Abstract: An anchored fiducial apparatus is described. The fiducial apparatus anchors itself in the target region once inserted so that the fiducial apparatus does not move relative to the target region.

Abstract: A Catheter Guidance Control and Imaging (CGCI) system whereby a magnetic tip attached to a surgical tool is detected, displayed and influenced positionally so as to allow diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to be performed is described. The tools that can be so equipped include catheters, guidewires, and secondary tools such as lasers and balloons. The magnetic tip performs two functions. First, it allows the position and orientation of the tip to be determined by using a radar system such as, for example, a radar range finder or radar imaging system. Incorporating the radar system allows the CGCI apparatus to detect accurately the position, orientation and rotation of the surgical tool embedded in a patient during surgery. In one embodiment, the image generated by the radar is displayed with the operating room imagery equipment such as, for example, X-ray, Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound, MRI, CAT-Scan, PET-Scan, etc.

Abstract: An estimation method for correction filters for wavefront aberration correction in ultrasound imaging is given. The aberration is introduced due to spatial variations of the ultrasound propagation velocity in heterogeneous tissue. The correction filters are found as eigenvectors of the cross-correlation matrix of the element signals. In particular, the eigenvectors with a small spatial linear/plane phase component is sought. Detailed methods for calculating the eigenvectors are given.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical sensor (1) for measuring pulse, blood, tissue and/or skin parameters using electromagnetic waves in the transmission method, comprising a carrier part (2) for pushing onto a patient's finger or toe. A first carrier leg (12) carries a transmitter unit (5) and a second carrier leg (13) carries a receiver unit (6). A carrier base (14) connects the two carrier legs (12, 13) to one another in the region of a tip of the finger or toe. A spring part (3) is arranged on the outside of the carrier part (2) such that a first spring leg (15) bears against the first carrier leg (12) and a second spring leg (16bear against the second carrier leg (13). The carrier part (2) is made of a more flexible material than the spring part (3), in which the spring legs (15, 16) prestress the carrier legs (12, 13) toward one another.

Abstract: A method for facilitating a reduction in artifacts includes receiving data regarding a first energy spectrum of a scan of an object, and receiving data regarding a second energy spectrum of a scan of the object, wherein the second energy spectrum is different than the first energy spectrum. The method further includes reconstructing at least one original first energy image using the first energy spectrum data, reconstructing at least one original second energy image using the second energy spectrum data, transforming at least one original second energy image into at least one transformed first energy image, and combining at least one original first energy image with at least one transformed first energy image to generate a combined first energy image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for creating medical images of a subject patient using a plurality of imaging devices, such as tomographic imaging scanners. The system comprises a plurality of imaging devices, each having a bore through which a patient is translated during scanning. The bores of each device are substantially aligned axially with respect to each other. An open area is formed between the imaging devices along the path of the patient, through which a caregiver can attain line-of-sight visual contact with or other access to the patient. During a scanning operation, the scanned portion of a patient is transported through the bore of the first device, past the opening between the devices and into the bore of the second device.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining a proper insertion depth of a biopsy needle to be inserted at a selected point on the body of a patient so that a sampling end of the needle just reaches to a designated target area within the body, comprises at least one straight calibrated pointing device, having a pivot point at one end thereof, and aligned to point through the selected point in a straight line passing through the designated target region, an image of the pointing device being formed on each of first and second image planes by utilizing radiation from respective first and second radiation source positions, along with images corresponding to the selected point and the target area. Needles are provided for casting an image on one at least one of the image planes, the needles being pivotably mounted at a further pivot point different from the pivot point of the pointing device and being constrained for movement in plane defined by the pivot point, the further pivot point and by the pointing device.

Abstract: A method for creating an animated image of the bones of a body part is described. The steps include converting Computed Axial Tomography (CAT or CT) scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 2-dimensional cross-sectional images (slices) into 3-dimensional images of individual bones (FIG. 1). A first ordered series of slices of a body part in a first position is converted into a 3-dimensional representation of the skeleton of the body part and then a second ordered series of slices of the same body part in a different position is converted. The converted images are then used to create a step frame animation of the movement of the skeleton of the body part. Additional ordered series of slices of the body part in other intermediate positions could be used in the step frame animation. The steps of the method may also include the process of separating the bones if they are depicted as co-joined in a slice (FIGS. 6 and 7). The method can also include the identification of isometric points (FIGS.

Abstract: A reconstruction technique for reducing computation burden in the 3D image processes, wherein the reconstruction procedure comprises an inverse and a forward model. The inverse model uses a hybrid dual Fourier algorithm that combines a 2D Fourier inversion with a 1D matrix inversion to thereby provide high-speed inverse computations. The inverse algorithm uses a hybrid transfer to provide fast Fourier inversion for data of multiple sources and multiple detectors. The forward model is based on an analytical cumulant solution of a radiative transfer equation. The accurate analytical form of the solution to the radiative transfer equation provides an efficient formalism for fast computation of the forward model.

Abstract: Motion of an object of interest, such as a cell, has a variable velocity that can be varied on a cell-by-cell basis. Cell velocity is controlled in one example by packing cells into a capillary tube, or any other linear substrate that provides optically equivalent 360 degree viewing access, so that the cells are stationary within the capillary tube, but the capillary tube is translated and rotated mechanically through a variable motion optical tomography reconstruction cylinder. The capillary tube motion may advantageously be controlled in a start-and-stop fashion and translated and rotated at any velocity for any motion interval, under the control of a computer program. As such, there are several configurations of the optical tomography system that take advantage of this controlled motion capability. Additionally, the use of polarization filters and phase plates to reduce light scatter and diffraction background noise is described.

