Abstract: A comparatively light and compact permanent magnet arrangement for an MRI apparatus has a pair of opposed permanent magnet arrays with a shimming system to adjust the uniformity and strength of a magnetic field in a central chamber of the apparatus. The MRI apparatus is used to examine the extremities of a patient to determine cardiovascular characteristics from an analysis of the blood flow through selected arteries in the extremity. The information collected can be used to calculate such characteristics as total cardiac output, blood flow, arterial wall thickness and elasticity and the presence of plaque.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods, and compositions for the thermal imaging of cells with nanoparticles.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the invention relates to processes for using renally excretable optical agents to detect one or more tissues of the renal system of a surgical patient. In certain aspects, the invention relates to a kit including a biocompatible composition containing one or more optical agents and instructions for using the optical agent(s) in a process of the present invention.

Abstract: A surgical access assembly and method of use is disclosed. The surgical access assembly comprises an outer sheath and an obturator. The outer sheath and obturator are configured to be delivered to an area of interest within the brain. Either the outer sheath or the obturator may be configured to operate with a navigational system to track the location of either device within the brain.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and software arrangement for imaging a surface of a structure that is in contact with an opaque fluid is provided. The apparatus includes an article of manufacture (e.g., a housing), a fluid delivery arrangement and an imaging arrangement. The housing includes an aperture formed in the article of manufacture. The fluid delivery arrangement is configured to deliver a volume of substantially transparent fluid to the aperture formed in the housing. The imaging arrangement is configured to image the surface of the structure using an imaging modality after the volume of the transparent fluid is delivered to the aperture, wherein the imaging arrangement and/or the article of manufacture is translated along the surface of the structure while imaging the surface of the structure.

Abstract: A system and method that scans areas of a human body to identify unattractive characteristics and make cosmetic enhancements is modified for medical monitoring and optionally for treatment. A 3-D model of the exterior surface of the human body is created, and the scanned data is analyzed by characteristics of reflectance and surface topology to identify unhealthy characteristics. Because people will use a cosmetics system widely and frequently, base lines of patients' conditions can be created through frequent monitoring over a long time period, so that potentially dangerous changes from the base line can identified quickly and reported on. When appropriate, precise applications of medications to treat affected areas may be made automatically. Controlled and precisely directed dosages of medications may be applied to reduce the risk of undesirable side effects. Medicines may also be applied over a large area of skin and during a long period of time to achieve desired treatments.

Abstract: Various implementations of the invention provide techniques and supporting systems that facilitate real-time or near-real-time ultrasound tracking for the purpose of calculating changes in anatomical features during a medical procedure. More specifically, anatomical features within a patient undergoing a medical procedure are tracked by obtaining temporally-distinct three dimensional ultrasound images that include the feature of interest and obtaining a targeted subset of ultrasound images focused on the feature. Based on the targeted subset of ultrasound images, a displacement of the feature is determined and image parameters used to obtain the targeted subset of ultrasound images are adjusted based on the displacement. This results in a time-based sequence of three dimensional images and targeted ultrasound images of the feature that identify changes in the position, size, location, and/or shape of the feature.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system is provided, including a beamformer in communication with a transducer probe to acquire ultrasound image data for communication by a transceiver. An identity server can include a series of profiles each including a unique identifier of an external environment and a unique predefined system setting of the system. A tracking system can scan for a first tag having a unique identifier of a user of the system and for a second tag having a unique identifier of the patient. The identity server is operable to select a match of one of the series of profiles based on the acquired unique identifier and automatically communicate the profile to the transceiver for automatic activation of the system settings to the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining a position and a change in the position of an anatomical structure. The system utilizes a surgical navigation system and a substrate that is capable of being removably mounted to an outer surface of a patient's body. The substrate includes a sensor that is tracked by the surgical navigation system and a positional device that determines the position of an anatomical structure relative to the sensor. The concatenation of the position of the sensor and the relative position of the anatomical structure allows a global position of the anatomical structure to be determined by a computer system and displayed to the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of providing image indicators together with an ultrasound image are disclosed. A mapping table including a plurality of objects each associated with examination locations, each of the examination locations being associated with one or more image indicators. The image indicators include a target organ marker indicative of each object, a body axis marker indicative of an anatomical orientation of each object, and an ultrasound beam direction marker indicative of a transmission direction of the ultrasound beam. A processing unit accesses the storage unit to provide the image indicators corresponding to a target object and examination location selected in response to selection instructions inputted by a user. The processing unit further 3-dimensionally rotates the image indicators based on position information of an ultrasound probe.

