Abstract: An optical microscopy probe for scanning microscopy imaging of object has a housing with an optical window at a side position at the distal end of the housing, and an optical guide having an objective lens rigidly coupled to an end portion of the optical guide. The optical guide is displaceably mounted in a transverse direction of the housing so as to enable optical scanning in a region of interest. A relay lens unit is rigidly mounted at the distal end of the probe and it has a first lens, a second lens and a mirror. The relay lens unit is optically arranged relative to the objective lens for allowing scanning microscopy through the optical window at the side of the distal end of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer that includes a Miniature Projection Head. The Miniature Projection Head may be operated in one of three modes, AFM, DBM, and RTM. The Miniature Projection Head of the present invention projects an image of the veins of a patient, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein for an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like. The Miniature projection head may have a cavity for a power source or it may have a power source located in a body portion of the Miniature Vein Enhancer. The Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to one of several improved needle protectors, or the Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to a body similar to a flashlight for hand held use. The Miniature Vein Enhancer of the present invention may also be attached to a magnifying glass, a flat panel display, and the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the assessment of fluid content and electrolyte balance in patients are provided. The systems generally include two or more ultrasound transducers and may include impedance-sensing electrodes as well. These elements are positioned about a soft tissue of a patient by means of a retention element.

Abstract: An ultrasound medical imaging method includes: displaying an ultrasound image on a screen; determining a view plane, on which the displayed ultrasound image is captured, among view planes; and setting a region of interest corresponding to the determined view plane on the ultrasound image.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing a surface of a three-dimensional object involves a projection of a laser spot pattern onto the surface of the three-dimensional object by a laser, and a generation of a series of endoscopic images as an endoscope is translated and/or rotated relative to the three-dimensional object. Each endoscopic image illustrates a different view of a laser spot array within the laser spot pattern as projected onto the surface of the three-dimensional object by the laser. The laser spot array may be identical to or a subset of the laser spot pattern. The method further involves a reconstruction of the surface of the three-dimensional object from a correspondence of the different views of the laser spot array as illustrated in the endoscopic images.

Abstract: A method for registering medical images of different types, includes: receiving a selection of at least one point in a first medical image that is acquired in non-real time; extracting, from the first medical image, a first anatomic object which includes the selected point and a second anatomic object which is adjacent to the selected point; extracting, from a second medical image that is acquired in real time, a third anatomic object which corresponds to the first anatomic object and a fourth anatomic object which corresponds to the second anatomic object; and registering the first medical image and the second medical image based on a geometric relation between the first, second, third, and fourth anatomic objects.

Abstract: Shear wave propagation is used to estimate the speed of sound in a patient. An ultrasound scanner detects a time of occurrence of a shear wave at each of multiple locations. The difference in time of occurrence, given tissue stiffness or shear velocity, is used to estimate the speed of sound for the specific tissue of the patient.

Abstract: An electromagnetic (EM) system for tracking a surgical tool is provided. The system may comprise a plurality of subsets of field generator coils disposed along edge portions of a surgical bed. Each subset of field generator coils may be configured to generate a magnetic field within a control volume. The system may further comprise a position sensor disposed on a portion of the surgical tool. The position sensor may be configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field when the position sensor is located inside the control volume. Additionally, the system may comprise an EM system controller configured to selectively activate one or more of the subsets of field generator coils based on the sensor signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises a volume data generating unit for generating volume data by processing echo signals obtained through ultrasonic transmission and reception to and from a three dimensional region including at least a portion of a body part.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a hollow anatomical structure of interest for percutaneous implantation. The method comprises acquiring image data of an anatomical region of interest that includes the anatomical structure of interest, and generating a segmented model of the anatomical region of interest using the acquired image data. The method further comprises obtaining image(s) of the anatomical structure of interest by sectioning out intervening anatomical structures from the segmented model thereof, identifying one or more pertinent landmarks of the anatomical structure of interest in the acquired image(s), and measuring at least one of a circumference, a maximal diameter, or a minimal diameter of one or more features of the anatomical structure of interest contained in the acquired image(s) to determine an anatomical structure size. The method still further comprises reconciling the anatomical structure size and an implant size.

