Abstract: An ultrasound transducer for use in intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging systems including a single crystal composite (SCC) layer is provided. The transducer has a front electrode on a side of the SCC layer; and a back electrode on the opposite side of the SCC layer. The SCC layer may have a bowl shape including pillars made of a single crystal piezoelectric material embedded in a polymer matrix. Also provided is an ultrasound transducer as above, with the back electrode split into two electrodes electrically isolated from one another. A method of forming an ultrasound transducer as above is also provided. An IVUS imaging system is provided, including an ultrasound emitter and receiver rotationally disposed within an elongate member; an actuator; and a control system controlling emission of pulses and receiving ultrasound echo data associated with the pulses. The ultrasound emitter and receiver include an ultrasound transducer as above.

Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus is configured for targeted placement of a lead body within a patient. The lead body includes at least one distal electrode. The apparatus includes a needle including a lumen sized to accommodate the lead body within the lumen. A stylet is insertable within the needle, wherein at least one of the needle and the stylet includes at least one imageable marker corresponding in size, shape, and location to the at least one distal electrode of the lead body. The at least one imageable marker is configured to allow a user to determine placement within the patient of the at least one distal electrode of the lead body prior to implantation of the lead body within the patient.

Abstract: A method for determining time periods of minimal motion of a physiologic organ includes monitoring a physiologic triggering signal associated with a patient and using an MRI cine pulse sequence to acquire a temporal series of projections of the organ. The temporal series is analyzed to determine times relative to a physiologic triggering signal during which motion of the organ is below a threshold. Motion is assessed by first creating a signal intensity versus time curve of one pixel or an average of multiple pixels included in the temporal series. A noise filter and normalization is applied to the signal intensity versus time curve to yield a filtered and normalized time curve. The temporal derivative of the filtered and normalized time curve is determined. The absolute value of the motion-analog function is evaluated for being smaller than the threshold to determine the times where motion is below the threshold.

Abstract: Ultrasound adaptive imaging methods and/or systems provide for modification of waveform generation to drive a plurality of transducer elements. The modification may be based on at least one of contrast ratio or signal to noise ratio as determined with respect to control points in a region of interest. Further, image reconstruction may be performed upon separating, from pulse echo data received, at least a portion thereof received at each ultrasound transducer element from the region of interest in response to the delivered ultrasound energy corresponding to a single frequency of one or more image frequencies within a transducer apparatus bandwidth. The image reconstructed from the separated pulse-echo data corresponding to the single frequency of the one or more image frequencies may be used alone or combined with like image data (e.g., to provide an image representative of one or more properties in the region of interest).

Abstract: A diagnostic system includes a light source having semiconductor sources, optical amplifiers, and fibers configured to deliver a first optical beam to a nonlinear element configured to broaden a spectrum of the first optical beam to at least 10 nanometers through a nonlinear effect in the nonlinear element, wherein a broadened-spectrum output beam comprises a near-infrared wavelength between 600-1000 nanometers. An interface device, having a cap with fiber leads configured to couple to the light source and to a receiver having one or more detectors, delivers the output optical beam to a tissue sample. The receiver is configured to receive a diffuse spectroscopy output beam resulting from light diffusion of the output optical beam into a top two (2) millimeters of the sample and to process the diffuse spectroscopy output beam to generate an output signal that monitors absorption or scattering features of the tissue sample.

