Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for location sensor-based branch prediction. In one aspect, the method includes determining a first orientation of an instrument based on first location data generated by a set of one or more location sensors for the instrument and determining a second orientation of the instrument at a second time based on second location data. A distal end of the instrument is located within a first segment of a model at the first time and the second time and the first segment branches into two or more child segments. The method also includes determining data indicative of a difference between the first orientation and the second orientation and determining a prediction that the instrument will advance into a first one of the child segments based on the data indicative of the difference.

Abstract: A method for determining a physical characteristic on a punctual location inside a medium, comprising the steps of: sending an emitted sequence comprising emitted pulses having different amplitudes, receiving a received sequence comprising received pulses corresponding to echoes of emitted pulses, calculating a phase difference between the received pulses relative to the emitted pulses, and determining the physical characteristic on the bases of a phase difference.

Abstract: Methods for using registered real-time images and prior-time anatomic images during an image-guided procedure are provided herein. An exemplary method includes obtaining a three-dimensional image of a patient anatomy and a portion of a medical instrument disposed therein. The three-dimensional image includes image information characterizing a shape of the portion of the medical instrument. A processing device segments the portion of the medical instrument from the three-dimensional image. Shape data is obtained from the portion of the medical instrument while the portion is positioned within the patient anatomy, and the processing device registers the segmented shape of the portion of the medical instrument with the shape data from the portion of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system comprises receiving shape information for an elongate flexible portion of a medical instrument. The medical instrument includes a reference portion movably coupled to a fixture having a known pose in a surgical reference frame. The fixture includes a constraint structure having a known constraint structure location in the surgical reference frame. The elongate flexible portion is coupled to the reference portion and is sized to pass through the constraint structure. The method further includes receiving reference portion position information in the surgical reference frame; determining an estimated constraint structure location in the surgical reference frame from the reference portion position information and the shape information; determining a correction factor by comparing the estimated constraint structure location to the known constraint structure location; and modifying the shape information based upon the correction factor.

Abstract: This X-ray imaging apparatus is provided with an image controller for generating a composite image by superimposing a plurality of X-ray images. The image controller includes a detection processing unit configured to detect both a marker for indicating a position of a predetermined target object to be indwelled in a body of a subject and a device to be placed in the body of the subject separately from the predetermined target object, in the generated X-ray image. The image controller includes a composition processing unit configured to generate the composite image by superimposing the plurality of X-ray images based on the detected marker and the detected device.

Abstract: A tracking system can be used to track a plurality of tracking devices. A representation of at least two instruments may be displayed relative to image data. The representation is customizable to distinguish between the at least two instruments.

Abstract: A physiological information system includes a patient monitor configured to acquire a vital sign based on a vital sign signal of a subject, and an ultrasonic measuring apparatus configured to acquire ultrasonic images based on ultrasonic waves transmitted toward the subject and received from the subject. The patient monitor includes a storage device configured to store measured data of the vital signs in association with measurement dates and times, and to store the ultrasonic images in association with image capture timings, and a controller configured to display a screen on a display section based on data, including the measured data and the ultrasonic images, stored in the storage device.

Abstract: An image acquisition unit acquires a radiographic image set including a plurality of radiographic images, which have been generated by alternately irradiating a subject with radiation emitted from a plurality of radiation sources provided at different positions and alternately detecting the radiation transmitted through the subject using one detection unit, at a predetermined time interval. A feature point detection unit detects at least one common feature point in the subject from each of the plurality of radiographic images included in the radiographic image set. A positional information derivation unit derives three-dimensional positional information of the at least one feature point in the subject using a positional relationship between a position of the at least one feature point detected from each of the plurality of radiographic images on a detection surface of the detection unit and positions of the plurality of radiation sources.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively estimating an absolute blood flow of a vascular region in a subject using optical data are provided. In some aspects, the method includes acquiring optical data from the vascular region using one or more optical sensors placed about the subject, and determining, using the optical data, an index of blood flow and a blood volume associated with the vascular region. The method also includes computing a blood inflow and a blood outflow using the index of blood flow and the blood volume, and estimating an absolute blood flow using the blood inflow and blood outflow. The method further includes generating a report indicative of the absolute blood flow of the vascular region.

Abstract: The inventors have developed tools for quantifying the mitochondrial redox state of in vivo, in situ tissue using resonance Raman spectroscopy. The tissue is illuminated with an excitation beam that causes the tissue to scatter Raman-shifted light, which is collected and analyzed to produce coefficients representing the relative concentrations of different chromophores in the tissue. These relative concentrations indicate the redox state of whole mitochondria, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, myoglobin oxygen saturation, and/or redox state of individual cytochrome complexes in mitochondria of the in vivo, in situ tissue. Quantifiable information about these states and/or saturations can be used to assess tissue health, including organ (dys)function before, during, and after surgery. For example, this information can be used to predict impending cardiac failure, to guide surgical interventions, to monitor organ health after transplantation, or to guide post-operative care.

