Abstract: A control device and measurement system for a living body applies lights of at least one wavelength in a visible-infrared region to a plurality of incident positions on a surface of the living body, and a light detector detects lights transmitted through the living body at a plurality of detection positions on the surface of the living body. An operation unit determines a type of output signal, based on an intensity of the transmitted light and pre-stored reference data, and outputs a signal indicative thereof as the type of output signal. An external equipment executes a functional operation according to the type of output signal from the operation unit. The incident positions and the detection positions are alternately disposed in square lattice form and middle points between the incident positions and detection positions adjacent to one another are defined as measurement positions.

Abstract: A method and a system is provided for discriminating between healthy cervical tissue and pathologic cervical tissue based on the fluorescence response of the tissue to laser excitation (LIF) and the backscatter response to illumination by white light (in the spectral range of 360 to 750 nm). Combining LIF and white light responses, as well as evaluating a spatial correlation between proximate cervical tissue sites in conjunction with a statistically significant “distance” algorithm, such as the Mahalanobis distance between data sets, can improve the discrimination between normal and abnormal tissue. The results may be displayed in the form of a map of the cervix representing the suspected pathology.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe is disclosed for reducing the influence of electromagnetic wave leakage to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device even when the probe is inside the MRI gantry. The ultrasonic probe includes a piezoelectric material, an acoustic matching layer provided on the ultrasonic radiation side of the piezoelectric material, and backing material provided on a rear side of the piezoelectric material. A transmit beam former is used to control a transmit focal point of ultrasonic waves inside the body of a subject. A receive beam former controls a receive beam focal point of electronic waves inside the body of the subject. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus also includes a switch capable of electrically disconnecting the ultrasonic probe from a transmit/receive switch.

Abstract: A system for constructing image slices through a selected object, the system comprising an identifiable fiducial reference in a fixed position relative to the selected object, wherein the fiducial reference comprises at least two identifiable reference markers. A source of radiation is provided for irradiating the selected object and the fiducial reference to form a projected image of the selected object and the fiducial reference which is recorded by a recording medium.

Abstract: MRI echo data is acquired by performing selective-excitation on regions composed of multi-slices of an object, while the object is moved continuously. The positions of the multi-slices are moved within a predetermined imaging range fixedly determined by an MRI system, according to object movement. This allows positions of the multi-slices to be changed in compliance with the moved object, so that the multi-slices positionally track with the object within the imaging range. Accordingly, a multi-slice imaging technique can be provided, which is executable during even continuous movement of the object.

Abstract: A cortical surface registration procedure related to a diagnostic or surgical procedure. In one embodiment, the procedure includes the steps of pre-operatively obtaining a first textured point cloud of the cortical surface of a targeted region of a brain of a living subject, intra-operatively obtaining optically a second textured point cloud of the cortical surface of the brain of the living subject, and aligning the first textured point cloud of the cortical surface to the second textured point cloud of the cortical surface so as to register images of the brain of the living subject to the cortical surface of the living subject.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for examining a substance volume to characterize its type, particularly useful for examining tissue to characterize it as cancerous or non-cancerous. The method comprises: applying a polarizing magnetic field through the examined substance; applying RF pulses locally to the examined substance volume such as to invoke electrical impedance (EI) responses signals corresponding to the electrical impedance of the substance, and magnetic resonance (MR) responses signals corresponding to the MR properties of the substance; detecting the EI and MR response signals; and utilizing the detected response signals for characterizing the examined substance volume type.

Abstract: In a method for detecting the three-dimensional position of a medical examination instrument introduced into an examination region of a subject and an apparatus including a C-arm system for registering radiation images, two-dimensional angiography projection images of the examination region are registered for later three-dimensional volume reconstruction of the examination region. After introduction of the instrument, at least one two-dimensional projection image pair of the examination region with image planes residing at an angle relative to one another is registered. The spatial coordinates of a selected point of the instrument shown in the projection images are identified in a common coordinate system for the angiography projection images and the projection images. Two-dimensional projection image pairs are registered in succession for the continuous presentation of the selected point in the display of the aforementioned volume reconstruction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave cosmetic device for producing ultrasonic wave stimulation on the facial skin by a vibration unit having an ultrasonic wave vibration element. The ultrasonic wave cosmetic device includes a probe provided with a vibration unit where one surface of the vibration unit contacts the skin and another surface is structured by a horn connected to the ultrasonic wave vibration element, and a drive unit for driving the ultrasonic wave vibration element. The drive unit produces one of either a first fundamental frequency where a half-wave length thereof matches a thickness of the vibration unit, which is a sum of the ultrasonic wave vibration element and the horn, when propagating therethrough, or a first harmonic frequency which is an integer multiple of the first fundamental frequency, as a drive frequency for driving the ultrasonic wave vibration element.

Abstract: A method and a device provide for the registration of two 3D image data sets of an object to be examined. The object to be examined is provided with a plurality of markers In order to enable a registration to be carried out, the positions of the markers in the 3D image data sets are first determined in a co-ordinate system associated with the relevant 3D image data set. The distances between the markers and/or the angles formed between lines which intersect in a marker and extend through two further markers are then determined. Finally, a transformation rule for the transformation of one of the 3D image data sets to the co-ordinate system of the other 3D image data set is determined.

Abstract: Fiducials (50) are disposed in an imaging region (14) along with a subject. The fiducials are mounted either to the subject itself, a surgical tool (52), an imaging probe or receive coil (80), or the like. The fiducials are filled with a liquid or gel of a fluorine 19 (Fl19) compound which has a resonance frequency that is only 6% off from the resonance frequency of protons. This enables a common transmitter (22), transmit and receive coils, and receiver (34) to be utilized for both proton and fluorine 19 imaging. The proton and fluorine resonance signals are separately reconstructed into corresponding image memories (42, 64). From the positions of the fiducials, a position calculator (66) determines the position of a fiducial carrying surgical tool or probe relative to the proton image. A depiction of the tool or probe from a look-up table (70) is appropriately positioned and rotated (68) and superimposed on the proton image by a video processor (44).