Abstract: An ultrasound endoscope includes: a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are arranged to form a cylinder such that respective longitudinal directions of the piezoelectric elements are aligned, each piezoelectric element being configured to transmit and receive an ultrasound wave; an acoustic lens that is located on outer peripheries of the piezoelectric elements, the acoustic lens being configured to converge ultrasound waves generated by the piezoelectric elements on an outside of the acoustic lens, and transmit ultrasound waves input from the outside of the acoustic lens to the piezoelectric elements; a housing configured to hold distal end sides and proximal end sides of both of the piezoelectric elements and the acoustic lens; and a flexible material that is located between either a distal end or a proximal end of the acoustic lens and the housing, and that has a lower elastic modulus than the acoustic lens.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is for calculating an examination parameter for a computed tomography examination of an area of interest of a patient. The method includes receiving a topogram of the area of interest of the patient; determining fat distribution information by applying a trained machine learning algorithm onto the topogram; and calculating the examination parameter for the computed tomography examination of the area of interest of the patient based on the fat distribution information.

Abstract: A diagnostic ultrasound system has a 2D array transducer which is operated with 1×N patches, patches which are only a single element wide. The “N” length of the patches extends in the elevation direction of a scanned 2D image plane, with the single element width extending in the lateral (azimuth) direction. Focusing is done along each patch in the elevation direction by a microbeamformer, and focusing in the lateral (azimuth) direction is done by the system beamformer. The minimal width of each patch in the azimuth direction enables the production of images highly resolved in the azimuthal plane of a 2D image, including the reception of highly resolved multilines for high frame rate imaging.

Abstract: In a method for synchronous magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and radiation therapy using a combined system having a radiation apparatus and an MR imaging apparatus, wherein the system is designed to record MR signals of a subject during irradiation of the subject, a three-dimensional MR volume data set of the subject is acquired that contains a target volume for the irradiation, the location of a central beam of the radiation therapy apparatus relative to the subject, is continuously determined, and a second MR image data set is determined, which is positioned essentially perpendicular to the central beam. If the location of the central beam changes, a correspondingly changed second MR image data set is determined perpendicular to the central beam.

Abstract: An image registration system (111) for registering a live stream of ultrasound images (112) of a beamforming ultrasound probe (113) with an X-ray image (114) is described. The image registration (111) system identifies, from the X-ray image (114), the position of a medical device (116) represented in the X-ray image (114); and determines, based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the beamforming ultrasound probe (113) and an ultrasound transducer (115) disposed on the medical device (116), a location of the ultrasound transducer (115) respective the beamforming ultrasound probe (113). Each ultrasound image from the live stream (112) is registered with the X-ray (114) image based on the identified position of the medical device (116).

Abstract: System and method of ultrasound imaging methodology are provided. The system and method can include directing an array to transmit sets of cascaded titled ultrasound waves towards a tissue sample, decoding reflected signals through summing, subtracting, and delay operations. The reflected signals can be reconstructed to provide a final decoded output.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a display; a memory storing one or more instructions; and a processor configured to execute the one or more instructions stored in the memory to: generate a plurality of ultrasound images of an object including a plurality of entities, based on echo signals received from the object; detect first and second entities among the plurality of entities in each of the plurality of ultrasound images; acquire size information regarding the detected first entity and size information regarding the detected second entity from each of the plurality of ultrasound images; and control the display to display, based on the size information regarding the first entity and the size information regarding the second entity, a first ultrasound image showing a largest size of the first entity and a second ultrasound image showing a largest size of the second entity, from among the plurality of ultrasound images.

Abstract: A method includes, in a medical procedure carried out during a time interval including at least first and second time periods, receiving, for the first time period, a first electrical signal indicative of at least a first position and a first orientation of a hand-held device directing energy to one or more volumetric portions of an organ. A second electrical signal indicative of at least a second position and a second orientation of the hand-held device is received for the second time period. Based on the first and second electrical signals, a cumulative energy applied to at least one of the one or more volumetric portions is estimated. The estimated cumulative energy, of at least one of the one or more volumetric portions, is overlaid on an anatomical image of the organ.

Abstract: A system including: a table assembly for supporting a subject in one or more examination positions; a table support assembly for supporting the table assembly, wherein the table support assembly includes: one or more moving mechanisms controlled to move the table assembly relative to a reference point along one or more axes, and to rotate the table assembly around the one or more axes; and a probe support assembly comprising: a grip for holding a probe; and an arrangement of a plurality of arms and joints controlled to movably support the probe that is held by the grip, wherein the probe support assembly is removably arranged at a predetermined position and orientation relative to the table support assembly to permit movement of the table support assembly and the probe support assembly for reproduction of a position and orientation of the probe relative to the subject supported by the table assembly.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for acquiring flow encoded data from a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method includes acquiring flow encoded (FE) data with alternating encoding polarities and along two of three orthogonal directions through the subject over at least two cycles of the flow within the subject; and separating the FE data into directional FE datasets using a temporal filter that separates the FE data based on temporal modulation of the FE directions caused by the alternating encoding polarities extending over the at least two cycles of the flow within the subject that shift the Fourier spectrum of velocity waveforms corresponding to the FE data. The method also includes using the directional FE datasets to generate an image of the subject showing flow within the subject caused by the at least two cycles of flow within the subject.