Abstract: Ultrasound systems having a computing device, a steering mechanism, and an ultrasound transducer are disclosed. The ultrasound transducer is configured to generate angularly discrete signals over a scan region of the ultrasound system in response to inputs from the steering mechanism. The computing device is communicatively coupled to the ultrasound transducer. The computing device includes a processor configured to receive angularly discrete ultrasound signals from the ultrasound transducer over the scan region, determine a scan line count corresponding to each of the received angularly discrete ultrasound signals, associate a TGC curve with each of the scan line counts, apply a TGC curve to each of the angularly discrete ultrasound signals as associated with the scan line count of each angularly discrete ultrasound signal, where each of the applied TGC curves defines a gain that maintains, increases, or decreases the angularly discrete ultrasound signal to which it is applied, over time.

Abstract: An electromagnetic (EM) probe for monitoring at least one biological tissue. The EM probe comprises a spiral antenna conductor (not shown) and an EM radiation absorbing layer (92) mounted along the antenna. The EM radiation absorbing layer has a plurality of substantially concentric frame shaped regions (93A-C) corresponding to portions of said spiral antenna having equal surface of antenna conductor, any of said plurality of concentric frame shaped regions has an EM radiation absorption coefficient different than any other of said neighboring concentric frame shaped regions.

Abstract: A micro impulse radar (MIR) system includes an MIR transceiver circuit configured to transmit, towards a subject, at least one transmitted radar signal, and receive at least one radar return signal. The system includes a control circuit configured to generate a control signal defining a radar signal parameter of the at least one transmitted radar signal, provide the control signal to the MIR transceiver circuit to cause the MIR transceiver circuit to transmit the at least one transmitted signal based on the radar signal parameter, and determine, based on the at least one radar return signal, a physiological parameter of the subject.

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasound imaging apparatus and an operation method for registering an ultrasound image and an image from another modality. The ultrasound imaging apparatus may register the ultrasound image and the image from the other modality based on a three-dimensional positional relationship between at least one external electromagnetic sensor attached to a patient's body and an ultrasound probe and on a position of a feature point extracted from the image from the other modality.

Abstract: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a frequency characteristic analysis circuit, a filter setting circuit, and a filter processing circuit. The frequency characteristic analysis circuit performs a frequency analysis on a first reception signal corresponding to a region of interest of each depth, and acquires a frequency characteristic of each depth. The filter setting circuit sets a reception filter of each depth based on the acquired frequency characteristic of each depth such that the acquired frequency characteristic of each depth shows a predetermined frequency characteristic. The filter processing circuit applies the set reception filter of each depth to a second reception signal corresponding to the region of interest of each depth, the second reception signal being after the first reception signal, and converts the second reception signal into a third reception signal corresponding to the region of interest of each depth.

Abstract: Provided is a method of adjusting brightness of an ultrasound image including: generating at least one first image representing a region of interest (ROI) by using echo signals corresponding to ultrasound waves irradiated toward the ROI; adjusting brightness of the at least one first image based on an external signal for selecting at least one selected from a plurality of prestored gradation data and a plurality of prestored image data; and generating a second image representing the ROI based on the adjusted brightness.

Abstract: Systems and methods for path length selected diffuse correlation spectroscopy (PLS-DCS) are disclosed. The systems and methods are suitable for measuring dynamics of a target medium. The systems and methods can utilize light sources having a coherence length that is shorter than a path length distribution of the target medium and can utilize a reference optical path to interferometrically detect PLS-DCS signals. The coherence length and reference path length can be selected to provide sensitivity to portions of the target medium that correspond to a desired path length distribution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating MRI images of the lungs and/or airways of a subject using a medical grade gas mixture comprises between about 20-79% inert perfluorinated gas and oxygen gas. The images are generated using acquired 19F magnetic resonance image (MRI) signal data associated with the perfluorinated gas and oxygen mixture.

Abstract: A system for controlling ablation treatment and visualization is disclosed where the system comprises a tissue ablation instrument having one or more deployable stylets and a first electromagnetic sensor and an ultrasound imaging instrument which may be configured to generate an ultrasound imaging plane and further having a second electromagnetic sensor. An electromagnetic field generator may also be included which is configured for placement in proximity to a patient body and which is further configured to generate an output indicative of a position the first and second electromagnetic sensors relative to one another. Also included is a console in communication with the ablation instrument, ultrasound imaging instrument, and electromagnetic field generator, wherein the console is configured to generate a representative image of the tissue ablation instrument oriented relative to the ultrasound imaging plane and an ablation border or cage based upon a deployment position of the one or more stylets.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for in vivo pre-surgical characterization of lenses, such as cataractous lenses. A method comprises obtaining an electromagnetically-measured value related to the axial thickness of the lens, obtaining an ultrasound-measured value related to the axial thickness of the lens, calculating a relationship value based upon the electromagnetically-measured value and the ultrasound-measured value, and determining a mechanical property value based upon the calculated relationship value. The mechanical property may relate to lens hardness, rigidity, or density, or the amount of energy for a phacoemulsification procedure. A system may comprise an optical interferometer for measuring data to obtain the electromagnetically-measured value and an ultrasound biometer for measuring data to obtain the ultrasound-measured value.