Abstract: A method and device for tracking objects by surgical navigation systems. The method includes: capturing an image of the tracked object; determining whether a unique identifiable feature associated with at least one totem pattern is discernible in the image; when the unique identifiable feature is discernible: determining a position or an orientation of the tracked object based on the at least one totem pattern; and registering the at least one totem pattern in the surgical coordinate space; and when the unique identifiable feature is indiscernible: determining a position of each totem pattern relative to other totem patterns such that a combination of totem patterns within the captured image is a marker group detectable as a composite totem pattern; determining a position or an orientation of the tracked object based on the composite totem pattern associated with the tracked object; and registering the composite totem pattern in the surgical coordinate space.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus (24) images an introduction element (17) like a needle or a catheter for performing a biopsy or a brachytherapy. The introduction element (17) includes at least one ultrasound receiver (21) arranged at a known location. An ultrasound probe (12) for being inserted into a living being (2) emits ultrasound signals for acquiring ultrasound data of an inner part (19) of the living being (2). A first tracking unit (3) tracks the location of the introduction element (17) based on a reception of the emitted ultrasound signals by the at least one ultrasound receiver (21). An imaging unit (4) generates an indicator image showing the inner part (19) and an indicator of the introduction element (17) based on the tracked location. A display (5) displays the indicator image providing feedback about the location of the introduction element (17).

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: a beam former that drives an ultrasound transducer including two-dimensionally arranged vibration elements and that acquires ultrasound data of a three-dimensional space; a delay calculating circuit sets scan conditions including a drive delay amount of the beam former; a graphic circuit that generates an ultrasound slice image of a predetermined cut surface from the ultrasound data of the three-dimensional space; and a CPU that determines a focal length or a focal depth of the ultrasound according to a distance from the ultrasound transducer to the desirably set cut surface to set an amount of delay to cause the delay calculating circuit to change the scan conditions.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes a surgical device and a surgical controller. The surgical device is configured to be manipulated by a user to perform a soft tissue cutting procedure on a patient. The surgical controller is programmed to create a virtual object representing an anatomy of the patient based upon data acquired during a pre-operative scan and associate the virtual object with the anatomy of the patient. The surgical controller is also programmed to identify a plurality of soft tissue attachment points on the virtual object which correspond to a plurality of soft tissue attachment points on the anatomy of the patient. The surgical controller is also programmed to determine the location of the surgical device in relation to the anatomy of the patient and provide real-time visualization on the virtual object of the location of the surgical device in relation to the anatomy of the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing three-dimensional ultrasound images of a volume (50) and an ultrasound imaging system (10). In particular, the current invention applies to live three-dimensional imaging. To maintain a steady frame rate of the displayed images even if a user changes a region of interest and, therewith, the size of the volume (50) to be scanned, it is contemplated to adjust a density of the scanning lines within the volume (50) as a function of a size of the volume while maintaining a total number of scanning lines across the volume (50).

Abstract: An endobronchial probe includes a deflector having a bore extending therethrough at an angle to its long axis for passage of a tool. The probe includes a location sensor and an ultrasound imager. A push-pull anchoring system comprises a plurality of guides and wires that can extend beyond the guides and retract within the guides. When extended the wires diverge from the long axis sufficiently to engage a bronchus. The probe includes a balloon disposed on the distal segment contralateral to bore that when inflated urges the mouth of the bore into contact with the bronchial wall.

Abstract: Systems and methods for user control over the acquisition, processing, and presentation of medical data are provided. Some embodiments are particularly directed to controlling the display of multi-modality medical data in a multi-modality processing system. In one embodiment, a medical imaging system receives a set of medical data including a first data subset collected using a first sensor and a second data subset collected using a second sensor, where the first sensor and the second sensor are different. A display attribute to be applied to the first data subset independent of the second data subset is received. An instruction is generated that affects the processing of the first data subset based on the display attribute. The first data subset is processed according to the instruction. The processed first data subset is displayed according to the display attribute, and the second data subset is displayed independent of the display attribute.

Abstract: Enhanced ultrasound imaging apparatus and associated methods of work flow are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of ultrasound scanning includes receiving a first dataset representing ultrasonic scanning of a target anatomy of a patient in a two-dimensional mode and generating a two-dimensional ultrasound image of the scanned target anatomy based on the received first dataset. The method also includes accepting a definition of at least one of a sagittal plane, a transverse plane, and a coronal plane on the displayed two-dimensional ultrasound image. Thereafter, a second dataset representing ultrasonic scanning of the target anatomy in a three-dimensional mode is received and an ultrasound image at the coronal plane of the target anatomy is generated based on (1) the three-dimensional scanning and (2) the accepted definition of at least one of the sagittal plane, the transverse plane, and the coronal plane.

