Abstract: A three-dimensional model for a patient fixation device that serves to immobilize at least a portion of a particular patient when capturing CT image information of that patient is accessed and then registered with the pixels that correspond to the patient fixation device in the CT image. The model can specify rules of movement for each of a plurality of structural elements that comprise the patient fixation device and that are capable of movement relative to one another. By one approach the aforementioned registration occurs on a part-by-part basis for each of the structural elements. Following registration, the CT image can be automatically segmented.

Abstract: A system includes a treatment probe, a first tracking sensor configured to track a location of the treatment probe, an ultrasound imager, a second tracking sensor configured to track a location of the ultrasound imager, and a tracking system. The ultrasound imager generates real-time ultrasound images. The tracking system receives location information from the first and second tracking sensors, tracks the location of the treatment probe and the location of the ultrasound imager, and displays the real-time ultrasound images and a representation of the treatment probe in one or more pre-stored images.

Abstract: An apparatus that detects a tip of an interventional tool based on at least two ultrasound images reconstructed for different beam steering angles within a volumetric region that includes the tool. The apparatus includes an image processor. The image processor includes a tip detection module used to perform a tip tool detection procedure. The tip tool detection procedure involves identifying shadow regions of the tool in the at least two ultrasound images and determining the position of the tip of the tool within the volumetric region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for positioning an articulated arm of a medical robot assisted by a navigation system comprising an electromagnetic field generator and two sensors. The generated field forms a measurement zone in which the position of a sensor can be determined by the navigation system and communicated to the robot. A first sensor is positioned at an anatomical location of interest of a patient. A second sensor is positioned on the articulated arm. When the two sensors are located in the measurement zone, a so-called “region of reduced influence” of the measurement zone is determined, in which the introduction of a metal object has virtually no influence on the determination of the position of the sensors by the navigation system. The articulated arm is then configured so that any metal part of the articulated arm located in the measurement zone is situated within the region of reduced influence.

Abstract: Tools used within a surgical area may be equipped with sensors that allow them to be tracked within the magnetic field of an image guided surgery (IGS) system. The IGS system may be configured to detect various movement patterns of the tools, which may be mapped to and associated with corresponding actions or inputs to the IGS system. In one example, a registration probe may be moved along the x-axis and y-axis, with detected movements identified and received by the IGS system as movements of a mouse cursor on a display of the IGS system. In another example, the registration probe may be moved in a circular pattern, or quickly moved along any of the x-axis, y-axis, or z-axis, with each being configured to cause the IGS system to zoom a display, change a view, record video, or other actions.

Abstract: A system and method for determining stenosis severity in a subject's vasculature using multi-energy computer tomography (MECT) imaging is provided. In some aspects, the method includes acquiring MECT data using a CT system, performing a material decomposition process on acquired MECT data to generate one or more material density maps, and selecting, using the one or more material density maps, one or more regions of interest (ROIs) encompassing at least one vessel cross-section. The method also includes measuring an iodine content in the one or more ROIs, and determining a stenosis severity based on the measured iodine content. The method further includes generating a report indicating the stenosis severity associated with the subject's vasculature.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe is tested for failure of 5 elements of its array transducer by operating the probe with its lens in contact with the air. The echo signals produced during this mode of operation are beamformed into the usual set of scanlines produced by the probe. The frequency response of 10 each scanline is analyzed and compared with a reference signal of the frequency response of the corresponding scanline of a known good probe of the same type as the probe under test. If a comparison reveals a variance greater than a predetermined 15 deviation, the user is alerted that the probe should be replaced.

Abstract: Various approaches for regulating microbubbles in a treatment procedure for a target include generating a tissue-sensitivity map including multiple regions, at least one of the regions being outside the target region, the tissue-sensitivity map assigning, to each of the regions, a sensitivity level indicative of tissue sensitivity to the interaction between the microbubbles and an acoustic beam; select one or more interaction regions based at least in part on the tissue-sensitivity map; and activating the ultrasound transducer so as to generate the acoustic beam for interacting with the microbubbles in the selection interaction region(s) in the tissue-sensitivity map, thereby indirectly changing a characteristic of the microbubbles at the target region.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic system includes a portable ultrasound diagnostic device and an extended docking device to which the portable ultrasound diagnostic device is detachably mounted, wherein at least one of the probes and channels are extended when the portable ultrasound diagnostic device is mounted to the extended docking device. Also, the ultrasound diagnostic system may further include an indoor ultrasound diagnostic device including a portable docking part, and the portable ultrasound diagnostic device may include a cart-based docking part and be connected to the indoor ultrasound diagnostic device. The ultrasound diagnostic system may enhance portability of the portable ultrasound diagnostic device and simultaneously achieves superior ultrasound diagnostic performance and quality also in the portable ultrasound diagnostic device through extension of the probes, signal channels, diagnostic items, or diagnostic performance, as occasion demands.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a gamma camera system, including: a stand, a rotatable gantry supported by the stand, and a transformable gamma camera connected by mechanical supports to the rotatable gantry and comprising groups of tiled arrays of gamma detectors and a collimator for each group of tiled arrays of gamma detectors; the transformable gamma camera being configured to subdivide into a plurality of subdivided gamma cameras, each of the subdivided gamma cameras having at least one of the groups of tiled arrays of gamma detectors and corresponding collimator, wherein the subdivision into a plurality of subdivided gamma cameras facilitates contouring with a region of interest for a spatial resolution. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides biophotonic topical compositions and methods useful in phototherapy. In particular, the biophotonic topical compositions of the present disclosure are substantially resistant to leaching such that very low amounts of chromophore(s) present in the biophotonic composition leach out of the composition. The biophotonic compositions and the methods of the present disclosure are useful for promoting wound healing and skin rejuvenation, as well as treating acne and various skin disorders.

