Abstract: Ultrasound applicators able to both image a treatment site and administer ultrasound therapy include an array of transducer elements that can be focused. In several embodiments, an electronically phased array is used for controlling the focal point of an ultrasound beam. The ultrasound beam produced thereby can also be electronically steered. To reduce the quality factor or Q of the array when the array is used for imaging, an electronic switch is selectively closed, placing a resistance in parallel with each of the array elements. A flexible array is employed in several embodiments and is selectively bent or flexed to vary its radius of curvature and thus control the focal point and/or a direction of focus of the array. In another embodiment, each of the transducer elements comprising the array are individually mechanically pivotable to steer the ultrasonic beam produced by the transducer elements.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging guidewire, that is inserted into a patient's body. The guidewire has a static central core and an imaging guidewire body comprising an acoustical scanning device. The acoustical scanning device can be rotated to obtain 360 degree acoustical images of a site of interest in the patients body. Furthermore, the imaging guidewire includes a connector that permits the imaging guidewire body to be disengaged from the static central core tip so that the imaging guidewire body can be axially translated to obtain multi-position imaging. The imaging guidewire body is axially translated without losing the original guidewire positioning because the static central core maintains its position in the patient's body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device generates an ultrasonic image based on an echo signal obtained by transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from a subject body. The device is mobile. The device includes an operation panel to input information related to a location where it is used, a CPU to extract a plurality of extension functions that can be used in the input location among a plurality of extension functions that can be extended at the device, and a display portion to display the extracted plurality of extension functions in order to ask the operator to specify at least one desired function among the extracted plurality of extension functions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ophthalmologic apparatus, such as a slit lamp microscope, which is improved in terms of cable routing when an imaging apparatus is used, thereby achieving an improvement in operability for the examiner, mitigating the bother or discomfort for the subject, and realizing an improved outward appearance.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices for imaging an internal anatomical structure. Ultrasound image data of the anatomical structure is acquired within a first coordinate system, and graphical data (e.g., sites of interest) is acquired in a second coordinate system. The location of an ultrasound transducer within the first coordinate system and a second coordinate system is determined, and a transformation between the first and second coordinate systems is then performed based on the location of the ultrasound transducer within the first and second coordinate systems. Using this transformation, the ultrasound image data, which has previously been acquired in the first coordinate system, can be registered and displayed within the second coordinate system, along with graphical data. Or the graphical data, which has previously been acquired in the second coordinate system, can be registered and displayed within the first coordinate system, along with the image data.

Abstract: A flexible shaft is inserted through a sheath constituting an insertion portion of an ultrasonic probe connected to an ultrasonic observation apparatus, an ultrasonic transducer driven to rotate, etc., is attached at the distal end portion thereof, and an ultrasonic wave can be transmitted and received through an acoustic window arranged around thereof. By using hydrocarbon-based oil having a kinematic viscosity of 20 mm2/s as an acoustic medium for filling the surrounding of the ultrasonic transducer in the acoustic window, ultrasonic attenuation at high frequencies can be reduced, decrease of the capacity of the acoustic medium due to volatilization can be reduced, and decrease of the capacity of the acoustic medium due to volatilization is reduced.

Abstract: A cooling system for an ultrasonic imaging system is provided, the ultrasonic imaging system having a probe for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals through a tip of the probe to and from biological tissue contacting the tip at an outer surface of the tip. The cooling system includes a conduit for circulating cooling medium therein, and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the circulating cooling medium and having means for removing heat from the circulating cooling medium, wherein at least a portion the conduit is in proximity to or contacts the outer surface of the probe tip. In a first embodiment the conduit includes an inlet fluid line extending from the heat exchanger to the tip of the probe for providing the circulating cooling medium from the heat exchanger to the probe tip, and an outlet cooling line extending from the tip of the probe to the heat exchanger for providing circulating cooling medium from the probe tip to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Visual displays of the geometry and/or topography of a portion of the eye is obtained from data generated during a number of angularly spaced scans taken across a meridional coronal section or of a marginal sector of the anterior surface of the eye, the data being processed for display, to thereby permit the optimization of the surgical placement and the configuration of lenses.

Abstract: A method of deriving a prediction model and calculating a predicted lens power to provide a desired post-operative spherical equivalent to correct myopia in a phakic eye of a patient using an intraocular lens includes measuring and determining the predictive significance of certain pre-operative characteristics of the eye, including cycloplegic and manifest spherical equivalent, vertex distance, anterior chamber depth, axial length, and keratometry. The prediction model is derived using multiple regression analysis on the pre-operative and post operative data. Measured data corresponding to a particular patient is used in the lens power prediction model to calculate the predicted lens power for implantation in the patient.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed which permits a user to save user defined viewing configuration, also referred to as a bookmark as a separately manipulatable or transferable entity without altering the underlying image data and maintaining, where desired, the association between the bookmark 200 and the underlying source image data. The disclosed system and method act to save the bookmark by saving the succession of system inputs, which, in conjunction with the system characteristics and system parameters, achieve the desired viewing configuration. Thereby, the disclosed system and method permits review of the inputs used to manipulate the image to confirm the process by which a diagnosis or anatomical measurement was made, permits the replay of a sequence for presentation or training purposes to effectively demonstrate not only the end result, but the methodology as well.

