Abstract: A system and method for acquiring standard ultrasound scan plane views is provided. The method includes acquiring a scan plane by an ultrasound probe positioned at a scan position over a region of interest. The method includes identifying the scan plane as a first standard view. The method includes automatically adjusting a scan acquisition angle until a second standard view is determined. The adjusting the scan acquisition angle includes rotating and/or tilting the scan acquisition angle. The method includes acquiring, by the ultrasound probe positioned at the scan position, an additional scan plane at the adjusted scan acquisition angle until the second standard view is determined. The method includes automatically determining whether the additional scan plane is the second standard view. The method includes presenting the additional scan plane having the second standard view at a display system.

Abstract: A system useful for performing ultrasound elastography of organs such as the liver allows efficient and robust data acquisition. The system may be applied to perform real-time, noninvasive ultrasound imaging of the liver in humans. Steady-state, shear wave absolute elastography is used to measure the Young's modulus of the liver tissue. This method involves the use of an external exciter or vibrator to shake the tissue and generate a shear wave. Accurate placement of an ultrasound transducer facilitates measurement of the tissue motion due to the shear wave. The stiffness of tissues in the region being imaged may be computed from the measured tissue motions. The following innovations address both vibrator and transducer placement, as well as some specific methods to ensure adequate wave propagation, in order to obtain accurate and consistent measurements.

Abstract: This present invention discloses a dynamic dual-tracer PET reconstruction method based on a hybrid-loss 3D CNN, which selects a corresponding 3D convolution kernel for a 3D format of dual-tracer PET data, and performs feature extraction in a stereoscopic receptive field (down-sampling) and the reconstruction (up-sampling) process, which accurately reconstructs the three-dimensional concentration distributions of two different tracers from the dynamic sinogram. The method of the invention can better reconstruct the simultaneous-injection single-acquisition dual-tracer sinogram without any model constraints. The scanning time required for dual-tracer PET can be minimized based on the method of the present invention. Using this method, the raw sinogram data of dual tracers can be reconstructed into two volumetric individual images in a short time.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus for obtaining data for at least one portion within at least one luminal or hollow sample can be provided. For example, the apparatus can include a first optical arrangement configured to transceive at least one electromagnetic radiation to and from the portion(s). The apparatus can also include a wavelength dispersive second arrangement, which can be configured to disperse the electromagnetic radiation(s). A housing can be provided with a shape of a pill, and enclosing the first and second arrangements.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe, a reference image holding unit that holds an ultrasound image acquired by fixing a position of the ultrasound probe as a reference image, a movement vector calculation unit that calculates a movement vector between two ultrasound images, a movement vector integration unit that integrates the movement vector from a time when the reference image is held to a current time, a deformed image generation unit that generates a deformed image in which the current ultrasound image is moved and changed to a time when the reference image is held based on an integration result, a tomographic plane determination unit that compares the deformed image with the reference image to determine whether tomographic planes of the current ultrasound image and the reference image are the same as each other, and a determination result notification unit that notifies a user of a determination result.

Abstract: A data processing method for determining a range of motion of an artificial knee joint which connects a femur and a tibia via a medial ligament and a lateral ligament, wherein at least the femur comprises an implant which forms a medial condyle and a lateral condyle, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring the maximum lengths of the lateral ligament and the medial ligament for a particular flexion angle of the knee joint; calculating a first virtual position between the femur and the tibia in which the lateral condyle of the femoral implant touches the tibia and the medial ligament is stretched to its maximum length; calculating a maximum valgus angle of the range of motion from the first virtual position; calculating a second virtual position between the femur and the tibia in which the medial condyle of the femoral implant touches the tibia and the lateral ligament is stretched to its maximum length; and calculating a maximum yarns angle of the range of motion from the second virtual position.

Abstract: Embodiments for assessing flow at an anatomical region of interest are disclosed. One embodiment uses pulsed contrast media injections at a known frequency along with corresponding image data to derive a measurement of blood flow velocity at the region of interest. Another embodiment uses incremental changes in known contrast media injection flow rates to match the blood flow rate relative to one of these known contrast media injection flow rates based on the presence of a particular indicia in image data. For example, this indicia can be the flow of contrast media out from a coronary artery back into the aorta or the onset of a steady state pixel density. A further embodiment uses contrast media injections that are synchronized with the cardiac cycle. For example, contrast media injections can be synchronized with the diastolic and/or systolic phases and used to measure blood flow accordingly.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes at least one of memory and processing circuitry. The memory stores a first medical image of a heart area acquired in a plurality of directions and a second medical image of the heart area acquired in real time. The processing circuitry is configured to set, based on the first medical image, each of a valve boundary line indicating a boundary between leaflets of a heart valve and an insertion point on an inner wall through which a catheter is inserted, generate a navigation graphic including the valve boundary line and the safety lines by generating a plurality of safety lines individually connecting the insertion point to ends of the valve boundary line, and superimpose the navigation graphic on the second medical image to generate a superimposed image.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for in-vivo assessment of intraventricular flow shear stress, risk of hemolysis, also the location and extent of blood flow stasis regions and inside a cardiac chamber or blood vessel. Also provided herein are systems for performing such methods. Also provided herein are methods for assessing hemolysis and/or thrombosis risk in patients implanted with an LVAD. LVAD positioning and/or speed may be adjusted based on the results obtained by using methods described herein, and the risk for hemolysis and/or thrombosis can be minimized.

Abstract: A single-impulse panoramic photoacoustic computed tomography (SIP-PACT) system for small-animal whole-body imaging is disclosed. In addition, a dual-speed of sound image universal back-projection reconstruction method is disclosed. Further, a PACT system for imaging a breast of a subject is disclosed.

