Abstract: Intrauterine devices and methods for facilitating deployment thereof using a bumper are disclosed. In one embodiment, an intrauterine device comprises a structure including a first central support member and a deployment mechanism coupled to the first central support member. The intrauterine device further comprises a bumper positioned at a distal end of a second central support member and at a more distal position relative to a distal end of the structure so as to prevent the distal end of the structure from contacting the fundus of the uterus of a patient during deployment of the deployment mechanism. In another embodiment, the intrauterine device comprises a bumper coupled to the deployment mechanism and configured to move from a more distal to a more proximal position relative to a distal end of the structure.

Abstract: A method and system for acquiring, processing, storing, and displaying x-ray mammograms Mp tomosynthesis images Tr representative of breast slices, and x-ray tomosynthesis projection images Tp taken at different angles to a breast, where the Tr images are reconstructed from Tp images.

Abstract: The technology relates to a methods and systems for improving medical imaging procedures. An example method includes receiving a first set of quality metrics for a plurality of medical images acquired at a first imaging facility; receiving a second set of quality metrics for a second plurality of medical images acquired at a second imaging facility; comparing the first set of quality metrics to the second set of quality metrics; based on the comparison of the first set of quality metrics to the second set of quality metrics, generating a benchmark for at least one metric in the first set of quality metrics and the second set of quality metrics; generating facility data based on the generated benchmark and the first set of quality metrics; and sending the facility data to the first imaging facility.

Abstract: An intrauterine device includes a central support member, first and second internal flexures and first and second external flexures. The first and second internal flexures each include a first section having a first stiffness, a second section having a second stiffness, and third section having a third stiffness, wherein the second stiffness is more flexible than the first and third stiffness and wherein the first section of each internal flexure is coupled to the central support member. The first and second external flexures are coupled to the central support member and coupled to the third sections of the first and second internal flexures, the first and second external flexures in combination with the first and second internal flexures being configured to extend from a collapsed position parallel to the central support member to a deployed position flexing away from the central support member.

Abstract: A tilted needle biopsy assembly is provided for mounting on an x-ray system. Because the biopsy needle is angled relative to at least one of the detector and the x-ray source, x-ray imaging may be performed during the biopsy procedure without interference by the biopsy device. The angled biopsy needle additionally allows improved access to the axilla and chest wall of the patient. The stereotactic biopsy device of the present invention may be coupled to any x-ray system, whether upright or prone, including but not limited to mammography systems, tomosynthesis systems, and combination mammography/tomosynthesis systems. The system flexibly supports the use of any mode of image capture (i.e., scout, two dimensional mammogram, three-dimensional reconstructed volume) for either or both target visualization and target localization. With such an arrangement, a needle biopsy assembly having improved patient coverage is provided for use with a variety of different x-ray imaging platforms.

Abstract: A method for use in medical imaging of a patient including, with the patient immobilized with respect to an imaging reference frame, acquiring first digital imaging information including a first region of interest using a first imaging modality; processing the first digital imaging information to identify a feature for analysis; and using a second imaging modality to acquire targeted second imaging information for a second region of interest, the second region of interest corresponding to a subset of the first region of interest, wherein the second region of interest includes the feature for analysis.

Abstract: A tissue holder assembly for receiving and imaging severed tissue samples from a biopsy device includes a base and a cover removably attached to the base to define an interior, the base having one or more vacuum lumens in communication with the interior, the assembly further including a tissue tray removably and rotatably mounted in the interior, wherein a bottom of the tissue tray comprises a filter material that allows fluid to pass through. The cover has a tissue sample entry port formed therein and configured direct severed tissue samples and fluid aspirated therethrough into a respective tissue storage compartment of the tissue tray positioned under the tissue sample entry port, wherein the base includes a raised surface underlying at least a portion of the tissue tray circumferentially spaced apart from the tissue sample entry port when the cover is attached to the base.

Abstract: Methods and systems for imaging. For example, a system may include a breast compression paddle, an imaging detector, at least one sensor incorporated into at least one of the breast compression paddle or the imaging detector. The system performs operations including generating, at a first time point, first spatial data of the breast based on data captured by the at least one sensor; generating, at a second time point, second spatial data of the breast based on data captured by the at least one sensor; based on the first spatial data and the second spatial data, determining an amount of motion of the breast that occurred; and based on the determined amount of motion performing at least one of: generating a motion map for the breast; discarding one or more acquired projections for use in generating a tomosynthesis reconstruction; or correcting a medical image acquired the second time point.

