Abstract: A method and system for performing invasive procedures includes a surgical robot which is controlled by a guidance system that uses time of flight calculations from RF transmitters embedded in the robot, surgical instrument, and patient anatomy. Sensors around the room detect RF transmissions emitted by the RF transmitters and drive the robot according to a preprogrammed trajectory entered into the guidance system.

Abstract: A control apparatus is disclosed, for a medical examination apparatus, for controlling a first injection of contrast agent for an examination, a breathing command and a recording of an examination image of an examination area of a patient after a circulation time has elapsed. In at least one embodiment, the control apparatus includes a control unit for controlling the start of the injection after the start of the breathing command. This makes it possible to provide reliable evaluation capability for the examination images that are produced, even for examinations with a circulation time which is short in comparison to the breathing command, for example perfusion examinations.

Abstract: A system for wearable/man-portable electromagnetic tomographic imaging includes a wearable/man-portable boundary apparatus adapted to receive a biological object within, a position determination system, electromagnetic transmitting/receiving hardware, and a hub computer system. The electromagnetic transmitting/receiving hardware collectively generates an electromagnetic field that passes into the boundary apparatus and receives the electromagnetic field after being scattered/interferenced by the biological object within. The hub computer system performs electromagnetic tomographic imaging based on the received electromagnetic field.

Abstract: A lesion identification system for surgical operations has a light marker adapted for placement in the vicinity of a lesion inside an organ of an organism, and a location-identifying device detecting a light emitted from the light marker at an outside of the organ for identifying a location of the lesion. The marker includes a light emitter and an engagement member associated with the emitter to be engageable with a wall of the organ. The engagement member includes a clip. The light emitter emits light with a wavelength in a near-infrared range. The device includes an endoscope comprising an inserter section having an image pickup element picking up a reflected light, involving the light from the light marker, at an outside of the organ, and an image pickup unit allowing the reflected light, picked by the image pickup element, to be generated as an image for display on a monitor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining at least one PET parameter for a PET examination in a combined magnetic resonance/PET scanner designed for isocentric measurement. In at least one embodiment, at least one acquisition time for the PET examination is determined as a PET parameter from magnetic resonance data, recorded for determining patient-specific examination parameters for a magnetic resonance examination, and/or from at least one patient-specific information value derived therefrom, and is displayed and/or used for controlling the scanner.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that facilitate generating visual representations of characterized tissue based upon ultrasound echo information obtained from a portion of an imaged body. The system includes a first filter having a first filter band that is applied to a near range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render near range filtered echo information. A second filter, having a second filter band that covers a frequency range of the first filter band, is applied to a far range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render far range filtered echo information. The system furthermore includes a set of characterization criteria that are applied to the near and far range filtered echo information. The characterized near and far range image data are thereafter combined into a single tissue-characterization image.

Abstract: A method for determining a patient-specific contrast medium impulse response function includes providing patient-specific test bolus contrast medium behavior data and a number of basic impulse response functions on the basis of a defined test bolus input function. Simulated test bolus contrast medium behavior functions are generated by combining the basic impulse response functions with the test bolus input function. The simulated functions and the patient-specific data are fitted to one another by varying a number of fitting parameters to obtain optimum fitting parameter values, and the patient-specific contrast medium impulse response function is then created based on the basic impulse response functions and the optimum fitting parameter values. A method for predicting a likely contrast medium behavior and a method for controlling a medical imaging system are also described. Additionally a corresponding apparatus, a control device and an imaging system having such a control device are also described.

Abstract: Electromagnetic energy is applied to thereby oscillate a bubble that is then insonified to produce an echo (260) for reception and analysis to afford imaging of the region of the bubble. To create the bubble, the energy may be applied to a nano particle (232) of a contrast agent whose consequent internal nano- or micro-bubbles offer, with novel pulsing techniques, greater sensitivity, and which can permeate outside vasculature (216) prior to being energized thereby affording quantification of vascular permeability and delivery of targeting molecules. The particle can include an absorbing and an evaporating parts, the irradiation (204), as by near-infrared laser, causing the phase change that gives rise to the bubble. The echo may occur in response to ultrasound interrogation (220) of the activated contrast agent, which could entail pulse inversion, power modulation or contrast pulse sequence imaging, with persistence processing.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring a first set of extraluminal images of a lumen, using an extraluminal imaging device. At least one of the first set of images is designated as a roadmap image. While an endoluminal device is being moved through the lumen, a second set of extraluminal images is acquired. A plurality of features that are visible within images belonging to the second set of extraluminal images are identified. In response to the identified features in the images belonging to the second set of extraluminal images, a plurality of local calibration factors associated with respective portions of the roadmap image are determined. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for use in conducting cardiac MR imaging which allows for reconstruction of T1 maps, cine images and IR-prepared images from one raw data set, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) acquisition of raw data by use of an ECG-triggered, segmented, inversion recovery (IR) -prepared Look-Locker type pulse sequence for data acquisition, wherein the pulse sequence encompasses more than one shot, wherein each shot comprises: i) an ECG-triggered inversion pulse; ii) SSFP cine data acquisition of radial segmented profiles over more than one RR-interval for a predefined acquisition duration AD; and iii) a relaxation duration RD, during which no data is acquired; b) retrospective gating of raw data by sorting acquired raw data for each RR-interval into a pre-determined number of heart phases by definition of specific time windows within the RR-intervals and sampling of raw data acquired during the time windows respectively; c) image reconstruction, wherein the r

Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing and treating infection or disease, in which an individual takes a photograph of an infected or diseased area of a body using a camera connected to a microprocessor. The photograph is sent to a diagnosing center having a server with a second microprocessor and a database of photographs correlated with different diseases and infections. The second microprocessor scans the image received from the camera and compares it to the photographs in the database. If a match is found, the second microprocessor then notes the disease or bacteria corresponding to the matching photograph. The second microprocessor then searches an additional database correlated to the match, to further refine the diagnosis. The second microprocessor then searches the second database for a treatment corresponding to the identified disease or bacteria. Once a treatment is identified, information regarding this treatment is automatically sent to the individual's microprocessor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatic optimization of Doppler imaging parameters. The method includes obtaining and storing at least two characteristic spectral lines at a predetermined pulse repetition frequency. The method further includes optimizing at least one of the Doppler imaging parameters based on the stored at least two characteristic spectral lines and a predetermined mean noise power. In one embodiment, the characteristic spectral lines are obtained by collecting in real time the Doppler spectral lines generated at the predetermined pulse repetition frequency within a predetermined time period, and processing the collected Doppler spectral lines in real time without storing them.

Abstract: An accurate real-time measurement of a displacement vector is achieved on the basis of the proper beamforming that require a short time for obtaining one echo data frame without suffering affections by a tissue motion. The displacement measurement method includes the steps of: (a) yielding ultrasound echo data frames by scanning an object laterally or elevationally using an ultrasound beam steered electrically and/or mechanically with a single steering angle over an arbitrary three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system involving existence of three axes of a depth direction, a lateral direction, and an elevational direction; and (b) calculating a displacement vector distribution by implementing a block matching on the predetermined ultrasound echo data frames yielded at more than two phases.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a plurality of elongated rails, a scanhead assembly, and a small animal mount assembly. The scanhead assembly is mounted to be moveable in a linear bidirectional manner along a longitudinal axis of the first rail. The small-animal mount assembly is mounted to be moveable in a linear bidirectional manner along a longitudinal axis of the second rail. The second rail is mounted relative to the first rail so the longitudinal axis of the second rail is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the first rail. The imaging system may also comprise a needle injection assembly that is mounted to be moveable in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the third rail. The third rail is mounted such that a longitudinal axis of the third rail is substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the first rail.

Abstract: An imaging method for identifying abnormal tissue in the lung is provided, comprising the recording of slice images of the lung by means of X-ray radiation, recording of blood vessels, differentiation of blood vessels and abnormal tissue, segmentation of the abnormal tissue and display of the segmented abnormal tissue on an output device. In addition, a computer tomograph for identifying abnormal tissue in the lung is provided, having a radiation source for recording slice images of the lung and blood vessels by means of X-ray radiation, a computer unit for differentiating the blood vessels from the abnormal tissue and for segmenting the abnormal tissue, as well as an output device for displaying the segmented abnormal tissue.

Abstract: Optical devices for use with a magnetic resonance imaging breast compression system include light wands and optical adapters that can releasably mate with grids. These devices, and their associated methods, may reduce or eliminate the need for biopsy by allowing for the differentiation of cancerous tumors, non-cancerous tumors, calcifications and cysts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spectrophotometric in vivo monitoring of blood metabolites such as hemoglobin oxygen concentration at a plurality of different areas or regions on the same organ or test site on an ongoing basis, by applying a plurality of spectrophotometric sensors to a test subject at each of a corresponding plurality of testing sites and coupling each such sensor to a control and processing station, operating each of said sensors to spectrophotometrically irradiate a particular region within the test subject; detecting and receiving the light energy resulting from said spectrophotometric irradiation for each such region and conveying corresponding signals to said control and processing station, analyzing said conveyed signals to determine preselected blood metabolite data, and visually displaying the data so determined for each of a plurality of said areas or regions in a comparative manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spectrophotometric in vivo monitoring of blood metabolites such as hemoglobin oxygen concentration at a plurality of different areas or regions on the same organ or test site on an ongoing basis, by applying a plurality of spectrophotometric sensors to a test subject at each of a corresponding plurality of testing sites and coupling each such sensor to a control and processing station, operating each of said sensors to spectrophotometrically irradiate a particular region within the test subject; detecting and receiving the light energy resulting from said spectrophotometric irradiation for each such region and conveying corresponding signals to said control and processing station, analyzing said conveyed signals to determine preselected blood metabolite data, and visually displaying the data so determined for each of a plurality of said areas or regions in a comparative manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spectrophotometric in vivo monitoring of blood metabolites such as hemoglobin oxygen concentration at a plurality of different areas or regions on the same organ or test site on an ongoing basis, by applying a plurality of spectrophotometric sensors to a test subject at each of a corresponding plurality of testing sites and coupling each such sensor to a control and processing station, operating each of said sensors to spectrophotometrically irradiate a particular region within the test subject; detecting and receiving the light energy resulting from said spectrophotometric irradiation for each such region and conveying corresponding signals to said control and processing station, analyzing said conveyed signals to determine preselected blood metabolite data, and visually displaying the data so determined for each of a plurality of said areas or regions in a comparative manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spectrophotometric in vivo monitoring of blood metabolites such as hemoglobin oxygen concentration at a plurality of different areas or regions on the same organ or test site on an ongoing basis, by applying a plurality of spectrophotometric sensors to a test subject at each of a corresponding plurality of testing sites and coupling each such sensor to a control and processing station, operating each of said sensors to spectrophotometrically irradiate a particular region within the test subject; detecting and receiving the light energy resulting from said spectrophotometric irradiation for each such region and conveying corresponding signals to said control and processing station, analyzing said conveyed signals to determine preselected blood metabolite data, and visually displaying the data so determined for each of a plurality of said areas or regions in a comparative manner.