Abstract: Methods and sensor delivery devices for monitoring a fluid pressure within a vascular structure, the devices including an elongated sheath sized for sliding along a guidewire, a sensor assembly including a fiber optic sensor, a housing surrounding the sensor, a first cavity between the distal end of the sensor and a distal aperture of the housing, a filler extending from at least the distal end of the housing distally and tapering inward toward the outer surface of the sheath, a second cavity in the filler with an opening at the outer surface of the filler and adjoining the distal aperture of the housing, and an optical fiber. The sensor delivery device may also include an outer layer that partially covers the second cavity with an aperture over the opening of the second cavity.

Abstract: A digital representation of a waveform is generated based on signals received during a recording period. The received signals include a digital clock signal providing a determined number of clock pulses during the recording period, a plurality of binary digital signals defining, for each clock pulse of the determined number of clock pulses, a waveform state associated with the clock pulse. A digital representation of the waveform is generated and stored. The waveform has a duration based on the recording period and a profile based on the defined waveform states associated with the clock pulses of the determined number of clock pulses.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which quantifies regurgitant flow through a mitral valve. A flow quantification processor (34) in the ultrasound system produces a mathematical model of a flow velocity field proximal to a regurgitant orifice. The velocity field model produces values of velocity vectors directed toward the regurgitant orifice. These modeled values are modified for the effects of ultrasound physics and ultrasound system operation to produce expected velocity values. The expected velocity values are compared with actual Doppler velocities measured by the ultrasound system, and the differences accumulated to a mean square error which is used to adjust parameters of the model such as the orifice location and flow velocities. When this iterative processing converges with a desired comparison, parameters derived from the finally adjusted model are used to calculate the true orifice location, flow rate, and volume flow.

Abstract: An external stylus provides an impulse to correct mal-alignments of the Atlas (C1). The placement and direction of the impulse is guided by the analysis of a plurality precisely placed or acquired tomographic images, preferably MRI images.

Abstract: A computer tomograph, a method, and a computer program product are disclosed. A computer tomograph is disclosed for scanning an image of at least one examination region of a patient, including a scanning unit which can be rotated about a longitudinal axis. The scanning unit includes an X-ray detector and an X-ray emitter. The extension of an X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray emitter is controlled for scanning purposes along the longitudinal axis using at least one patient-dependent control signal. By controlling the extension of the X-ray beam, the dose applied to the patient is also controlled such that the dose can be used as efficiently as possible. The control further allows the pitch to be matched to the patient-dependent control signal while scanning in the spiral mode.

Abstract: A method for automatically identifying a potential pleural effusion in medical image data of a thorax of a patient from a scan by means of a medical scanner is provided. It includes at least the steps of accepting rib cage detection data of the rib cage of the patient from the image data, which rib cage detection data include rib cage extent data of a rib cage extent of the interior of the rib cage, accepting lung detection data of the lung of the patient from the image data, which lung detection data comprise lung extent data of a lung extent of the external boundary of the lung, accepting mediastinum detection data of all organs of the mediastinum in the thorax (Th) of the patient from the image data, which mediastinum detection data comprise mediastinum extent data of a mediastinum extent of the external boundary of the mediastinum, and subtracting the lung extent and the mediastinum extent from the rib cage extent while forming pleural effusion identification data.

Abstract: A system and method for mapping interluminal structures includes an elongated flexible instrument (102). An optical shape sensing device (152, 154) is disposed within the flexible instrument and is configured to determine a shape of the flexible instrument relative to a reference. The shape sensing device is configured to collect information based on its configuration to map an interluminal structure during a procedure. An imaging enabled ablation device (117) is mounted at or near a distal end portion of the flexible instrument.