Abstract: An ultrasound device and method for the treatment of intervertebral disc tissue for remediation of back pain. An applicator comprises a catheter and/or needle with a distal tip including one or more ultrasound transducer crystals. The crystals produce high-powered ultrasound energy that is transmitted and absorbed in the disc tissue. The resulting temperature elevation of the disc tissue shrinks the collagen fibers in the surrounding tissue, and/or destroying small nerves that may have invaded and innervated the surrounding degenerated tissue, and can provide increased structural integrity and disc support for the fragmented nucleus pulposus to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves.

Abstract: A method and system for ultrasound treatment utilizing a multi-directional transducer to facilitate treatment, such as therapy and/or imaging or other tissue parameter monitoring, in two or more directions. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a multi-directional transducer comprises at least two transduction elements configured to provide for ultrasound energy, such as radiation, acoustical energy, heat energy, imaging, positional information and/or tissue parameter monitoring signals in two or more directions. The transduction elements can comprise various materials for providing ultrasound energy or radiation, such as piezoelectric materials, with and without matching layers. In addition, the transduction elements can be configured for substantially uniform, focused and/or defocused radiation patterns, as well as for single, multiple-element and/or multiple-element array configurations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for fetal cardiac monitoring. For improving ultrasonic monitoring, the number of periodic signals, such as signals caused by the fetus and the mother, is assessed and the time window of the signal demodulation is adapted if more than one periodic signal is assessed.

Abstract: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of producing a three-dimensional image of an object for an organ region within a range of elasticity values desired by an operator and allowing the operator to recognize the region easily, elasticity value data included in a desired elasticity value range among elasticity value data constituting a volume data are selected and rendered. Whereby, a three-dimensional elasticity image in the set elasticity value range is produced. An area corresponding to the elasticity value range is displayed on at least one of a two-dimensional elasticity image and a section image.

Abstract: A radiotherapy apparatus controlling method according to the present invention includes controlling an imager driving unit to move an imaging unit to a position, and to image a transmission image by the imaging unit based on a radiation emitted from a first irradiating unit; and controlling the imager driving unit to move the imaging unit to a position, and to image a transmission image based on a radiation emitted from a second irradiating unit. According to such a radiotherapy apparatus controlling method, it is not necessary to separately provide an imaging unit which images the transmission image using a first radiation emitted from the first irradiating unit and an imaging unit which images a transmission image from the radiation emitted from the second irradiating unit, and a radiotherapy apparatus can be manufactured to be cheaper.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for quantifying fluorescent distribution within a surgery site of a patient in an operating room, wherein the surgery site has been exposed for a surgery procedure. Excitation light is provided at each of a plurality of positions at the surgery site in a method embodiment. The excitation light is significantly more intense than any other light sources that are present in the operating room. Fluorescent emission is detected from the surgery site in response to each of the excitation light positions so as to obtain a fluorescent emission image for each excitation light position. The fluorescent light distribution that is internal to a surface of the surgery site is quantified based on the obtained fluorescent emission images.

Abstract: A system for delivering light and/or ultrasound across a skin surface is provided. The system includes a device having a layered structure comprising one or both of a light source and an ultrasonic transducer. The light source comprises a flexible light emitter layer electrically coupled to a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, wherein at least one of the first and second conductive layers is transparent. The ultrasonic transducer comprises a flexible ultrasound emitter layer electrically coupled to a third conductive layer and a fourth conductive layer. The system also includes one or more sensors in contact with the skin surface and a controller electrically coupled to the device and the sensor. The controller is operable to receive sensor data from the sensor and dynamically control the device in response to the received sensor data.

Abstract: In vivo visualization systems are described which facilitate tissue treatment by a user in utilizing real time visualized tissue images with generated three-dimensional models of the tissue region of interest, such as the left atrial chamber of a subject's heart. Directional indicators on the visualized tissue as well as the imaging systems may be utilized while other variations may utilize image rotation or manipulation of visualized tissue regions to facilitate catheter control. Moreover, visualized tissue regions may be combined with imaged tissue regions as well as navigational information to further facilitate tissue treatments.

Abstract: Medical imaging is carried out by transmitting X-ray emissions through a subject, generating a first set of temporally separated images of an area of interest in the subject from the transmitted X-ray emissions, generating a second set of temporally separated images from the area of interest from a second source, and combining the sets to produce combined images of the area of interest. The method is further carried out by blocking the X-ray emissions from reaching the subject, updating the second set, combining the first set with the updated second set to produce updated combined images, displaying the updated combined images, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, iterating updating the second set, combining the first set with the updated second set, and displaying the updated combined images.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a physiological parameter of tissue in a patient are provided herein. In a first example, a method of measuring a physiological parameter of blood in a patient is provided. The method includes emitting at least two optical signals for propagation through tissue of the patient, detecting the optical signals after propagation, identifying propagation pathlengths of the optical signals, and identifying detected intensities of the optical signals. The method also includes processing at least the propagation pathlengths to scale the detected intensities for determination of a value of the physiological parameter.

