Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing coronary vessels and a corresponding method are provided in which simulated pullback data obtained from (non-invasively) acquired diagnostic images is co-registered with invasively acquired intravascular pullback data and the co-registration is used to identify disparities in the pullback data obtained using the two modalities. These disparities allow for deriving further information about the vessel geometry and/or the blood flow through the vessel. They may therefore be used to improve the physiological model.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are described herein for performing a navigated surgical procedure involving a patient's anatomy in sterile and non-sterile surgical environments. A camera may be used to determine a registration of the camera coordinate-frame to the patient anatomy or optionally a tracker in relation to the patient anatomy. A drape may be applied to permit use in a sterile surgical environment. The camera may be moved from its original position to enable access to patient anatomy while maintaining a registration of the camera coordinate-frame with the patient anatomy. Alternatively, the camera may be used in a hand-held or head-mounted manner. A visualization of the patient anatomy may be displayed on a computing unit, with visualization reference planes defined by the pose of an instrument or the camera. The visualization may be presented on a display of a computing unit or as part of a head mounted augmented reality system.

Abstract: A first region of interest and a second region of interest are set respectively including a first end and a second end of a blood vessel of interest running in an umbilical cord. A template representing a fluctuation of a pulse at the first end is produced from a change of brightness information in the first region of interest. A graph representing a fluctuation of a pulse at the second end is produced from a change of brightness information in the second region of interest. A propagation time of blood is calculated by identifying a portion, in the graph, which matches the template. A length of the umbilical cord is estimated based on the propagation time.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for adapting and/or updating radiotherapy treatment plans based on biological and/or physiological data and/or anatomical data extracted or calculated from imaging data acquired in real-time (e.g., during a treatment session). Functional imaging data acquired at the time of radiation treatment is used to modify a treatment plan and/or dose delivery instructions to provide a prescribed dose distribution to patient target regions. Also disclosed herein are methods for evaluating treatment plans based on imaging data acquired in real-time.

Abstract: A method for using an interactive visual guidance tool for an imaging acquisition and display configured for user navigation with respect to a blockage of a field of view detects, and spatially defines, the blockage. It also integrates, with the image for joint visualization, an indicium that visually represents the definition. The indicium is moved dynamically according to movement, relative to the blockage, of the field of view. The indicium can be shaped like a line segment, or two indicia can be joined in a “V” shape to frame a region of non-blockage. The defining may be based on determining whether ultrasound beams in respective directions are blocked.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic imaging device, comprising: an imaging assembly, the imaging assembly comprising an ultrasonic transducer for imaging tissue to be imaged; an adjustable arm, wherein one end of the adjustable arm is connected to the imaging assembly; a counterweight, the counterweight being connected to the other end of the adjustable arm through a cable; a frame, the frame being capable of guiding movement when the counterweight and/or adjustable arm moves; and a transmission assembly, the transmission assembly comprising a driving device and a transmission belt, wherein the driving device is connected to the transmission belt, and the transmission belt is connected to the counterweight; the driving device is capable of acting on the counterweight through the transmission belt, so as to adjust pressure applied by the imaging assembly onto the tissue to be imaged. The present invention further provides some imaging methods using the ultrasonic imaging device.

Abstract: A 3D ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces 3D display images at a 3D frame rate of display which is equal to the acquisition rate of a 3D image dataset. The volumetric region being imaged is sparsely sub-sampled by separated scanning beams. Spatial locations between the beams are filled in with interpolated values or interleaved with acquired data values from other 3D scanning intervals depending upon the existence of motion in the image field. A plurality of different beam scanning patterns are used, different ones of which have different spatial locations where beams are located and beams are omitted. In a preferred embodiment the determination of motion and the consequent decision to use interpolated or interleaved data for display is determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

Abstract: A Doppler waveform generation unit 30 obtains Doppler information from a reception signal collected from a diagnosis region and generates a Doppler waveform. An initial time-phase setting unit 40 sets a beginning initial time-phase and an ending initial time-phase of the Doppler waveform. In the setting, an electrocardiographic waveform signal obtained from a subject using an electrocardiograph or the like and learned data stored in a learned data storage unit 60 are used. A measurement time-phase search unit 50 searches for a beginning time-phase of the Doppler waveform near the beginning initial time-phase, and searches for an ending time-phase of the Doppler waveform near the ending initial time-phase. In the search process, the learned data stored in the learned data storage unit 60 is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for estimating the status of a bladder, especially with respect to the likelihood of an imminent voiding of the bladder. The apparatuses carry out computer-implemented methods of estimating a bladder status employing a bladder monitor which collects bladder data (e.g. using ultrasound) and transmits the bladder data to a data processor for algorithmic conversion to a bladder status. Such algorithms may be trained and tuned to a particular person's bladder. Having established a bladder status based on otherwise esoteric bladder data, the data processor may then trigger an alert signal where the bladder status meets particular criteria indicating an imminent voiding event. Such a trigger signal may be used to alert a nocturnal enuresis patient to an impending void so that they can be awoken before any bedwetting occurs.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system includes an ultrasound transducer housing, an ultrasonic catheter, and a transducer mechanism. The ultrasound transducer housing contains a transducer horn configured to be connected to a signal generator. The ultrasonic catheter includes an ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end and disposed in the lumen, a sonic connector that connects the proximal end of the ultrasound transmission member with the transducer horn, a control ring, and a nesting piece configured to selectively receive the sonic connector. The control ring is operatively coupled to the nesting piece to move the nesting piece. The transducer mechanism is configured to move from a first position to a second position, and wherein the transducer mechanism is configured such that movement of the transducer mechanism from the first position to the second position engages the control ring on the catheter to move the nesting piece.

