Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method includes accessing a graphical model of a representative patient, accessing a medical image of an anatomical structure, and registering the medical image with the graphical model to generate a composite image. The imaging system and method includes displaying the composite image and simultaneously displaying an unregistered medical image of the anatomical structure with the composite image. The unregistered medical image has at least one of a higher resolution and a larger form factor than the registered medical image.

Abstract: An echo-scintigraphic probe for medical applications and the method of merging images. It is constituted by the union of an ultrasound probe suitably integrated, both in geometric terms, and in terms of image processing, with a scintigraphic probe or gamma camera (3). With a single application of said probe, one is able to provide a double image of the object under examination. The ultrasound probe is housed in the head, above the plane of the collimator and kept projecting to favor the direct contact with the body part of the patient to be examined. The collimator is able to obtain images of the biodistribution of a radiolabelled drug by radiation with frontal incidence, maintaining the characteristics of the ultrasound probe. The probe is applicable to both clinical diagnosis and intraoperative diagnosis of cancer with the use of radio tracers.

Abstract: Some implementations provide a method that includes: placing a human subject on a moveable platform located in a room with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner and a radiation therapy machine; moving the platform into a first position such that the human subject is positioned to be imaged by MRI; operating the MRI scanner while the platform is in the first position to obtain an image of the human subject; moving the platform into a second position such that the human subject is in position to receive radiation therapy from the radiation therapy machine; reducing the magnetic field such that the magnetic field at the radiation therapy machine is below a threshold value; and while the platform is in the second position and the magnetic field at the radiation therapy machine is below the threshold value, operating the radiation therapy machine to perform radiation therapy on the human subject.

Abstract: A breast measurement apparatus includes a distance measurement unit measuring a distance from a skin to a light absorption portion for a measurement region of a breast which is a normal region including no tumor or an object region including a tumor, a light measurement unit measuring a hemoglobin amount in the measurement region by a light measurement method using measurement light of a predetermined wavelength, a correlation data storage unit storing normal correlation data of the distance to the light absorption portion and a normal hemoglobin amount generated based on measurement results for normal regions, and an evaluation value calculation unit calculating a property evaluation value of the tumor based on the normal hemoglobin amount, obtained from the normal correlation data and the distance to the light absorption portion in the object region, and an object hemoglobin amount in the object region.

Abstract: Changes in electrical stimulation therapy delivered via a medical device are coordinated with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans. In one example, a medical device delivers electrical stimulation therapy to a patient in an MRI unit, where the medical device is configured to cycle electrical stimulation therapy between a plurality of stimulation states. An indication that the medical device will cycle the electrical stimulation therapy or has cycled the electrical stimulation therapy while the patient is in the MRI unit or being imaged by the MRI unit is generated, and an MRI scan of the patient via an MRI workstation is initiated based on the indication. In another example, a medical device detects activation of an MRI scan and automatically switches stimulation states based upon the detection of the MRI scan, such that the scan is associated with a particular stimulation state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vascular image positioning system, including an image enhancing device (1) and an image projection device (2) used cooperatively with the vascular image enhancing device (1). The transmission light emitted by the enhancing device (1) passed through the sites of the human body surface to be tested, is received by the image projection device (2), and after image processing, forms in situ images at sites on the surface of the skin of the human body to be tested. The enhancing device (1) comprises a light emitting unit (101) and a drive unit (102) driving the light emitting unit (101) to emit light. The vascular image positioning system provides the function of using a transmission light source to achieve in situ imaging of the blood vessels at the sites to be tested; secondly, it also provides a mode for combining a transmission light source with a reflection light source, thereby strengthening the function of in situ imaging and widening the application range.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for registering medical images. The method includes: setting, as a reference, axis an axis of a probe that is disposed to be parallel to an axis of an object; extracting a first sub-object from a first medical image that is obtained by using the probe; extracting a second sub-object from a second medical image that has a modality different from a modality of the first medical image; and registering the first medical image and the second medical image by aligning the first sub-object and the second sub-object about the reference axis.

Abstract: An object tracking device for a medical imaging system tracks a predetermined movable object such as a medical instrument and/or a patient. The object tracking device includes primary and secondary imagers. The primary imager is configured to provide first image data of a patient's body including the interior of a patient's body. The primary imager is movable between imaging and parking modes. The secondary imager is configured to provide second image data of a patient's body including the exterior of a patient's body. The object tracking device further includes a position monitoring arrangement configured to monitor a position of the secondary imager relative to the position of a reference point. As a result, the medical instrument and/or the patient is traceable in the imaging mode based on the image data of the primary imager, and in the parking mode based on the image data of the secondary imager.

Abstract: A local coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system has a head part and a neck part. The head part is tiltable in a tilting movement. The neck part is movable relative to the head part for compensation of the tilting movement. The local coil is a head-neck local coil.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for visualization of a resection target during epilepsy surgery and for real time spatiotemporal visualization of neurophysiologic biomarkers. One exemplary method includes a real time neurophysiologic biomarker visualization system implemented by at least one computer, receiving, as input, a pre-electrode-implantation MRI of an epilepsy patient's brain.

