Abstract: A radio frequency head coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The radio frequency head coil includes a body operative to be disposed on a head of a patient, and an extended lip disposed on the body and operative to receive a magnetic resonance signal. At least some of the magnetic resonance signal is emitted by a region of the patient disposed between a brain stem of the patient up to and including a vertebra of the patient.

Abstract: A system and method include control of an ultrasound system transducer to acquire an echo signal power spectrum of a region of tissue for a fundamental frequency band and an echo signal power spectrum of the region of tissue for a harmonic frequency band, wherein a center frequency of the harmonic frequency band is substantially similar to a center frequency of the fundamental frequency band, determination of a first backscatter coefficient based on the echo signal power spectrum of the region of tissue for a fundamental frequency band and an echo signal power spectrum of a reference phantom for the fundamental frequency band, determination of a value representing a second backscatter coefficient and a non-linearity term associated with the region of tissue based on the echo signal power spectrum of the region of tissue for the harmonic frequency band and an echo signal power spectrum of the reference phantom for the harmonic frequency band, determination of the non-linearity term associated with the region o

Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.

Abstract: A probe, such as a spectroscopic probe, for enabling a fluid or tissue sample to be tested in situ. The probe includes a conduit, such as a hypodermic needle, that can be inserted into a test subject and a wave coupling arranged to direct electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from an energy source to the sample and/or from the sample to a receiver for analysis. The receiver may comprise a Raman spectroscope. The probe may include a carriage that can be used to move at least some of the optical coupling towards and away from the insertion tip of the conduit. The probe may include a pressure modifier that can be used to draw fluid into or expel fluid from the conduit.

Abstract: A radial type ultrasound transducer is arranged in an ultrasound endoscope including a bending portion on a distal end side of an insertion portion. The ultrasound transducer includes: a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential manner and configured to transmit and receive ultrasound waves; a plurality of electrodes arranged in the respective piezoelectric elements; and a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to each of the electrodes. The flexible printed circuit includes a plurality of wires that extend such that at least parts of the wires cross a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of the piezoelectric elements, and the plurality of wires are electrically connected to the respective electrodes of the piezoelectric elements at positions where at least parts of the wires cross the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A station for tomotactic-guided biopsy in prone includes a table with an aperture, and a tomosynthesis imaging system. A biopsy gun can be mounted on a stage arm assembly disposed below the table. The imaging system and stage arm assembly can be independently rotated and linearly repositioned in one or more dimensions, thereby allowing the tomotactic scan axis to be located relative to a breast being imaged.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to integrated MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) coil arrays that can be stored within a patient table when not in use. One example embodiment comprises a coil array comprising: at least one flat spine-like coil array arranged within a patient table of a MRI system; and flexible coil array(s) configured to be in a stored position within the patient table, wherein, in the stored position, the flexible coil array(s) are one of within or under the at least one flat spine-like rigid coil array, wherein the flexible coil array(s) are further configured to be in an extended position, wherein, in the extended position, the flexible coil array(s) is configured to be extracted from the patient table and to wrap around at least one anatomical region of a patient on the patient table to facilitate MRI of the at least one anatomical region.

Abstract: Intraluminal ultrasound devices, systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an intraluminal ultrasound device includes a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient, the flexible elongate member including a distal portion and a longitudinal axis; and a transducer array disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member and circumferentially positioned around the longitudinal axis of the flexible elongate member. The transducer array includes a plurality of micromachined ultrasound transducers (MUTs). In addition, the transducer array is configured to obtain ultrasound imaging data of the body lumen in response to a first electrical signal, and apply an ultrasound therapy within the body lumen in response to a second electrical signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed herein for a thermally conductive layer for transducer face temperature reduction in an ultrasound transducer assembly. In one embodiment, the ultrasound transducer assembly comprises: a transducer layer configured to emit ultrasound energy; one or more matching layers overlaying the transducer layer; a thermally conductive layer overlaying the one or more matching layers; and a lens overlaying the thermally conductive layer.

Abstract: A device comprises a miniature transducer having an altered backing geometry that can be placed within different casing sizes of an imaging probe device. The backing geometry extends along a longitudinal axis of the imaging probe and provides an angle (e.g., 45-degree angle) configured to reflect ultrasound and/or light waves/signals in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the imaging probe. This design is configured to enable ultrasound and/or light waves/signals to be redirected and dampened within the transducer to preserve a suitable signal to noise ratio while minimizing the required depth of the backing.

