Abstract: For a classification-dependent user interface in ultrasound imaging with an ultrasound scanner, the ultrasound scanner classifies a view represented in an image. The user interface changes according to the view, allowing one or a few user inputs to be used for different user options or behavior combinations appropriate for the classified anatomy. The context from imaging alters the behavior of a given user input element of the user interface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for identifying a cardiovascular disease of a patient. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining measurements for a diastolic pressure, a systolic pressure, a heartbeat period, a stroke volume, and an ejection period for the patient, and then determining an aortic compliance for the patient based on these measurements. The diastolic pressure, systolic pressure, and heartbeat period are each measured directly from the patient, and the stroke volume and ejection period are each measured from echocardiogram data. In another embodiment, the method includes obtaining measurements for a diastolic pressure and a systolic pressure for the patient, obtaining an estimate of a stroke volume for the patient, and then determining an aortic compliance for the patient based on the diastolic pressure, the systolic pressure, and the stroke volume.

Abstract: A radiotherapy system is provided. The radiotherapy system may include a treatment component, an imaging component, and a table being movable between the treatment component and the imaging component along a first direction in a first coordinate system. The table may have a plurality of cross sections perpendicular to the first direction. The table may include a positioning line that extends along the first direction and have a positioning feature. The positioning feature may have a plurality of feature values. Each feature value may correspond to one of the plurality of cross sections.

Abstract: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) devices with robust, four-wire electrical interconnects. In some embodiments, an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device is provided. The IVUS device comprises: a catheter body; an ultrasound assembly coupled to a distal portion of the catheter body; and four conductors extending along a length of the catheter body, wherein a distal section of each of the four conductors has a flattened profile and wherein the flattened distal section of each of the four conductors is electrically coupled to a respective electrical contact of the ultrasound assembly. The ultrasound assembly can be a phased-array ultrasound assembly or a rotational ultrasound assembly.

Abstract: For ultrasound imaging with an ultrasound scanner, fat fraction of the tissue is measured. The fat fraction may be measured without access to channel data, such as from beamformed data. The speed of sound varies with the fat fraction of tissue, so the fat fraction is used to set the speed of sound in beamforming. Imaging the tissue using the fat fraction-based optimization for speed of sound may provide better images than imaging with an assumed speed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating acoustic properties in a region-of-interest in a subject or other object being imaged using a reference frequency method (“RFM”) is described. Using this RFM technique, ultrasound data acquired at a given frequency are normalized by ultrasound data acquired at different frequencies (e.g., adjacent frequencies or otherwise) in order to provide estimations of the acoustic properties (e.g., attenuation coefficient, a backscatter coefficient, or both) that are independent of the ultrasound system used to acquire the underlying data. For instance, the amplitude of each frequency component can be normalized by a different frequency in the power spectrum to cancel out the system-dependent effects. Because the methods described in the present disclosure are system independent, they can be applied to any transducer geometry (e.g., linear or curved arrays) and using any beam pattern (e.g., focused or unfocused).

Abstract: A method and system for reducing divergence between computed tomography images and a patient using three-dimensional reconstructions. The method utilizes cone beam imaging or three-dimensional fluoroscopy to supplement or supplant pre-operative computed tomography imaging.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of a method for scanning material using a dental ultrasonic imaging probe comprising an ultrasonic device configured for emitting ultrasound signals within at least two emitting cones and for receiving corresponding echoed ultrasound signals, the at least two emitting cones extending in different directions, the method comprising: receiving an item of information relating to a direction for emitting an ultrasound signal; selecting one of the received corresponding echoed ultrasound signals or the ultrasound signals to be emitted as a function of the received item of information.

Abstract: For ultrasound imaging using a matrix transducer, interconnects or switches are provided to allow sub-arrays forming a 1D array, such as with sub-arrays one element wide with the maximum number of elements in elevation. Where groups are used to limit the switches and available system channels per group, an extra switch may connect between elements of different groups through a group output to extend a sub-array across groups. To further limit the number of switches, the group may be sub-divided where different combinations of sub-groups are connectable with different combinations of the system channels for the group.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing device in operative communication with an ultrasound device. The processing device is configured to: receive a user selection of a lung imaging preset option and a user-selected imaging depth for the ultrasound device; define a threshold imaging depth based on a shallow lung imaging mode and a deep lung imaging mode (the threshold imaging depth is between approximately 4 cm and 8 cm); after receiving the user selection of the user-selected imaging depth, compare the user-selected imaging depth with the threshold imaging depth; and automatically configure the ultrasound device to switch between the shallow lung imaging mode and deep lung imaging mode, depending upon a result of the comparison of the user-selected imaging depth with the threshold imaging depth.

Abstract: A method of imaging a vessel with a catheter includes positioning an imaging tip in a reinforced terminal section of an outer sheath of the catheter, inserting the catheter into a vessel, and performing near infrared spectroscopy of the vessel by retracting the imaging tip to a retracted position proximally spaced from the reinforced terminal section of the outer sheath, transmitting near infrared light from the imaging tip to the vessel wall via the outer sheath, and collecting near infrared light from the vessel wall at the imaging tip via the outer sheath. Transmitting and collecting may be performed after retracting the cable and while the imaging tip is rotated and translated proximally from the retracted position along the outer sheath. Ultrasound energy may be transmitted to the vessel from a transducer on the imaging tip and received from the vessel at the transducer.

