Abstract: A computer-assisted imaging and localization system assists the physician in positioning surgical effecters, such as implants, tools and instruments, within a surgical site in a patient's body. The system displays overlapping images—one image of the surgical site with the patient's anatomy and another image showing the surgical effecter(s). The overlapping image of the surgical effecter(s) is moved over the static image of the anatomy as the implant/instrument is moved. The movement of the surgical effecter(s) is determined in a three-dimensional coordinate system at a home base location in the patient's anatomy, which home base can be moved during the procedure without interrupting the displays of the overlapping images.

Abstract: Disclosed is an instrument assembly usable in a procedure. The instrument includes a connection for a working portion and to a tool handle. A tracking device or assembly may be associated with the instrument for determining a position of the instrument.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (100, 600) that comprises a medical imaging system (102, 102?), a subject support (110), and a camera system (104) configured for imaging the subject support in an initial position.

Abstract: Methods and devices for both imaging and treating uterine fibroid tumors in one real-time system are provided. One minimally invasive method comprises introducing a sheath into a uterus and determining a location of a fibroid using a visualization element within or on the sheath. Upon identification, a portion of the sheath is steered to position at least one treatment needle at the determined location. The needle is then anchored in uterine tissue and the fibroid treated with the needle.

Abstract: A system for differentiating between magnetic field distortion and physical movement in a hybrid magnetic and impedance tracking system can comprise a first drive patch and a second drive patch configured to generate an electrical field within the body for locating an electrode on the medical device, a magnetic localization system configured to generate a magnetic field, a magnetic sensor configured to receive signals from the magnetic localization system, and an electronic control unit configured to receive location data from the impedance localization system and magnetic sensor location data from the magnetic localization system. The electronic control circuit can be configured to detect a location change of the magnetic sensor and use the drive patch location data and magnetic sensor location data to determine whether the detected location change of the magnetic sensor is caused by a magnetic field distortion or a physical movement of the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A needle assembly positionable under visual guidance from an ultrasound system. An elongate body extends distally from a hub along a longitudinal axis and defines a lumen. Reverberation features reverberate incident waves to produce reflected waves to be received by the ultrasound system. The reverberation features may be disposed within the lumen and axially spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis. The reverberation features may include opposing portions of an inner surface of a sidewall that define a gap that is smaller or shaped differently than an inner diameter of the lumen. The elongate body may include a solid section near a beveled tip, and the reverberation features are bores defined within the solid section and axially spaced apart from one another. The elongate body may be removably disposed within a sheath in which a distal end of the sheath is axially positioned proximal to the reverberation features.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a surgical system for patella tracking and a method for selecting a properly-sized patellar implant utilizing the same. The surgical system may include first and second trackers and a patellar tracking system. The first tracker may be configured to contact an unresected or a resected patella, and the second tracker may be configured to contact a bone. The patellar tracking system may be configured to track the first and second trackers during patellar flexion and extension to generate patellar range of motion and patellar trial range of motion. A method for selecting a patellar implant may utilize the first and second trackers and the patellar tracking system.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a two dimensional matrix array transducer and a digital microbeamformer. The microbeamformer comprises a plurality of transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array transducer, a plurality of low power analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the amplifiers, a microbeamformer controller, a power supply and a USB controller which cumulatively consume three watts or less.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for making anatomical measurements using a captured ultrasound image representative of the anatomical region of interest. The method comprises receiving (20) data representative of a set of points selected by a user within the image and interpreting from the points a particular anatomical measurement type which the user is intending to perform. In particular, the points are processed to identify (24) a pattern or other geometrical characteristic of the points, and the location (22) of at least one of the points within the image is also identified. These two characteristics are used to identify from the set of points which measurement the operator is performing. Once the measurement is identified, an appropriate measurement template (26) is selected and applied in order to derive (30) from the set of points an anatomical measurement.

Abstract: A frequency encoded source imaging system includes an EEG or MEG sensor array and a processing system for analyzing the signals from the sensor array in at least two different frequency bands, where the analysis is localized with respect to a three-dimensional grid corresponding to the portion of the human body. Alternately, a frequency encoded source imaging system includes an EEG or MEG sensor array and a processing system for analyzing the signals from the sensor array in a high-definition frequency band comprising frequencies greater than 70 Hz, where the analysis is localized with respect to a three-dimensional grid corresponding to the portion of the human body.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for non-invasive neuromodulation system for prompt treatment of cerebral and/or ocular strokes caused by acute dysregulated reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) and/or ocular blood flow (OBF) by up regulation of trigemino-vascular system (TVS), and trigeminal autonomic brain reflexes (TABRs) through stimulation of ophthalmic nerve. Additionally or alternatively, the subject's sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is down regulated centrally by intravenous administration of pharmacological dose of ascorbic acid. The site of stimulation of ophthalmic nerve includes but not limited to nasal vestibule, nasal bridge, and forehead and upper eyelid. In some embodiments, the devices are handheld, portable with nose supported, having one or more intra-nasal or extra-nasal application heads. The signal can include vibration, chemical, ultrasonic, optical, electrical, hybrid electro-optical or combination of two or more of these types of stimuli.

