Abstract: The present disclosure relates to: a method for evaluating a state of a motor function of a patient who has or is suspected of having brain damage by using parameters obtained from a diffusion weighted image of the patient's brain; a program for executing the method in a computer; and an image processing device and an MRI device which can be used in practicing the method. According to the present disclosure, the motor function state of a patient who has or is suspected of having brain damage can be evaluated, and it is also possible to predict the recovery of the motor function after regeneration treatment. Accordingly, whether the patient is suitable for the regeneration treatment can be determined before the start of the treatment.

Abstract: An analyzing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to detect a shear wave propagating in an object. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate an index value that indicates viscosity within the object and that is not dependent on any physical model related to viscoelasticity, by analyzing the detected shear wave.

Abstract: A registration marker comprising a radiotransparent substrate and a pattern formed in at least two dimensions, which is disposed on the substrate and is optically visible. The registration marker also has a multiplicity of radiopaque elements, which are disposed in the substrate and are spatially arranged in at least two dimensions to provide a unique pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for performing a procedure. The system may include a navigation system to be used to at least assist in the procedure. The system may assist in delineating objects and/or determining physical characteristics of subject portions. The system may assist in performing and/or a workflow of the procedure.

Abstract: A tracker, a surgical navigation system with the tracker, and a method of operating the tracker are described. The tracker comprises a first switch configured to be operated between a first switch configuration and a second switch configuration. The tracker also comprises one or more sources of electromagnetic radiation configured to selectively emit electromagnetic radiation with a first radiation characteristic or a second radiation characteristic. The tracker further comprises electrical circuitry configured to selectively control the one or more sources of electromagnetic radiation to emit electromagnetic radiation having the first radiation characteristic in the first switch configuration and to emit electromagnetic radiation having the second radiation characteristic in the second switch configuration, wherein the second radiation characteristic is different from the first radiation characteristic.

Abstract: A device to receive in real time ultrasound images acquired by an ultrasound probe, includes a first calculator for implementing a classifier to classify in real time the received ultrasound images and to associate each image with a class for generating a quality indicator as a function of the associated class, a display for displaying the received ultrasound images and the last generated quality indicator, and a second calculator configured to, when a sequence of a predefined number of received images includes a rate of images associated with a same class greater than a predefined rate, automatically record the sequence of images, and to generate and display, on the display, a time indicator representing a number of remaining images to be received to reach the sequence of a predefined number of received images including a rate of images associated with a same class greater than a predefined rate.

Abstract: A system may comprise a tool including at least one reference feature. a processor, and a memory having computer readable instructions stored thereon. The computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, may cause the system to receive image data including an image of the tool and the at least one reference feature, determine a pose of the tool from the image data, and modify the image data to visually decrement a portion of the image data corresponding to the at least one reference feature.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a bore, a table configured to support a patient being imaged and movable to move the patient in and out of the bore, a motion sensor, a controller configured to detect patient motion based on changes in an RF signal from the motion sensor. The motion sensor includes a self-resonant spiral (SRS) coil excited by a drive signal to radiate a magnetic field having a predefined resonant frequency and a driver-receiver coupled to the SRS coil and configured to generate the drive signal to excite the SRS coil and to receive the RF signal from the SRS coil. The motion sensor is located such that a portion of the patient is within the magnetic field while the patient is being imaged in the bore.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining an electroanatomical map, which maps a portion of a heart while the heart experiences an arrhythmia, obtaining a sequence of images of the heart acquired by an ultrasonic probe, the sequence including one or more arrhythmic images acquired while the heart experiences the arrhythmia and one or more rhythmic images acquired while the heart is in sinus rhythm, the ultrasonic probe including a sensor that outputs, during the acquisition of the sequence of images, a signal indicating a location and an orientation of the probe in a coordinate system of the electroanatomical map, based on the signal, identifying, in one of the arrhythmic images, an anatomical portion represented by a particular portion of the electroanatomical map, by tracking the anatomical portion through the sequence of images, identifying the anatomical portion in at least one of the rhythmic images, and displaying an output in response thereto.

Abstract: A system comprises a processor and a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: define a subregion of a model of an anatomic region, the subregion including a plurality of virtual tissue structures and corresponding to an area surrounding a tip of an image capture probe located within the anatomic region; compare a tissue structure in an image received from the image capture probe to at least a portion of virtual tissue structures of the plurality of virtual tissue structures; based on the comparison, determine a respective similarity measure between the image and each virtual tissue structure; identify a closest matched virtual tissue structure based on the determined similarity measures; and based on identifying the closest matched virtual tissue structure, register the image to the model to determine a virtual position for the image capture probe with respect to the model.

Abstract: A treatment system includes a magnetic sensor configured to detect a biomagnetic field generated by a living body to be treated, a catheter configured to be inserted into the living body, an image information processor programmed to generate a combined image including a first image expressing a strength of the biomagnetic field and a second image expressing a position of the catheter, by using biomagnetic field information output from the magnetic sensor and position information of the catheter inserted into the living body, and a display configured to display the combined image.

