Abstract: An apparatus which can detect leak of a liquid injected through an injection needle into a blood vessel of a human body near its surface with high accuracy. The apparatus emits a light ray in a predetermined wavelength band containing a particular wavelength at which the reflectivity for the liquid is lower than the reflectivity for internal tissues of the human body, and detects the light ray in the wavelength band reflected inside the human body. The leak of the liquid can be detected without being affected by variations in the human body or physical condition.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recording and evaluating PET data recorded at the same time as magnetic resonance data using a combined magnetic resonance/PET apparatus, wherein in the context of a pulse sequence for recording the magnetic resonance data a magnetic resonance recording facility, including at least one gradient coil and at least one high-frequency coil, is activated. In at least one embodiment, the method includes recording the PET data and assigning the recorded PET data after the recording time point to at least two data groups assigned to a predetermined operating state of the magnetic resonance recording facility; for each data group, determining a measure of similarity of the PET data contained therein to the PET data as a whole and/or to PET data of at least one further data group, whereby if the measure of similarity is below a threshold value, the PET data of the data group is rejected and/or further evaluated separately.

Abstract: A catheter procedure system including a user interface for receiving at least a first user input and a second user input and a guide catheter is provided. The catheter procedure system also includes a guide catheter actuating mechanism coupled to the guide catheter and a Y-connector. The guide catheter actuating mechanism is configured to advance and retract the guide catheter in response to the first user input and to rotate the guide catheter in response to the second user input. The catheter procedure system includes a first connector coupling the Y-connector to the guide catheter actuating mechanism, and the first connector is configured to allow the Y-connector to advance and retract with the guide catheter and to allow the guide catheter to rotate without also causing the Y-connector to rotate.

Abstract: An injection device (120) used in delivering medical fluids to a patient is provided. The injection device (120) may include a syringe plunger driver (126a) and a syringe (140). The syringe (140) may include a syringe data storage device (134). The injection device (120) may include a communication device (132a) disposable in each of attached and detached conditions. The communication device (132a) may be operable to read a data storage device (134) within its field of view. When the communication device (132a) is attached to the injection device (120) and the syringe (140) is installed on the injection device (120), the communication device (132a) may be operable to read the data storage device (134) associated with the syringe (140). When in a detached condition, the communication device (132a) may be operable to be hand manipulated such that various other data storage devices (134) may be read.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus removes a speckle pattern using information on a direction (depth direction) that is substantially orthogonal to a plurality of ultrasonic images included in three-dimensional image data. For example, three-dimensional CFAR processing, two-dimensional CFAR processing, and a depth-direction arithmetic process are performed to discriminate a continuous structure that is three-dimensionally arranged from a local microstructure, thereby generating a microstructure extracted image.

Abstract: The invention relates to an expandable marker device having a pre-delivery state, a delivery state and at least one active region. The at least one active region incorporates electroactive polymer material. In addition, the expandable marker includes at least one radiopaque material to enhance observation through a medical imaging device.

Abstract: To perform a more accurate and detailed diagnosis of a brain disease, a diagnosis server of the brain disease diagnosis system for diagnosing a brain disease of an examined person includes: an acquiring unit for acquiring a brain image of the examined person so as to obtain an acquired image; a region setting unit for setting a plurality of regions in the acquired image; an individual index value calculating unit for calculating an individual index value based on a pixel value of the acquired image, in each of the plurality of regions; a whole index value calculating unit for calculating a whole index value by weighting the individual index value of each of the plurality of regions; a diagnosis unit for diagnosing the brain disease of the examined person based on the whole index value; and an output unit for outputting information indicating a diagnosis outcome.

Abstract: Bioluminescent imaging has proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring physiological and pathological activities at cellular and molecular levels in living small animals. Using biological techniques, target cells can be tagged with reporters which generate characteristic photons in a wide spectrum covering the infra-red range. Part of the diffused light can reach the body surface of a subject/specimen (e.g., a small animal), be separated into several spectral bands using optical means, and collected by a sensitive camera. Systems and methods are disclosed herein for multi-spectral bioluminescence tomography (MBLT), in which an image of an underlying 3D bioluminescent source distribution is synergistically reconstructed from spectrally resolved datasets externally measured. This MBLT process involves two or multiple imaging modalities that produce structural information of the object and optical properties of the object as well to enable and improve the quality of MBLT.

Abstract: A method for High Pulse Repeat Frequency (HPRF) Doppler ultrasonic imaging comprises: collecting parameters including a selected PRF level, real sample volume depth and sampling gate size; setting a selectable PRF range according to a standard PRF value corresponding to the selected PRF level; evaluating each PRF successively selected from the selectable PRF range with a preset step; and taking the PRF with best evaluation as the best PRF of the selected PRF level to be used in ultrasonic pulses transmission.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe, a charger and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic system that uses them are provided by the present invention, which comprises a detector for detecting whether or not an ultrasonic probe having a rechargeable battery or the charger for charging this is in charging state; and a controller for stopping transmitting and receiving operations of ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a transmitting and receiving circuit for executing the generation of a signal related to the transmission of the ultrasonic waves and the generation of the diagnostic information based on the signal related to the reception of the ultrasonic waves; a probe switching circuit for selecting one of a plurality of ultrasonic probes; and a controller for controlling the probe switching circuit in accordance with a detection signal from the detector. The ultrasonic diagnostic system comprises the above-mentioned probes, chargers and diagnostic apparatus.

