Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for acquiring and providing information about orthopedic features of a body using acoustic energy. In some aspects, an acoustic orthopedic tracking system includes portable acoustic transducers to obtain orthopedic position information for feeding the information to an orthopedic surgical system for surgical operations.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) that includes applying a first labeling pulse sequence to a first labeling region having a first portion of a vasculature of a subject extending through the first labeling region to label spins moving within the first labeling region. A second labeling pulse sequence is applied to a second labeling region having a second portion of a vasculature of the subject extending through the second labeling region to label spins moving within the second labeling region. The first and second labeling pulse sequences include different labeling techniques. An imaging pulse sequence is applied to an imaging region having a third portion of a vasculature of the subject extending through the imaging region that is displaced from the first and second labeling region to acquire imaging data from the spins labeled by the first labeling pulse sequence and the second labeling pulse sequence.

Abstract: Rotational intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices and systems are provided. The IVUS imaging devices include catheters having a rotating drive cable with a transducer disposed at a distal end thereof for imaging a bodily vessel of interest. In some embodiments, a lubricious coating is applied on the drive cable to promote uniform rotation of the drive cable and the transducer. In some embodiments, the drive cable is coated with a polymer layer to promote uniform rotation of the drive cable and the transducer. In some embodiments, radiopaque markers are affixed on the drive cable for accurate placement of the transducer within of the vessel and for accurate measurement of internal dimensions and lesion lengths within the body of the patient.

Abstract: A method of blood flow monitoring for a patient, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a first signal indicative of the real time cardiac output for the patient; b) processing the continuous wave Doppler signal to provide an estimate of blood flow velocity as a function of time; c) receiving a pressure measurement indicative of the blood flow resistance through the patient; and d) calculating an Inotropy measure indicative of the potential and kinetic energy of the cardiac output of the patient.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment generates, based on the echo signal, velocity distribution information of a tissue in the object. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus generates state information representing a cycle of the pressurization or the depressurization and target information representing a target cycle of pressurization or depressurization based on the velocity distribution information. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus associates one of two variables defining a predetermined graphic pattern with the cycle, displays the state information and the target information as the graphic pattern, and displays the graphic pattern upon deforming a shape of the graphic pattern in accordance with a change in the cycle of the pressurization or the depressurization in the state information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical apparatus which includes a motion mechanism which has at least one degree of freedom, an actuator configured to drive the motion mechanism and a control unit configured to control the actuator, and which operates in a magnetic field environment of an MRI, the medical apparatus including: a data storage unit in which data related to magnetic susceptibility of the actuator is stored; a calculating unit configured to calculate information related to an influence which the actuator exerts upon the magnetic field environment by calculation based on the magnetic susceptibility; and a communication unit configured to output the information to the MRI. An influence which an apparatus which operates in a strong magnetic field environment exerts upon an MR image can be reduced.

Abstract: In the present invention, a system and method for selection of an optimal catheter for use in a medical procedure relative to the anatomy of a patient includes the steps of providing a system including a scanning device capable of obtaining image data on a ROI within the anatomy of a patient and reconstructing a 3D image of the ROI from the image data, a display capable of illustrating the 3D image and a 3D catheter model, and a CPU operably connected to the scanning device and the display and operable to analyze the 3D image in comparison with the 3D catheter model, obtaining image data of the ROI of the patient, reconstructing a 3D image of the ROI from the image data and comparing the 3D catheter model with the 3D image of the ROI to determine the catheter with the optimal configuration for use in the procedure.

Abstract: A tension transmission device as a control system for a probing portion of a three-dimensional mechanical probe is fitted to a support portion. The tension transmission device includes a driving shaft, a first tension member, and a second tension member. The driving shaft defines first and second fastening points. The first fastening point and the second fastening point are located at axially-distanced points of the driving shaft which are not diametrically opposite. The first and second tension members wind around a circumference of the driving shaft guided by a first pulley and a second pulley, to rotate and manipulate the driven shaft of the probing portion.

Abstract: A medical image diagnosis apparatus includes a capturing part configured to photograph a target site of a subject to capture a medical image. The medical image diagnosis apparatus further includes a positional information acquisition unit, a guideline generator, and a display processor. The positional information acquisition unit acquires the positional information of a puncture needle inserted into of the subject. The guideline generator generates a guideline that indicates an insertion route for the puncture needle to reach the target site based on the positional information. The guideline includes scales graduated at predetermined intervals. The display processor displays the guideline with the medical image.

Abstract: A method and a device for analysis and display of blood flow information in the human or animal body are described. The method includes the following steps: a) providing a digital input data set including a time series of two or three dimensional velocity vector fields, wherein each velocity vector field represents the velocity of the blood flow within a blood vessel, especially of a heart chamber or part thereof, of a certain human or animal body within a certain time frame within one heart cycle, b) calculating a gradient vector field for each time frames from the time series of velocity vector fields; c) summing the gradients over the gradient vector field or a part thereof for each time frame to a summed gradient; and d) displaying and/or analyzing the summed gradients with reference to their space directions within the blood vessel.

