Abstract: An application interface provides an environment in which applications may discover and attach to data streams. The interface facilitates efficient sharing and management of acquired data through arbitration and parallel processing: allowing multiple applications to work in parallel on the same or different data streams to implement independent or co-dependent functionality. Further, the interface acts as a bridge between system address spaces allowing applications to execute in their own address space separate from the resource intensive acquisition processes. The interface also provides an environment for prototyping applications where a user may allocate data streams to an application and debug the application's execution. Because the interface provides a standardized/normalized interface to the acquired image data, applications may be developed independent of the imaging system's implementation details, data formats and protocols.

Abstract: A method and a computational unit are disclosed for measuring the flow rate of a contrast agent in a vessel of a patient by way of a computed tomography examination. The patient is scanned by x-rays emitted in a fan-shape from two planes and the absorption from a multiplicity of rotational angles is determined while the contrast agent propagates through the at least one vessel. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a three-dimensional data record of local absorption data with the vessel which can be filled by a contrast agent is reconstructed; a set of x-rays which pass through this vessel is determined for a multiplicity of temporally subsequent rotational angles of the x-rays. By determining the changing absorption values along this vessel from the temporally subsequent vessel/ray-sets, the propagation velocity of the contrast agent in this vessel can be determined from the spatial and temporal change in the absorption values in this vessel.

Abstract: A method for in-situ monitoring both the balloon/cavity and the radioactive source in brachytherapy treatment utilizing using at least one pair of miniature gamma cameras to acquire separate images of: 1) the radioactive source as it is moved in the tumor volume during brachytherapy; and 2) a relatively low intensity radiation source produced by either an injected radiopharmaceutical rendering cancerous tissue visible or from a radioactive solution filling a balloon surgically implanted into the cavity formed by the surgical resection of a tumor.

Abstract: A method, system and device for tracking an anatomical structure includes a section having a small cross section relative to the length, a first end of the section having a tip capable of being removably attached to the anatomical structure; and a second end of the section that has two position-indicating sensors located thereon. The position-indicating sensors are tracked and displayed by the system.

Abstract: A medical system and method for treating a disorder of a subject by thermal ablation, e.g., focused ultrasound thermal ablation, are provided. The method includes obtaining medical images that include at least one image of subject's chest and ribs to reconstruct a three-dimensional chest-rib distribution; and applying ultrasound waves on a target point beyond the subject's ribs by selectively activating one or more elements of an ultrasound phased array to avoid ultrasonic energy absorption or reflection by an intervening rib based on a calculation of a relationship between the three-dimensional chest-rib distribution and an acoustic emission direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of substances, compositions, constituents, proportionalities, of examined objects, and abnormalities and diseases associated with human tissue responsive to detected amplitudes and/or frequencies, such as resonant frequencies from the object/body being examined. Data in a database is utilized to identify the unbalanced condition, the foreign, toxic or harmful substance. The identified condition/substance may be used as an aid to select an appropriate treatment or corrective action.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for monitoring long-term potentiation and long-term depression, comprising placing a subject in head down bed rest position and monitoring in real-time cerebral mean blood flow velocity using a transcranial Doppler device during psychophysiologic tasks. The method involves using Fourier analysis of mean blood flow velocity data to derive spectral density peaks of cortical and subcortical processes. The effect of head-down bed rest at different time intervals is seen as accentuation of the cortical peaks in long-term potentiation and attenuation of subcortical peaks in long-term depression, relative to baseline. The effect of different interventions could be evaluated for research, diagnosis, rehabilitation and therapeutic use.

Abstract: A marker for use with a surgical navigation system for tracking the tissue with which the marker is associated. The overall dimensions of the mark is such that it is shaped to be disposed below the skin of the patient in which the marker is implanted. The marker has a stem or a spike that allows the marker to be implanted in hard tissue such as bone. A head, containing navigation system components is located above the stem or spike. Once the procedure is completed the marker is removed from the patient by breaking the head free from the stem Alternatively the head may be rotated to cause the whole of the marker to break free from the bone in which the marker is implanted.

Abstract: A interventional device for RF ablation for use in a RF electrical and/or magnetic field especially of a MR imaging system is disclosed, comprising an ablation catheter which is preferably trackable or can be guided or visualized in the image generated by the MR imaging system by means of a MR micro-coil (102), and which is provided with an ablation electrode (101). The interventional device further comprises a transmission path (103) with line segments (104?, 104?) and transformers (105) therebetween, for connecting the MR micro-coil (102) in a differential mode with a MR receiver (108) and for connecting a RF amplifier (107) in a common mode with the ablation electrode (101) for conveying RF ablation power.

Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed that uses piezoelectric markers. The piezoelectric fields in combination with ultrasound reflections can be used to construct an image of an otherwise difficult to detect feature within a subject's body. In one embodiment, the invention includes a piezoelectric marker, including at least one piece of piezoelectric material, an ultrasound transducer connected to an ultrasound pulser and a receiver, a computer sequencing control connected to the receiver and the ultrasound pulser, a display connected to the computer sequencing control and electrodes connected to the computer sequencing control via amplification circuitry.

Abstract: In a method for operation of a magnetic resonance apparatus having a patient positioning table with a tabletop as well as a control device by which the displacement of the tabletop relative to a homogeneous magnetic field (generated by a magnetic field generation device) and the acquisition of images of an anatomical subject of the patient in a field of view within the homogeneous magnetic field are controlled, the control device determines a suitable stepped displacement of the tabletop using information about the patient size, information about the subject to be acquired and information about the size of the homogeneous magnetic field and/or field of view present relative to the table displacement direction, and the control device controls the tabletop displacement as needed according to the determination result.

