Abstract: The present invention provides a non-invasive device and method of detecting or evaluating brain damage in a living subject.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a transesophageal cardiovascular procedure includes an elongated tubular main access device having a first lumen with an open proximal end and a distal side opening, and a second lumen with a rigid outer wall and a collapsible inner wall. The second lumen is adapted to receive an elongated probe or surgical device. The apparatus further includes an inflatable sealing means on the outside of the main access device above and below the side opening, and a first fluid conduit extending along the main access device for inflating the sealing means so that when the main access device is inserted into a patient's esophagus and the sealing means are inflated. The portion of the esophagus opposite the side opening is isolated from the remainder of the esophagus above and below the side opening.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and instrumentation for aiding the performance of an image guided procedure of the anatomy of a patient such as, for example, the prostate. The invention includes a plurality of lumens therein and a balloon portion or other fixating portion. In some embodiments, the catheter includes a lumen for introducing a contrast agent visible to an imaging modality external to the anatomy of the patient. Image space data of the catheter within the anatomy of the patient may be obtained using the imaging modality. The catheter also includes at least a lumen for inserting a registration device for obtaining patient space data regarding the anatomy of the patient. Other lumens and/or other elements visible to the imaging modality may be used. The image space data may be registered to the patient space data for use during an image guided procedure to the anatomy of the patient.

Abstract: The determination of axial and lateral displacement in a material subject to compression is determined by fitting a multi-dimensional model function to the match between corresponding portions of the material in two states of compression. In one embodiment, iso-contour lines in a correlation between a reference kernel and a target kernel are fit to an ellipse whose center defines the maximum correlation and hence the displacement.

Abstract: A handheld ultrasound device is provided, having a transducer assembly for emitting and receiving sonic signals, a configurable signal processing unit, and a data processor configured to provide configuration data to the signal processing unit. The configuration data defines a beamforming configuration, filtering configuration and envelope detection configuration for an operational mode. The operational mode may be selected by the user or may be determined based on a detected type of the transducer assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments for forming multiple plane images for a target object in an ultrasound system are disclosed. A processor forms volume data indicative of the target object by using ultrasound data. The processor is configured to: set a reference plane in the volume data; detect a falx contour and a contour of a cerebrum in the reference plane and an entire contour of the brain in the volume data; normalize the volume data by using the falx contour, the cerebrum contour and the entire contour of the fetal brain; and set multiple planes with respect to the reference plane in the volume data. The processor forms plane images corresponding to the respective multiple planes by using the volume data.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus that can generate and display 3D ultrasound image data of superior image quality in real time is provided. To achieve a high volume rate for acquiring 3D ultrasound image data, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus performs 3D scans on a 3D region of an object while sequentially shifting a transmission/reception group that is comprised of each of the transmitting acoustic fields and more than five parallel simultaneous reception beam directions corresponded to each of the transmitting acoustic fields at a prescribed angular distance ??0 along the ? (azimuth) direction and the ? (elevation) direction.

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: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an extended field of view (EFOV) image. A 3D imaging probe is moved along the skin of a patient above the anatomy which is to be included in the EFOV image. As the probe is moved, images are acquired from a plurality of differently oriented image planes such as a sagittal plane and a transverse plane. As the probe is moved the image data of successive planes of one of the orientations is compared to estimate the motion of the probe. These motion estimates are used to position a succession of images acquired in one of the orientations accurately with respect to each other in an EFOV display format. The motion estimates are also used to display a graphic on the display screen which indicates the progress of the scan to the user as the probe is being moved. The progress may be indicated in terms of probe velocity, distance traveled, or the path traversed by the moving probe.

Abstract: Blood flow information is used to reduce noise manifest in blood vessel ultrasound B-mode images. A blood flow signal is obtained by a flow detector. After wall filtering, only the flow signal power in the blood vessel lumen remains, while signal power from stationary tissue region is suppressed. The flow signal component is used to calculate a flow component parameter that is used to generate a gain control signal ? that reduces noise in a B-mode image.