Abstract: A method of generating a model for generating a synthetic electrocardiography (ECG) signal comprises: receiving subject-specific training data for machine learning, said training data comprising a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal acquired from the subject and an ECG signal acquired from the subject, wherein the ECG signal provides a ground truth of the subject for associating the ECG signal with the PPG signal; using associated pairs of a time-series of the PPG signal and a corresponding time-series of the ECG signal as input to a deep neural network, DNN; and determining, through the DNN, a subject-specific model relating the PPG signal of the subject to the ECG signal of the subject for converting the PPG signal to a synthetic ECG signal using the subject-specific model.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an intracavitary ultrasonic probe, a memory circuit and a generation circuit. The probe includes first piezoelectric transducers performing ultrasonic transmission/reception along a first scan plane, and second piezoelectric transducers performing ultrasonic transmission/reception along a second scan plane. The memory circuit stores first information relating to a positional relationship between a sensor position and a position of the first scan plane, and second information relating to a positional relationship between a sensor position and a position of the second scan plane.

Abstract: A needle electrode deployment shaft includes a central member and a plurality of needle electrodes. The central member has a plurality of needle advancement channels formed therein. The needle electrodes are disposed within the advancement channels and each advancement channel terminates in a ramp portion which deflects the needles radially outwardly as they are axially advanced. The ramps may be spirally or acutely configured in order to increase the distance through which the needles may be bent as they are axially advanced. Additionally, the central member may have a radially reduced distal tip in order to decrease tissue insertion forces.

Abstract: A combined MRI and radiotherapy apparatus comprises a radiotherapeutic source, an MRI system, a patient support, drive motors for the patient support arranged to adjust the position of the patient support while a patient is on the support, a control panel having a user-operable input interface for controlling the drive motors, and a display unit. A mounting arrangement for a display device comprises a transparent cover, a display panel held against a rear face of the cover so as to be visible through a front face of the cover, and a retaining structure for holding the display panel in place. The retaining structure comprises a chassis fixable in position relative to the cover, the chassis having at least one resilient finger extending therefrom alongside a rear face of the display panel, a part of which bears against the rear face of the display panel to resiliently urge the display panel against the rear face of the cover.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array in which a plurality of transducers that transmit/receive an ultrasound signal to/from an object are arranged in two dimensions; an analog beamformer configured to perform analog beamforming in a first direction, and perform analog beamforming in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on signals respectively received by the plurality of transducers; and a digital beamformer configured to perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction, and perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein facilitate generation of a prognosis for recurrence or non-recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). A first set of embodiments discussed herein relates to training of a machine learning classifier to determine a prognosis for AF after PVI based on radiographic images, alone or in combination with clinical features. A second set of embodiments discussed herein relates to determination of a prognosis for a patient for AF after PVI based on radiographic images, alone or in combination with clinical features.

Abstract: An image acquisition unit acquires a plurality of projection images corresponding to a plurality of radiation source positions at the time of tomosynthesis imaging, the plurality of projection images being generated by causing an imaging apparatus to perform tomosynthesis imaging. A positional shift amount derivation unit derives a positional shift amount between the plurality of projection images based on body movement of the subject with a reference projection image generated at a radiation source position where an optical axis of the radiation emitted from the radiation source is perpendicular to a detection surface of the detection unit, among the plurality of projection images, as a reference. A reconstruction unit generates a tomographic image of at least one tomographic plane of the subject by reconstructing the plurality of projection images while correcting the positional shift amount.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for monitoring brain pulsatility. A change in volume of the brain is estimated based at least in part on an output of a non-contact, surface measuring sensor (e.g., a distance sensor or a camera). A metric indicative of brain pulsatility is then calculated based at least in part on a ratio of the estimated change in volume of the brain relative to a change in arterial blood pressure.

Abstract: A system comprising a multi-modal ultrasound probe configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes associated with a respective plurality of configuration profiles; and a computing device coupled to the handheld multi-modal ultrasound probe and configured to, in response to receiving input indicating an operating mode selected by a user, cause the multi-modal ultrasound probe to operate in the selected operating mode.

Abstract: The present invention discloses access devices and methods to create an access channel for introduction of one or more working devices into an anatomical region. The access channel is created using a visualization modality that is later removed before inserting one or more working devices through the access channel. This allows the methods and devices of the present invention to be used even in small sized natural or surgically created insertion tracts leading to the anatomical region. The access channel can be made of a device such as a sheath, a guidewire, and an elongate device comprising a lumen. Examples of visualization modalities are endoscopes and body insertable ultrasound imaging devices. The working devices can be used to perform a variety of diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventive procedures. Endometrial ablation devices and procedures have been used as an example to describe various aspects of the present invention.