Abstract: A medical image diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to derive a subject-specific regression model that indicates a relationship among a cardiac cycle, systole, and diastole of the subject. The processing circuitry is configured to derive timing of a data acquisition in a synchronization imaging performed in synchronization with heartbeats of the heart of the subject, by using the derived regression model and electrocardiographic information of the subject obtained during an image taking process. The processing circuitry is configured to control the synchronization imaging so that the data acquisition is performed with the derived timing.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for navigating to and interacting with a region of interest during a respiratory cycle of a patient. An exemplary system includes a percutaneous tool, a plurality of patient sensors disposed on the patient, a tracking module configured to determine location and motion data of the plurality of patient sensors and a tool coupled to the percutaneous tool, a display device, and a computing device configured to receive a plurality of images of the patient's body, receive the location and motion data determined by the tracking module, generate a model of the interior of the patient, determine likely movement of the interior of the patient, the percutaneous tool, and the region of interest throughout the respiratory cycle, and cause the display device to display a graphical user interface including a window for depicting movement throughout the respiratory cycle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined.

Abstract: Segmentation of bony regions in MRI images of joints is automated using a two-stage process. In a first stage, a machine-learning image-slice categorizer is used to categorize image slices of the MRI image data as belonging to one of a set of image-slice categories, depending on presence or absence of bone and/or tendon in the image slice. In a second stage, a first instance of a machine-learning segmentation classifier is used to segment image slices that contain both bone and tendon into bone and non-bone regions, and a second instance of a machine-learning segmentation classifier is used to segment image slices that contain bone but not tendon into bone regions and non-bone regions. Results from the two segmentation classifiers can be combined across image slices to provide a final segmentation of the bony structures, including inflammatory regions, in the image data.

Abstract: System and method for shear wave elasticity imaging perform a) acquiring B-mode ultrasound images of a target region; b) selecting a region of interest; c) transmitting a shear wave excitation pulse; d) measuring displacements of tracking focal points or depth ranges at different depths positions along each of laterally staggered tracking lines within the selected region of interest; e) determining a curve representing displacement of tissue as a function of time at different spatial locations within the region of interest; f) determining for spatial locations candidate time(s) of arrival of the shear wave at the spatial location as a function of the curve; g) finding linear functional relation between the time of arrival and the spatial coordinate in the lateral direction using Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm; and h) determining the inverse of velocity of the shear wave in a spatial location as the angular coefficient of the linear function.

Abstract: Embodiments include controlling a processor to access a radiological image of a region of lung tissue, where the radiological image includes a ground glass (GGO) nodule; define a tumoral region by segmenting the GGO nodule, where defining the tumoral region includes defining a tumoral boundary; define a peri-tumoral region based on the tumoral boundary; extract a set of radiomic features from the peri-tumoral region and the tumoral region; provide the set of radiomic features to a machine learning classifier trained to distinguish minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) from invasive adenocarcinoma; receive, from the machine learning classifier, a probability that the GGO nodule is invasive adenocarcinoma, where the machine learning classifier computes the probability based on the set of radiomic features; generate a classification of the GGO nodule as MIA or AIS, or invasive adenocarcinoma, based, at least in part, on the probability; and display the classification.

Abstract: Disclosed biopsy markers are adapted to serve as localization markers during a surgical procedure. Adaptation includes incorporation of materials detectable under ultrasound during surgery, as well as features for co-registration with image guidance or other real-time imaging technologies during surgery. Such biopsy markers, when used as localization markers, improve patient comfort and reduce challenges in surgical coordination and surgery time. Additional disclosed biopsy markers are adapted to serve as monitoring and/or detection apparatuses. Localization of an implanted marker may be done with ultrasound technology. Ultrasound image data is analyzed to identify the implanted marker. A distance to the marker or a lesion may be determined and displayed. The determined distance may be a distance between the ultrasound probe and the marker or lesion, a distance between the marker or lesion and an incision instrument, and/or a distance between the ultrasound probe and the incision instrument.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an image of shear wave velocities by transmitting push pulses to generate shear waves. A plurality of tracking lines are transmitted and echoes received by a focusing beamformer adjacent to the location of the push pulses. The tracking lines are sampled in a time-interleaved manner. The echo data acquired along each tracking line is processed to determine the time of peak tissue displacement caused by the shear waves at points along the tracking line, and the times of peaks at adjacent tracking lines compared to compute a local shear wave velocity. The resultant map of shear wave velocity values is color-coded and displayed over an anatomical image of the region of interest.

Abstract: Markers for use in bodily tissue take a variety of forms, and may include a plurality of ultrasound reflective elements, for example hollow shells filled with air, and a hydrogel that binds the ultrasound reflective elements. The hydrogel may be natural or artificial and may be cross-linked. An ultrasound system advantageously injects variance in a drive signal, that varies a frequency or phase of an ultrasound interrogation signal from a nominal frequency or nominal phase. The amount of variation is preferable one to six orders of magnitude less than the nominal frequency or phase. The ultrasound system can present or detect a twinkling artifact at least in a Doppler mode of operation, resulting from interaction of the varying interrogation signal with the ultrasound reflective elements.

Abstract: A bending neck for an articulating ultrasound probe has a variable configuration whereby different sections of the bending neck can be bent into different curvatures. In one implementation a rigid member is extended into the bending neck, setting the deflection point for a section of the bending neck at the end of the rigid member. In another implementation the links of the bending neck have different lengths, causing different sections to have different radii of maximum curvature. In another implementation the bending neck is encased in a sheath which exhibits regions of different durometer, thickness, or spacing of points of attachment to the bending neck.