Abstract: The invention is concerned with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), particularly NMR spectroscopy. It provides hyperpolarization methods offering enhanced sensitivity of detection over conventional NMR for studying the fate of a test compound in a biological system. The methods are particularly suitable for studying metabolism and toxicity of drugs. The resulting NMR sensitivity increase is advantageous in two key aspects of NMR detection: test compounds can be detected at lower concentrations and substantial time saving can be achieved in cases where extensive averaging is conventionally employed to increase the signal to noise ratio of the corresponding NMR spectra. The methods can be used for studios that were not practical or not possible using conventional NMR.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic wave diagnosis instrument. The ultrasonic wave Doppler diagnosis instrument transmits an ultrasonic continuous wave in a range direction and receives a reflective wave of the ultrasonic continuous wave. The ultrasonic wave Doppler diagnosis instrument includes: a modulation unit that subjects the ultrasonic continuous wave to frequency modulation such that a phase is varied in accordance with the distance of the range direction; a demodulation unit that demodulates the reflective wave for each range of the range direction while interlocking with the frequency modulation, and generates a reception signal in the range in a separated state; and a presentation unit that presents information by using a signal of a Doppler component based on the reception signal.

Abstract: A medical instrument including a probe adapted to be inserted into an orifice of an animal's body. The instrument includes an emitter of electromagnetic radiation that is sensed by a sensor mounted on the probe. The sensor can then determine, by variations in the amount of radiation received from the emitter, whether a probe cover is mounted over the probe. A sensor can also be used to determine whether the walls of the body orifice block the radiation received from the emitter, thereby indicating position of the sensor, and thus, the probe within the orifice. A special probe cover is disclosed, and methods of using the medical instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polymers as contrast agents for ultrasounds. The idea is to have a molecular imprint in the polymer that is specific for a given molecule or analyte. When that molecule binds to the polymer it induces a conformational change that results in an increase in the ultrasound signal, referred to as a target-bound state. The method can also be used for example for quantitative measurements of analytes.

Abstract: A transmission and reception unit repeatedly scans a three-dimensional scanning area including a specific part of a patient with an ultrasonic beam via an ultrasonic probe. A volume data set generation unit generates a plurality of volume data sets whose scanning times different from one another in accordance with the output from the transmission and reception unit. A section image generation unit respectively generates the data of a plurality of the section images concerning the predetermined section of the specific part based on the plurality of the volume data sets. An image display unit displays the plurality of section images by changing at least one of the position and the size of each of the plurality of section images against the display area in accordance with variation of at least one of the position and the shape of the specific part on the plurality of section images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which moving images of rapidly moving tissues and organs can be preferably displayed in real time and the lower power consumption can be achieved. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe including plural ultrasonic transducers for transmitting ultrasonic waves toward an object to be inspected according to drive signals and receiving ultrasonic echoes propagating from the object to output reception signals, an image generating unit for supplying the drive signals to the ultrasonic probe and processing the reception signals outputted from the ultrasonic probe to generate image signals representing ultrasonic images, and a display unit including a display of an impulse drive type for displaying the ultrasonic images based on the image signals generated by the image generating unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for imaging and display of features of a region of interest such as a portion of a body of a patient. A first imaging portion of the system is used to cause an interaction of an imaging beam with an underlying feature of a region of interest. A reflected or returned portion of said imaging beam is detected by a detector which then provides an output to control a display portion of the system for displaying an image corresponding to that which was detected. The system can be used for guiding or assisting clinical or industrial operations or for diagnosis of medical conditions and other uses within medicine, industry and others.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to a method and/or a device for automatically differentiating types of kidney stones using computed tomography. The method provides two image data records of two computed tomography pictures of an object area including the kidney stones that have been recorded in the context of a different spectral distribution of the X-radiation. For each voxel of a slice of the object area that has X-ray attenuation values typical of kidney stones there is calculated from the two image data records a ratio r that is yielded from X-ray attenuation values of the voxel and prescribed X-ray attenuation values of pure urine in the context of the different spectral distributions of the X-radiation. The respective voxel is assigned to one of at least two types of kidney stones as a function of the variable r.

Abstract: The invention relates to non-fouling hydrophobic reflective surfaces for a variety of applications which in one embodiment related to medical device applications comprises a method of performing a medical procedure using a surgical navigation system which includes the steps of placing one or more reflective spheres on a surgical instrument or apparatus, the reflective spheres comprising a hydrophobic coating on a sub-micron structured surface of the spheres, wherein the spheres substantially maintain their reflective properties after the spheres are contacted with a biological fluid; shining light on the reflective spheres; capturing reflected light from the spheres with a camera or other device; and registering and/or tracking a location and/or position of the spheres.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for locally-resolved visualization of the reconstruction quality, especially of the coverage of a target volume to be recorded as an image and reproduced in a three-dimensional reconstruction volume presentation, especially in the human body, by two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images covering subareas of the volume recorded by a recording device arranged inside the target volume, with which the three-dimensional reconstruction volume presentation is created, with the subareas of the target volume covered by the individual images being determined and a visual locally-resolved presentation of the reconstruction quality, especially of the coverage, being created and output as a function of the subarea coverage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for performing coordinate transformation for navigation-guided procedures using an imaging diagnostic tool, especially an X-ray diagnostic tool, and a position-determining system. In the vicinity of the image receiver, the diagnostic tool has one or more three-dimensional reference structure that can be touched with a pointer of a position-determining system. From the known geometry of the three-dimensional reference structure and the coordinates of the touched points determined by the position-determining system, a coordinate transformation is created between the coordinate system of the diagnostic tool and the coordinate system of the position-determining system. Navigation for an instrument captured by the position-determining system can be performed in reconstructed images of the diagnostic tool after the registration procedure.

