Abstract: Methods, computing devices, and a computer-readable medium are described herein related to fragmenting or comminuting an object in a subject using a burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) waveform. A computing device, such a computing device coupled to a transducer, may carry out functions for producing a BWL waveform. The computing device may determine a burst frequency for a number of bursts in the BWL waveform, where the number of bursts includes a number of cycles. Further, the computing device may determine a cycle frequency for the number of cycles. Yet further, the computing device may determine a pressure amplitude for the BWL waveform, where the pressure amplitude is less than or equal to 8 MPa. In addition, the computing device may determine a time period for producing the BWL waveform.

Abstract: Methods to obtain three-dimensional models and images for diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are described.

Abstract: A catheter (10) comprising a catheter tip (14) that is adapted to have deflection of an associated spring (22) detected by imaging techniques and to have that deflection be translated into an estimation of the tip (14) contact force.

Abstract: A steerable sheath for a catheter delivery system and associated devices and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the catheter delivery system includes a catheter sheath having a steerable distal portion and a flexible elongate member connecting to a steering unit. The flexible elongate member has a central lumen through which a therapeutic or diagnostic device of a first modality can be inserted, used to perform a procedure, and then removed and replaced by a different therapeutic or diagnostic device while the catheter sheath remains substantially at the same location within a patient.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for measurement of flow rate of cerebrospinal fluid in a conduit are provided. The apparatus comprises a heating element mounted on the conduit, the heating element arranged for heating the CSF flowing through the conduit for generating bubbles. The apparatus further comprises two optical sensing devices mounted sequentially on the conduit and downstream from the heating element. The first optical sensing device and the second optical sensing device are separated by a predetermined device interval. Both the first and the second optical sensing devices comprise an optical emitter and an optical detector. The apparatus further comprises a processing device coupled to the optical sensing devices, wherein the signals from the optical sensing devices are transmitted to the processing device for detection of bubbles, resulting in the detection of the flow velocity. The bubble size can be optimized by applying ultrasonic waves or thermal energy.

Abstract: Method for measuring a physical parameter in soft tissues of a mammal, in which a mechanical shear wave is propagated through the soft tissues and observation of the propagation leads to determine values of a shear wave propagation parameter. The physical parameter is computed on the basis of these values.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for providing seamless, co-planar intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include projecting a first A-scan line from a distal frame onto a reconstruction plane that extends perpendicular to an imaging axis, projecting a second A-scan line parallel to the first A-scan line from the proximal frame on the reconstruction plane; and determining a grayscale value of a point on the reconstruction plane by a weighted average of the first A-scan line and the second A-scan line.

Abstract: A system for motility contrast imaging a biological target within tissue comprising a CCD array; an illumination source for generating an incoming beam; a first beam splitter for receiving the incoming beam and producing an object beam and a reference beam; a second beam splitter for illuminating a multitude of biological targets with the object beam and for directing backscattered object beams towards the CCD array; a computer-controlled delay stage for zero-path-matching the reference beam to the backscattered object beams; a reference beam that intersects the backscattered object beams at an angle to produce a series of interference fringes that modulate Fourier-domain information; and a computer for receiving a time series of Fourier-domain information. The interference fringes between the backscattered object beam and the reference beam are recorded by the CCD array and passed to the computer which constructs a digital hologram at successive times.

Abstract: Systems and method for positioning a neonate within an imaging device are provided. A capsule incubator, a cart, and a docking incubator are used to move a baby between an imaging device and a incubator, such that a baby can be imagined without having to move the baby from its environment.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and devices for providing contrast medium for sonography of structures such as ducts and cavities. The invention provides for creation of detectable acoustic variations between two generated phases of a gas and a liquid to make a contrast medium. Sonography is the primary means of imaging but other conventional detection modalities may also be employed with the present invention.

Abstract: A skin care apparatus using ultrasonic vibration is disclosed. The skin care apparatus includes a main body, a vibration unit separably installed on the main body, and an ultrasonic generation portion installed inside the vibration unit to generate vibration, wherein the vibration unit includes a skin contact member provided with a projection that is in a tube shape to transfer the ultrasonic vibration generated from the ultrasonic generation portion to a skin.

Abstract: An integrated therapeutic and imaging device that uses at least two balloons to provide a guarded zone that can be evacuated and replaced with a fluid that is sufficiently clear to permit optical coherence tomography (or even high resolution ultrasound) imaging that would otherwise be of poor quality or impossible. Methods of making and operating the imaging device to obtain clear, high quality images, as well as treating a patient's tissue with the device within a living body in association with obtaining an image of the patient's tissue, are included.

Abstract: Fluorescent markers used to identify a tissue may be imaged in a bright environment by synchronizing the imaging process with rapidly switched ambient lighting so that imaging occurs in phase with a switching off of the ambient lighting. In this way, valuable fluorescent imaging may be performed in an environment that appears to be brightly illuminated, for example in the area of a surgical suite.

Abstract: A surgical imaging apparatus is disclosed, and includes an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including at least one ultrasonic transducer. The surgical imaging apparatus also includes at least one light source being operatively coupled with the elongate body and configured to move relative to the elongate body. The at least one light source is configured to project light onto a tissue surface. The light is dimensioned to illuminate a section of tissue corresponding to a tissue margin.

Abstract: Spin-lock T1?-weighted images of a subject are acquired and processed to produce an image that is indicative of bioelectromagnetic activity in the subject. A spin-lock RF field B1? is produced such that the Larmor frequency in the rotating frame corresponds to the expected frequency of the bioelectromagnetic activity. As a result, the magnetic field fluctuations generated by the bioelectromagnetic currents shorten the T1? of the surrounding tissue, creating a contrast mechanism that is seen as a reduced MR signal in the T1?-weighted image that is produced.

Abstract: An atlas-free magnetic resonance imaging method images at least one part of a brain. An MRI sequence configured for acquiring two image volumes of the part at different inversion times within a single acquisition is combined to a fat-water separation method for acquiring a fat-water separated image. For each echo time two image volumes are acquired, respectively a first image volume and a second image volume at the first echo time, and a first image volume and a second image volume at the second echo time, and combined to a uniform image. The acquired images are combined to form a final uniform image, a final fat-water separated image, and a final second image volume that are fed into a multichannel image segmentation algorithm using a Markov random field model for segmenting the part into multiple classes of cranial tissues, in order to obtain a segmented image of said part.

Abstract: A needle guide assembly for inserting a needle into the body of a patient in order to access a subcutaneous target, such as a vessel, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the needle guide assembly comprises a needle guide body that is configured to at least indirectly and removably attach to an image producing device, such as an ultrasound probe. The needle guide body defines at least first and second elongate guide channels. Each guide channel defines a unique insertion angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe. Further, each guide channel is configured to accept needles of differing gauges.

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: A system and method for assessing magnetic susceptibility of tissue of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire chemical-shift-encoded, water-fat separated data. From the water-fat separated data, separated water and fat images, as well as a magnetic field inhomogeneity map are used to estimate the magnetic susceptibility within tissue.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, based on a reception signal, the Doppler signal generation unit generates a first Doppler signal attributed to motion of a living body in a ROI and a second Doppler signal attributed to slower motion. The velocity display scale determination unit determines first and second velocity display scales based on velocity distribution ranges for the first and second Doppler signals, respectively. The image generation unit generates first and second Doppler images based on the first and second Doppler signals, respectively. The display unit displays the first and second Doppler images with the first and second velocity display scales, respectively.