Abstract: An intravascular imaging device is provided. In some embodiments, the intravascular imaging device includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion; and an imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the imaging assembly including a flex circuit positioned directly around the flexible elongate member. In some embodiments, a method of assembling an intravascular imaging device includes obtaining a flex circuit including a first layer having a plurality of transducers and a second layer having an acoustic backing material; and positioning the flex circuit directly around a distal portion of a flexible elongate member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe that transmits/receives ultrasonic waves; a camera that captures a subject; an ultrasonic image generator that generates an ultrasonic image of the subject based on a reception signal acquired from the ultrasonic probe; a first hardware processor that generates a display image including a camera image acquired from the camera and an ultrasonic image acquired from the ultrasonic image generator; and a second hardware processor that decides a display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image in accordance with an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods that may be used to image, for example, breast tissue. An ultrasound imaging system according to one embodiment may include a probe, a sensor attached to the probe and operatively associated with a position tracking system, a processor configured to receive probe position data from the position tracking system. The user interface may be configured to provide instructions for placement of the probe at a plurality of anatomical landmarks of a selected breast of the subject and receive user input to record the spatial location of the probe at each of the plurality of anatomical landmarks. The processor may be configured to determine a scan area based on the spatial location of the probe at each of the plurality of anatomical landmarks and generate a scan pattern for the selected breast. The processor may be further configured to monitor movement of the probe.

Abstract: A support structure for placement on or about a subject's head supports an ultrasound transducer array configured to deliver transcranial stimulation to a specified region or regions of the subject's brain using pre-recorded neurostimulation data. The pre-recorded neurostimulation data comprises patterns of stimulation of the specified region or regions of the subject's brain or other person's brain developed to recreate a response by one or more of a sensing organ or sensing organs, a vestibular system, and a memory of the subject. A magnetic sensor array is mounted to the support structure and configured to transcranially sense local magnetic fields emanating from the specified region or regions of the subject's brain caused by delivery of the transcranial stimulation and produce contemporaneous neurostimulation data developed using the transcranially sensed local magnetic fields. Electronic circuitry comprising a controller is configured to control operation of the respective arrays.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry forms a first transmission beam in a plurality of directions belonging to a first group, forms at least one first reception beam, forms a second transmission beam in a plurality of directions belonging to a second group, after an elapse of a time from performing a scan for the first group, forms at least one second reception beam, applies a wall filter to reception signals obtained by the first and the second reception beams, calculates bloodstream information based on the filtered reception signals, and generates image data based on the calculated bloodstream information.

Abstract: A medical robot system, including a robot coupled to an effectuator element with the robot configured for controlled movement and positioning. The system may include a transmitter configured to emit one or more signals, and the transmitter is coupled to an instrument coupled to the effectuator element. The system may further include a motor assembly coupled to the robot and a plurality of receivers configured to receive the one or more signals emitted by the transmitter. A control unit is coupled to the motor assembly and the plurality of receivers, and the control unit is configured to supply one or more instruction signals to the motor assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a contact angle of a catheter relative to tissue are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a catheter with three or more electrodes, and a processor circuit in communication with the catheter. The processor circuit controls the three or more electrodes to emit a plurality of electrical voltages and to measure the plurality of electrical voltages. Based on the measured electrical voltages, the processor circuit calculates a first interelectrode impedance and a second interelectrode impedance. The processor circuit calculates, for each of a plurality of hypothetical i.e. model angles, a first hypothetical i.e. model contact force and a second hypothetical i.e. model contact force based on the first and second interelectrode impedances. The processor circuit determines and outputs the contact angle of the catheter based on a comparison of the first and second model contact forces calculated for each of the plurality of model angles.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an approach to a target includes a luminal device including a distal portion, a sensor coupled to the distal portion of the luminal device, and a surgical instrument including one or more indicators having a detectable property located along at least a portion of the surgical instrument. The luminal device is configured to be inserted into a patient, and the distal portion of the luminal device is configured to be guided proximate a target. The sensor is configured to sense the detectable property of the one or more indicators. The surgical instrument is configured to be guided through the luminal device.

Abstract: Systems, processes, and apparatuses are provided for imaging a body part of a patient such as an eye of the patient. In some embodiments, a process is provided for adjusting the readings from an ultrasound probe to account for the different speeds of sound through different portions of the eye. In various embodiments, a process is provided for combing multiple images of the body part together. In some embodiments, a process is provided for determining the diameter of the lens of the eye.