Abstract: Navigation and simulation systems and methods for minimally invasive therapy in which the navigation system imports a planning method using patient specific pre-operative images. The navigation system uses intraoperative imaging during the medical procedure to update the preoperative images and provides images of tracked surgical tools along the surgical path prepared from the preoperative images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound-based system for localizing a medical device within the field of view of an ultrasound imaging probe. A localization system is provided that includes at least three ultrasound emitters that are arranged on a frame; and a position triangulation unit. The frame is adapted for attachment to an ultrasound imaging probe. The position triangulation unit determines a spatial position of the ultrasound detector relative to the at least three ultrasound emitters based on signals received from an ultrasound detector that is attached to the medical device. The frame includes a detachable reference volume comprising a background volume and an inclusion or void.

Abstract: Tracer kinetic models are utilized as temporal constraints for highly under-sampled reconstruction of DCE-MRI data. The method is flexible in handling any TK model, does not rely on tuning of regularization parameters, and in comparison to existing compressed sensing approaches, provides robust mapping of TK parameters at high under-sampling rates. In summary, the method greatly improves the robustness and ease-of-use while providing better quality of TK parameter maps than existing methods. In another embodiment, TK parameter maps are directly reconstructed from highly under-sampled DCE-MRI data. This method provides more accurate TK parameter values and higher under-sampling rates. It does not require tuning parameters and there are not additional intermediate steps. The proposed method greatly improves the robustness and ease-of-use while providing better quality of TK parameter maps than conventional indirect methods.

Abstract: A mm-wave system includes transmission of a millimeter wave (mm-wave) signal by a plurality of transmitters to multiple objects, and receiving of return-mm-wave signals from the multiple objects by a plurality of receivers. A processor is configured to perform an algorithm to derive complex-valued samples and angle measurements from each receiver to identify one object from another object. The processor further extracts signal waveforms that correspond to each object and process the extracted signal waveforms to estimate breathing rate and heart rate of the identified object.

Abstract: There are provided embodiments for providing a user interface for performing a filtering process upon a vector Doppler image. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: a processing unit configured to form vector information of a target object based on ultrasound data corresponding to the target object and form a user interface for performing the filtering process upon the vector Doppler image based on the vector information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a navigation system for navigating an interventional device (11) like a catheter and an interventional system comprising the navigation system. A position and shape determining unit (13) determines and stores a first position and shape of the interventional device within a living being (9) during a first interventional procedure like a first chemoembolization session and determines a second position and shape of an interventional device within the living being during a subsequent second interventional procedure like a second chemoembolization session. During the second interventional procedure the interventional device is navigated based on the stored first position and shape and based on the second position and shape. This allows considering during the second interventional procedure the path of the interventional device used during the first interventional procedure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for diagnosing a disease in the gingival region of an individual, comprising: quantitatively measuring blood flow or changes in blood flow in the gingival region of the individual, potentially comparing these data to that of a healthy subject, and diagnosing the disease based one of more of these quantities.

Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for determining characteristics of a wound. The system includes a first imaging sensor that obtains imaging information of a wound area and a second imaging sensor that obtains topology information of the wound area.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to devices and methods for intravascular evaluation of blood vessels. Many embodiments of the technology relate to the intravascular evaluation of blood vessels before, during and after creation of autologous valves. In one embodiment, for example, the present technology is directed to a method comprising intravascularly delivering a delivery catheter to a target location adjacent a vessel wall and engaging the vessel wall along a portion of the delivery catheter. The method can further include determining the location of a first circumferential periphery of a dissection pouch formed within the vessel wall, determining the location of a second circumferential periphery of the dissection pouch, and determining an angular width of the dissection pouch based on the location of the first circumferential periphery and the second circumferential periphery.

Abstract: A sonographic imaging device involves an at least one movable panel, coupled to an upper surface, wherein movement of the panel will alter the overall size of the opening, a tub positioned beneath the opening and defining a volume such that a body part of a human subject can freely protrude through the opening into the volume defined by the tub, at least one robotic arm having a terminal end, wherein the terminal end is position-able to multiple locations within the volume defined by the tub, and at least one high frequency ultrasound transducer located near the terminal end. A related method of acquiring sonographic images of tissue of a human subject is also described.