Abstract: A method of reconstructing a magnetic resonance image includes receiving echo planar imaging (EPI) data, acquiring an even scan line image and an odd scan line image from k-space data of the EPI data, and reconstructing missing portions of the even scan line image and the odd scan line image.

Abstract: This radiography system has a switching processing unit that switches the device that controls a radiation source and a radiography device to a control device or a portable apparatus. In a case where penetrative imaging has started, the switching processing unit switches the device that controls the radiation source and the radiography device from the control device to the portable apparatus.

Abstract: A probe for ultrasound treatment of skin laxity are provided. Systems and methods can include ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, delivering ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and/or monitoring the treatment area to assess the results and/or provide feedback. In an embodiment, a treatment system and method can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal or deep dermal components of tissue.

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: A method of assessing tissue vascular permeability for nanotherapeutics using non-labeled dextran can include: receiving a non-labeled, physiologically-tolerable dextran solution by a subject; acquiring a plurality of magnetic resonance images of a distribution of the dextran solution within at least one region of interest of the subject for a corresponding plurality of times; and assessing a tissue vascular permeability of the at least one region of interest to dextran particles in the dextran solution based on differences between the plurality of magnetic resonance images, wherein the dextran solution is a substantially mono-disperse solution of dextran particles of one size.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multi-wavelength endoscopic system for imaging an observation site labeled with a plurality of fluorescent materials having different colors. The system includes an imaging unit configured to acquire image data by polarizing incident light reflected from the observation site in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, dividing a spectrum region of the incident light polarized in the first direction and the second direction into a plurality of spectrum channels and measuring the intensity of light for each of the spectrum channel. The system further includes a computing unit configured to store a single fluorescence spectrum extracted from sample image data obtained by single-treating the observation site with each of the fluorescent materials and configured to separate and output the image data obtained in the imaging unit using the single fluorescence spectrum so that each of the fluorescent materials is displayed separately.

Abstract: A method for performing 3D body imaging includes performing a 3D MRI acquisition of a patient to acquire k-space data and dividing the k-space data into k-space data bins. Each bin includes a portion of the k-space data corresponding to a distinct breathing phase. 3D image sets are reconstructed from the bins, with each 3D image set corresponding to a distinct k-space data bin. For each bin other than a selected reference bin, forward and inverse transforms are calculated between the 3D image set corresponding to the bin and the 3D image set corresponding to the reference bin. Then, a motion corrected and averaged image is generated for each bin by (a) aligning the 3D image set from each other bin to the 3D image set corresponding to the bin using the transforms, and (b) averaging the aligned 3D image sets to yield the motion corrected and averaged image.

Abstract: A position determination apparatus for determining the position of a working element arranged within an object having an inner structure with respect to a model of the object. The position and shape of a registration element within the inner structure of the object are provided and used for determining a transformation relating the inner structure of the model and the position and shape of the registration element with respect to each other, wherein the position of the working element with respect to the model is determined depending on a provided spatial relation between the working element and the registration element and the determined transformation.

Abstract: Methods for non-invasive fat reduction can include targeting a region of interest below a surface of skin, which contains fat and delivering ultrasound energy to the region of interest. The ultrasound energy generates a thermal lesion with said ultrasound energy on a fat cell. The lesion can create an opening in the surface of the fat cell, which allows the draining of a fluid out of the fat cell and through the opening. In addition, by applying ultrasound energy to fat cells to increase the temperature to between 43 degrees and 49 degrees, cell apoptosis can be realized, thereby resulting in reduction of fat.

Abstract: A method and system for providing ultrasound treatment to a tissue that contains a lower part of dermis and proximal protrusions of fat lobuli into the dermis. An embodiment delivers ultrasound energy to the region creating a thermal injury and coagulating the proximal protrusions of fat lobuli, thereby eliminating the fat protrusions into the dermis. An embodiment can also include ultrasound imaging configurations using the same or a separate probe before, after or during the treatment. In addition various therapeutic levels of ultrasound can be used to increase the speed at which fat metabolizes. Additionally the mechanical action of ultrasound physically breaks fat cell clusters and stretches the fibrous bonds. Mechanical action will also enhance lymphatic drainage, stimulating the evacuation of fat decay products.

Abstract: A magnetic marker for marking a site in tissue in the body. In one embodiment, the marker comprises a magnetic metallic glass. In another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 9. In yet another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 6. In yet another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 3.

