Abstract: A fluid injection arrangement in the context of patient imaging systems, in which phases of contrast medium injection and flushing medium injection can be freely and selectably ordered as to make available to the operator and patient a vast array of possible protocols that has hitherto been essentially unattainable. The arrangement provides a programmable KVO phase and the ability to program a first phase of injection procedure as a flushing medium phase.

Abstract: First sensing means senses the three-dimensional position of a microscope, with an operating site as the origin. Second sensing means senses the three dimensional position of a surgical instrument with respect to the microscope. On the basis of the sensing results of the first sensing means and second sensing means, computing means calculates the three-dimensional position of the surgical instrument, with the operating site as the origin.

Abstract: A medical bevel needle (1) having an open bevel end surface 3 is provided, wherein cutting edges (9) that linearly extend from the front end of the front-end portion (2) on the right and left sides diagonally rearwardly are formed either by right and left front ground faces (5) crossing the open bevel end surface (3) or by right and left front ground faces (5) crossing the external circumferential surface (4) of the bevel needle (1), and the maximum lateral width between the cutting edges is limited by right and left rear ground surfaces (6).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting and processing physical space data used while performing image-guided surgery is disclosed. Physical space data is collected by probing physical surface points of surgically exposed tissue. The physical space data provides three-dimensional (3-D) coordinates for each of the physical surface points. Based on the physical space data collected, point-based registrations used to indicate surgical position in both image space and physical space are determined. In one embodiment, the surface of surgically exposed tissue of a living patient is illuminated with laser light. Light reflected from the illuminated surface of the exposed tissue is received and analyzed. In another embodiment, one or more magnetic fields of known shape and size are established in the proximity of the exposed tissue. Data associated with the strength of the magnetic fields is acquired and analyzed.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a magnetic resonance apparatus comprising a magnetic stimulation device, the method comprising bearing a region of a central nervous system of a living examination subject in an imaging volume of the magnetic resonance apparatus, whereby this region is to be imaged, operating the magnetic stimulation device for stimulating at least one prescribable location of the examination subject outside of the region to be imaged and generating a functional magnetic resonance image of the region to be imaged for imaging a neuronal activity of the central nervous system, whereby said neuronal activity is initiated by the stimulation.

Abstract: A C-arm imaging device method, apparatus and system are provided. The apparatus and system includes a module for determining the positions of an imaging source and an imaging receptor and a local gravity vector to determine an imaging source focal point displacement. The apparatus and system may include a module for determining magnetic field distortion. Data obtained by the apparatus and system can be stored for use in subsequent interpolation of imaging source focal point displacement for the C-arm imaging device.

Abstract: An apparatus for computed tomography (CT) imaging of a cyclically moving organ includes a positional state monitor (24, 40) that monitors a positional state of the cyclically moving organ such as the heart. A cone-beam CT scanner (10) acquires image data at least within a plurality of time windows. Each time window is centered about an occurrence of a selected positional state of the organ. A window analyzer (38) selects a data segment within each time window such that the data segments combine to form a complete data set covering a selected angular range. A reconstruction processor (44) reconstructs the selected data segments into an image representation.

Abstract: In a method for detecting the three-dimensional position of a medical examination instrument introduced into an examination region of a subject and an apparatus including a C-arm system for registering radiation images, two-dimensional angiography projection images of the examination region are registered for later three-dimensional volume reconstruction of the examination region. After introduction of the instrument, at least one two-dimensional projection image pair of the examination region with image planes residing at an angle relative to one another is registered. The spatial coordinates of a selected point of the instrument shown in the projection images are identified in a common coordinate system for the angiography projection images and the projection images. Two-dimensional projection image pairs are registered in succession for the continuous presentation of the selected point in the display of the aforementioned volume reconstruction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for decreasing gradient field pulse sequence duration and reducing peripheral nerve stimulation with known gradient pulse areas for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The method comprising: receiving a first desired area corresponding to a first pulse; obtaining a second desired area corresponding to a second pulse; selecting the first pulse as a nested pulse if the first desired area is smaller than the second desired area, and establishing the second pulse as a nesting pulse, otherwise selecting the second pulse as the nested pulse and establishing the first pulse as the nesting pulse. The method also includes: determining an amplitude and pulse duration for the nested pulse and ascertaining an amplitude and pulse duration for the nesting pulse. Finally, the method includes arranging a plurality of gradient field pulse sequences to include the nested pulse and the nesting pulse.

Abstract: A low cost, accurate, single use, disposable, iontophoretic fluid delivery device having cationic and anionic chambers separated by container structure and arranged to promote a flow of treatment ions into a body. The device desirably uses rugged minibatteries safely to provide increased electromotive force to the ion transfer process compared to galvanic cells having electrolyte matched to a human body's electrolyte. Minibatteries may be located in one or both cationic and anionic chambers, and/or attached to structure of a container outside the chambers. A shunt resistance may be arranged in a parallel circuit to the body to control delivery of a beneficial agent in any amount between 1 mAmp-min to 500 mAmp-min, or more. Substrates, located in the chambers and adapted to hold electrolyte or treatment drugs, may be electrically conductive to resist polarization of the chemicals near a conducting terminal.