Abstract: A medical imaging system comprises one or more displays. A viewer device generates an interactive user interface screen on the display, which viewer device enables a user to simultaneously inspect selected image data of multiple patients or multiple images. A layout editor generates a layout editor user interface in the user interface screen, which layout editor device enables the user to create and/or modify a layout of the selected image data on the display.

Abstract: A high-frequency cosmetic treatment apparatus capable of preventing local heating of a skin is provided. The high-frequency cosmetic treatment apparatus includes: a portable casing; side-by-side electrodes disposed at a tip portion of the casing with a predetermined interval provided therebetween, and having treatment surfaces to be contacted with a skin of a user; and a first power supply disposed in the casing, and to supply a high-frequency current to the pair of side-by-side electrodes.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus to provide updated images during a robotically-implemented surgical procedure, 3D data is obtained of a volume of a patient, which includes anatomy involved in the procedure. The anatomy is segmented from a reconstructed image of the volume. During the procedure, the surgeon applies forces on the anatomy, causing a geometric change of the anatomy. Force sensors in the surgical robot detect these forces, which are supplied to a processor that controls display of the segmented anatomy at a display screen. From the applied forces and the physical properties of the anatomy, the processor calculates the geometric change of the anatomy that has occurred and modifies the appearance and/or position of the displayed segmented anatomy on the display screen in real time during the procedure, so as to visualize the geometric change.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer element can configured to generate ultrasonic energy directed into tissue of a subject and configured to receive a portion of the ultrasonic energy reflected by a target located within the tissue. The ultrasonic transducer can include a surface configured to provide or receive the ultrasonic energy, the surface including an area of greater than or equal to about 4?2, or the ultrasonic transducer element can be included in an array having a spacing between at least two adjacent ultrasound elements of less than or equal to about ½?, and the array comprising an aperture that is at least approximately symmetrical in two axes. A three-dimensional representation of one or more of a location, shape, or orientation of at least a portion of the target can be presented via the display.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasound probe that transmits/receives ultrasound waves to/from a subject, a reference position member arranged on the ultrasound probe, and a sensor located in a position having a predetermined positional relationship relative to a puncture needle. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus further includes a position information acquisition unit, a needle length information acquisition unit, and a display. The position information acquisition unit acquires position information of the reference position member and the sensor. The needle length information acquisition unit acquires needle length information indicating the length of the puncture needle based on the position information of the reference position member and the sensor when the tip of the puncture needle is in contact with the reference position member, and the relative position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces spatially compounded trapezoidal sector images by combining component frames acquired from different look directions. A virtual apex scan format is used such that each scanline of a component frame emanates from a different point (El, En) on the face of an array transducer (12) and is steered at a different scanning angle. For different component frames the scanlines are steered at respectively different angles. In the illustrated example, the scanlines of each component frame are incremented by five degrees relative to the corresponding scanlines in a reference component frame. When the component frames are combined for spatial compounding, the maximum number of component frames are combined over virtually the entire image field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system and a method for the measurement of a distance (58) between two points (54, 56) within a volume of a three-dimensional image (50). To avoid the commonly known fore-shortening effect, according to which a distance measured by the system is shorter than an actual distance (58) between the two points (54, 56), an in-depth control of a cursor (53) shown in the image (50) on the display as provided to the user. Further, an indication (72) may be given to the user that the cursor (53) collides with a structure (52) within the volume to allow the user to assess the movement of the cursor out of the plane shown on the display more conveniently. By this, occurrence of the fore-shortening effect may be avoided.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates a system that can quickly and reversibly block conduction in a nerve. The system can include a first nerve block modality that provides heat to the nerve to block conduction in the nerve. For example, the heat can provide the quick nerve block. The system can also include a second nerve block modality that provides an electrical signal to the nerve to block the conduction in the nerve. For example, the electrical signal can provide the reversibility. In some instances, the heat can be provided by an infrared light signal and the electrical signal can be provided by a kilohertz frequency alternating current (KHFAC) signal or a direct current (DC) signal.

Abstract: A method for determining a volume of ablated tissue includes the steps of supplying energy to tissue, indicating an axis within the tissue, and simulating slicing of the tissue substantially perpendicular to the axis to obtain a plurality of simulated slices. Each of the plurality of simulated slices has a thickness, a cross-sectional perimeter, and a trajectory point defined by the axis within the tissue. The method further includes the steps of determining a volume of each of the plurality of simulated slices based on the trajectory point, the cross-sectional perimeter, and the thickness of each simulated slice, and summing the volumes from each of the plurality of simulated slices to obtain the volume of the ablated tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to formation of an image indicating viscoelastic characteristics in a specimen by a simple method. Stepwise pressurization in which, after pressure is instantaneously increased to a certain pressure value, the certain pressure value is kept for a certain time period is performed to measure the variation with time of strain distribution in the specimen and to calculate a stress from strain distribution at a saturation measurement time when the effect of the viscosity of a viscoelasticity measurement reference layer is saturated, thereby evaluating the modulus of elasticity and the coefficient of viscosity of a body tissue.