Abstract: The present technology describes various embodiments of positron emission tomography (PET) systems for use with mammography machines and associated devices and methods. In several embodiments, a PET system includes a tissue platform and one or more PET detection panels removably coupled to the mammography machine. The panels are configured to generally surround the tissue platform and obtain an approximately 360 degree data sample of tissue. The system can further include an output device configured to output the data sample for image reconstruction. In some embodiments, the system is configured to provide high resolution images, quantitative image accuracy, dynamic imaging, and/or biopsy guidance.

Abstract: A maneuverable RF coil assembly, useful for being maneuvered at both positions: (i) over at least a portion of a neonate immobilized within a cradle at time of MR imaging; and (ii) below or aside the cradle when it is not required for imaging. The maneuverable RF coil assembly comprises at least one RF coil and maneuvering mechanism. The maneuvering mechanism comprises both: (i) a linear reciprocating mechanism for approaching or otherwise drawing away at least one coil to and from the neonate; and (ii) tilting mechanism for placing at least one coil away from the neonate.

Abstract: A brain mapping system includes a brain signal acquisition device for collecting brain signals corresponding to different locations of the brain, a stimulator for generating a stimulus based upon a pseudorandom sequence, and a processor for segmenting the brain signals into a plurality of epochs and correlating features extracted from the epochs with the pseudorandom sequence to generate correlation functions, wherein a brain map is constructed by the correlation functions.

Abstract: A method is for displaying position information relating to a position of a region of interest of a patient relative to an examination unit of an imaging apparatus. A first examination plane is assignable to the examination unit and a camera is disposed relative to the examination unit such that, via a lens of the camera, three non-collinear reference points lying in a first reference plane parallel to the first examination plane are mapped to three collinear first image points lying on a first line. In an embodiment, the method includes capturing a camera image of the region of interest via the camera; displaying a positioning image, the positioning image including the camera image; and displaying first marking information relating to a position of the first line in the positioning image.

Abstract: A device for performing an MRI scan using patient specific scan parameters and a method of optimizing MRI image quality with patient specific scan parameters. The device includes a processor configured to receive MRI scout scan data of a patient injected with a contrast agent, generate a series of MRI scout scan images of the patient, select an initial inversion time (TIinitial) based on the MRI scout scan images, determine a time interval between adjacent inversion pulses (TR) based on an ECG of the patient, calculate a relaxation time (T1) based on TIinitial and TR, calculate an optimized inversion time (TIoptimized) based on the T1, and generate an output to an MRI device to perform an MRI scan of the patient based on TIoptimized.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes correlating, via a data correlator (120), contrast delivery information from an injector (118) for a contrast-enhanced imaging procedure with imaging data acquired by an imaging system (100) utilized for the procedure. In another embodiment, a method includes performing a pre-procedure validation check on at least one of an injector (118) or an imaging system (100) respectively based on at least one protocol parameter of the imaging system (100) or the injector (118) and generating, with the injector (118) or the imagining system (100), a value indicative of the validation check.

Abstract: A processor-controlled, energy-based therapy apparatus includes a pressure wave therapy device configured to provide therapeutic acoustic pulses to a patient and a processor that controls the output of the device. The pressure wave therapy device may include a control unit configured to control the pressure wave therapy device to deliver a treatment program, the treatment program comprising a plurality of acoustic pulses, each acoustic pulse comprising a pressure, the control unit including a memory storing patient-specific treatment information relating to a pain threshold of the patient; and a pain threshold indicator coupled to the control unit, the pain threshold indicator operable by the patient to provide an indication to the control unit of when a patient's pain threshold has been reached because an energy level delivered to the patient is unbearable.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) surface coil unit and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system including the same are provided. The RF surface coil unit is a bulk-type RF surface coil, and includes a plurality of RF coil elements formed on a cylindrical-shaped base, wherein at least one pair of the plurality of RF coil elements include facing RF coil elements that are electrically connected to each other and are formed as one channel.

Abstract: There are provided a medical imaging apparatus and a method for controlling a medical imaging apparatus. The medical imaging apparatus includes an image registering unit configured to register a pre-imaged medical image with respect to an object based on a first reference point included in the pre-imaged medical image and a second reference point of the object; a location detecting unit configured to detect a user's movement based on the second reference point; and a user interface configured to display a pre-imaged medical image corresponding to the detected movement of the user.

Abstract: A station for tomotactic-guided biopsy in prone includes a table with an aperture, and a tomosynthesis imaging system. A biopsy gun can be mounted on a stage arm assembly disposed below the table. The imaging system and stage arm assembly can be independently rotated and linearly repositioned in one or more dimensions, thereby allowing the tomotactic scan axis to be located relative to a breast being imaged.