Abstract: Methods for reducing electromagnetic interference arising from use of multiple ultrasound transducers in an array, particularly inside a human body that is inside a magnetic resonance imaging device. Electrical signals driving the transducers are offset in phase with respect to one another so as to achieve maximum offset of electrical and magnetic fields arising from such signals and transducers. Phase offsets are dynamically adjusted to respond to changes in driving amplitudes and frequencies so as to maintain optimal reduction of electromagnetic interference.

Abstract: A method for selecting a medical device for use in the performance of a medical procedure. The method comprises acquiring image data relating to an anatomical region of interest of a patient's body and generating a multi-dimensional depiction of the anatomical region of interest using the acquired image data. The method further comprises defining a plurality of points relative to the multi-dimensional depiction, determining one or more measurements based on the defined plurality of points, and then selecting a medical device to be used based on the determined measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing transcranial diagnostic procedures using a transcranial ultrasound transducer array. The array elements are positioned and oriented such that far field regions respectively associated therewith spatially overlap within the brain of a patient. The array elements may be oriented approximately normal to the skull, permitting efficient coupling of ultrasound energy into the brain. The array elements are controlled to generate ultrasound pulses, where the timing of the pulses is controlled, based on registration between the array elements and volumetric image data, such that ultrasound energy is focused at a target within spatially overlapping far fields of the array elements. The transcranial ultrasound transducer array elements may be positioned and oriented relative to the skull such that their respective ultrasound beams are focused within the skull and diverging with the brain.

Abstract: Periodic displacement occurs in body tissue due to heartbeat. A peak level D of the movement distance of the body tissue is detected (Step 21), and a heartbeat cycle T is calculated from a frequency spectrum (Steps 22 and 23). By dividing twice the peak level D by the heartbeat cycle T, the moving velocity of the body tissue in a unit heartbeat cycle is calculated (Step 24). By dividing the moving velocity by a frame rate r, an average movement distance of the body tissue between frames is calculated (Step 25). In a case where the average movement distance is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, a time interval between the frames used for the calculation of the movement distance is extended (being Step 26 NO, Step 27).

Abstract: Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound device includes a first ultrasound component (210) configured to generate a first signal representative of a subject's anatomy along a first axis; a second ultrasound component (220) configured to generate a second signal representative of the subject's anatomy along a second axis, the first axis disposed at an angle with respect to the second axis; and a processing component (420) in communication with the first ultrasound component and the second ultrasound component, the processing component configured to determine an orientation of the ultrasound device with respect to the subject's anatomy based on the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasound imaging apparatus including: an ultrasound probe including a transducer module including an ultrasound transducer array, a driving device configured to rotate the transducer module, a magnet configured to rotate as a result of rotation of the transducer module, and a position sensor configured to output one of a first signal and a second signal on the basis of a change in magnetic flux density according to rotation of the magnet; and a controller configured to determine a first time for which the first signal is output as the transducer module rotates in a first direction, control the driving device to switch the rotating direction of the transduce module from the first direction to a second direction at a first switching time point at which an output signal is switched from the first signal to the second signal, control the driving device to switch the rotating direction of the transducer module one or more times during a time corresponding to the first time with respect to a second

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of using planar acoustic waves for providing non-invasive sonodynamic therapy. The method includes acoustically coupling an array of flat piezoelectric transducers to a patient. A controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal at a frequency selected from a range of frequencies, modulate the drive signal, and drive the transducer with the modulated drive signal at the frequency to produce a modulated planar acoustic wave to produce an average acoustic intensity sufficient to activate a sonosensitizer in a treatment region without damaging healthy cells in the treatment region.

Abstract: A hand-held probe for measuring radiation or magnetic activity includes a probe having a handle having a longitudinal axis and a shaft portion adapted to be inserted or held above a radiation or magnetic emitting source implanted within a patient's body or tissue of interest, the shaft portion includes a radiation or magnetic activity sensor configured to detect and measure radiation emitted from the radiation emitting source or magnetic activity from a magnetic source; the radiation emitting source being an implanted seed or a radioisotope that is injected near a tumor site in the patient's body; the probe including a signal processing device for further processing the measured radiation or magnetic activity; and a communication medium to exchange data from the hand-held probe with an external data processor unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an enhanced ultrasound biofeedback therapy for an improved speech remediation treatment for an individual include transmitting a plurality of ultrasound (US) waves toward a tongue of the individual; receiving a plurality of reflected US waves; converting the plurality of reflected US waves into a plurality of US signals to transmit to an ultrasound machine; and generating one or more enhanced images of the tongue at least partially based on the US signals in real-time, the enhanced images including identified Regions of Interest (ROIs) along tongue sub-parts comprising the tongue root, the tongue dorsum, and the tongue blade and respective ROI points identified therein. An interactive visual story is generated and updated in real-time with a tongue-mapping trajectory of the individual on a display based on the enhanced one or more images to determine a successful or unsuccessful sound production.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide improved techniques for OCT guided robotic ophthalmic procedures. A method includes receiving, during OCT scanning of an eye, position data of a plurality of galvanometer scanners from a plurality of absolute and incremental encoders coupled to the corresponding galvanometer scanners. The method further includes receiving scan data related to one or more tissues of the eye. The method further includes determining, a set of first positions of the one or more tissues of the eye in a first 3D coordinate system. The method further includes determining, based on the set of first positions and a mapping between the first and a second 3D coordinate systems, a position in the second 3D coordinate system for a surgical instrument coupled to a robotic device. The method includes causing the robotic device to move the surgical instrument to the position in the second 3D coordinate system.