Abstract: Provided is a photoacoustic probe. The photoacoustic probe is configured to control light emitted from an optical unit by using a shutter that is switched between a state in which the shutter is opened to allow light to pass therethrough and a state in which the shutter blocks the light according to whether an inspection starts.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment, a separator separates an arbitrary region of a displayed object represented from image data, in a depth direction, based on a characterizing quantity included in the image data. An image generation controller generates an image to be displayed in which depth direction information is reflected on the arbitrary region of the displayed object, separated by the separator. A display controller causes a monitor being capable of providing a stereoscopic vision to display the image to be displayed generated by the image generation controller.

Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus comprises a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate lights having different wavelengths respectively; an acoustic wave receiving unit configured to receive an acoustic wave by each of the lights having different wavelengths respectively, and convert into an electric signal that corresponds to each of the lights having different wavelengths; a characteristic information acquiring unit configured to acquire characteristic distribution related to each position in the object based on the electric signal; a statistics acquiring unit configured to acquire a histogram from the characteristic distribution; and an image information acquiring unit configured to acquire image information causing a display device to display the characteristic distribution in the object and the histogram.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic measuring device for non-invasively collecting at least one physiological parameter of body tissue by way of an optical measuring unit (100), comprising at least one source of radiation (4) for irradiating the body tissue to be examined, and at least one radiation sensor (5) for detecting the radiation scattered and/or transmitted by the body tissue. The invention proposes the arrangement of the at least one source of radiation (4, 702) within a hollow reflector (701).

Abstract: Diffuse optical flow (DOF) sensors can be used to assess deep tissue flow. DOF sensors positioned on a foot can provide fluctuating light intensity data to an analyzer, which can then determine absolute and/or relative blood flow. The determined absolute and/or relative blood flow can be signaled to an operator, for example a surgeon for intra-operative use. DOF sensors may be utilized to assess pedal revascularization, for example to guide interventional procedures and to evaluate their efficacy. A support structure can carry a plurality of DOF sensors, such that when the support structure is placed onto a patient's foot, the DOF sensors are disposed adjacent different locations on the foot. The different locations may correspond to different topographical regions of the foot, for example different pedal angiosomes.

Abstract: A feeding tube assembly comprising a feeding tube body and an optical system. The feeding tube body includes an administration lumen and an optical lumen. The optical lumen is isolated relative to the administration lumen, with the distal end opening corresponding to the distal opening of the administration lumen. The optical system includes an optical element and an end dispersion element. The optical element is positioned within the optical lumen and the first end of the optical element is attachable to a fiber optic line. The end dispersion element is positioned at the second end of the optical element and is structurally configured to disperse light transmitted through the optical element.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for improving the reliability and accuracy of wearable physiological monitoring devices. A wearable monitoring device may comprise an inner surface configured for at least partial contact with a targeted tissue region of a person. The inner surface may comprise one or more outwardly projecting raised regions. The monitoring device may further comprise a physiological sensor, one or more components of which may be located at or near a raised region of the inner surface. In this manner, sufficient contact between the targeted tissue region and the inner surface, as well as proper placement of the one or more components of the sensor relative to the targeted tissue region, may be achieved. The accuracy and reliability of the monitoring device may also be less susceptible to the effects of ambient light and/or the movements of the user.

Abstract: Vascular conditions are detected non-invasively in the human body using a collection of information from small local regions of the vasculature, or from a specific signature or “BrainPulse” that can be derived from a patient's heartbeat-induced cranium movements. An array of accelerometers or other sensors are engaged against the head of a patient and skull movements, preferably under 100 Hz, are recorded. Vibration signatures of vessel structures such as branches, aneurysms, stenosis, etc. using random, periodic, band limited or transient analysis provides a library for further processing. The signature library is used to localize the origin of the recognized vascular feature, and the localized feature is presented to the physician in a clinically relevant manner.

Abstract: Vascular conditions are detected non-invasively in the human body using a collection of information from small local regions of the vasculature. An array of accelerometers are attached to the head and blood flow sounds are recorded. Vibration signatures of vessel structures such as branches, aneurysms, stenosis, etc. using random, periodic, band limited or transient analysis provides a signature library for further processing. The signature library is used to localize the origin of recognized vascular features and the localized feature is presented to the physician in a clinically relevant manner.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for mounting optical sensors in a physiological monitoring device worn by a user to sense, measure, communicate, and/or display physiological information. The monitoring devices may be embodied as, for example, a fitness band, a bracelet, a watch, or some other wearable device such as an activity tracker, a health, wellness, or sleep monitor, or an athletic training device. The device may comprise one or more light sources and optical detectors. Optical lenses may be mounted in a face of the device for partially receiving or containing the light sources and optical detectors. The devices and methods described herein may optically isolate the light source(s) from the optical detector(s) to ensure the accurate and reliable detection and measurement of physiological information.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for mounting optical sensors in physiological monitoring devices worn by a user to sense, measure, and/or display physiological information. Optical sensors may be mounted in the rear face of the device, emit light proximate a targeted area of a user's body, and detect light reflected from the targeted area. The optical sensor may be mounted in a housing or caseback such that at least a portion of the optical sensor protrudes a distance from at least a portion of the housing. The protrusion distance may be adjustable such that a user may achieve a customized fit of the wearable device. Adjustment of the protrusion distance may also result in a customized level of contact and/or pressure between the optical sensor and the targeted area which may, in turn, result in more reliable and accurate sensing of physiological information.

