Abstract: A high intensity focused ultrasound positioning mechanism (100, 200, 310) for positioning a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer (292, 304), the mechanism comprising: —a positioning plate (108, 308) adapted for receiving the high intensity focused ultrasound transducer; —a mechanism support (174) adapted for mounting the positioning mechanism; —a plurality of rods (110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220), wherein each rod has a first end and an second end, wherein the first end of each rod forms a separate ball joint (122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232) with the positioning plate; and —a plurality of linear drives (146, 148, 150, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254), wherein the plurality of linear drives are mounted to the mechanism support, wherein each of the linear drives comprises a drive block (164, 166, 168, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272), wherein the second end of each of the plurality of rods forms a separate ball joint (134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 234, 236, 238, 2

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing a pathologic tissue membrane, as well as a focused ultrasound apparatus and methods of treatment are disclosed to perform ureterocele puncture noninvasively using focused ultrasound-generated cavitation or boiling bubbles to controllably erode a hole through the tissue. An example ultrasound apparatus may include (a) a therapy transducer having a treatment surface, wherein the therapy transducer comprises a plurality of electrically isolated sections, (b) at least one concave acoustic lens defining a therapy aperture in the treatment surface of the therapy transducer, (c) an imaging aperture defined by either the treatment surface of the therapy transducer or by the at least one concave acoustic lens and (d) an ultrasound imaging probe axially aligned with a central axis of the therapy aperture.

Abstract: Non-invasive methods and systems for detection of cancer or arterial vascular disorder involving administering to an individual a composition comprising noble metal nanoparticles that accumulate in a cancerous or injured vascular tissue; optically irradiating an area of a tissue suspected of being a cancerous or injured vascular tissue with a light source outputting an optical signal of at least one wavelength; and measuring diffusion reflection of the area of the irradiated tissue using at least one detector, whereby detection from the measured diffusion reflection of accumulation of the noble metal nanoparticles in this area indicates that the irradiated tissue is a cancerous or injured vascular tissue.

Abstract: A method for locating at least one target, in an electromagnetically absorbent environment, includes: emitting at least one electromagnetic excitation signal from a source; receiving, by an acoustic sensor, an acoustic signal from emission of the excitation signal; detecting, in the received acoustic signal, a first time of receipt of a first response to the excitation signal from an acoustic disturbance caused by electromagnetic heterogeneity of the target in the environment; estimating a first distance between the target and the acoustic sensor using the first time of receipt; detecting, in the same received acoustic signal, a second time of receipt of a second response to the excitation signal from an acoustic disturbance caused by acoustic heterogeneity of the target in the environment; estimating a second distance between the source and target using the second time of receipt; obtaining a location of the target from the first and second estimated distances.

Abstract: A system is provided for component separation. In an embodiment, a light source or other source of electromagnetic energy delivers energy to a volume of tissue. A transducer array or other sensor receives a resulting acoustic signal, and a processing subsystem processes the acoustic signal to separate a direct acoustic return component from a secondary acoustic return component of the acoustic signal. An output and/or storage device presents and/or stores information about the direct acoustic return component, the secondary acoustic return component, or both. Other embodiments include a coded probe, a probe having an isolator that produces a wavefront, a sensor for measuring intensity of an acoustic wave produced by absorbed photons, and a system that receives acoustic signals from surface targets to determine an optical parameter of the volume.

Abstract: A compact, on-airway, respiratory gas analyzer for performing pulmonary function tests incorporates an IR spectroscopy light guide having a curved, rather than linear, sample chamber that lies transverse to a direction of respiratory gas flow. Cooperating with the sample chamber is an impact plate that functions to steer respiratory and test gases impinging on the impact plate into the curved sample chamber. A source of IR energy is at one end of the sample chamber and an electro-optical sensor responsive to IR energy is disposed at an opposite end of the chamber. The respiratory gas analyzer also includes gas flow paths and valving for carrying out lung capacity and lung diffusion tests.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying a suitable surgical location and/or trajectory for proceeding with a surgical procedure based on local polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography imaging (PS-OCT). PS-OCT images are obtained of a tissue region and are processed to provide a spatial map of anisotropic structure within the tissue region. The anisotropic structure is processed to determine one or more suitable surgical locations and/or trajectories for avoiding or reducing damage to local anisotropic tissue structure identified within the tissue region. The spatial map of the anisotropic structure is registered with pre-operative volumetric image data identifying anisotropic tissue structure within a second tissue region that is larger than the tissue region imaged by PS-OCT.

