Abstract: An apparatus for diagnosis of ocular surface disease includes an electronic tablet with an electronic display and a forward-facing camera. The camera may be placed above the screen when the device is held in landscape mode. A software app executing on the electronic tablet displays a test screen to a patient, the test screen comprising a test image and an alignment indicator. Once alignment is achieved, the patient may read the test image for a period of time, during which blink quality and quantity are tabulated. A video recorded during the test may be reviewed by a physician to confirm or modify blink quality and quantity counts during the test to diagnose ocular surface disease.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for K-edge based interior tomography image processing. The apparatus efficiently performs tomography image reconstruction by acquiring different material images using an energy-selective detector, such as a photon counting detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microbubble complex comprising a microbubble having an outer shell comprising a mixture of native and denatured albumin encapsulating a perfluorocarbon gas, a therapeutic agent, a bifunctional linker having one end attached to the therapeutic agent and the other attached to a ligand and wherein the ligand is bound to the other shell of the microbubble through hydrophobic interactions. Also included are methods for delivering the aforementioned microbubble complex to a tissue target.

Abstract: A system for visualizing movement of structures within a patient's chest is described herein. The system includes an electromagnetic tracking system, a computing device and a display. The computing device includes a processor configured generate a 3D model of an interior of the patient, obtain positions of EM sensors for the 3D model, determine positions of the EM sensors at intervals during the respiratory cycle, determine positions of the EM sensors at maximum tidal volume and minimum tidal volume, determine differences between the positions of the EM sensors at maximum tidal volume and for the 3D model, generate a 3D model at maximum tidal volume based on the differences between the positions of the EM sensors at maximum tidal volume and for the 3D model, and store in memory the 3D model at maximum tidal volume.

Abstract: An insertion needle has a light guide member for guiding light emitted from a light source, a light emitting portion for emitting light guided by the light guide member, and a photoacoustic wave generating portion for generating photoacoustic waves caused by light emitted from the light emitting portion. A photoacoustic image generation unit generates a photoacoustic image based on the detection signal of the photoacoustic waves. A distal end candidate extraction unit extracts a distal end candidate region from the shallow side of the image based on the strength of the detection signal of the photoacoustic waves. An image output unit displays the extracted distal end candidate region on an image display unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring bio-information includes a pulse wave sensor configured to emit light having a plurality of wavelengths onto an object, and to detect a multi-wavelength pulse wave signal from the object; and a processor configured to obtain a contact pressure signal based on the multi-wavelength pulse wave signal, the contact pressure signal indicating a pressure between the object and the pulse wave sensor, and to generate information regarding a measurement state of the object based on the contact pressure signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to techniques for guiding an operator to use an ultrasound device. Thereby, operators with little or no experience operating ultrasound devices may capture medically relevant ultrasound images and/or interpret the contents of the obtained ultrasound images. For example, some of the techniques disclosed herein may be used to identify a particular anatomical view of a subject to image with an ultrasound device, guide an operator of the ultrasound device to capture an ultrasound image of the subject that contains the particular anatomical view, and/or analyze the captured ultrasound image to identify medical information about the subject.

Abstract: Ablation apparatus such as a catheter carrying an ultrasonic ablation device including an ablation transducer and a balloon reflector structure for directing ultrasonic energy from the ablation transducer into a ring-like ablation region is provided with an imaging ultrasonic transducer mounted on an imaging probe which may be inserted into or through a passageway extending through the catheter and into or through the ablation device to image the ablation region or neighboring regions. Alternatively, the imaging transducer may be mounted within the balloon reflector structure or distal to this structure.

Abstract: A needle biopsy apparatus includes: a hollow needle for needling a patient; and a main body portion which retains the needle, and acquires a tissue of the patient through the needle. The needle is configured of gas not including a radioactive label, a liquid not including a radioactive label, or a solid not including a radioactive label, and includes a labelling portion of which a radiation dose to be detected is less than that of the tissue of the patient ingesting a radioactive-labelled radiopharmaceutical dosed to the patient, on a tip end side.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for applying mechanical or ultrasound energy to a region of interest in a subject to induce modulation of one or more nerve pathways. The region of interest may include at least a portion of a nerve ganglion.

