Abstract: Methods and systems for treating skin, such as stretch marks through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis or a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods directed to the assessment of tissue vascular health. An optical measurement device includes a light source with one or more wavelengths, configured to illuminate an area of tissue, a detector configured to capture the light reflecting from the tissue at the one or more illumination wavelengths, a processor configured to compute, based on the detected signal, one or more estimates of tissue vascular health, and a display or communication device (e.g., electronic data transfer) configured to store or report the tissue vascular health.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave detection device includes a light projection optical system and a photoacoustic wave detection system. The light projection optical system includes: a light source that emits excitation light; an excitation light incident surface that guides the excitation light emitted from the light source to the inside by transmission; an internal reflection surface that reflects the excitation light that has entered through the excitation light incident surface by internal reflection; and a prism having positive refractive power and an excitation light emitting surface for emitting the excitation light reflected by the internal reflection surface to the outside by transmission. The photoacoustic wave detection system includes: the prism; and a transducer that detects a photoacoustic wave that has passed through the excitation light emitting surface of the prism, is reflected by the internal reflection surface, and is emitted from the prism.

Abstract: Methods and systems of optically measuring systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure of a mammal having biological tissue are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the system comprises an optical blood motion sensor, a gas-sealable inflatable cushion having a flexible and transparent (FOT) barrier section, and an optical blood motion sensor comprising a laser. When pressure (e.g. at least systolic pressure) illuminates the tissue, laser light may pass en route to the tissue through the FOT sealing barrier section of the gas-sealable inflatable cushion as well as cushion interior. In some embodiments, a rigid restrictor comprising an optically transparent section is provided, and laser light also passes through the optically transparent section of the rigid restrictor en route to the biological tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adaptive medical image transmission device and method which consider communication state and residual power. The adaptive medical image transmission method induces an image receiving device to post-process a result of medical image processing performed by a medical image transmission device by: receiving medical image data by means of a probe; sensing communication throughput indicative of a communication state between the image transmission device and the image receiving device; variably determining a data rate required to transmit data on the basis of a preset data rate based on the sensed communication throughput; performing medical image processing by selecting a signal path which satisfies the determined data rate with respect to the medical image data; and transmitting the result of the medical image processing to the image receiving device according to the determined data rate.

Abstract: In cardiac roadmapping, a “roadmap”, which is typically a representation of the vasculature of a patient obtained via previously acquired data from a CT scan, is overlaid on live intervention data, showing the position of an intervention device obtained using fluoroscopy. In this way, the intervention device may be tracked inside a realistic representation of the patient. The accurate registration of the fluoroscopic image to the roadmap data is an important step, otherwise the reported live position of the intervention device would not be shown at an accurate position inside the roadmap. Registration can be performed by the injection of contrast medium. In the case of cardiac roadmapping, the small vessel diameters mean that it is possible to register intervention devices directly. However, the behavior of intervention devices in larger vessels is difficult to predict, and so device-based registration is harder to achieve in such a context.

Abstract: An imaging device and method which can easily obtain a curve of time-varying changes in pixel value of a region of interest, even if the region of interest moves with a subject's body motion. A controller includes an image processor executing various types of image processing on fluorescence images and visible light images. The image processor includes a pixel value measurement unit which sequentially measures values of pixels at positions corresponding to a region of interest (ROI) in the fluorescence image, a change curve creation unit which creates a curve of time-varying changes in pixel value of the ROI by sampling, among the pixel values measured by the pixel value measurement unit, a minimum pixel value within a period equal to or longer than a cycle of the subject's body motion, and a smoothing unit which smooths the curve created by the change curve creation unit.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system comprises receiving a collected set of spatial information for a distal portion of an instrument at a plurality of locations within a set of anatomic passageways and receiving a set of position information for a reference portion of the instrument when the distal portion of the instrument is at each of the plurality of locations. The method also comprises determining a reference set of spatial information for the distal portion of the instrument based on the collected set of spatial information and the set of position information for the reference portion of the instrument and registering the reference set of spatial information with a set of anatomical model information.

Abstract: A shear wave elastography method for imaging an observation field in an anisotropic medium, including an initial ultrasonic acquisition step during which initial physical parameters are acquired in at least one region of interest; a spatial characterization step during which a set of spatial characteristics of the anisotropic medium is determined on the basis of the initial physical parameter; an excitation substep during which an shear wave is generated inside the anisotropic medium on the basis of the set of spatial characteristics; and an observation substep during which the propagation of the shear wave is observed simultaneously at a multitude of points in the observation field.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a method for controlling the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a processor for executing by a program: a first calculating function of, based on a first echo signal of first ultrasound transmitted to biological tissue in a subject to be examined, calculating a value relating to elasticity of said biological tissue; and a second calculating function of calculating a value of attenuation of ultrasound in said biological tissue; and a display device on which a first image produced based on a first two-dimensional (2D) color map CM1 is displayed, wherein said color map CM1 defines a display mode according to the value relating to elasticity of said biological tissue and the value of attenuation in said biological tissue.

