Abstract: Imaging and image reconstruction are sequentially performed for slices of a subject, and realtime images of the slices are displayed substantially at the same time. The slices may be perpendicular or parallel to one another, or they may form a stereoscopic pair. The images may be displayed two-dimensionally, or they may be combined and displayed three-dimensionally. One of the slices includes an insertion (a needle) for puncture or biopsy that is inserted into the subject by an operator, and it is parallel with a direction in which the insertion should advance. If the needle is displaced from the slice and a shade of the needle disappears from the sequentially-displayed images of the slice while the operator moves the needle toward an affected part in the subject in IVR, the shade of the needle appears on the sequentially-displayed images of another slice that is perpendicularly intersecting to or is adjacent and parallel to the above-mentioned slice.

Abstract: A computer controlled system for guiding the needle device, such as a biopsy needle, by reference to a single mode medical imaging system employing any one of computed tomography imaging (CTI) equipment, magnetic resonance imaging equipment (MRI), fluoroscopic imaging equipment, or 3D ultrasound system, or alternatively, by reference to a multi-modal imaging system, which includes any combination of the aforementioned systems. The 3D ultrasound system includes a combination of an ultrasound probe and both passive and active infrared tracking systems so that the combined system enables a real time image display of the entire region of interest without probe movement.

Abstract: A biomagnetic field measuring apparatus has a plurality of fluxmeters disposed externally of a living body and each including a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) for detecting a biomagnetic field generated from the living body, the plurality of fluxmeters being operative to detect a temporal change of a component of the biomagnetic field in a first direction which is vertical to the surface of the living body, an operation processor for performing computation for determining a temporal change of a value proportional to a root of square sum of differential value of the first-direction magnetic field component in second and third directions which cross the first direction and computation for integrating the temporal change of the value over a predetermined interval to determine an integral value, and a display for displaying the determined integral value. Distribution of magnetic fields generated from the heart is determined with a small number of fluxmeters.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for use within an image-guided surgical navigation system for the storage and measurement of trajectories for surgical instruments. An icon representing the real-time trajectory of a tracked instrument is overlaid on one or more pre-acquired images of the patient. At the surgeon's command, the navigation system can store multiple trajectories of the instrument and create a static icon representing each saved trajectory for display. The surgeon may also measure a planar angle between any two trajectories. The angle is computed in the plane of the image, and therefore will be computed separately for each image displayed. Furthermore, the surgeon has the option of computing and displaying the three-dimensional distance between two points defined by any two trajectories.

Abstract: A Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) having multi-level image data processing is provided. The system includes imaging a patient with an imaging modality to generate raw digital image data and then sending the raw image data to an acquisition workstation. The acquisition workstation then performs a first level of image data processing to form partially processed raw image data with regard to a predetermined subset of the set of control parameters to form a partially processed image. The subset of control parameters may comprise frequency control parameters or contrast control parameters, for example. The partially processed image may then be sent to an external connection, stored in a database in the PACS, or sent to a display workstation for a second level of image data processing to complete the image processing and display the image.

Abstract: A technique for imaging cardiovascular surfaces through blood using a combination of spectral and spatial selection of radiation being reflected diffused back and by a blood vessel interior. Imaging a cardiovascular surface includes intralumenal irradiating a cardiovascular interior through blood with a radiation of a wavelength with minimum of total optical losses through blood, so that the radiation of the wavelength is reflected and backscattered at least partly by a cardiovascular surface, detecting all intensity signals of the reflected and backscattered radiation, and processing the detected signals by selecting intensity signals of radiation being backscattered by blood only, and subtracting the selected intensity signals of radiation backscattered only by blood from all detected intensity signals of reflected and backscattered radiation, so as to reconstruct an image of the cardiovascular surface using the intensity signals of difference obtained by subtracting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaginal imaging device for quantifying morphological and biochemical changes in the pelvic floor muscles as well as monitoring muscular function. Specifically, the present invention provides a vaginal imaging probe comprising a single or dual tuned resonator for both nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of the pelvic floor musculature.

Abstract: A method for processing images in a Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) is provided. The method includes imaging a patient with an imaging modality to generate raw digital image data and then sending the raw image data to an acquisition workstation. The acquisition workstation then partially processes the raw image data with regard to a predetermined subset of the set of control parameters to form a partially processed image. The subset of control parameters may comprise frequency control parameters or contrast control parameters, for example. The partially processed image may then be sent to an external connection, stored in a database in the PACS, or sent to a display workstation for complete processing and display. A partially processed image that has been stored in a database in the PACS may be retrieved and sent to a display workstation for complete processing and display.

Abstract: A therapeutic ultrasound delivery system, comprising: a catheter body; a plurality of axially spaced-apart hollow cylindrical vibrational transducers disposed along a length of the catheter body; a first spring connector wrapped around the outer surfaces of the vibrational transducers, the first spring connector exerting an inward pre-stress on the outer surfaces of the vibrational transducers; and a second connector disposed in contact with the inner surfaces of the vibrational transducers.