Abstract: A marker delivery device comprises a marker deployer cannula, a push rod, a biopsy site marker, and a ramped tip. The marker deployer cannula may have a marker exit in communication with an interior lumen of the cannula. The marker exit may comprise a distal end with a ramped surface. The biopsy site marker may be configured with a plurality of edges. The plurality of edges may be configured to engage at least a portion of the interior lumen of the cannula. The ramped tip may comprise a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface, the second ramped surface may align with the ramped surface of the distal end of the marker exit. The push rod may be used to push the biopsy site marker up the ramped tip and through the marker exit.

Abstract: The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer that includes a Miniature Projection Head. The Miniature Projection Head may be operated in one of three modes, AFM, DBM, and RTM. The Miniature Projection Head of the present invention projects an image of the veins of a patient, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein for an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like. The Miniature projection head may have a cavity for a power source or it may have a power source located in a body portion of the Miniature Vein Enhancer. The Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to one of several improved needle protectors, or the Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to a body similar to a flashlight for hand held use. The Miniature Vein Enhancer of the present invention may also be attached to a magnifying glass, a flat panel display, and the like.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system having real-time tracking and image registration includes a fiducial-marker system comprising an ultrasound transmitter structured to provide a localized ultrasound pulse at an optically observable localized spot on a body of interest. The system further includes an optical imaging system, a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging system, an optical image processing system, and an ultrasound image processing system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering a drug with a tracer or contrast agent are disclosed herein, as are systems and methods that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow. In some embodiments, CED devices include a tissue-receiving space disposed proximal to a distal fluid outlet. Tissue can be compressed into or pinched/pinned by the tissue-receiving space as the device is inserted into a target region of a patient, thereby forming a seal that reduces or prevents proximal backflow of fluid ejected from the outlet beyond the tissue-receiving space. In some embodiments, CED devices include a bullet-shaped nose proximal to a distal fluid outlet. The bullet-shaped nose forms a good seal with surrounding tissue and helps reduce or prevent backflow of infused fluid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a non-contact optical method using a probe beam deflection technique (PBDT) to detecting acoustic waves transiting an acoustic coupling medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a system (1) for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device (3) carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321). The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321) upon a drive signal. The system (1) can identify the medical device from a database (211,511) of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system (1) can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device (3) and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (3) when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

Abstract: An intraoperative registration and tracking system includes an optical source configured to illuminate tissue intraoperatively with electromagnetic radiation at a substantially localized spot so as to provide a photoacoustic source at the substantially localize spot, an optical imaging system configured to form an optical image of at least a portion of the tissue and to detect and determine a position of the substantially localized spot in the optical image, an ultrasound imaging system configured to form an ultrasound image of at least a portion of the tissue and to detect and determine a position of the substantially localized spot in the ultrasound image, and a registration system configured to determine a coordinate transformation that registers the optical image with the ultrasound image based at least partially on a correspondence of the spot in the optical image with the spot in the ultrasound image.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for generating smoothed images of an elongate medical device including a plurality of position sensors. The system includes a model construction system configured to be coupled to the medical device and acquire data points corresponding to positions of the position sensors. The computer-based model construction system is further configured to establish a coordinate system, calculate a coordinate for each position sensor, estimate a set of true parameters describing the medical device including a curvature term and a torsion term, calculate a measurement error for each position sensor based on a stiffness parameter, compute smoothed data points for the position sensors based on (i) a function of the estimated set of true parameters and the coordinates of the position sensors, and (ii) a weighting of the measurement error, generate an image of the medical device using the smoothed data points, and display the image.

Abstract: A physiological monitor is provided for determining a physiological parameter of a medical patient with a multi-stage sensor assembly. The monitor includes a signal processor configured to receive a signal indicative of a physiological parameter of a medical patient from a multi-stage sensor assembly. The multi-stage sensor assembly is configured to be attached to the physiological monitor and the medical patient. The monitor of certain embodiments also includes an information element query module configured to obtain calibration information from an information element provided in a plurality of stages of the multi-stage sensor assembly. In some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to determine the physiological parameter of the medical patient based upon said signal and said calibration information.

Abstract: In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to Raman imaging devices (e.g., Raman endoscope probes), methods of using Raman agents and Raman imaging devices to image or detect a signal, and the like.