Abstract: An apparatus and methodological framework are provided, named perfusion angiography, for the quantitative analysis and visualization of blood flow parameters from DSA images. The parameters, including cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT), time-to-peak (TTP), and Tmax, are computed using a bolus tracking method based on the deconvolution of time-density curves on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Individual contrast concentration curves of overlapping vessels can be delineated with multivariate Gamma fitting. The extracted parameters are each transformed into parametric maps of the target that can be color coded with different colors to represent parameter values within a particular set range. Side by side parametric maps with corresponding DSA images allow expert evaluation and condition diagnosis.

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: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to techniques for guiding an operator to use an ultrasound device. Thereby, operators with little or no experience operating ultrasound devices may capture medically relevant ultrasound images and/or interpret the contents of the obtained ultrasound images. For example, some of the techniques disclosed herein may be used to identify a particular anatomical view of a subject to image with an ultrasound device, guide an operator of the ultrasound device to capture an ultrasound image of the subject that contains the particular anatomical view, and/or analyze the captured ultrasound image to identify medical information about the subject.

Abstract: An ultrasound microbeamformer for one or more transducer arrays includes a plurality of channels, each of which has two transmitters and a receiver which is selectively coupled to two or more transducer elements by T/R switches and dynamically switchable receive switches (RXSW). The transmitters enable different transducers to be actuated differently, such as transmitting a high frequency pulse or waveform with one transmitter and a low frequency pulse or waveform with the other transmitter. The transmitters may both be used during the same transmit-receive cycle to simultaneously transmit and receive both high and low frequency signals for the formation of a common image.

Abstract: Provided in accordance with the present disclosure is a diagnostic and a therapeutic bronchoscopy system for localized delivery of medication within the lungs. Specifically, systems and methods are disclosed for creating a functional and anatomical map of the lungs, diagnosing a condition within the lungs, generating a treatment plan for a target site within the lungs, navigating to the target site, administering a treatment directly to the target site for immediate absorption within the target site, and assessing the efficacy of the treatment.

Abstract: A method for providing a localization system with detailed information regarding a catheter's construction, while at the same time preventing operator input errors, for use in a three-dimensional localization field, including providing a catheter having at least one feature, providing a catheter catalog for use by the localization system, wherein the catheter catalog comprises reference data relating to features of the catheter, placing the catheter into the localization field, creating a map with the localization field, locating the catheter on the map, and correlating features of the catheter within the localization field with measurements made by the localization system when the feature is at various locations.

Abstract: An interventional medical device is provided that incorporates a forward-directed ultrasound or optical coherence tomography imaging system that is replaceable depending on how close the device is to the target site for a given medical procedure, the device and system integrated into a single minimally invasive device comprising a first probe housing, needle guide assembly and sheath, a sleeve lock for closing a normally open needle channel of a needle guide of the first distal assembly and a second probe and cable housing assembly locked to the first distal probe housing, needle guide assembly and sheath by a locking tab. The probe and cable housing assembly may comprise a linear phased ultrasound array and an accelerometer for orienting an image produced by the device with the gravitational field of the earth. The medical device can be in the form of an image guided catheter or probe, used in a body orifice, externally on skin tissue or subcutaneously.

Abstract: An interventional medical device is provided that incorporates a forward-directed ultrasound or optical coherence tomography imaging system that is replaceable depending on how close the device is to the target site for a given medical procedure, the device and system integrated into a single minimally invasive device comprising a first probe housing, needle guide assembly and sheath, a sleeve lock for closing a normally open needle channel of a needle guide of the first distal assembly and a second probe and cable housing assembly locked to the first distal probe housing, needle guide assembly and sheath by a locking tab. The probe and cable housing assembly may comprise a linear phased ultrasound array and an accelerometer for orienting an image produced by the device with the gravitational field of the earth. The medical device can be in the form of an image guided catheter or probe, used in a body orifice, externally on skin tissue or subcutaneously.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodies software that is operable when executed to, in real time, capture a number of images of a user; identify one or more regions of interest corresponding to one or more superficial arteries of the user. The identification is based on a signal-to-noise ratio of photoplethysmogram (PPG) data obtained from the plurality of images. The software is further operable to measure, based on the PPG data, blood volume pulse (BVP) signals; and based on the measured BVP signals, compute one or more cardiological metrics for the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodies software that is operable when executed to, in real time, capture a number of images of a user; and determine a time-series signal for the user based on the plurality of images. The signal includes one or more segments that are physiologically plausible and one or more segments that are physiologically implausible. The software is further operable to identify one or more of the physiologically plausible sub-segments based on one or more pre-defined signal characteristics; and calculate one or more heartrate measurements based on the physiologically plausible sub-segments.