Abstract: A system and method for using magnetic resonance imaging to increase the accuracy of electrophysiologic procedures is disclosed. The system in its preferred embodiment provides an invasive combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter which includes an RF antenna for receiving magnetic resonance signals and diagnostic electrodes for receiving electrical potentials. The combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter is used in combination with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner to guide and provide visualization during electrophysiologic diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The invention is particularly applicable to catheter ablation, e.g., ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: A system for use during a medical or surgical procedure on a body. The system generates an image representing the position of one or more body elements during the procedure using scans generated by a scanner prior or during the procedure. The image data set has reference points for each of the body elements, the reference points of a particular body element having a fixed spatial relation to the particular body element. The system includes an apparatus for identifying, during the procedure, the relative position of each of the reference points of each of the body elements to be displayed. The system also includes a processor for modifying the image data set according to the identified relative position of each of the reference points during the procedure, as identified by the identifying apparatus, said processor generating a displaced image data set representing the position of the body elements during the procedure.

Abstract: A device, system and method for enhancing the functionality and efficiency of a chemical and/or enzymatic debriding agent with a physical debriding mechanism. The debriding agent alone and the physical mechanism alone are each capable of at least some debriding activity separately, without being used in the combination. In combination, however, they are more effective, such that the debriding efficacy is increased for the combination. Preferably, the physical debriding mechanism comprises an ultrasound source.

Abstract: New devices and methods are provided for noninvasive and noncontact real-time measurements of tissue blood velocity. The invention uses a digital imaging device such as a detector array that allows independent intensity measurements at each pixel to capture images of laser speckle patterns on any surfaces, such as tissue surfaces. The laser speckle is generated by illuminating the surface of interest with an expanded beam from a laser source such as a laser diode or a HeNe laser as long as the detector can detect that particular laser radiation. Digitized speckle images are analyzed using new algorithms for tissue optics and blood optics employing multiple scattering analysis and laser Doppler velocimetry analysis. The resultant two-dimensional images can be displayed on a color monitor and superimposed on images of the tissues.

Abstract: A system is disclosed, for administering a therapeutic agent locally and to a depth within cardiac tissue. An elongate, flexible catheter contains a flexible electric conductor and supports at its distal end an implantable electrode incorporating a penetrating element, typically a fixation helix or a linear needle that penetrates cardiac tissue as the electrode is implanted. A therapeutic agent is delivered through the electrode, to the cardiac tissue surrounding the penetrating element. The electrode can act as a sensor, to monitor an electrical condition of the surrounding cardiac tissue, and to control delivery of the agent responsive to the sensed electrical condition. Several embodiments feature a distal reservoir adjacent the electrode for effecting transient deliveries of the therapeutic agent in minute quantities. Other embodiments are disclosed for providing sustained deliveries of the agents.

Abstract: A method of compensation for intra-operative brain shift of a living subject. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of pro-operatively acquiring brain images of the living subject, constructing a statistical atlas of brain displacements of the living subject from the pro-operatively acquired brain images, intra-operatively measuring brain displacements of the living subject, deriving an intra-operative displacement atlas from the intra-operatively measured brain displacements and the statistical atlas, obtaining intra-operative brain shift at least from the intra-operative displacement atlas, and compensating for the intra-operative brain shift.

Abstract: Haemodynamic indices of an organ or a part of tissue are determined from a time series of tomographic data obtained by means of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Maps of indices are produced, being significant of the dynamics of the capillary tissue flow acquired during rapid bolus injection of a tracer that stays mainly intravascular. The method may be used for evaluating the efficacy of a drug on an organ, or for obtaining information of the likelihood of recovery of an organ or part of tissue upon or during a period of insufficient vascular supply or during the progression of a chronic disease. The method may be used for discriminating between relevant therapy of an organ.

Abstract: Artifacts in MR images caused by signals emanating from outside the design spherical volume (DSV) of the system are suppressed using customized spatial saturation pulse sequences interleaved with imaging pulse sequences. The spatial saturation pulse sequences are each customized to a specific region and are stored in a library for selective use when needed to suppress artifact producing signals emanating from specific regions outside the DSV.

Abstract: An acoustic wave device including a non-cylindrical and non-point acoustic wave transducer adapted to generate an acoustic wave and positioned along a longitudinal axis, and a reflector arranged with respect to the transducer so as to focus an acoustic wave emanating from the transducer to a focal point.

Abstract: A probe instrument using room-temperature sensor(s) that can measure variations in magnetic susceptibilities. The instrument has sufficient resolution to monitor paramagnetic materials in a human body, such as iron in a human liver, by noninvasively examining patients with iron-overload diseases. The instrument includes room temperature magnetic sensors, and detects the sample, that is, the tissue response to an alternating current field applied by an applied field coil. The applied field coil dimensions are chosen so that the applied field is optimized for maximum response from the liver while minimizing the effects due to the overlying abdominal tissue and at the same time not unduly increasing the sensitivity of the instrument to the lung. To overcome variations in the sensor output due to fluctuations in the applied field, change in the ambient temperature and mechanical relaxation of the instrument, the sensor-sample distance is modulated.