Abstract: Aberration estimation uses cross correlation of receive-focused transmit element data. A set of sequentially fired broad transmit beams insonify an object from different steering angles. Each transmit beam emanates from an actual or a virtual transmit element. For every firing, a receive beamformer forms a transmit element image of the insonified region by focusing the received signals. An estimator estimates aberration by cross correlating or comparing the transmit element images. Where a virtual transmit element is used, the virtual transmit element images are back propagated to an actual transmit element position before aberration estimation. The estimations are used to form corrected transmit element images which are then summed pre-detection to form a high-resolution synthetic transmit aperture. Alternatively, the estimations are used to improve conventional focused-transmit imaging.

Abstract: MRI guided cardiac interventional systems are configured to generate dynamic (interactive) visualizations of patient anatomy and medical devices during an MRI-guided procedure and may also include at least one user selectable 3-D volumetric (tissue characterization) map of target anatomy, e.g., a defined portion of the heart.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for determination of movement of an examination subject during the acquisition of (MR) measurement data using at least two antenna elements that exhibit respectively different spatial positions, after each radiated excitation pulse a navigator signal is acquired in the measurement data and movement of the examination subject between two excitation pulses during the acquisition of the measurement data is determined from a change of the signal strength of the navigator signal in the at least two antenna elements and based on the respective spatial positions of the antenna elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for optical imaging of a turbid medium. This method comprises a reference measurement of reference intensities of light emanating from the turbid medium at a reference blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) in the turbid medium and a reference imaging step for reconstructing a reference image of the turbid medium from the measured reference intensities. Furthermore the method comprises a contrast measurement of the contrast intensity of the light emanating from the turbid medium at a contrast blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) level in the turbid medium and a contrast imaging step for reconstructing a contrast image of the turbid medium from the measured contrast intensities. A comparison is made between the contrast image to the reference image of the turbid medium.

Abstract: In order to decrease collateral heating of ribs and tissue surrounding the ribs in a patient during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, shielding material may be positioned on or adjacent to an external surface of the patient and aligned with ribs to be protected using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The MRI system may be used to image the shielding material and the ribs to be protected, and an error of alignment between the ribs to be protected and the shielding material may be determined based on the images. The shielding or masking material may be repositioned based on the determined error of alignment, images of the shielding material and the ribs to be protected may be reacquired, and the error of alignment may be redetermined based on the reacquired images until the shielding material is aligned with the ribs to be protected.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recording and displaying medical imaging data records of a body part including fatty tissue. In at least one embodiment, the method includes recording an emission-tomographic data record of the body part; recording a magnetic-resonance imaging data record of the body part using a recording sequence designed such that fatty tissue can be displayed such that it can be distinguished from other types of tissue; identifying regions in the emission-tomographic data record, which regions correspond to fatty tissue, using the magnetic-resonance imaging data record; and modifying the emission-tomographic data record in those regions that correspond to fatty tissue. Further, at least one embodiment relates to a correspondingly designed device for evaluating and displaying medical imaging data records of a body part comprising fatty tissue.

Abstract: A method for displaying information includes receiving a measurement with respect to an invasive probe inside a body of a subject of at least one probe parameter, selected from a group of parameters consisting of a bend angle of the probe and a pressure on the probe. Responsively to the measurement, an icon is displayed on a display screen representing the at least one probe parameter for viewing by an operator of the probe.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to improve picture quality of images by automatically adjusting image parameters, and a control method thereof are provided. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an image signal processor to perform envelope detection processing on ultrasound image data, and an image parameter processor to calculate a Time Gain Compensation (TGC) parameter from the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data, adjust the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data based on the TGC parameter, and calculate a Dynamic Range (DR) parameter from the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data adjusted based on the TGC parameter to apply the DR parameter to the envelope detection processed ultrasound image data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for opening a tissue to a target value are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, a region of the tissue is targeted for opening, a size range of microbubbles corresponding to the target value is determined, microbubbles of the size range are positioned in proximity to the targeted region, and an ultrasound beam is applied to the targeted region such that the tissue is opened with the assistance of the microbubbles to the target value.

Abstract: A handpiece defines a bore in which a proximal end of a catheter or other interventional instrument is received. An insulating support supports an interventional instrument which carries a transmission line winding in, but spaced from, the internal bore. A handpiece winding disposed along the bore interacts with the instrument transmission line winding to form an inductive coupling with the instrument transmission line winding. After the handpiece is slid axially to adjust the inductive coupling between the handpiece and windings, a locking mechanism functions in such a manner that the interventional instrument is inhibited from axial sliding motion relative to the handpiece while permitting rotation of the interventional instrument relative to the handpiece thus maintaining the inductive coupling while allowing optimal handling of the device.