Abstract: Eyelid illumination systems and methods for imaging meibomian glands for meibomian gland analysis are disclosed. In one embodiment, a patient's eyelid is IR trans-illuminated with an infrared (IR) light. A trans-illumination image of the patient's eyelid is captured showing meibomian glands in dark outlined areas, whereas non-gland material is shown in light areas. This provides a high contrast image of the meibomian glands that is X-ray like. The lid trans-illumination image of the meibomian glands can be analyzed to determine to diagnose the meibomian glands in the patient's eyelid. The eyelid may be trans-illuminated by a lid-flipping device configured to grasp and flip the eyelid for imaging the interior surface of the eyelid. Also, an IR surface meibography image of the meibomian glands may also be captured and combined with the trans-illumination image of the meibomian glands to provide a higher contrast image of the meibomian glands.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing content related to capture of a medical image of an object. The method includes acquiring at least one of information related to a state of the object and information related to a capture protocol, determining content to be provided to the object on a basis of the acquired information, and outputting the determined content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for virtual reality or augmented reality (VR/AR) visualization of 3D medical images using a VR/AR visualization system are disclosed. The VR/AR visualization system includes a computing device operatively coupled to a VR/AR device, and the VR/AR device includes a holographic display and at least one sensor. The holographic display is configured to display a holographic image to an operator. The computing device is configured to receive at least one stored 3D image of a subject's anatomy and at least one real-time 3D position of at least one surgical instrument. The computing device is further configured to register the at least one real-time 3D position of the at least one surgical instrument to correspond to the at least one 3D image of the subject's anatomy, and to generate the holographic image comprising the at least one real-time position of the at least one surgical instrument overlaid on the at least one 3D image of the subject's anatomy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrasound imaging capable of achieving spatial resolutions that can resolve objects smaller than 300 ?m are described. Ultrasound is transmitted to and steered over a volume-of-interest that contains a microbubble contrast agent to individually excite microbubbles. Signal data is acquired in response to the transmitted ultrasound, and a plurality of images are reconstructed by beamforming the acquired signal data. The spatial resolution of the beamformed images can be further increased using techniques that determine the position of the microbubble within each image to a greater level of accuracy than the point spread function (“PSF”) of the ultrasound system. The images can also be combined to produce a single high resolution image of the volume-of-interest using, for instance, a maximum pixel projection technique.

Abstract: Adjustment of operation of an ultrasound imaging system may be based at least in part on one or more characteristics represented in ultrasound return signals from two or more sample volumes. Adjustment may include adjusting a principal sample volume location or selecting a new principal sample volume. For example, a location of a principal sample volume may be adjusted or new principal sample volume selected so as to remain focused on an identified region of interest or to maintain the principal sample volume relative to some structure or reference. The principal sample volume may be maintained in the center or along a centerline of an artery or other structure, as the transducer array is moved along the artery or structure.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods useable for useable for monitoring a physiological variable in a target tissue or body fluid located within the thorax of a subject by optical spectroscopy.

Abstract: Data is communicated from an implanted section to an external location. The implanted section includes a transducer such as a piezoelectric element with an ultrasound reflecting surface that moves in response to an applied driving signal. A sensor generates an output signal that depends on a sensed parameter, and a control circuit drives the transducer based on the sensor's output. The transducer's response to the driving signal is repeatable such that the value of the output signal can be determined by measuring the variations in the velocity of the surface using externally applied Doppler ultrasound, and computing the value of the sensor's output from the measured variations in velocity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human tissue radiation protector with auxiliary method of radiotherapy, wherein said human tissue radiation protector comprises an interconnected expander, a syringe and a marker set onto the expander; said marker is made of radiopaque materials, which could assist the expander in positioning; as well as multiple radiation dosage detector capable of measurement the radiation dosage at different positions of the expander; said method allows to place the expander of the human tissue radiation protector between the tumor and nearby human tissues or organs so as to separate them, and assist the expander in positioning via the marker and measurement the radiation dosage via the radiation dosage detector.

Abstract: A device for use in bariatric surgery includes a flexible hollow tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defines a channel therebetween. A series of openings is defined in a distal portion of the tube allowing for fixation of tissue using suction. A flexible member has an initial position disposed alongside the tube and is deployable to a subsequent position in which the flexible member engages a greater curvature of a stomach. The flexible member is configured to be deployable to automatically assume a shape of a greater curvature of a stomach. The flexible member includes a bulging region and a tapering region when deployed. The flexible member is releasably attached to the distal end of the tube.

Abstract: A method for a CT scan of a body part, wherein a marker is positioned on the body part. The method comprises: positioning a marker on the body part; performing a scout scan of the area which contains the body part, to acquire a scout image; detecting the marker in the scout image to acquire position information of the marker; and using the position information to navigate the CT scan.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus is provided. The ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit ultrasonic push pulses to a biological tissue of a test object and further configured to transmit measuring ultrasonic pulses to the biological tissue subjected to the transmitted push pulses in order to measure an elasticity of the biological tissue, a respiration detection part configured to detect respiration of the test object, and a notification part which, based on the detection by the respiration detection part, is configured to give notification allowing a transmission timing of the push pulses to be recognized.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an OCT imaging system having a variety of advantages. In particular, the OCT system of the present disclosure may provide a more intuitive interface, more efficient usage of controls, and a greater ability to view OCT imaging data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system and method for determining a risk, onset, or presence of hypovolemia based on one or more features of a plethysmographic waveform during a patient breathing cycle. For example, a hypovolemic patient may exhibit characteristic changes in pulse amplitude or stroke volume during inhalation and exhalation relative to a healthy patient. Further, a trend or pattern of such features may be used to assess the patient's fluid condition.