Abstract: A phantom (50) is positioned on a patient support couch (16) of a diagnostic imaging scanner (10). The phantom includes a plurality of diagnostically imageable elements (52) which are mounted in a fixed relationship such that when projections are made along three orthogonal axes, the projections of the diagnostically elements along each axis are non-overlapping. At least three markers (56) on the phantom are monitored by infrared sensitive cameras (30, 32) or other pick-up devices and the location of the markers in image guided surgery (IGS) space is determined (36). From a priori information about the structure of the phantom, the geometric centers of the imageable elements is determined and projected (64) along the coordinate system axes of IGS space. The phantom is imaged by the diagnostic imaging system to generate projections of the diagnostically imageable elements along each of three coordinate axes of diagnostic image space.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that use the steady-state free precessing (SSFP) technique for MR imaging to allow the acquisition of MR angiography images in which the acquisition is not time dependent upon the first passage of a contrast agent. The technique includes applying a pulse sequence with refocusing S− signals from a train of RF pulses to a desired field-of-view (FOV) in a patient in which a contrast bolus has been injected. An SSFP image of the desired FOV is acquired, together with an S− SSFP mask image of the desired FOV. The S− SSFP mask image is subtracted from the SSFP image in order to reconstruct an image with improved visualization of the arterial and venous structures and reduce mis-registration artifacts.

Abstract: A system for and method of determining and compensating for the effect of a field influencing object on a field sensor, preferably a coil, that is within a navigational domain. The navigational domain contains navigational magnetic energy and disturbing magnetic energy, and the field influencing object produces the disturbing magnetic energy in response to the navigational magnetic energy. The correction system includes a first transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a first waveform sufficient to induce a first signal value in the sensing coil. The system also includes a second transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a second waveform sufficient to induce a second signal value in the sensing coil. The system further includes a signal processor for receiving the first signal value and for receiving the second signal value to determine the effect of the electrically conductive object on the field senior.

Abstract: Radiation pulses from a high energy therapeutic ultrasound system are used to stimulate tissue motion by radiation pressure. The tissue motion is monitored using a diagnostic ultrasound system.

Abstract: A system employs a tracker and a set of substantially non-shadowing point markers, arranged in a fixed pattern or set in a fluoroscope calibration fixture that is imaged in each shot. The fixture is preferably affixed to the image detector of the fluoroscope, and tracking elements secured with respect to the fixture and at least one of a tool and the patient, provide respective position data irrespective of movement. A marker detection module identifies markers imaged in each shot, and a processor applies the known marker positions to model the projection geometry, e.g., camera axis and focus, for the shot and, together with the tracked tool position, form a corrected tool navigation image. In one embodiment an inverting distortion correction converts the tracked or actual location of the tool and displays the tool on the fluoroscopic image to guide the surgeon in tool navigation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the precision aiming of a radiation beam for treating an internal cancer tumor in a patient. The method of treatment includes introducing at least one reference marker into the patient in a defined and locatable position in relation to the cancer tumor. A defined point in the cross section of the beam is located by a sight that is compared to the position of the reference marker and adjusted to ensure that the treatment beam is directed precisely at the cancer tumor before the remaining doses of radiation are given to the patient. The device according to the invention includes equipment for emitting a treatment beam, a sight arranged in the path of the beam to define a point in the cross section of the beam, and a device to read the beam arranged to receive the beam that has passed through the patient and visualize the position of the at least one said reference marker and the position of the sight.

Abstract: An easily recognized spatial relationship between an object and a section thereof is displayed (together with a real time image of the section) to permit quick, accurate, easy and accurate selection of a desired three-dimensional position for the section. The coordinate system of an imaging system may also be concurrently displayed. In addition to sequentially pasted real time section images, a reference image acquired at an arbitrary time may also be pasted on a portion of the display. Thus a reference image and a real-time image of the scanned section can be displayed to facilitate a better spatial understanding of the position of the section being scanned and imaged.

Abstract: A method of detecting tissue changes includes the following steps: a) taking a tissue structure scan for at least one part of a patient's body and all of the tissue structure scan data is stored; b) after a predetermined period of time, taking another tissue structure scan for at least that part of the patient's body at least once, and again storing the data; c) computer-assisted positional assignment and comparison of two or more sequential tissue structure scans; and d) computer-assisted detection and output of changes in the tissue of the patient, resulting from the different data for each body portion assigned.

Abstract: A system employs a tracker and a set of substantially non-shadowing point markers, arranged in a fixed pattern or set in a fluoroscope calibration fixture that is imaged in each shot. The fixture is preferably affixed to the image detector of the fluoroscope, and tracking elements secured with respect to the fixture and at least one of a tool and the patient, provide respective position data irrespective of movement. A marker detection module identifies markers imaged in each shot, and a processor applies the known marker positions to model the projection geometry, e.g., camera axis and focus, for the shot and, together with the tracked tool position, form a corrected tool navigation image. In one embodiment an inverting distortion correction converts the tracked or actual location of the tool and displays the tool on the fluoroscopic image to guide the surgeon in tool navigation.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with first and second light guides, which are optically coupled by an optical coupler. A low-coherent light source is provided, and the light emitted therefrom is incident on the first or second light guide. Further provided is a scanning unit that causes the light beam emerged from the first light guide to scan on a predetermined surface of the object. The light beam reflected by the object is directed, by the scanning unit, to the first light guide as a detection light beam. A light beam emerged from the second light guide is reflected by a reflector and returned to the second light guide as a reference beam. By varying the optical path length of the reference beam relative to that of the detection beam, two beams interfere. A signal processing system generates OCT image based on the signal detected by a light detecting device which receives the interfering beams.

Abstract: An acoustic therapy device is provided including a housing, an electro-acoustic transducer, a coupling element and coupling cushions. The electro-acoustic transducer is arranged in the housing which includes a shell. The coupling element has a coupling surface flush with edges of the shell. Another coupling surface of the coupling element is on the sound irradiation surface of the transducer and sound waves from the sound irradiation surface are directly coupled into the coupling element. An elastic coupling cushion is connected to a surface of the coupling element. One coupling surface of the coupling element and an exterior coupling surface of the coupling cushion define a sound advance path the length of which may, along with a penetration depth of the sound waves, be varied.