Abstract: A target peripheral nerve is treated by providing a real-time fluorescent image of a tissue region where the target peripheral nerve has an enhanced appearance in the fluorescent image. A treatment element is advanced from an adjacent body lumen or cavity through the tissue region or externally aimed toward the peripheral nerve while viewing the fluorescent image, and the peripheral nerve is treated using the treatment element.

Abstract: Provided is a light detecting apparatus comprising a light emitting section that emits light; a light detecting section that detects light from an observation target irradiated with the light emitted by the light emitting section; a mount section attached to a test subject that includes the observation target; and a holding section that holds the light emitting section and the light detecting section and is detachably attached to the mount section. The holding section holds the light emitting section and the light detecting section in a manner to secure a relative positional relationship between the light emitting section and the light detecting section, and a relative positional relationship between the holding section and the mount section is determined by attaching the holding section to the mount section.

Abstract: Described herein is an optical coherence tomograph (OCT) angiography technique based on the comparison of OCT signal amplitude to provide flow information. The full OCT spectrum can be split into several narrower spectral bands, resulting in the OCT resolution cell in each band being isotropic and less susceptible to axial motion nose. Inter-B-scan flow values can be determined using the individual spectral bands separately and then averaged. Recombining the flow images from the spectral bands yields angiograms that use the full information in the entire OCT spectral range. Such images provide significant improvement of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for both flow detection and connectivity of microvascular networks compared to other techniques. Further, creation of isotropic resolution cells can be useful for quantifying flow having equal sensitivity to axial and transverse flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for optical topology detection and illumination. Embodiments provide an integrated system, and methods of operation thereof, where the integrated system includes an illumination system and an optical topology detection system, and where at least a portion of the spectral content of illumination light from the illumination system is within an optical detection bandwidth of the optical topology detection system, and where the operation of the optical topology detection system and the illumination system are interleaved to avoid crosstalk, such that the optical topology detection system detects the optical topology detection light when the illumination system is not emitting illumination light. The system may include, and control the operation of, an optical navigation system. The components of the system may be mounted to a rigid frame to maintain calibration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for acquiring images of a sample are provided. According to an aspect of the invention, a system includes a first light source that emits first light having a first wavelength as a temporally continuous beam; a second light source that emits second light having a second wavelength as a temporally modulated beam; and a scanning mirror that raster scans the first light across a sample during a raster scan period, and projects a structured light pattern of the second light onto the sample during the raster scan period. A first image of the sample is generated from at least a portion of the first light that is backscattered from the sample during the raster scan period, and a second image of the sample is generated from at least a portion of the second light that is backscattered from the sample during the raster scan period.

Abstract: A method of performing a procedure on a breast of a patient includes compressing the breast of the patient with a paddle of an imaging system and performing an initial imaging procedure on the breast of the patient. The initial imaging procedure includes imaging the breast with an x-ray source at a first energy to obtain a first image and a second energy to obtain a second image. A composite image is generated from the first image and the second image and displayed. A region of interest on the composite image is targeted and a biopsy is performed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a body part visualization system includes a medical instrument configured to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, a display, and processing circuitry configured to compute location coordinates of the medical instrument in the body part, and render to the display a first three-dimensional (3D) representation of the body part, the first 3D representation showing an external surface of the body part with a moving window, which moves over the external surface in the first 3D representation responsively to the computed location coordinates of the medical instrument so as to provide, via the window, an internal view of the first 3D representation of the body part, the internal view including a second 3D representation of at least a part of the medical instrument at the computed location coordinates.

Abstract: A device (10) configured to detect the presence of metal artifacts in a patient's eye includes a head mount (14) configured to receive at least a portion of the patient's head. At least one inductor coil (12) is disposed on or in the head mount and positioned to inductively couple with at least one eye of the patient's head received into the head mount. An inductance meter (18) is operably connected to the at least one inductor coil to measure an inductance as a change of frequency of the at least one inductor coil. A processor (22) is programmed to: determine whether the inductance is greater than an inductance threshold value; and generate an indication of at least one metal artifact when the inductance is greater than the inductance threshold value. A display component (24) is configured to display the indication.

Abstract: An image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image representing a three-dimensional shape of a surface of a human body, a spinal-column arrangement estimation-unit configured to estimate spinal-column arrangement of the human body using accumulated data, and an angle calculation unit configured to calculate at least one of a Cobb angle and a rotation angle from the estimated spinal-column arrangement are included.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe acquires a 3D image dataset of a volumetric region of the body. The 3D image data is reformatted into a sequence of successive parallel image planes extending in one of three orthogonal directions through the volume. The sequence of images is preferably formatted in accordance with the DICOM standard so that a clinician can review the 3D image data as a sequence of DICOM images on an image workstation.

Abstract: Navigation through a network of body passages, such as through the airways, is improved by a method of displaying information which provides a fly-through visualization of the passageway. As landmarks or waypoints are passed, the view changes to a next segment in a planned pathway to a target. Such a visualization technique avoids tunnel vision, such as that encountered while using real-time endoscopes.

