Abstract: In one aspect, ultrasound transducers are described herein comprising monolithic caps having low acoustic impedance. Such transducers can be safer to use and/or simpler to manufacture. A transducer described herein, in some embodiments, a casing, a transducer element assembly disposed in the casing, an impedance matching layer assembly positioned over the transducer element assembly, and a monolithic thermoplastic cup enclosing the inner impedance matching layer assembly, the monolithic thermoplastic cup comprising side walls extending over side walls of the casing and an impedance matching bottom wall having an acoustic impedance of 1.5 MRayls to 4.0 MRayls.

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 optical coherence tomography (OCT) system with dual optical coherence tomography probes is provided comprising: an optical scope comprising a distal end; a first OCT probe; and, a second OCT probe, each of the first OCT probe and the second OCT probe mechanically attached to the optical scope, the first OCT probe and the second OCT probe being substantially paraxial and configured to focus on a same scanning area, the optical scope configured to optically image the same scanning area using the distal end, the first OCT probe having a higher resolution than the second OCT probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic image diagnostic device includes: an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving unit which repeatedly transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject and receives an ultrasonic echo from the subject; an image processor which generates a plurality of ultrasonic images illustrating an in-vivo state of the subject based on ultrasonic echoes sequentially received from the subject; and a motion evaluating unit which performs motion evaluation of a moving body in the plurality of generated ultrasonic images, wherein the motion evaluating unit includes an interval setting unit which sets an interval between the ultrasonic images which should be compared with each other for the motion evaluation so as to be variable in increments of the number of frames based on a frame rate of the plurality of generated ultrasonic images.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique for calculating a position of a surgical device relative to a patient region imaged by an imaging device is described. One of the surgical device and the imaging device has a predetermined first positional relationship to a marking, and a first camera having a field of view that includes the marking has a predetermined second positional relationship to the other device. The positional relationships may be stored as calibration data. A method realization of the technique comprises the steps of receiving, from the imaging device, intra-operatively taken first image data representative of the imaged patient region, receiving, from the first camera, intra-operatively taken second image data representative of the marking, and intra-operatively calculating, based on the first and second image data and the calibration data, the position of at least a part of the surgical device relative to the imaged patient region.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining whether brain tissue is indicative of a disorder, such as a neurodegenerative disorder, are provided. The methods and systems generally utilize data processing techniques to assess a level of congruence between measured parameters obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and simulated parameters obtained from computational modeling of brain tissues.

Abstract: A tissue puncture assembly includes an ultrasound probe, a tissue puncture device, and an adjustment device. The ultrasound probe includes a probe end arranged to contact a tissue surface, the ultrasound probe being operable to determine a depth of a body cavity positioned below the tissue surface. The tissue puncture device is configured to penetrate the tissue surface to gain access to the body cavity. The adjustment device is mounted to the ultrasound probe and operable to adjust an orientation of the tissue puncture device relative to the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A biological brain age is calculated by measuring a brain cortex thickness of each region in a brain MRI image of a person to be examined, and comparing the measured brain cortex thickness with normal control group information. A device for calculating the biological brain includes an image information input unit to input an MRI brain image of a person to be examined, a brain age calculation control unit to control a biological brain age calculation operation of the person to be examined based on the MRI brain image, a brain thickness measuring unit to measure a brain cortex thickness of each region in the MRI brain image, and a brain age calculating unit to match the measured brain cortex thickness with a normal range of brain thickness of each age, and calculate a biological brain age of the person to be examined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device 10 for automatically identifying a part 20a, 20b of an anatomy structure comprising several parts 20a, 20b, in which anatomy structure an intervention device 21 resides. The device 10 comprises a feature extraction unit 11 and an anatomy part classification unit 13. The feature extraction unit 11 uses provided image content data ICD to extract at least one characterizing feature DS of the appearance of 10 the intervention device 21. The anatomy part classification unit 13 correlates the at least one characterizing feature DS with provided classifier data CD which are characteristic for a projection feature of the intervention device 21 viewed under certain geometry of an imaging system 30. After correlating, the anatomy part classification unit 13 determines in which part 20a, 20b of the anatomy structure comprising several parts 20a, 20b the intervention device 2115 is located.

Abstract: A method for the assessment of the lung parenchyma in a human or an animal is indicated using a series of magnetic resonance (MR) images of the lung parenchyma acquired at different breathing positions in the same human or animal. The method comprises at least the steps of a.) estimating a change of the lung volume VL between the different breathing positions, b.) determining a signal intensity SI({right arrow over (x)}i) in at least one same region or position {right arrow over (x)}i of the lung parenchyma for each of the MR images, and c.) determining at least one respiratory index ?({right arrow over (x)}i) according to the formula ? ? ( x ? i ) = - d ? ( log ? ( SI ? ( x ? i ) ) ) d ? ( log ? ( V L ) ) . ( Fig .