Abstract: Coupler assemblies and methods are disclosed as the coupler assemblies may be used with a catheter. An exemplary coupler assembly includes a spherical linkage coupler for a catheter. The coupler comprises a first cylinder portion for connecting to a structure, and a second cylinder portion for connecting to a distal end of a body of the catheter. The coupler also comprises a spherical linkage including at least two link arms. Each of the two link arms are connected on one end to the first cylinder portion and on the other end to the second cylinder portion. The two link arms connect a portion of the structure to the distal end of the catheter and enable the structure to move relative to the distal end of the catheter in response to an external force exerted on the structure.

Abstract: Body temperature measurements are obtained by scanning a thermal radiation sensor across the side of the forehead over the temporal artery. A peak temperature measurement is processed to compute an internal temperature of the body as a function of ambient temperature and the sensed surface temperature. The function includes a weighted difference of surface temperature and ambient temperature, the weighting being varied with target temperature through a minimum in the range of 96° F. and 100° F. The radiation sensor views the target surface through an emissivity compensating cup which is spaced from the skin by a circular lip of low thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system may provide photoacoustic sensing based on an indicator dilution to determine one or more physiological parameters of a subject. The system may detect an acoustic pressure signal, which may include one or more thermo-dilution responses, one or more hemo-dilution responses, or a combination thereof. For example, a thermo-dilution indicator and/or a hemo-dilution indicator may be used to determine one or more hemodynamic parameters. In a further example, an isotonic indicator and a hypertonic indicator may be used to determine one or more hemodynamic parameters of the subject.

Abstract: An adjustable balloon catheter for extravasated drug delivery is disclosed generally including an outer catheter with a first balloon and an inner catheter with a second balloon. The inner catheter is moveably disposed in a lumen of the outer catheter such that the inner catheter moves relative to the outer catheter, changing the distance between the balloons. A fluid source supplies air to the catheters via lumens therein to inflate the balloons to create a chamber between them, and at least one of the catheters has a lumen for delivering a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to the chamber. The inner catheter is then moved relative to the outer catheter to decrease the size of the chamber between the balloons and decrease the fluid pressure therein such that the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent is extravasated into the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) procedure using an MRI system to monitor operation of a medical device performing a medical procedure. The driver system includes a housing, a port located in the housing and connected to a driving power, and an inertial driver moved within the housing by the driving power. A passage is formed in the housing and extends from a first opening in the housing, through the inertial driver, and to a second opening in the housing. The inertial driver receives a medical device extending through the passage and engages the medical device to impart oscillatory motion thereto as the inertial driver is moved by the driving power. The imparted oscillatory motion travels along the medical device as a waveguide to deliver the oscillatory motion to tissue receiving the medical procedure to perform the MRE procedure.

Abstract: A method for diagnosis includes capturing a sequence of two-dimensional ultrasound images of a moving organ within a body of a patient. At least one contour of the organ is identified in a succession of the images in the sequence and is processed to generate an output indicative of motion of the organ over time.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for diagnosis and associated control method constructs multiple cross-sectional images in an axial direction inside the body lumen based on line data generated by radially operating a transmitting and receiving unit, and includes a receiving mechanism which receives a count value from a reference position of the transmitting and receiving unit, storage for storing the count value and the line data correlated with each other, an arrangement for constructing a longitudinal-sectional image by aligning the line data based on the count value, a display which displays the longitudinal-sectional image; and a mechanism which reads out line data correlated with the same count value as that of the line data disposed at the position appointed by the user on the displayed longitudinal-sectional image and reconstructing the cross-sectional image.

Abstract: A non-contact biometric sensing device is described. The device includes a processing device, a user interface communicatively coupled to the processing device, a display communicatively coupled to the processing device, a laser doppler vibrometer sensor communicatively coupled to the processing device, and an infrared camera communicatively coupled to the processing device. The processing device is programmed to utilize mechanical motion data received from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and thermal distributions data from the infrared camera to calculate biometric data, when signals originating from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and the infrared camera are reflected back towards the device from a target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe device comprising an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, where the body has a channel that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. A cord passes through the channel and is extendable and retractable relative to the distal end of the elongated body. An ultrasonic probe head is connected to the cord and has a proximal end adjacent the distal end of the elongated body. The proximal end of the probe head is detachably connected to the distal end of the elongated body. The present invention is also directed to an ultrasound imaging system and a method of generating an ultrasonic image.

Abstract: A method of ablating plaque from an artery section, using a catheter having a longitudinal body and a distal imaging and ablation tip connected to a distal end of the longitudinal body. The tip has an ultrasound imaging array, and a distal, forward directed face, distal to the ultrasound imaging array, and including a set of electrodes arranged circumferentially about the distal face. The catheter further includes a set of conductors connected to the tip and extending through the body. The catheter is connected to an image display. In the method the tip is introduced into the artery section and images the artery section in front, thereby creating imagery of the artery, which is shown on the image display. This imagery is reviewed and in reliance thereon selectively the electrodes are selectively activated to ablate plaque, while not activating any electrode that would damage any bare arterial wall.