Abstract: A neural targeting system and method for deep brain stimulation procedures, or other types of brain surgeries requiring targeting, provides high spatial resolution and real-time targeting analysis to identify structural boundaries resulting in increased spatial accuracy. The system and method uses quantitative electrophysiology to update static brain images with an actual microelectrode location and trajectory in the brain to ensure correct placement of a later implanted stimulation probe.

Abstract: A method for estimating a thickness of tissue includes receiving multiple measurements, each measurement indicating (i) a respective mechanical pressure applied to the tissue, and (ii) one or more round-trip propagation times of an ultrasound wave traversing the tissue in the presence of the respective mechanical pressure. A set of the measurements is selected, having mechanical pressures that fall in a specified partial subrange of mechanical-pressure values. The thickness of the tissue is estimated based on the round-trip propagation times in the selected set of the measurements.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that measures an elastic modulus of a vascular wall, the apparatus allowing selection of a heartbeat suitable for the measurement of the elastic modulus. The problem is solved by storing M-mode images at predetermined intervals in the azimuth direction in a B-mode image, selecting a position in the azimuth direction in the B-mode image, and displaying the M-mode image of the selected position together with the B-mode image.

Abstract: An optical light scanning probe is presented, the probe comprising a handle, shaped for grasping by a user; a cannula, protruding from a distal portion of the handle with an outer diameter smaller than 20 gauge; an optical fiber with a distal fiber-portion off a probe-axis, configured to receive a light from a light-source at a proximal fiber-portion, and to emit the received light at the distal fiber-portion; a fixed beam forming unit, disposed at a distal portion of the cannula, configured to receive the light from the distal fiber-portion, and to deflect the received light toward a target region; and a fiber actuator, housed at least partially in the handle, configured to move the distal fiber-portion to scan the deflected light along a scanning curve in the target region.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for current monitoring in ultrasound powered neurostimulation. The apparatus may include an ultrasound transmitter configured to emit an ultrasound output directed at a piezoelectric device implanted in biological tissue. The apparatus may also include a detector configured to detect an induced current in response to the ultrasound output in the biological tissue. The piezoelectric device may include a piezoelectric material and a diode. The apparatus may include a feedback mechanism to control the amount of induced current in the biological tissue.

Abstract: An image-guided system includes an X-ray imaging device for generating one or more X-ray images illustrating a tool within an anatomical region, and an ultrasound imaging device for generating an ultrasound image illustrating the tool within the anatomical region. The image-guided system further includes a tool tracking device for visually tracking the tool within the anatomical region. In operation, the tool tracking device localizes a portion of the tool as located within the ultrasound image responsive to an identification of the portion of the tool as located within the X-ray image(s), and executes an image segmentation of an entirety of the tool as located within the ultrasound image relative to a localization of the portion of the tool as located within the ultrasound image.

Abstract: An optical heart rate sensor stores data indicating the timing of heart beats in a first-in-first-out rolling buffer. During a first condition, new data is added to the rolling buffer and adjusted such that a duration preceding a newly detected heart beat is closer to an average duration between each pair of consecutive heart beats stored in the rolling buffer if the duration preceding the newly detected heart beat differs from the average duration by more than a duration threshold. The rolling buffer is cleared when a number of data adjustments over a predetermined time period exceeds a counting threshold. The rolling buffer is then repopulated such that the duration between each pair of consecutive heart beats is equal to a most recent duration between consecutive heart beats that did not differ from the average duration by more than the duration threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus can be provided according to certain exemplary embodiments. For example, the apparatus can include a waveguiding first arrangement providing at least one electromagnetic radiation. A configuration can be provided that receives and splits the at least one electromagnetic radiation into a first radiation and a second radiation. The apparatus can further include a waveguiding second arrangement which has a first waveguide and a second waveguide, whereas the first waveguide receives the first radiation, and the second waveguide receives the second radiation. The first arrangement, the second arrangement and the configuration can be housed in a probe.

Abstract: System and method for diagnosing brain conditions including evaluating fiber pathways of white matter tracts using a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) process, tracking the propagation of waves traveling at specific angles to the fiber pathways by performing a 3D magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) process at the same spatial resolution and voxel position as the DTI, analyzing the viscoelastic properties using an inversion having at least nine elastic coefficients, determining the curvature along the pathways, differentiating the spatial-spectral filter twice with respect to arc length along the pathways, and diagnosing a brain condition based on the viscoelastic properties.