Abstract: A method uses an electromagnetic tracking system, including a number of field transmitters and at least one receiver, to determine location information associated with a medical device. The method includes transmitting a set of electromagnetic signals, each signal having a frequency that is different than a frequency associated with each of the other signals, where each signal corresponds to a sum of sinusoidal functions, each of which includes an amplitude and a frequency. A field signal is received, and includes an undistorted field component and a distortion component. The amplitudes and frequencies of the sinusoidal functions are selected such that the distortion component includes a residual error arising from terms of at least a specified order in frequency. Field components corresponding to the field transmitters are extracted from the received signal, and the location information is determined based on the field components.

Abstract: A chewing detecting device includes: earphone-type external auditory meatus sensors which have a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element and in which the light receiving element receives reflective light of light emitted by the light emitting element into an external auditory meatus to output a voltage signal corresponding to a light receiving amount; association processing means associating an output signal of the external auditory meatus sensors with a motion of a jaw, and outputting a chewing signal showing that the jaw performs chewing; and chewing section sensing means which determines whether or not an output of the external auditory meatus sensors is based on the motion of the jaw (within a chewing section), and which invalidates the output of the association processing means when the output of the external auditory meatus sensors is not based on the motion of the jaw (without the chewing section).

Abstract: Cross-calibration is provided for functional imaging. In PET or SPECT, the inaccuracies from the dose and detector sensitivity may be reduced or removed in both activity concentration and uptake. By using measures from both the radiotracer for the patient and factory calibrated sources, the variability due to dose may be removed. In SPECT, a measurement of system specific sensitivity to a factory calibrated point source is used to improve the accuracy of uptake values, not just activity concentration.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing multi-parametric diagnosis for liver disease. Systems and methods as described herein can include positioning a subject-in association with a medical imaging device and using the medical imaging device to measure the subject's liver for extracellular fluid and iron content. Systems and methods as described herein can further include determining whether iron overload may be indicated or present from the measurement for iron content, and if indicated, correcting the measurement for extra cellular fluid. Systems and methods as described herein can further include measuring the liver for hepatic lipid content (HLC). Systems and methods as described herein can determine the presence or absence of liver disease from measurements obtained from a subject. In certain embodiments, the medical imaging device is a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. In certain embodiments, the liver is measured for iron overload.

Abstract: A method includes receiving ultrasound echo signals produced in response to a pulsed ultrasound field interacting with anatomical tissue and flow of structure therein. The method further includes generating electrical signals indicative thereof. The method further includes beamforming the electrical signals producing beamformed data. The method further includes constructing a real-time image of the anatomical tissue with the beamformed data. The method further includes constructing a de-aliased color images of the flow with the beamformed data. The method further includes visually presenting the real-time image of the anatomical tissue with the de-aliased color images of the flow superimposed thereover.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aiding users in viewing, assessing and analyzing images, especially images of lumens and medical devices contained within the lumens. Systems and methods for interacting with images of lumens and medical devices, for example through a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A position detection system includes: a capsule medical device configured to generate a position-detecting magnetic field; a plurality of detection coils arranged outside a subject; and a processor including hardware. The processor is configured to correct a magnetic field component caused by a first magnetic field generation material with respect to each of measurement values of detection signals output from the detection coils, the first magnetic field generation material being arranged inside a space that the position-detecting magnetic field generated by the capsule medical device present inside a detection target region is reachable, the detection target region being a region in which a position of the capsule medical device is detectable, the first magnetic field generation material being configured to generate a magnetic field due to action of the position-detecting magnetic field.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interventional apparatus comprising an interventional device with a handle (6). The handle comprises a) a first guide (20, 51) guiding an optical fiber, which is also guided within the interventional device, from a first proximal opening (14) of the handle to a distal portion (21) of the handle, wherein the first guide only has radii of curvature being larger than 10 mm, and b) a second guide (22) for guiding an elongated interventional instrument from a second proximal opening (13) of the handle to the distal portion of the handle. Since the first guide is relatively straight, the optical fiber is substantially not bent or only slightly bent and the likelihood that the interventional instrument and the optical fiber press against each other can be significantly reduced. This allows for an improved accuracy of determining the position of the interventional device by optical shape sensing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining individual-specific blood flow characteristics. One method includes acquiring, for each of a plurality of individuals, individual-specific anatomic data and blood flow characteristics of at least part of the individual's vascular system; executing a machine learning algorithm on the individual-specific anatomic data and blood flow characteristics for each of the plurality of individuals; relating, based on the executed machine learning algorithm, each individual's individual-specific anatomic data to functional estimates of blood flow characteristics; acquiring, for an individual and individual-specific anatomic data of at least part of the individual's vascular system; and for at least one point in the individual's individual-specific anatomic data, determining a blood flow characteristic of the individual, using relations from the step of relating individual-specific anatomic data to functional estimates of blood flow characteristics.