Abstract: A guidewire system includes an elongated wire configured for insertion into a luminal space, such as the vasculature, of a body. The wire is conductive and configured to conduct electrical signals. One or more sensors are coupled to a distal section of the wire and configured to send and receive the electrical signals via the wire. The wire through which the one or more sensors are coupled is the only wire through which the one or more sensors send and receive the electrical signals.

Abstract: A method of x-ray fluoroscopy images a region of interest at distinct first and second imaging projection angles using digital subtraction x-ray fluoroscopic imaging with a fiducial marker board positioned in a field of view containing the region of interest to produce first and second sets of images. Image segmentation information is determined to identify an anatomical feature in the region of interest imaged in the first set of images and the second set of images. The region of interest is then imaged using x-ray fluoroscopic imaging, again with the fiducial marker board positioned in a third field of view containing the region of interest, but without digital subtraction, to produce a third set of images. A virtual image of the anatomical feature is projected onto the third set of images, computed from the image segmentation information and from a predetermined geometric relationship of markers within the fiducial marker board.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing robotically-assisted surgery in conjunction with intra-operative imaging. A method includes moving a robotic arm with respect to a patient and an imaging device to move an end effector of the robotic arm to a pre-determined position and orientation with respect to the patient based on imaging data of the patient obtained by the imaging device. The robotic arm maintains the end effector in the pre-determined position and orientation with respect to the patient and does not collide with the imaging device or with the patient when the imaging device moves with respect to the patient.

Abstract: A method and system of correcting alignment of catheter relative to a target including receiving signals from an inertial measurement unit located at a distal end of a catheter, determining movement of the distal end of the catheter caused by physiological forces, receiving images depicting the distal end of the catheter and the target, identifying the distal end of the catheter and the target in the images, determining an orientation of the distal end of the catheter relative to the target and articulating the distal tip of the catheter in response to the detected movement to achieve and maintain an orientation towards the target such that a tool extended from an opening at the distal end of the catheter would intersect the target.

Abstract: An acoustic wave measurement apparatus includes: an image display unit that displays an acoustic wave image; a measurement target designation receiving unit that receives designation of a measurement target; a position designation receiving unit that receives designation of a position of a measurement target on the acoustic wave image displayed on the image display unit; a measurement method information receiving unit that receives measurement method information indicating a measurement method; a detection measurement algorithm setting unit that sets a detection measurement algorithm based on the measurement target received by the measurement target designation receiving unit and the measurement method information received by the measurement method information receiving unit; and a measurement unit that detects the measurement target based on the received position and the detection measurement algorithm and performs measurement for the detected measurement target.

Abstract: The method includes: providing a body value of a patient; setting an operating parameter of a drive chain via a control unit configured to control the drive chain as a function of the body value in such a manner that a speed value of the patient couch is increased and a rocking of the patient couch during the movement of the patient couch is at least partially suppressed; and moving the patient couch via the drive chain in accordance with the increased speed value to perform the medical imaging.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for treating an occlusion within a patient's vasculature with ultrasonic energy comprises a catheter configured to be passed through the patient's vasculature such that a portion of the catheter is positioned at an intravascular treatment site. The system further comprises an ultrasound radiating member, an ultrasound signal generator configured to supply a drive signal to the ultrasound radiating member, an infusion pump configured to pump a therapeutic compound into the fluid delivery lumen so as to cause the therapeutic compound to be delivered to the treatment site and a controller configured to control the ultrasound signal generator and the infusion pump.

Abstract: A subject information acquisition apparatus, comprises: a signal generation unit configured to generate a high-frequency signal corresponding to each of the frequencies; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of detection signals based on at least one of a reflection signal and a transmission signal; a signal selection unit configured to select at least one detection signal from the plurality of detection signals based on an index value of the plurality of detection signals; a coupling amount detecting unit configured to detect a coupling amount of near-field coupling due to an electric field between the antenna and the subject based on a detection signal; and a displacement detecting unit configured to generate a displacement signal indicating a displacement of the subject based on the coupling amount.

Abstract: A transducer transmits into the bone a first plurality of excitation pulses at a plurality of frequencies and measures a plurality of echoes corresponding to the plurality of excitation pulses. An ultrasound machine calculates a plurality of energies each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of echoes and identifies a lowest echo corresponding to a lowest of the plurality of energies. The ultrasound machine matches the lowest echo to a corresponding one of the first plurality of excitation pulses, the corresponding one of the first plurality of excitation pulses having a chosen frequency. The ultrasound machine generates an acoustic impulse response by deconvolving the corresponding one of the first plurality of excitation pulses with the lowest echo, and generates an updated sensing matrix by convolving the initial sensing matrix with the acoustic impulse response. Subsequent ultrasounds use the updated sensing matrix.