Abstract: An operating method is disclosed for an X-ray machine for examining a patient by using a contrast agent in the case of which a preliminary examination is carried out for determining a contrast agent curve in the case of which a series of attenuation values relating to defined scanning instants are acquired at a set scanning position, the contrast agent curve being determined on the basis of the attenuation values, and being stored for a follow-up examination. The contrast agent curve can be loaded during a follow-up examination and need not be determined anew, and so a reduction is attained in the contrast agent used, the applied radiation dose and the examination time. The contrast agent curve can, furthermore, be adapted to the examination situation currently present by taking account of biosignals.

Abstract: A site marker is provided that includes a generally hollow body defining a cavity. At least one marker element is captured within the cavity but is able to move within the cavity. The capturing prevents migration of the marker within a body. The site marker is formed into a predeployment configuration whereby the site marker is compressed into a predetermined size and shape to as to be readily positionable within a deployment device. The site marker expands from the predeployment position to a post deployment configuration upon insertion into the body.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to irradiate three types of ultrasonic waves and light upon a test region in a test object, and to measure modulated light and non-modulated light, the modulated light being modulated by an acousto-optical effect, and a signal processor configured to calculate a modulation depth that is an intensity of the modulated light divided by an intensity of the non-modulated light for the one, and at least one of a scattering characteristic and an absorption characteristic of the test region in the test object by utilizing a first change rate of the modulation depth to an amplitude of the one or an amount corresponding to the first change rate, and a second change rate of the modulation depth to a frequency of the one or an amount corresponding to the second change rate.

Abstract: Methods for measuring atrophy in a brain region occupied by the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. In one example, MRI scans and a computational formula are used to measure the medial-temporal lobe region of the brain over a time interval. This region contains the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex, structures allied with learning and memory. Each year this region of the brain shrank in people who developed memory problems up to six years after their first MRI scan. The method is also applicable for measuring the progression rate of atrophy in the region in an instance where the onset of Alzheimer's disease has already been established.

Abstract: A set of 2D reconstructed images is generated from a pretreatment 3D scan showing an initial position of a target, wherein the set of 2D reconstructed images corresponds to perturbations from said initial position along fewer than six degrees of freedom. Said set of 2D reconstructed images are registered with one or more 2D x-ray images of said target showing a current position of the target, wherein the registering includes computing a set of 3D transformation parameters that represent a change in position of said target between said initial position of said pretreatment 3D scan and said current position of said 2D x-ray images along six degrees of freedom. A positioning system is instructed to adjust a relative position of a radiosurgical beam generator to said target by an amount prescribed by said 3D transformation parameters, wherein said target is allowed six degrees of freedom of position.

Abstract: An automated pressing device (3) for an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus according to the present invention is constituted by being provided with a probe holding member (21) including an attaching portion (31) to which a probe (2) is detachably attached and a griping portion (32) to which the attaching portion is slidably attached together with the probe attached thereto so as to permit advancing and retreating of an ultrasonic transmission and reception plane (27) of the probe, a motive power transmission wire (23) including a flexible cylindrical body (41) of which one end is secured to the griping portion in the probe holding member and an inner wire (42) that is inserted in the cylindrical body and of which one end is coupled to the attaching portion and a pressing motive power means (24) to which the other end of the cylindrical body in the motive power transmission wire is secured and that couples with the other end of the inner wire to advance and retreat the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reconstructing a 3D presentation of a hollow organ based on two-dimensional catheter images, comprising: detecting at least two fluoroscopy images at two different angles of the hollow organ; determining a start position of the catheter from the fluoroscopy images in a three-dimensional model of the hollow organ or a catheter guide; determining a probable withdrawal path of the catheter based on the three-dimensional model; withdrawing the catheter while recording the catheter images and assigning a withdrawal length to each catheter image; determining the deviation of the position of the catheter from a central path running through the middle of the hollow organ and the orientation of the catheter for each catheter image based on the withdrawal path and the withdrawal length; and reconstructing the 3D presentation from the two-dimensional catheter images as well as the deviation of the position of the catheter.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method particularly for 3D gynaecologic inspections provides an ultrasound probe having a number of transducers forming a linear array. An imaging scanning unit connected to the transducers alternatively generates electric driving signals for each transducer. The probe is oscillated in a direction transversal to the longitudinal extension of the linear array of transducers and around an axis coinciding or parallel to the longitudinal extensions of the linear array of transducers to modify the orientation of the direction of propagation of the ultrasound signals. The ultrasound beams are steered so that the linear array of transducers generates a trapezoidal scanning slice or plane diverging in the direction of propagation of the beams.

Abstract: In a system for diagnoses of mammary glands and breasts using radiation and ultrasonic waves in combination, images are correlated for easier visual recognition. The system includes an apparatus for acquiring a radiation image of an object projected on a projection surface, acquiring an ultrasonic slice image of the object along a slice surface substantially orthogonal to the projection surface, and generating first image data representing ultrasonic slice images along slice surfaces, second image data representing a radiation image, and location data representing locations of the slice surfaces on the projection surface; an apparatus for correlating and storing those data; and an apparatus for displaying an ultrasonic slice image based on the first image data, and displaying a radiation image, on which a marker indicating a location of the slice surface on the projection surface is shown, based on the second data and the location data.