Abstract: Embodiments of an ultrasound system for detecting a posture of a user and providing an optimal ultrasound image for the posture of the user are disclosed. The ultrasound system includes a display unit including a sensing unit installed in one side of a monitor. The sensing unit detects a position of a user, a distance between the user and the monitor, a height of the user with respect to the monitor and a viewing angle of the user toward the monitor to thereby form and output sensing signals corresponding thereto. The ultrasound system further includes a processing unit coupled to the sensing unit. The processing unit forms the ultrasound image by using ultrasound data and performs optimal image processing for the posture of the user upon the ultrasound image based on the sensing signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for the detection of extravasation of an injection fluid infused into a tissue during an imaging procedure is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least a first source of energy to supply an X-ray or gamma ray imaging energy to tissue in the vicinity of a site and at least a first sensor to measure an energy signal resulting from the energy supplied to the tissue by the first imaging energy source, and circuitry configured to compare the energy signal detected by the first sensor to a baseline measurement and provide an alert that extravasation is occurring.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) method and system for the generation of diffusion information, diffusion-weighted MR images of an examination subject are generated, each image being generated using an individual diffusion gradient. The diffusion gradients, and therefore the MR images, are sorted such that, after the sorting, a predefined number of diffusion gradients respectively forms a group. Each diffusion gradient belongs to at least one of these groups, and the diffusion gradients of the respective same group are all as linearly independent of one another as possible. The MR images whose diffusion gradients form a group are assembled into an MR result image. Spatial transformations between the MR result images are determined, and the MR images are modified using these spatial transformations. The diffusion information is formed with the aid of the modified MR images.

Abstract: A system for facilitating the detection of an immobilized contrast agent in medical imaging applications is proposed.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling voltage levels of overall outputs in a combinational mode, in an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus that may operate in the combinational mode. A judging unit of the ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus may judge whether at least a part of individual modes included in the combinational mode exceeds a threshold determined by safety standards, in accordance with an inputted overall output voltage level control command. When it is judged that at least the part of the individual modes exceeds the threshold determined by the safety standards, an output control unit may maintain an individual output with respect to the at least the part, among the voltage levels that may be outputted from a transducer, to be below the threshold, so that the individual output may be below the standards in accordance with the overall output control command.

Abstract: In a system and method for x-ray brachytherapy, a probe is introduced into the body of a subject, the probe carrying an x-ray source that radiates x-rays into an exposure area outside of the probe within the body of the subject. A number of markers are located in or on the probe, that are detectable in an image generated by an imaging device. The markers are located in or on the probe in a known spatial relation to the exposure area, so that the position of the exposure area can be determined by identifying the markers in the displayed image.

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 optical path can be created through optically challenging media. Light can transmit over the optical path between an end of an optical waveguide and a point displaced from the end. A fluid that scatters or absorbs light, generates interference, or otherwise poses optical challenges can be disposed between the waveguide end and the point. The optically challenging fluid can comprise blood, turbid and/or opaque fluid, absorbing liquids, or other liquid or fluid presenting transmission issues, for example. An optical path can be formed between the end and the point to facilitate transmitting light through the optically challenging fluid. In certain examples, the optical path can comprise a waveguide formed of fluids emitted into the optically challenging fluid, a gas injected into the optically challenging fluid, or an expandable structure, such as a balloon filled with substantially transparent liquid or gas.

Abstract: A device of guiding a multiple area dermatologic care process. The device comprises a carrier which supports a drive of a dermatologic care tool over a skin area while the dermatologic care tool intermittently performs a plurality of dermatologic care sessions each in one of a plurality of skin subareas of the skin area and a brake unit which regulates a movement of the carrier from a first skin subarea to a second skin subarea during the drive of the dermatologic care tool.

Abstract: A semi-invasive ultrasound imaging system for imaging biological tissue includes a transesophageal probe or a transnasal, transesophageal probe connected to a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array, a transmit beamformer, a receive beamformer, and an image generator. The two-dimensional transducer array is disposed on a distal portion of the probe's elongated body. The transmit beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to transmit several ultrasound beams over a selected pattern defined by azimuthal and elevation orientations. The receive beamformer is connected to the transducer array and is constructed to acquire ultrasound data from the echoes reflected over a selected tissue volume. The tissue volume is defined by the azimuthal and elevation orientations and a selected scan range. The receive beamformer is constructed to synthesize image data from the acquired ultrasound data.