Abstract: An object, such as an example blood vessel, in a two or three dimensional image data set is segmented. An adaptable model, such as an example cylinder model, is defined around a starting point in the example blood vessel and is adapted or fit to the blood vessel. A plurality of candidate next active points are defined around the starting point and the adaptable model is defined around each candidate point. The models around the candidate points are adapted to the blood vessel. Based on results of the fitted models, a next active point is selected. In this manner, the blood vessel is segmented by adapting a series of cylinder models to an inner surface of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A fluorescence image display apparatus is provided; wherein, when a pseudo color image representing the tissue state of a target subject is obtained, based on a fluorescence image emitted from the target subject upon the irradiation thereof by an excitation light, the tissue state can be recognized regardless of the intensity of the fluorescent light. Based upon the statistical quantity of a wide band fluorescence image computed by a statistical quantity computing means, a gain that the wide band and narrow band fluorescence image data are to be multiplied by is computed by a gain computing means. A gain multiplying means multiplies the wide band and narrow band fluorescence image data by the gain, whereby a green gradation is assigned to the wide band fluorescence image and a red gradation is assigned to the narrow band fluorescence image, and a composite image data is obtained by an image composing means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for Raman imaging of carotenoids and related chemical substances in biological tissue, such as macular pigments. The method and apparatus utilize the technique of resonance Raman spectroscopy to produce an image of the levels of carotenoids and similar substances in tissue. In this technique, light is directed upon the area of tissue which is of interest such as the retina of an eye. A small fraction of the scattered light is scattered inelastically, producing a carotenoid Raman signal which is at a different frequency than the incident light. The Raman signal is collected, filtered, and analyzed to determine the spatial position and intensity of the Raman signals in the inelastically scattered light. An image of the Raman signals is then produced on an output device, with the image representing the spatial distribution and concentration level of carotenoids in the tissue.

Abstract: A miniature ingestible imaging capsule having a membrane defining an internal cavity and being provided with a window is provided. A lens is disposed in relation to said window and a light source disposed in relation to the lens for providing illumination to outside of the membrane through the window. An imaging array is disposed in relation to the lens, wherein images from the lens impinge on the imaging array. A transmitter is disposed in relation to the imaging array for transmitting a signal from the imaging array to an associated transmitter outside of the membrane. The lens, light source imaging array, and transmitter are enclosed within the internal cavity of the capsule.

Abstract: A low profile acoustic array (10) is configured to selectively respond to shear waves while rejecting compression wave energy in the frequency range of interest. One sensor array is configured as a linear strip with a frame segment having at least one longitudinally extending rail and a plurality of sensor elements (20) extending therefrom. These sensor elements have a resilient core and opposing PDVF outer layers configured with opposing polarities onto the core. The linear strip array also includes a pair of separate electrical signal transmission paths. The transmission lines can include a series of undulations formed thereon to help minimize undesired mechanical crossover between sensors. A carrier member can be configured to be detachably releasable carries the discrete sensors to maintain the positional alignment until they are secured to a patient.

Abstract: A biological optical measuring instrument comprising a measuring probe (101) for collecting light from a plurality of portions of a subject (214) transmitted through the subject (214) by means of an optical fiber (108) by guiding light emitted from a light source (102) by an optical fiber (107), and irradiating the light to the subject (214) so as to create a living body transmitted light intensity image of the subject (214) from the transmitted and collected light. The measuring probe (101) further comprises optical fiber fixing members (201, 210, 211) for fixing the optical fibers (107, 108) at a predetermined interval and support members (202, 204, 205) for rockably supporting the optical fiber fixing members. Thus, it is possible to provide a technique of performing living body optical measurement while the living body lies in lateral decubitus.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for diagnosing and treating amblyoptic conditions within the human vision system, wherein optical magnification is used to provide an amblyopic eye with more photonic energy than the non-amblyopic eye during treatment so as to over-stimulate the neural pathways along the visual channel of the amblyopic eye, and eventually achieve harmony along the both visual channels of the patient over the course of treatment, without the use of occlusion therapy.

Abstract: A method for generating colonography images for colorectal screening of a patient. The patient is administered an amount of radiopaque stool marker which will enable stool present in the patient's colon to be distinguished from soft tissue. The patient's colon is imaged after the stool marker has been administered to generate colonography images. Preparation of the colon is simulated by processing the colonography images to remove marked stool before the images are observed during a diagnosis session.

Abstract: An improved technique is described for acquiring MR image data such as needed for FSE-based Dixon imaging techniques. A gradient-induced echo shift is produced in the pulse sequences by a small gradient applied along the readout axis prior to a readout pulse. When necessary, another small pulse is applied along the readout axis, equal in area and opposite in polarity to the first, to compensate for the shifting effect. Similar pulses are applied for each acquisition window. While data with non-zero phase shifts between water and fat signals are collected as fractional echoes, no increase in echo spacing is necessary with the modified acquisition strategy. Images corresponding to different phase shifts are reconstructed using phase-sensitive partial Fourier reconstruction algorithms whenever necessary. These images are then used to separate different chemical species (such as water and fat) in the object to be imaged.

Abstract: A self-contained portable unit for heating physiological fluids is disclosed. A heat exchanger is disposable to ensure sterility, and the hot exchanger is attached to a heating system by inserting it between opposed fluid connection elements. One of the fluid connection elements is movable to permit the heat exchanger to be installed and removed easily by inserting one end of the heat exchanger in one of the fluid connection units and moving the other fluid connection unit into contact with an opposite end of the heat exchanges. The heating fluid is heated by an electric heating element and is circulated by an electric pump.