Abstract: A device measures aberrations of an eye and contains a first light source, a lens, a reflective surface, and a wavefront sensor. The first light source is adapted to reflect light off eye's retina to produce a wavefront. The lens is adapted to receive light from the wavefront. The reflective surface is disposed so as to reflect light from the wavefront that is received by the lens back through the lens to produce an image of the wavefront. The wavefront sensor is adapted to receive light from the wavefront so as to provide a measure of the aberrations of the eye. The device may contain a second light source primarily at a second wavelength that illuminates the eye. Light from the second light source is substantially transmitted through the reflective surface to form an image of the eye that may be used to align the device.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance cardiac imaging method for imaging during a cardiac cycle interval includes monitoring an electrocardiographic signal (90) associated with the imaged heart for a first trigger event (102). Responsive to the first trigger event, a data acquisition sequence (112, 120) is applied, including a first preparation sequence block (114), a first imaging sequence block (116) having at least one readout interval (228) that collects first data (118), a second preparation sequence block (122), and a second imaging sequence block (124) having at least one readout interval (228) that collects second data (126). The data acquisition sequence (112, 120) occupies an acquisition time interval which is less than the cardiac cycle interval of the imaged heart.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprises an ultrasound probe, a transmitter (including a transmitting pulse generator and a transmitting beamformer), a receiver (including a preamplifier and a receiving beamformer), a CFM processor (including a moving-element signal extractor and a velocity corrector), a tomographic image processor, and a display unit. The apparatus scans a desired section of a subject by transmitting and receiving an ultrasound pulse to and from the subject, and displays images obtained by the scanning. The velocity corrector comprises a pulsation-characterizing-velocity (velocities of a moving element) calculator, a representative velocity (reference velocity) calculator, and a corrector to correct the velocities of the moving element based on the standard velocity. The corrected velocity data is visualized on display unit. The ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus makes it possible to display the pulsatility of blood vessels in an easier and useful way.

Abstract: A vascular catheter system comprises a catheter body having a proximal and distal portion and a single common lumen therebetween. The catheter body includes a first connector secured to the distal end of the proximal portion and a second connector secured to the proximal end of the distal portion. The connectors can be selectively connected to each other to join the lumens of the proximal and distal portions together in a continuous, axially fixed relationship. Disposed within the lumens, when the proximal and distal portions are joined together, is a drive cable. The drive cable may be movably, rotatable about its own longitudinal axis and carries at its distal end, a work element, which is typically an ultrasonic imaging transducer or interventional device. The lumen carrying the cable will be sufficiently large along a proximal portion to permit preferential collapse of the cable should rotation of the distal end become impeded.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking a position and torsional orientation of a patient's eye. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods and software for registering a first image of an eye with a second image of an eye. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods and software for tracking a torsional movement of the eye. In a particular usage, the present invention tracks the torsional cyclorotation and translational movement of a patient's eye so as to improve the delivery of a laser energy to the patient's cornea.

Abstract: A hand-held 3D ultrasound instrument is disclosed which is used to non-invasively and automatically measure amniotic fluid volume in the uterus requiring a minimum of operator intervention. Using a 2D image-processing algorithm, the instrument gives automatic feedback to the user about where to acquire the 3D image set. The user acquires one or more 3D data sets covering all of the amniotic fluid in the uterus and this data is then processed using an optimized 3D algorithm to output the total amniotic fluid volume corrected for any fetal head brain volume contributions.

Abstract: An ultrasound method and medical devices using same provide for various techniques of sampling blood flow velocity, e.g., at several sampling rates. To minimize the energy required for ultrasound monitoring, pulsed Doppler signal packages provided by a pulsed ultrasound circuit are switched in such a way that the repetition rate is the lowest possible and yet sufficiently high to be able to record the blood flow velocity within the heart. For example, an ultrasound circuit may be activated only within a part of the cardiac cycle designated as the Doppler Measurement Interval (DMI); the ultrasound circuit may be switched between an on state and an off state during the DMI; and/or the ultrasound circuit may also be switched on and off in different sampling modes: detection mode and measurement mode (e.g., using different sampling rates).

Abstract: A medical diagnostic method, system and related equipment particularly adapted to diagnose disorders of the blood circulation serving the head and neck, and especially the brain. A preferred use of the system is early, rapid, accurate, diagnosis of stroke, especially whether the stroke is due to blockage of a blood vessel or leakage from the blood vessel.

Abstract: An improved wavefront sensor is provided that enhances the initial focus and precision of imaged spots used to determine the monochromatic wave aberrations of the eye. The wavefront sensor includes an adjustment camera that is independent of a lenslet camera. A laser in a lower power mode is projected onto the retina of the eye and is brought into more precise or sharp focus by a control system employing data from the adjustment camera, which aids in focusing the imaged spots. “Trombone”-type optics are used to adjust the focus of the light projected onto the retina and the imaged spots onto a sensor. The laser has a higher power mode used when acquiring data of the imaged spots from the sensor.

Abstract: A model eye for an eye characteristic measuring device and a calibration method for the model eye. The model eye can have various aberrations and/or power characteristics to be formed by a combination of a refractive-type lens and a phase plate for adding aberration and can be used to confirm the accuracy of wavefront measurement or the like of the eye characteristic measuring device. The model eye includes an anterior eye lens forming a predetermined power to be given to the model eye, a diffusion surface diffusing and reflecting incident light, the diffusion surface being disposed at an image point position corresponding to the predetermined power in relationship to the anterior eye lens, and an aberration adding member giving a predetermined aberration to an area between the anterior eye lens and the diffusion surface. Power and aberration required for the model eye are formed by the anterior eye lens and the phase plate.