Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or apparatus is configured to effect MR imaging where data corresponding to MR signals is transmitted from a radio frequency (RF) receive coil to the MRI data processor via a path that includes a near-field wireless communication (NFC) connection. A receiver for the NFC connection is selected from of the one or more wireless signal receivers that are arranged on a restraining belt when the restraining belt is placed, during operation of an MRI system for imaging an object located on a patient table, over at least a portion of the object and the receive RF coil is located between the restraining belt and the object.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance system comprises a magnetic resonance scanner (10) including a main magnet (12) generating a static magnetic field biasing nuclear spins toward aligning along a direction of the static magnetic field, magnetic field gradient coils (14), a radio frequency coil (16), and a controller (20, 22) configured to: (a) drive the radio frequency coil to selectively tip spins predominantly of short T2* out of the direction of the static magnetic field; (b) drive at least one of the magnetic field gradient coils and the radio frequency coil to dephase said spins predominantly of short T2* tipped out of the direction of the static magnetic field; and (c) drive the magnetic field gradient coils and the radio frequency coil to acquire magnetic resonance data that is predominantly T2* weighted due to preceding operations (a) and (b).

Abstract: A novel image-guided system for precise automatic targeting in minimally invasive keyhole neurosurgery. The system consists of a miniature robot fitted with a mechanical guide for needle, probe, or catheter insertion. Intraoperative, the robot is directly affixed to a head clamp or to the patient skull. It automatically positions itself with respect to predefined entry points and targets in a preoperative CT/MRI image following an anatomical registration with an intraoperative 3D surface scan of the patient facial features and a registration jig. The registration procedure is a novel three-way scheme, in which the intraoperative surface scan including the registration jig is matched to a model generated from the preoperative CT/MRI image, the robot position is known in relation to the registration jig, and the entry and target points are known from the preoperative CT/MRI image, such that the robot position can be related to the entry and target points.

Abstract: Robotic and/or measurement devices, systems, and methods for telesurgical and other applications employ input devices operatively coupled to tools so as to allow a system user to manipulate tissues and other structures being measured. The system may make use of three dimensional position information from stereoscopic images. Two or more discrete points can be designated in three dimensions so as to provide a cumulative length along a straight or curving structure, an area measurement, a volume measurement, or the like. The discrete points may be identified by a single surgical tool or by distances separating two or more surgical tools, with the user optionally measuring a structure longer than a field of view of the stereoscopic image capture device by walking a pair of tools “hand-over-hand” along the structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for effective systems and methods for increasing target tissue conspicuity within a particular anatomy of a particular patient. In an exemplary embodiment, a system associated with the present disclosure includes: (a) a MRI-guided HIFU system for generating ablation markings on a target tissue region, the MRI-guided HIFU system including a transducer for delivering HIFU to the target tissue region, the delivered HIFU generating the ablation markings on the target tissue and an MRI imaging system adapted to generate a three dimensional image of the target tissue region during HIFU delivery for guiding the delivery of the HIFU to the target tissue region; (b) a radiotherapy delivery system for delivering radiotherapy treatment to the target tissue region; and (c) a CT imaging system operable within the radiotherapy delivery system for generating a three dimensional image of the target tissue region.

Abstract: A system for determining the spatial distribution of magnetic particles in an examination area. Magnetic field generator generates a spatially inhomogeneous gradient magnetic field with at least one region with a low field strength in which the magnetization of the particles is in a state of non-saturation, whereas they are in a state of saturation in the remaining region. By an arrangement to shift the area with a low field strength within the examination area, a change in the magnetization of the magnetic particles is brought about which can be detected from outside by a detector. At least one of the magnetic field generator, the arrangement and the detector are arranged at least partially on a medical instrument.

Abstract: An MRI prep scan acquires plural sets of echo signals at a plurality of cardiac time phases which are mutually different from each other for each slice and used to generate a plurality of respectively corresponding prep images. Reference information is acquired and displayed for determining a first cardiac time phase and a second cardiac time phase on the basis of the prep images. The first and second cardiac time phases are set in response to an operator's specification. An imaging scan section for acquiring imaging echo signals by performing an imaging scan is performed upon each of the first and second cardiac time phases to acquire imaging echo signals. A first image is generated based on an echo signal of the first cardiac time phase and a second image is generated based on an echo signal of the second cardiac time phase. A differential image is acquired by calculating a difference between the first image and the second image.

Abstract: Described is a locomotive implant for usage within a predetermined magnetic field. In one embodiment magnetohydrodynamics is used to generate thrust with a plurality of electrodes. In another embodiment, asymmetric drag forces are used to generate thrust.

Abstract: A physiological monitoring system may process a physiological signal such a photoplethysmograph signal from a subject. The system may determine physiological information, such as a physiological rate, from the physiological signal. The system may use search techniques and qualification techniques to determine one or more initialization parameters. The initialization parameters may be used to calculate and qualify a physiological rate. The system may use signal conditioning to reduce noise in the physiological signal and to improve the determination of physiological information. The system may use qualification techniques to confirm determined physiological parameters. The system may also use autocorrelation techniques, cross-correlation techniques, fast start techniques, and/or reference waveforms when processing the physiological signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improved S/N measurements useful for electron paramagnetic resonance imaging in situ and in vivo, using high-isolation transmit/receive surface coils and temporally spaced pulses of RF energy (e.g., in some embodiments, a RF pi pulse) having an amplitude sufficient to rotate the magnetization by 180 degrees followed after varied delays, by a second RF pulse having an amplitude half that of the initial pulse to rotate the magnetization by, e.g., 90 degrees (a pi/2 pulse), to the plane orthogonal to the static field where it evolves for a short time. Then a third RF pi pulse sufficient to rotate the magnetization by, e.g., 180 degrees, forms an echo (in some embodiments, the second and third pulses are from the same signal as the first pulse but are phase shifted by 0, 90, 180, or 270 degrees to reduce signal artifact), to image human body.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for localizing lesions within a patient's body, e.g., within a breast. The system may include one or more markers implantable within or around the target tissue region, and a probe for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals to detect the one or more markers. During use, the marker(s) are into a target tissue region, and the probe is placed against the patient's skin to detect and localize the marker(s). A tissue specimen, including the lesion and the marker(s), is then removed from the target tissue region based at least in part on the localization information from the probe.

