal acquisition unit which generates a corrected detection signal by deleting at least a region which is not based on an acoustic wave generated from the interior of the object, from the determined detection signal; and an image processor which forms image data of the object from a detection signal detected by a detecting element which is in acoustic contact with the object and from the corrected detection signal.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for imaging a tissue. In one example, a system comprises an adjustable arm, a scanning assembly attached to a first end of the adjustable arm, a counterweight coupled to a second end of the adjustable arm, and a weight adjustment system coupled to the counterweight and configured to modify an effective weight of the scanning assembly.

Abstract: A patient positioning device has an electromagnetically transparent transfer plate for positioning an examination subject, and at least one patient bed. The electromagnetically transparent transfer plate can be disposed on the patient bed for imaging an examination region of the examination subject with a first imaging device. For imaging the examination region of the examination subject with the second imaging device that has an electromagnetic localization device, the electromagnetically transparent transfer plate is disposed above the electromagnetic localization device. An imaging system and a corresponding method for medical imaging make use of such a patient position device.

Abstract: A biopsy assembly for collecting tissue samples by means of a biopsy needle when introduced in a body cavity. The biopsy assembly comprises an elongated member (101), with a longitudinal axis (102), configured with: a first needle guide (203) arranged to guide a needle in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (102), and a second needle guide (204, 303) arranged to guide a needle in a direction along the elongated member (101).

Abstract: A system and method for producing an image using a radio frequency (RF) coil in a magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI). A static magnetic field (B0) extends across a first and second region of interest (ROI). A local radio frequency (RF) coil, shaped like a dental arch, is positioned proximate to the ROIs, the ROIs being the upper and lower jaw of a subject. The RF coil and the subject are oriented in the static magnetic field (B0) to align an axis extending through a loop of the coil with the B0 direction of the static magnetic field extending across the ROIs. A pulse sequence is then performed with the MRI system and the RF coil to acquire imaging data from the ROIs simultaneously while using a transverse component of an excitation field (B1). The image data is reconstructed to create an image of the ROIs.

Abstract: An anatomical mapping system includes a plurality of mapping electrodes, a plurality of mechanical sensors, and a mapping processor associated with the plurality of mapping electrodes and mechanical sensors. The mapping electrodes are configured to detect electrical activation signals of intrinsic physiological activity within an anatomical structure. The mechanical sensors are configured to detect mechanical activity associated with the intrinsic physiological activity. The mapping processor is configured to record the detected activation signals and associate one of the plurality of mapping electrodes and mechanical sensors with each recorded activation signal. The mapping processor is further configured to determine activation times of the intrinsic physiological activity based on a correlation of corresponding electrical activation signals and mechanical activity.