Abstract: Methods of probing a material under investigation using an ultrasound beam. Echolocation data is generated using a multi-dimensional transform capable of using phase and magnitude information to distinguish echoes resulting from ultrasound beam components produced using different ultrasound transducers. Since the multi-dimensional transform does not depend on using receive or transmit beam lines, a multi-dimensional area can be imaged using a single ultrasound transmission. In some embodiments, this ability increases image frame rate and reduces the amount of ultrasound energy required to generate an image.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for controlling the field of view in imaging systems are provided. For example, in one embodiment an imaging system includes a flexible elongate sized and shaped for use within an internal structure of a patient, an imaging transducer positioned within the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, and a monitor positioned within the distal portion of the flexible elongated member and configured to generate a feedback signal indicative of a position of the imaging transducer relative to the transducer's motion profile. The imaging system may also include a controller in communication with the monitor and configured to adjust a control signal based on the feedback signal in order to achieve a desired field of view for the imaging transducer.

Abstract: Reduction of motion artifacts from flexible transducers are provided in ultrasound imaging. Temporal and/or amplitude modulation of an acoustic radiation force impulse pushing pulse may be designed to control the motion of a moveable transducer. The motion may be controlled to stabilize the transducer in one position or in a predictable (e.g. linear) movement in order to better estimate tissue displacement. Reduced motion artifact may be provided with transmitted waveforms requiring less time and power than required of a brute force approach. For example, pre-loading transmissions may not be provided. As another example, pre-loading transmissions may require less than 10 ms.

Abstract: A method for planning a needle path is provided. The method includes displaying a restricted region on a display, the restricted region being defined by spatial limitations of an imaging system and a location of a selected target point; and selecting a skin entry point outside the restricted region.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for tracking a moving object using magnetic resonance imaging. The technique includes acquiring a scout image scan having a number of image frames and extracting non-linear motion parameters from the number of image frames of the scout image scan. The technique includes prospectively shifting slice location using the non-linear motion parameters between slice locations while acquiring a series of MR images. The system and method are particularly useful in tracking coronary artery movement during the cardiac cycle to acquire the non-linear components of coronary artery movement during a diastolic portion of the R-R interval.

Abstract: Methods of probing a material under investigation using an ultrasound beam. Echolocation data is generated using a multi-dimensional transform capable of using phase and magnitude information to distinguish echoes resulting from ultrasound beam components produced using different ultrasound transducers. Since the multi-dimensional transform does not depend on using receive or transmit beam lines, a multi-dimensional area can be imaged using a single ultrasound transmission. In some embodiments, this ability increases image frame rate and reduces the amount of ultrasound energy required to generate an image.

Abstract: A diagnosis supporting apparatus includes: an image input section that inputs an endoscopic image acquired from a living tissue, a structure detection section that detects similar circular-shaped structures from an image signal corresponding to the endoscopic image inputted to the image input section, and a network detection section that detects a predetermined network shape in the endoscopic image, based on a number of similar circular-shaped structures detected by the structure detection section, areas of the similar circular-shaped structures, distances between the respective similar circular-shaped structures, or a number of connections between the respective similar circular-shaped structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides ultrasonic diagnostic equipment for accurately determining a three-dimensional picture generation start depth, independently of a turbidity degree of an amniotic fluid and the like, which exist between a three-dimensional picture generation target such as an fetus and the like and a portion that is not the three-dimensional picture generation target such as a placenta or an uterine wall or the like serving as the obstacle of the fetus.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for navigating a medical instrument to a target in the lung. In one embodiment, the invention includes inserting a bronchoscope into the lung, inserting a catheter into the lung through the working channel of the bronchoscope, inserting a tracked navigation instrument wire into the lung through the catheter, navigating the tracked navigation instrument through the lung to the target, advancing the catheter over the tracked navigation instrument to the target, removing the tracked navigation instrument from the catheter, and inserting a medical instrument into the catheter, thus bringing the medical instrument in proximity to the target.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for registering physical space to image space is disclosed. The system allows for determining fiducial markers as pixels or voxels in image data. The system can correlate and register the determined fiducial points with fiducial markers in physical space.