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: Robotic, telerobotic, and/or telesurgical devices, systems, and methods take advantage of robotic structures and data to calculate changes in the focus of an image capture device in response to movement of the image capture device, a robotic end effector, or the like. As the size of an image of an object shown in the display device varies with changes in a separation distance between that object and the image capture device used to capture the image, a scale factor between a movement command input may be changed in response to moving an input device or a corresponding master/slave robotic movement command of the system. This may enhance the perceived correlation between the input commands and the robotic movements as they appear in the image presented to the system operator.

Abstract: A radiofrequency receive coil assembly can include a first conductive loop and a second conductive loop electrically connected at a node. The first and second conductive loops can extend into a treatment beam region of the radio frequency receive coil assembly through which one or more beams of ionizing radiation pass. The first conductive loop and the second conductive loop can overlap each other to provide electromagnetic isolation and/or can use a common conductor combined with a shared capacitor to provide electromagnetic isolation, with the shared capacitor or other electrical components, as well as any conductive loop overlaps, being positioned outside of the treatment beam region. These features can, among other possible advantages, minimize and homogenize attenuation of the beams of ionizing radiation by the radiofrequency receive coil assembly.

Abstract: Edema in tissue of a patient undergoing a course of radiation therapy or treatment can be estimated based on one or more MRI measurements used to measure changes in fluid content of various tissues. A correlation between observed changes in edema and one or more delivered fractions of radiation can be used to drive one or more clinical actions. Methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and the like are described.

Abstract: A fiducial marker and method for use in the navigation of a surgical procedure is described. The fiducial marker includes a means to readily guide a navigation probe and includes an upper surface with a sloped guide surface for guiding the probe, the upper surface further including a substantially centrally positioned well to receive at least part of the probe. The guide surface may alternatively be configured to align with a complementary portion of part of the navigation probe.

Abstract: A catheter placement system for positioning a catheter in a vasculature of a patient using at least two different modalities. The catheter placement system includes a console with a display, a stylet removably positionable within a lumen of the catheter, a tip location sensor, and an external electrode. The stylet may include an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor assembly for detecting ECG signals of a node of a heart of the patient, and a first connector in communication with the ECG sensor assembly. The tip location sensor may be configured to detect the stylet when the catheter is disposed within the vasculature of the patient, and to communicate information of the stylet to the console. The console may be configured to receive at least one aspect of the ECG signal detected by the ECG sensor assembly indicative of proximity of the ECG sensor assembly to the node.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for helping to guide an endovascular tool in vascular structures. The method includes an initial planning phase in which a first three-dimensional anatomical model specific to the patient is determined from an acquired three-dimensional image, and an intervention phase in which a final transformation, which is a combination of a rigid transformation and of an elastic transformation, is applied to the first three-dimensional anatomical model specific to the patient in order to obtain a second three-dimensional model specific to the patient. The rigid transformation is estimated between the preoperative three-dimensional image and one or more perioperative two-dimensional images of perioperative two-dimensional images, and the elastic transformation is calculated as a function of a simulation of vascular deformations that are induced by introducing the tool into the target vascular structure.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is based on the idea of adjusting a physiological model of an anatomical region containing blood vessels on the basis of patient-specific 3D image data of the anatomical region. Since the physiological model includes at least one geometric parameter as well as functional parameters, in particular the at least one geometric parameter and/or the functional parameters can be adjusted. The 3D perfusion of the anatomical region is now simulated on the basis of the adjusted physiological model such that the patient-specific supply areas of the anatomical region are identified on the basis of the simulation.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for acquisition of MR data from a patient in a breath-hold examination an instruction is provided to the patient to hold his/her breath, and the acquisition of MR measurement data is started. A breathing curve is recorded at least after the output of the instruction to the patient. A next-breath time is determined based on the recorded breathing curve. At least one final MR measurement data set is created based on the acquired MR measurement data, depending on the detected next-breath time. Image data are reconstructed from the at least one final MR measurement data set.

Abstract: The invention concerns a detecting apparatus (12) for imaging at least two areas of a brain of a subject (10), the detecting apparatus (12) comprising: —a holder comprising: —a frame (14) devoted to be cemented on the skull of the subject (10), the frame (14) delimitating an inner portion (18) which is transparent to ultrasound waves, —a removable imaging device comprising: —a platform (16) delimitating an inner space (28), the inner space (28) facing the inner portion (18), —a fixing element (30) adapted to temporary fix and lock the platform (16) to the holder, —an ultrasound probe (32), and —a moving stage (34) holding the ultrasound probe (32) and being adapted to move the ultrasound probe (32) within the inner space (28).