Abstract: A method and a system for using tomosynthesis projection images of a patient's breast to reconstruct slice tomosynthesis images such that anatomical structures that appear superimposed in a mammogram are at conforming locations in the reconstructed images.

Abstract: A method for treating OAB in a female patient includes positioning a visualization scope in the patent's vagina; advancing a guide wire through a working channel of a visualization scope, until a tissue penetrating distal tip of the guide wire advances out of the working channel and penetrates a wall of the superior portion of the vagina; continuing to advance the guidewire tip submucosally through the wall of the vagina, until it is positioned within tissue of the bladder trigone; advancing a balloon dilation catheter over the guidewire until a balloon carried on a distal end portion of the balloon dilation catheter is positioned proximate the distal tip of the guidewire within the bladder trigone tissue; and inflating said balloon to form a first dissection plane between separated layers of tissue within the bladder trigone.

Abstract: A biopsy device for percutaneous tissue removal includes an elongated housing having an operational axis, a stylet hub slidably mounted in the housing, where the stylet hub is movable relative to the housing between a proximal, armed position, and a distal, fired position, the stylet hub having a stylet strike, a cannula hub slidably mounted in the housing alongside the stylet hub, and a spring-biased arming member. The cannula hub is movable relative to the housing between a proximal, armed position, and a distal, fired position. The arming member is moveably mounted to the housing proximal of the respective stylet and cannula hubs, and configured for manually-actuated movement from a relaxed, extended position to a loaded, compressed position to define a compressive arming stroke. The biopsy device also includes an arming member biasing spring that restores the arming member from the compressed position to the extended position.

Abstract: Dual-energy absorptiometry is used to estimate visceral fat metrics and display results, preferably as related to normative data. The process involves deriving x-ray measurements for respective pixel positions related to a two-dimensional projection image of a body slice containing visceral fat and subcutaneous fat, at least some of the measurements being dual-energy x-ray measurements, processing the measurements to derive estimates of metrics related to the visceral fat in the slice, and using the resulting estimates. Processing the measurements includes an algorithm which places boundaries of regions, e.g., a large “abdominal” region and a smaller “abdominal cavity” region. Two boundaries of the “abdominal cavity” region are placed at positions associated with the left and right innermost extent of the abdominal muscle wall by identifying inflection of % Fat values.

Abstract: A device and method that provides a minimally-invasive approach to performing treatments on soft tissue, such as that found in the bladder. The device is useful for manipulating tissue such that treatment tools can be inserted into the tissue at a controlled depth.

Abstract: A method and system for producing tomosynthetic images of a patient's breast. An x-ray source that delivers x-rays through a breast immobilized and compressed between a compression paddle and a breast platform and form an image at a digital x-ray receptor panel. Multiple x-ray images are taken as the x-ray source and the receptor move relative to the immobilized breast. In one preferred embodiment, the x-ray source travels from ?15° to +15°. The source can travel in an arc around the breast while the receptor travels linearly while remaining parallel and at the same distance from the breast platform. The sets of x-ray image data taken at different angles are to combined to form tomosynthetic images that can be viewed in different formats, alone or as an adjunct to conventional mammograms.

Abstract: Intrauterine devices and methods for facilitating deployment thereof using a bumper are disclosed. In one embodiment, an intrauterine device comprises a structure including a first central support member and a deployment mechanism coupled to the first central support member. The intrauterine device further comprises a bumper positioned at a distal end of a second central support member and at a more distal position relative to a distal end of the structure so as to prevent the distal end of the structure from contacting the fundus of the uterus of a patient during deployment of the deployment mechanism. In another embodiment, the intrauterine device comprises a bumper coupled to the deployment mechanism and configured to move from a more distal to a more proximal position relative to a distal end of the structure.

Abstract: An intrauterine device includes a central support member, first and second internal flexures and first and second external flexures. The first and second internal flexures each include a first section having a first stiffness, a second section having a second stiffness, and third section having a third stiffness, wherein the second stiffness is more flexible than the first and third stiffness and wherein the first section of each internal flexure is coupled to the central support member. The first and second external flexures are coupled to the central support member and coupled to the third sections of the first and second internal flexures, the first and second external flexures in combination with the first and second internal flexures being configured to extend from a collapsed position parallel to the central support member to a deployed position flexing away from the central support member.

Abstract: A system and method for reviewing a tomosynthesis image data set comprising volumetric image data of a breast, the method comprising, in one embodiment, causing an image or a series of images from the data set to be displayed on a display monitor and selecting or indicating through a user interface an object or region of interest in a presently displayed image of the data set, thereby causing an image from the data set having a best focus measure of the user selected or indicated object or region of interest to be automatically displayed on the display monitor.