Abstract: A system and method for providing dynamic 3-D anatomical visualizations generates a 3D visualization of a patient's airway that may be dynamically transformed to characterize changes to the airway (e.g., as the patient breathes, when patient performs a Mueller's manoeuvre, and/or in response to mandibular repositioning). The 3D visualization is generated based on an integration of static 3D image data and acoustic reflection measurements of the airway determined and provided by an acoustic reflection measurement device. The movements or changes to the region of interest may be determined based on real-time dynamic readings taken by the acoustic reflection measurement device, and the 3D visualization may be transformed in real-time or near real-time stream based on the dynamic readings. The transformation of the 3D visualization provides an animated visualization of the airway.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to sequentially obtain eigenvalues of a correlation matrix of a scan range, the correlation matrix being obtained from a data sequence of reflected-wave data in mutually the same position acquired by performing an ultrasound scan on the scan range formed with a plurality of scanning lines. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a filter coefficient to be applied to a Moving Target Indicator (MTI) filter, on a basis of the plurality of eigenvalues obtained at mutually-different points in time.

Abstract: A system for monitoring blood flow in a patient, the system comprising: a single-element disc-shaped ultrasound transducer for fastening to the patient and a controller subsystem. The controller subsystem is configured to: control the ultrasound transducer to transmit a series of plane-wave pulses into the patient in a propagation direction; sample reflections of the plane-wave pulses, received at the ultrasound transducer, from a region within the patient, to generate pulse-Doppler response signals; and process the pulse-Doppler response signals to calculate a blood flow curve for waveform analysis.

Abstract: A sensor coil assembly comprises a positioning sensor comprising a wound coil formed by a first conductive wire segment wound around a longitudinal axis. The first conductive wire segment can include a first coil end and a second coil end. A second conductive wire segment can extend from the first coil end of the first conductive wire segment. The second conductive wire segment can be wound around a first bobbin. A third conductive wire segment can extend from the second coil end of the first conductive wire segment. The third conductive wire segment can be wound around a second bobbin.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI). More specifically, clinical applications of the disclosed include magnetic resonance (MR) guided procedures such as endovascular interventions, percutaneous biopsies or deep brain stimulation.

Abstract: Infrared imaging devices are provided which are configured to implement side-scan infrared imaging for, e.g., medical applications. For example, an imaging device includes a ring-shaped detector element comprising a circular array of infrared detectors configured to detect thermal infrared radiation, and a focusing element configured to focus incident infrared radiation towards the circular array of infrared detectors. The imaging device can be an ingestible imaging device (e.g., swallowable camera) or the imaging device can be implemented as part of an endoscope device, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying potential ablation sites using principal component analysis (PCA) are provided. A method includes generating a dataset for analysis, the dataset including a plurality of variables and generated using imaging data associated with a three-dimensional geometry that includes a plurality of vertices. The method further includes performing PCA on the generated dataset to identify a plurality of principal components and to generate, for each vertex of the plurality of vertices, a score associated with each of the plurality of principal components. The method further includes transposing the scores for each vertex onto the three-dimensional geometry, and displaying, using the computing device, the three-dimensional geometry including the transposed scores to facilitate identifying potential ablation sites.

Abstract: Provided is a medical image analyzing system and a method thereof, which includes: acquiring a processed image having a segmentation label corresponding to a cancerous part of an organ (if present), generating a plurality of image patches therefrom, performing feature analysis on the image patches and model training to obtain prediction values, drawing a receiver operating characteristic curve using the prediction values, and determining a threshold with which determines whether the image patches are cancerous, so as to effectively improve the detection rate of, for example, pancreatic cancer.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for cuff-less blood pressure measurement in a mobile device. A key aspect of this disclosure is the discovery of a new location for blood pressure measurement at the fingertip of a subject and that reflectance-mode photoplethysmography can be used to help make this measurement. Through experiments in human subjects, it was discovered that it is indeed possible to measure systemic blood pressure by having a subject press the fingertip against a reflectance-mode photo-plethysmography-force sensor unit under visual guidance and then compute blood pressure from the resulting variable-amplitude blood volume oscillations and applied pressure via an oscillometric algorithm.