Abstract: Non-invasive measurement of intracranial pressure (ICP), for example mean ICP. A probe adjacent the head emits energy, such as ultrasound, and receives reflected signals. A processing unit derives ICP waveform from the signals. A pressure mechanism applies external pressure intermittently to outer surface of the head and incrementally increases the external pressure. The processing unit is configured to detect a decrease in amplitude of the ICP waveform (occurring in some embodiments only after an intermediate period of ICRS compensation), the processing unit configured to determine the ICP of the person from a sum of applied external pressures from a time of the initial value A1 until a final value at which the amplitude remains stable with additional increase in applied external pressure. In some cases, the final value is earlier than that but the processing unit extrapolates the sum to when the amplitude remains stable with additional increases in pressure.

Abstract: The subject matter discussed herein relates to multi-modal image alignment to facilitate biopsy procedures and post-biopsy procedures. In one such example, prostate structures (or other suitable anatomic features or structures) are automatically segmented in pre-biopsy MR and pre-biopsy ultrasound images. Thereafter, pre-biopsy MR and pre-biopsy ultrasound contours are aligned. To account for non-linear deformation of the imaged anatomic structure, a patient-specific transformation model is trained via deep learning based at least in part on the pre-biopsy ultrasound images. The pre-biopsy ultrasound images that are overlaid with the pre-biopsy MR contours and based off the deformable transformation model are then aligned with the biopsy ultrasound images. Such real-time alignment using multi-modality imaging techniques provides guidance during the biopsy and post-biopsy system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic medical probe has a horn or shaft, a shank at a proximal end of the shaft, a probe head at a distal end of the horn or shaft, opposite the shank, and at least one polymeric component fixed to at least one of the horn or shaft, the shank, and the probe head. The shank is provided at a proximal end opposite the horn or shaft with an externally threaded connector for attaching the probe to a source of ultrasonic vibratory energy. The polymeric component is of a composition that transmits and is essentially impervious to ultrasonic vibratory energy but that degrades or decomposes upon exposure to a source of extreme energy (other than ultrasonic vibratory energy), rendering the probe inoperative for use.

Abstract: An origami bellows includes a plurality of layers including a support layer having a diameter that remains fixed irrespective of axial expansion or compression of the origami bellows. The origami bellows may be used as an anti-buckling device providing lateral support to a catheter or other elongated medical instrument.

Abstract: A method of compensating for motion of objects during a surgical procedure is provided. The method includes determining a pose of an anatomy of a patient; determining a pose of a surgical tool of a surgical device; defining a relationship between the pose of the anatomy and a position, an orientation, a velocity, and/or an acceleration of the surgical tool; associating the pose of the anatomy, the pose of the surgical tool, and the relationship; and updating the association in response to a motion of the anatomy and/or a motion of the surgical tool without interrupting operation of the surgical device during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: Devices, systems, methods for validating ablation results in a patient's brain are provided. In some embodiments, the method for validating ablation result in a patient's brain includes obtaining magnetic resonance (MR) data of the patient's brain, by use of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device; obtaining first imaging data of the patient's brain, by use of the MRI device; extracting, by use of computing device in communication with the MRI device, first fiber tracts passing through an anatomy in the patient's brain based on the first imaging data; obtaining, by use of the MRI device, second imaging data of the patient's brain after ablation of the anatomy in the patient's brain has started; extracting second fiber tracts passing through the anatomy in the patient's brain based on the second imaging data; and outputting a graphical representation of a comparison between the first fiber tracts and the second fiber tracts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of medical imaging in the absence of contrast agents. In one form, the invention relates to the field of imaging vessels, particularly blood vessels such as the pulmonary vasculature and is suitable for use as a technique for detecting pulmonary embolism (PE), such as acute PE. Embodiments of the present invention provide improved image processing techniques having the capability to extract and use image data to overcome the need for contrast agents to distinguish between different types of tissue. Furthermore, it has also been realised that the image data accessed by the improved image processing can be used to identify irregularities in vessels.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for treatment of subcutaneous fat by simultaneously transdermally inducing both ultrasonic transverse vibrations and ultrasonic longitudinal vibrations in subcutaneous tissue, for example for reduction of subcutaneous fat.

Abstract: Insertable imaging devices and use methods thereof in minimally invasive medical procedures. Some insertable imaging devices are introduced and removed from an access port without disturbing or risking damage to internal tissue. Some insertable imaging devices are integrated with an access port, thereby allowing imaging of internal tissues within a vicinity of the access port, while enabling manipulation of surgical tools in the surgical field of interest. Some insertable imaging devices are integrated into an imaging sleeve that is insertable into an access port. Some insertable imaging devices perform imaging within an access port, wherein the imaging is based on one or more imaging modalities, including, but are not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, optical imaging, such as hyperspectral imaging and optical coherence tomography, and electrical conductive measurements.