Abstract: A method of tracing the likely contour of an anatomical element in a sectional image of an anatomical site, the image being composed of pixels having different intensities, the method including the steps of: a) forming columns of pixels passing through the anatomical element; b) assigning each pixel a pixel score representing the probability of the pixel being situated on the contour of the anatomical element; c) constituting a matrix of pixel scores from a plurality of columns of pixels and defining numerous continuous paths of pixels, each passing through a single pixel of each column; d) assigning each continuous path a path score that is a function of the scores of the pixels constituting the continuous path; e) selecting from a set of continuous paths the path that has the best path score, that path representing the likely contour of the anatomical element.

Abstract: A device and method for pre-operative selection and determination of a position of an endoprosthesis using a first rear projection screen with variable opacity and a movable second rear projection screen located in front of the first projection screen in respect of rear projection. The device may include a first projection unit for generating at least one first projection of the region of a subject in which an endoprosthesis is to be fitted, onto the first rear projection screen, and a second projection unit for generating at least one second projection of the endoprosthesis onto the second rear projection screen, the scaling of the first and second projection being identical. In an alternative embodiment, the second rear projection screen can be omitted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoscope apparatus that includes a laser light source for generating excitation light, an endoscopy scope having an irradiation section for irradiating excitation light at an end portion thereof, a CCD incorporating an intensifier for detecting fluorescence generated by excitation light in a tissue, a fluorescence-image generating unit for generating a fluorescence image signal based on a fluorescence signal from the CCD incorporating an intensifier, a distance-measuring unit for generating a distance signal corresponding to the distance between the irradiation section and the tissue, and an amount-of-fluorescence calculating unit for correcting the fluorescence signal with the distance signal to calculate an amount of fluorescence not affected by changes in the distance.

Abstract: A system and apparatus taught to determine the identification and selected information relating to surgical instruments near a reader. The information can be stored on a member operable to transmit the information to a reader at a selected time. The information can be used in a navigation system to assist in navigation of the instrument relative to a patient.

Abstract: A method for generating a composite image using an intravascular imaging device includes receiving reflected echo signals from at least one transducer along a first of a plurality of radial scan lines. The received echo signals are passed through a plurality of signal processing channels to form a plurality of filtered signals. The filtered signals include a high-resolution tissue structure signal and at least one first pre-blood-flow-mask signal. High-resolution tissue structure signals are processed to form a high-resolution tissue structural image. First pre-blood-flow-mask signals are cross-correlated with second pre-blood-flow-mask signals from an adjacent radial scan line to form blood-flow-mask signals. Blood-flow-mask signals are processed to form a blood-flow mask.

Abstract: A method for estimating at least one of a fastener-hole depth and a fastener length prior to forming a hole in a bone can include selecting a position on a proximal side of a proximal cortical bone layer for forming the hole, transmitting a transmitted wave into the bone from the selected position, and receiving a reflected wave at the selected position after the transmitted wave has been reflected by a distal cortical bone layer. The method can further include determining a distance from the selected position to the distal cortical bone layer based on times at which the transmitted wave is transmitted and the reflected wave is received, and estimating the at least one of the fastener-hole depth and the fastener length based on the distance to the distal cortical bone layer.

Abstract: Magnetism generated in the cervical or waist part of a subject is measured without the neck or waist of the subject being bent forward. A sensor cylinder is arranged to have a four-sided cylindrical shape. One side at the distal end of the sensor cylinder is moderately curved. This allows the side at the distal end of the sensor cylinder to come into direct contact with the cervical or waist part of the subject when the neck or waist remains not belt forward, whereby a faint magnetism generated in the spinal cords or nerves of the subject can favorably be measured.

Abstract: A method of identifying injury to soft connective tissues in complicated body joints deploys use of motion x-ray images as the joint moves to identify suspected abnormal pathology followed by Dynamic Upright MRI images of the joint under conditions that express the abnormal pathology. The Dynamic Upright MRI parameters are based on the suspected pathology. The method is particularly useful in detecting disco/ligamentous and other injuries that often times will not be visualized on conventional recumbent MRI, or static x-rays.

Abstract: The invention relates to a head for imaging and treating an organ or tissue of a living organism, which is suitable for the treatment of thyroid or prostate tumors. The head comprises: an ultrasound probe for emitting waves or radiation in order to supply an image of the tissue or organ to be treated and a treatment mechanism for treating the tissue or organ locally, where the treatment mechanism emits waves or radiation to treat same. The ultrasonic probe divides the treatment mechanism into two parts that are substantially symmetrically identical in relation to the ultrasonic probe.

Abstract: A medical imaging system with a scanning subsystem configured to acquire imaging data is provided. Also provided is a controller configured to selectively control power to at least one component of the system based on a mode of operation of the scanning subsystem.