Abstract: An angiogram is a study of blood vessels where an angiographic chemical contrast agent is injected while a sequence of images (typically x-rays) are obtained. The contrast pattern on the sequence of images provides information about the vascular anatomy and physiology. The discovery that contrast in blood vessels varies at cardiac frequency in magnitude and phase, which may be visualized as a spatiotemporal reconstruction of cardiac frequency angiographic phenomena, enables a set of processes for increasing the signal to noise ratio or equivalently the informational content of an angiogram. In this invention, the organization of cardiac frequency magnitude and phase enables equivalent information on anatomy and physiology to be obtained with less dose of injected chemical contrast agent, less x-ray dose, and/or less navigation of the injecting catheter within blood vessels.

Abstract: A computer implemented medical method of calibrating a cage is presented. In particular, this calibration method calculates a virtual model of the cage based on a cage tip point and a cage end point, acquired by using a pointer tip of a pointing device, and at least one axis, acquired by using a pointer shaft of the pointing device along a side of the cage. This method allows for providing a more detailed virtual model of the cage, while being in compliance with sterility restrictions.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus for determining the condition of a subject's heart. The apparatus includes a patch adhered to a chest of the subject, the patch further including at least one ultrasound sensor for directing an ultrasound beam to the subject's heart and receiving a reflection of the beam; control circuitry for generating data signals based on the beam reflection indicative of a distance of the heart from the ultrasound sensor; and a processing system for receiving the data signals from the control circuitry and processing the data signals to track movement of the subject's heart over time, wherein changes in the movement correlate to the subject's heart condition.

Abstract: A camera tracking system is disclosed for computer assisted navigation during surgery. The camera tracking system includes a camera bar, first and second tracking cameras, and a third tracking camera. The first and second tracking cameras are attached at spaced apart locations on the camera bar. The third tracking camera is attached at a location on the camera bar that is between locations of the first and second tracking cameras and spaced apart a distance from a line extending through centers of the first and second tracking cameras.

Abstract: A tethered laparoscopic probe for deployment through a trocar into a cavity of a subject and manipulatable by fenestrated laparoscopic graspers includes opposing fenestrated jaws. The tethered laparoscopic probe also includes a probe head shaped for insertion through the trocar and including an elongated casing, a sensor arranged within the casing and defining a sensing direction of the probe head, and a grip for secure grasping by the fenestrated laparoscopic graspers. The grip has protrusions for mating with the fenestrated jaws. The tethered laparoscopic probe further includes a tether coupled to the probe head. The protrusions are positioned and shaped to enable the grip to be grasped securely by the fenestrated laparoscopic graspers at a first angle relative to the sensing direction of the probe head and at a second angle relative to the sensing direction of the probe head, the second angle being different from the first angle.

Abstract: An imaging system and a method for displaying information regarding the subject matter of an ultrasound image or ultrasound video loop on a display includes the steps of detecting one or more organs in the ultrasound image or ultrasound video loop, creating a representative thumbnail image utilizing the ultrasound image or a frame of the ultrasound video loop, selecting an organ icon representing the one or more organs detected in the ultrasound image or ultrasound video loop, and presenting the organ icon in association with the thumbnail image on the display. The system and method can also create search-identifiable information relating to the one or more organs detected in the ultrasound image or ultrasound video loop, and store the search-identifiable information in the electronic memory in association with the image or the image video loop and the thumbnail image with the organ icon.

Abstract: A system including a magnetic resonance imaging system having a magnet and first and second sidewalls positioned on opposite sides of an imaging field of the magnet, and a subject support configured to support a subject that is positioned in an upright position. The system may be capable of imaging a target anatomy of the subject while the subject is in the upright position, and may further include a motor for translating the subject support between first and second positions within and outside of the imaging field of the magnet, respectively. The subject support may include a seat on which the subject may sit facing the subject support, such that the subject's back can be operated on and imaged while the subject is in an upright position.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of an ultrasonic periodontal probe, the ultrasonic periodontal probe comprising a grip portion having a longitudinal axis, a support member comprising a part having a longitudinal axis different from the longitudinal axis of the grip portion, and an ultrasonic device fastened to the grip portion via the support member, wherein the ultrasonic device is configured for emitting ultrasound signals within at least two emitting cones and for receiving corresponding echoed ultrasound signals, the at least two emitting cones extending in opposite directions with regard to a plane comprising the longitudinal axis of the grip portion.

Abstract: A forward looking MEMS based OCT probe (50) is provided that comprises an elongate probe housing (51) having at a first end a probe interface (54) for an optic fibre (56), and at a second opposite end a viewing window (58). The probe housing accommodates a MEMS mirror (10) for sweeping a hght beam (60) through the viewing window and for reflecting light received through the viewing window towards the probe interface, wherein a rotation axis (18) of the MEMS mirror extends transverse to a longitudinal axis (62) defined by the probe housing. The MEMS mirror (10) has a stator (12), a rotor (14), and an actuator (16) with at least one pair of mutually interdigitated comb elements including at least a first comb element fixed to the stator defining a reference plane and at least a second comb element fixed to the rotor and that is further coupled at mutually opposite sides via a respective torsion beam (20A, 20B) to the stator.