Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of devices and methods for imaging the inside of a body part, such as a blood vessel. In particular embodiments, a catheter has a chamber within which is a transducer. A wire guide channel extends throughout the length of the catheter. The transducer is rotatable about the wire guide channel and the transducer is driven by a cable or other device that is connected to a motor which is located outside the catheter. In one form, a torque cable connects the transducer to the motor. In other embodiments, a pusher piece having a plurality of lumens is positioned in the catheter. Each of the lumens is sized to receive a cable, wire, and/or flushing fluid. The lumens maintain the orientation and separation of the cables, wires, and/or to flushing fluid.

Abstract: A system for simulating a medical procedure includes: a physical model of an organ including a sensor mesh; directed at the physical model; a user input device including a distal end inserted within the physical model; a display device; and a simulation controller coupled to the sensor mesh, the camera system, the user input device, and the display device, the simulation controller including a processor and memory storing instructions to cause the processor to: initialize a simulation of the organ; display, on the display device, a state of the simulation; compute a location of the distal end within the physical model of the organ based on contact data from the sensor mesh and images received from the cameras; receive user input from the user input device; update the state of the simulation of the organ in accordance with the user input; and display the updated state of the simulation.

Abstract: Methods for computing hemodynamic quantities include: (a) acquiring angiography data from a patient; (b) calculating a flow and/or calculating a change in pressure in a blood vessel of the patient based on the angiography data; and (c) computing the hemodynamic quantity based on the flow and/or the change in pressure. Systems for computing hemodynamic quantities and computer readable storage media are described.

Abstract: Techniques for imaging are disclosed. In one example, the disclosure is directed to a sensor positioned on an elongate optical fiber. The sensor comprises a plurality of blazed Bragg gratings configured to generate acoustic energy for imaging a region in response to a first optical signal, an interferometer configured to sense acoustic energy from the region and to provide a responsive second optical signal, the interferometer including a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and a second FBG, wherein the plurality of blazed Bragg gratings are positioned between the first and second FBGs.

Abstract: A configuration is provided for firmly fixing a transmitting and receiving unit for IVUS and a transmitting and receiving unit for OCT in a probe of an imaging apparatus for diagnosis in which space saving is achieved. The probe includes a cylindrical housing in which an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit is arranged on a distal side and a light transmitting and receiving unit is arranged on a proximal side. The ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and the light transmitting and receiving unit being fixed to the cylindrical housing in a state where a base of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and a base portion of the ball lens of the light transmitting and receiving unit are embedded in an adhesive agent.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve quality assurance when using MRI images for radiotherapy treatment planning. This object is achieved by a treatment plan evaluation tool A configured for calculating a quality indicator for a radiotherapy treatment plan. The radiotherapy treatment plan originates from a planning image, wherein the planning image is an MRI image acquired under a presence of a main magnetic field having a magnetic field inhomogeneity. The treatment plan evaluation tool is further configured to receive information about the magnetic field inhomogeneity and the treatment plan evaluation tool is further configured to calculate the quality indicator based on the information about the magnetic field homogeneity.

Abstract: A medical system includes a flexible catheter, an imaging probe, a working catheter, and a positioning system. The flexible catheter includes a plurality of first lumens and a sealing device having one or more balloons to seal the anatomic passageways at a sealing location and one or more flaps or valves to remove air from the anatomic passageways. The imaging probe and working catheter are receivable within the plurality of first lumens and extend through the sealing device. The working catheter includes one or more second lumens to receive a medical instrument. The positioning system is configured to determine a position of a distal portion of the flexible catheter, the imaging probe, or the working catheter. The medical system is configured to collapse a portion of the anatomic passageways distal of the sealing location by removing air from the anatomic passageways to facilitate ultrasound imaging using the imaging probe.

Abstract: A method of providing imaging of a patient supported by a patient support platform arranged to be rotated about a first patient rotation axis by a patient rotation angle, the method constituted of: rotating an imager about an imager rotation axis by the patient rotation angle; translating the imager along a first imager translation axis; and translating the imager along a second imager translation axis different than the first imager translation axis, wherein responsive to the translation of the imager along the first imager translation axis and along the second imager translation axis, the imager is translated along an imaging axis defined by the patient support platform such that the imager is arranged to image the patient supported by the patient support platform.

Abstract: Disclosed are ultrasound devices and methods for use in guiding a subdermal probe during a medical procedure. A device can be utilized to guide a probe through the probe guide to a subdermal site. In addition, a device can include a detector in communication with a processor. The detector can recognize the location of a target associated with the probe. The processor can utilize the data from the detector and create an image of a virtual probe that can accurately portray the location of the actual probe on a sonogram of a subdermal area. In addition, disclosed systems can include a set of correlation factors in the processor instructions. As such, the virtual probe image can be correlated with the location of the actual probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe and processing circuitry. The ultrasonic probe collects reflected wave data in a time series manner from a region of a subject in motion. The processing circuitry generates time-series volume data from the reflected wave data collected by the ultrasonic probe. The processing circuitry calculates at least either of volume information and motion information on a region of interest of the subject by performing processing including tracking using the volume data. The processing circuitry sets one or more feature positions that represent anatomical features in the region of interest. The processing circuitry displays an MPR image that passes through at least one of the feature positions. The processing circuitry outputs at least either of the volume information and the motion information that includes the feature positions as boundaries.