Abstract: Various methods and devices for minimally invasive treatment and prevention of conditions of the fascia are provided. In one aspect, a method includes providing an acoustic wave source effective to deliver a focused acoustic wave to a target site within a patient's body focusing an acoustic wave through a patient's skin such that at least one location in the patient's fascia is fenestrated in a desired pattern.

Abstract: A small-scale diagnostic system and a display control method are provided. In the diagnostic system, while image data on a patient is displayed on a screen of a medical image control device, when image data on another patient is received from an image generating device, and the medical doctor wants to display the received image data on the another patient on the screen for examining the image and diagnosing the another patient, the displayed image on the screen can be switched to that of the image data on the another patient by a simple operation of depressing a patient selection button. This enables the medical doctor to perform image diagnosis efficiently in a small-scale facility such as a clinic.

Abstract: An ultrasound scanner is equipped with one or more fuzzy control units that can perform adaptive system parameter optimization anywhere in the system. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises a plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems configured to generate an ultrasound image, the plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems including a transmitter subsystem, a receiver subsystem, and an image processing subsystem; and a fuzzy logic controller communicatively coupled with at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems.

Abstract: A treatment device and methods for HIFU treatment of thyroid and parathyroid disorders are provided. The treatment method includes steps of identifying a treatment zone and directing high intensity focused ultrasound energy towards the treatment zone. The treatment device has a first sensor for detecting swallowing motion and a second sensor for tracking the motion of the thyroid and parathyroid tissue with ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: This is an image diagnosing support method comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of images obtained by imaging the same region of the same object with one or more medical imaging apparatuses and having positional information at the time each of the images was picked up; a selecting step of selecting a first image and a second image out of the plurality of images; a displaying step of displaying the first image and the second image; a step of designating one or more of first reference points on the first image; a step of figuring out second reference points, on the second image, each matching one or another of the first reference points; a first step of extracting for each of the first reference points a first region containing that point within it; and a second step of extracting for each of the second reference points a second region containing that point within it, characterized in that either one of the first step and the second step is performed earlier or both are at the same time.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a transducer array which is moved to scan a patient with ultrasonic energy. The array is located in a fluid chamber (42) which is enclosed by an acoustic window end cap (34). The acoustic window cap is coated with a thin conductive layer (38) which shields the transducer and its motive mechanism from EFI/RFI emissions. The conductive layer is coupled to a reference potential.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for carrying out data collection on electrodes placed on a body for subsequent processing of an electrical impedance tomography image of a corresponding part of said body. In order to improve the resolution of electrical impedance tomography systems without noticeably affecting the signal-to-noise ratio, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of placing the electrodes on a peripheral line around the body, applying a current pattern from a current source to at least one pair of electrodes, and measuring differential potentials between pairs of electrodes, wherein at least one intermediate electrode lies in between each pair of electrodes for measuring the differential potentials and the differential potentials of one current pattern for the subsequent image processing refer to at least three different pairs of electrodes with no electrode used more than twice for each current pattern.

Abstract: NMR spectroscopy is performed on intervertebral disc tissue. Extent of degeneration is determined based on the NMR spectroscopy. Correlation between NMR spectral regions and at least one of tissue degeneration and pain are made. Accordingly, NMR spectroscopy is used to determine location and/or extent of at least one of degeneration or pain associated with a region of tissue, such as for example in particular disc degeneration, or discogenic pain. NMR spectral peak ratios, such as between N-Acetyl/cho and cho/carb, are readily acquired and analyzed to predict degree of tissue degeneration and/or pain for: tissue samples using HR-MAS spectroscopy; and larger portions of anatomy such as joint segments such as a spine, using clinical 3 T MRI systems with surface head or knee coils; and tissue regions such as discs within spines of living patients using 3 T MRI systems with a surface spine coil, thus providing a completely non-invasive diagnostic toolset and method to image and localize degeneration and/or pain.

Abstract: A medical-device magnetic guiding position detecting system that can prevent a decrease in the strength of a position detecting magnetic field in an operating area of a medical device is provided. The medical-device magnetic guiding position detecting system includes a medical device that is disposed in the body of a subject and that includes at least one magnet and a circuit including an internal coil, a first magnetic field generating unit for generating a first magnetic field in the operating area of the medical device, position detecting means for detecting an induction magnetic field induced in the internal coil due to the first magnetic field, and at least one pair of opposing coils for generating a second magnetic field that acts on the at least one magnet. The opposing coils forming each of the at least one pair are independently driven.