Abstract: A bi-directional communication system (12) is utilized for communications between a technician at an imaging workstation (18), from which imaging protocols can be conducted and at which diagnostic images can be displayed, and one or more hospital medical professionals, located at remote locations. The technician selects and addresses the proper medical professional by a use of an addressing means (50) at workstation (18). The technician selects images (42) to be sent to the selected medical professional. The images and medical professional's address are formatted (46) into wireless transmission format via transmitter/receiver (44) coupled to the workstation (18). A plurality of remote transmitters/receivers (62) receives wireless transmissions at remote locations. Each wireless transmission is examined (68) for a correct address and further converted (70) into an appropriate format for human-readable display.

Abstract: A system and method for nodule boundary visualization superimposed on a scan image, including generating phantom image measurements of at least one synthetic calibration object in relation to a body to calibrate a scanner; acquiring a first image of a nodule on the calibrated scanner; computing and marking a boundary on the image; displaying the first image with the boundary superimposed over the first image; presenting the initial boundary to a user for modification where the user can add one or more modification points to the image to create a modified boundary that is encompassed by the one or more modification points; once the user has marked the one or more modification points on the image, computing an updated boundary that adapts to include the new points.

Abstract: An optical probe system having a probe with an optical guide (G) having a distal end. The optical guide (G) is mounted inside a housing (H) so that the distal end is displaceable with respect to the housing (H). A set of actuators (A), e.g. electromagnetic drive coils, can displace the distal end by application of a drive signal (Vx, Vy). A control unit (CU) generates the drive signal (Vx, Vy) so as to provide a scanning frequency which varies according to an amplitude of the drive signal (Vx, Vy). With such probe system it is possible to scan a field of view with a scanning frequency that varies with the scanning radius. Taking into account the maximum allowable drive current, it is possible to increase scanning speed compared to scanning at the mechanical resonance frequency of the optical system, since small radii can be scanned at a high scanning frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasound medical treatment system includes an end effector insertable into a patient. The end effector includes a tissue-retaining device. The tissue-retaining device includes a first tissue-retaining member having an ultrasound medical-treatment transducer and includes a second tissue-retaining member. The first and second tissue-retaining members are operatively connected together to retain patient tissue between the first and second tissue-retaining members and to release patient tissue so retained. In one example, the second tissue-retaining member has an ultrasound reflector. In the same or a different example, the ultrasound medical-treatment transducer is an ultrasound imaging and medical-treatment transducer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining brain cortical thickness are provided. One method includes determining an intensity profile at each of a plurality of cortical surface points of an imaged brain using brain tissue image data and calculating a cortical thickness based on a parametrically determined transition point of each intensity profile.

Abstract: A non-invasive analysis system includes data collecting units and an analysis unit adapted to quantify and visualize ventricular rotation patterns of the heart. The data collecting units register rotational information about the cardiac movement for a number of time points and levels in the heart throughout the cardiac cycle. The analysis unit calculates rotation planes for different levels in the heart over time and constructs rotation planes from at least two rotation lines originating from the same level in the heart. Each of the rotation lines are created between a pair of points having matching rotation values located in ventricular walls, and to calculate a rotation axis for the rotation plane for each selected level. The analysis unit creates a model of the rotational pattern of the heart. Deflection and direction of the rotation axes for the rotation planes at selected levels of the ventricles are quantified and visualized.

Abstract: The magnetic resonance imaging device of the present invention includes a gantry and a bed part comprising a top panel, the gantry comprises a circumferential panel covering outer circumference of a tunnel-shaped static magnetic field space, and a front panel having an opening serving as entrance of a bore for the static magnetic field space, this front panel comprises an arc-shaped outer panel extending from an upper part of the opening serving as entrance of the bore to the ground plane via both sides of the opening, and an inner panel disposed inside the outer panel, a portion connecting the outer panel and the inner panel constitutes a top surface protruding forwardly, and the inner panel is formed in a recessed shape with a concave curved surface extending from the top surface to the opening serving as entrance of the bore.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an overlay image of an implant during a surgical procedure using a mobile computing device are provided herein. The implant may include radio-opaque internal markers adjacent to and defining edges of the implant. The method may include: capturing an image of a imaging display device screen; estimating a pose of the implant based on the relationship between the 2-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers and the 3-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers; retrieving or generating a 3-D model image of the implant at the determined pose using the 3-D implant data; and overlaying the 3-D model image onto the image of the implant. The captured image may include the implant and at least two of the radio-opaque internal markers being visible as fiducial markers within the image. The fiducial markers may be 2-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers in a 2-D plane.

Abstract: A target object for aligning a multi-modality imaging system includes a body having a cavity therein, a first imaging source being disposed within the cavity, the first imaging source including a body having a cavity defined therein and an emission responsive material disposed within the first imaging source cavity, the first imaging source having a first shape, and a second imaging source being disposed within the cavity, the second imaging source including a body having a cavity defined therein and a magnetic resonance responsive material disposed within the second imaging source cavity, the second imaging source having a second shape that is different than the first shape. A method of aligning a multi-modality imaging system is also provided.

Abstract: An ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus executing lighting-on and lighting-off of a lighting device by detecting an identification (ID) data of a probe or an operation on an operation panel. The ultrasound image diagnosis also includes a lighting device configured to identify a usage state or non-usage state of the ultrasound probe by a lighting color. While an ultrasound examination is performed in a dimly-lit room, a visibility of an ultrasound probe connector can be increased.