Abstract: An ultrasound system for an ultrasound therapy (ablation or hyperthermia) of a region of interest comprising: a patch comprising a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers (preferably CMUTs) arranged on a support, wherein a plurality of the transducers is adapted to operate in a variable frequency range; a transducer controller means adopted to activate at least two groups of the plurality of the transducers in the array for a transmission of the ultrasound signals, wherein each of the at least two groups: is arranged in a pattern; and operates at a frequency different from other group's frequency.

Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus for diagnosis generates a closed curve which precisely reproduces the shape of the indwelled stent and the shape of the inner wall of the biological tissue at the indwelling position of the stent. The optical imaging apparatus analyzes intensity change in transmission direction of the light from the transmission and reception unit for every one of the respective line data; based on the result of the analysis detects pixel data expressing the stent position in the transmission direction; labels each pixel data expressing the detected stent position; eliminates, within the respective labeling groups applied with the same labels, labeling groups in each of which the number of pixel data in the circumferential direction is a predetermined value or less; calculates center position for each labeling group not eliminated; and generates a stent closed-curve using the center position of each labeling group.

Abstract: A method is described for planning intracorporeal positioning of a puncture needle to be introduced percutaneously into a patient on the basis of a puncture plan, said method comprising the following steps: a) arranging a needle guide means in a spatially fixed manner on the patient; b) generating and storing a series of cross-sectional images, each containing spatially resolved image information of the patient and of the needle guide means attached in a spatially fixed manner to the patient in a first coordinate system, using an imaging diagnostic method; c) selecting and visually displaying at least one cross-sectional image or a numerically generated cross-sectional image from the series of stored cross-sectional images; d) superimposing a virtual, positionally variable linear trajectory on the basis of the selected cross-sectional image; e) positioning the virtual linear trajectory on the basis of the puncture plan to obtain a target linear trajectory, in which the virtual linear trajectory traverses the

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing motions of an anatomical region of interest of a patient during image-guided radiotherapy are disclosed. An exemplary system may include an image acquisition device, a radiotherapy device, and a processor device. The processor device may be configured to control the image acquisition device to acquire at least one 2D image. Each 2D image may include a cross-sectional image of the anatomical region of interest. The processor device may also be configured to perform automatic contouring in each 2D image to extract a set of contour elements segmenting the cross-sectional image of the anatomical region of interest in that 2D image. The processor device may be further configured to match the set of contour elements to a 3D surface image of the anatomical region of interest to determine a motion of the anatomical region of interest and to control radiation delivery based on the determined motion.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for deriving mean arterial pressure of a subject, including receiving data relating to at least one cardiac cycle of a bio-signal from the subject; normalizing the received data relating to the at least one cardiac cycle; calculating an area enclosed by the normalized received data to obtain a normalized area; calculating a heart rate of the subject from the at least one cardiac cycle; and deriving the mean arterial pressure from the normalized area and heart rate.

Abstract: The present invention includes a computerized method of detecting fluid flow in a vessel, the method comprising: obtaining at least one non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance image from a magnetic resonance imager; performing a phase sensitive reconstruction of the at least one non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance image using a processor; combining the phase sensitive reconstruction with a velocity selective preparation of the non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance image, to determine using the processor, in a single acquisition, at least one of: a flow direction of a fluid in the vessel, a reduction or elimination of a background signal, body fat, water/fat separation, or differentiation of a fast moving flow signal from a slow moving flow signal in an opposite direction with suppression of the background signal; and storing or displaying at least one of flow direction or flow strength of the fluid flow in the vessel obtained from the single acquisition.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring prosthetic or orthotic slip is presented. An optical sensor device is attached to the prosthesis or orthosis and measures the amount of relative motion between the prosthetic socket and the residual limb surface or between the orthosis and the affected body part. The sensor device is comprised of an optical sensor, a light source, a processing unit and a power source contained within a housing. A system for measuring multidirectional prosthetic or orthotic slip using the sensor device and automatically adjusting the fit of the prosthetic based on a determined threshold is also presented.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio frequency (RF) coil array configured to operate in a transmit (Tx) mode or in a receive (Rx) mode, comprising: a plurality of rows configured in an anatomy-specific shape, a row including a plurality of RF coil elements, an RF coil element including an LC coil and a magnitude/phase control component, where the LC coil, upon resonating with a primary coil at the working frequency of the primary coil, generates a local amplified Tx field based on an induced current in the LC coil, where a magnitude or a phase of the induced current is independently adjustable, where the magnitude/phase control component is configured to adjust the magnitude or phase of the induced current, and where the magnitude or phase of the induced current of a first RF coil element is independently adjustable from that of a second, different RF coil element.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor, a control method for the optoelectronic sensor, and a pulse monitor including the optoelectronic sensor. The optoelectronic sensor may include a light source, a first receiver, a second receiver, and a phantom material layer that is facing a light-emitting side of the light source and at least partially overlapping with the second receiver.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices to identify an infection via light scatter from a tissue surface.