Abstract: In a laminated piezoelectric body, a laminated piezoelectric body manufacturing method, an ultrasound transducer, and an ultrasound diagnostic device according to the present invention, a plurality of mutually laminated piezoelectric bodies are electrically connected in parallel to each other, and each of the plurality of piezoelectric bodies arranges an orientation of residual polarization or a crystal axis that is related to an electrical displacement or a sign of an electric field due to a direct piezoelectric effect in a direction which reduces sensitivity in a first resonance mode and increases sensitivity in a second resonance mode of a higher order than the first resonance mode with respect to an axis of a first-level piezoelectric body on a fixed end-side.

Abstract: A transducer connects with a support arm. The support arm supports only some of the weight, even in a locked state. By only supporting a portion or less than all of the weight, the support arm allows downward movement or pressure, but less than the pressure applied without any resistance for the gravity acting on the support arm. The pressure maintains contact between the patient and the transducer for scanning.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system acquires 3D data sets of the fetal heart by use of a gating signal synthesized from detected motion of the fetal heart. A sequence of temporally different echo signals are acquired from a location in the anatomy where motion representative of the heart cycle is to be estimated, such as a sample volume in the fetal carotid artery or an M line through the fetal myocardium. A heart cycle signal is synthesized from the detected motion and used to gate the acquisition of fetal heart image data at one or more desired phases of the fetal heart cycle. In an illustrated embodiment 3D data sets are acquired from multiple subvolumes, each over the full fetal heart cycle, then combined to produce a live 3D loop of the beating fetal heart.

Abstract: To implement a single-chip ultrasonic imaging solution, on-chip signal processing may be employed in the receive signal path to reduce data bandwidth and a high-speed serial data module may be used to move data for all received channels off-chip as digital data stream. The digitization of received signals on-chip allows advanced digital signal processing to be performed on-chip, and thus permits the full integration of an entire ultrasonic imaging system on a single semiconductor substrate. Various novel waveform generation techniques, transducer configuration and biasing methodologies, etc., are likewise disclosed. HIFU methods may additionally or alternatively be employed as a component of the “ultrasound-on-a-chip” solution disclosed herein.

Abstract: A physiological monitoring system may determine physiological information, such as physiological rate information, from a physiological signal. The system may generate a correlation sequence between two segments of the physiological signal at multiple correlation lag values. The system may compare the correlation sequence to a predetermined threshold, which may vary as a function of lag. Based on the comparison, the system may determine whether the correlation sequence value exceeds the threshold, and whether the correlation sequence value corresponds to a peak. The system may identify a lag value when the correlation sequence corresponding to the lag value exceeds the threshold and corresponds to a peak. The system may determine physiological rate information based on the identified lag value.

Abstract: A physiological monitoring system may process a physiological signal such a photoplethysmograph signal from a subject. The system may determine physiological information, such as a physiological rate, from the physiological signal. The system may use search techniques and qualification techniques to determine one or more initialization parameters. The initialization parameters may be used to calculate and qualify a physiological rate. The system may use signal conditioning to reduce noise in the physiological signal and to improve the determination of physiological information. The system may use qualification techniques to confirm determined physiological parameters. The system may also use autocorrelation techniques, cross-correlation techniques, fast start techniques, and/or reference waveforms when processing the physiological signal.

Abstract: A physiological monitoring system may determine physiological information, such as physiological rate information, from a physiological signal. The system may condition the physiological signal to assist in the determination of the physiological information. The system may generate a positive signal and a negative signal based on respective positive and negative values of the physiological signal. The system may filter the positive and negative signals, combine the filtered signals, and modify the physiological signal based on the combined signal. The physiological signal may be modified, for example, by subtracting the combined signal from the physiological signal.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for producing registered images of a body lumen are provided. The system includes a first imaging device having an imager positioned at a distal end thereof, said first imaging device configured to produce a first image of a body cavity; and an imaging system, including a second imaging device having an imager positioned at a distal end thereof and configured to be positioned approximate to said imager of said first imaging device within said body cavity and configured to produce a second image; an elongated member configured to contain said second imaging device; and at least one marker configured to produce registration information in the first image and the second image.

Abstract: A physiological monitoring system may determine physiological information, such as physiological rate information, from a physiological signal. The system may select two segments of the physiological signal, shifted in time relative to one another by a lag value, and determine a correlation value between the two segments. The system may determine a metric based on the segments, and determine correlation information based on the correlation value and the metric. The metric may be indicative of how well the segments are correlated, providing additional information relative to the correlation value. Based on the metric, the system may modify the correlation value, determine a confidence value, or determine other information. The system may determine physiological rate information based on the correlation information.