Abstract: An impedance location of an electrode in an impedance based coordinate system and a magnetic location of a magnetic position sensor in a magnetic based coordinate system can be received. A transformed impedance location of the magnetic position sensor can be computed. A difference between the transformed impedance location of the magnetic position sensor and the magnetic location of the magnetic position sensor can be determined. A magnitude of the difference between the impedance location of the magnetic position sensor and the magnetic location of the magnetic position sensor can be computed. A statistical significance of the difference between the transformed impedance location of the magnetic position sensor and the magnetic location of the magnetic position sensor can be computed. A determination can be made that an impedance shift exists if the magnitude of the difference exceeds a threshold and a statistical significance of the difference exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A device and method for guiding surgical tools by ultrasonic imaging having means for acquiring a time sequence of 3D ultrasonic images of a target area, means for determining and tracking the position and orientation of a surgical tool and means for defining the direction of a characteristic axis of the tool corresponding to the detected position and orientation of the tool. The device further having means for determining the position of a working end of the tool along the characteristic axis, means for determining the relative position in space of each 3D image and the direction of the characteristic axis corresponding to each 3D image, and means for generating a 2D image defined by an image plane that intersects the corresponding 3D image of said time sequence.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods that utilize electroactive polymer actuators to impart motion to an optical fiber positioned within an imaging probe are provided. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic imaging apparatus comprises an optical probe having a handle sized and shaped for handheld grasping by a user; and a cannula coupled to the handle, the cannula sized and shaped for insertion into an eye to be treated; an optical fiber positioned at least partially within the optical probe, the optical fiber configured to receive an imaging light from an imaging light source and guide the imaging light to an optical element positioned within the cannula of the optical probe; and an actuator system configured to impart motion to the optical fiber, the actuator system including an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator positioned within the optical probe.

Abstract: A system has a parameter generation system that includes a processor, an input system and a memory system in which an algorithm is stored. Upon execution by the processor, the algorithm is used to determine parameters of at least one phase of an injection procedure to be performed on a patient based at least in part upon the type of injection procedure selected via the input system. The volume of a pharmaceutical to be delivered to the patient during the injection procedure is determined at least in part on the basis of the concentration of a contrast enhancing agent contained in the pharmaceutical and at least in part on the basis of a function that depends upon and varies with a parameter of the patient such as the weight, the body mass index, the body surface area or the cardiac output of the patient.

Abstract: The method of detecting bone fractures using backscattered light makes use of backscattered near infrared (NIR) light to determine if a body part of a patient is healthy, has a bone fracture, or has an edema. An incident beam of near infrared light is generated by a light source, and has both an incident amplitude and an incident phase. The incident beam of NIR light is directed toward the patient's body part, and a backscattered beam of NIR light is received from the body part. The backscattered beam of NIR light has a backscattered amplitude and a backscattered phase. The determination of whether the body part is healthy, has a bone fracture or has an edema is made based on the level of absorption of the incident beam of NIR light and/or based on the amount of scattering, based on the phase difference, of the incident beam of NIR light.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a method of delivery of an active agent to a target tissue, in a subject in need thereof comprising positioning a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer to enable delivery of ultrasound energy to the target tissue. Such a method comprises energizing the high intensity focused ultrasound transducer; imaging at least a portion of the target tissue; and discontinuing delivery of ultrasound energy. Further, such a method may comprise administering the active agent to the subject under the conditions of thermal stimulation. In another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method of treating a tumor in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a therapeutic agent to the subject and providing thermal stimulation to the tumor. In some embodiments, there is provided a method for increasing the efficacy of a therapeutic agent in a target tissue.

Abstract: An ultrasound system for planning a surgical implantation of a prosthetic aortic valve produces three dimensional images of the aortic root region of a patient. An electronic model of an aortic root is accessed and fitted to the aortic root in a three dimensional ultrasound image. Preferably the aortic root model exhibits closed contour cross-sections which are fitted to the endothelial lining of the aortic root in the ultrasound image. A medial axis of the fitted model is identified and radii measured from the medical axis to the border of the fitted model. The radii are joined to identify a surface forming a mesh model fitted to the aortic root anatomy of the patient. The shape and dimensions of the fitted model may be used to fabricate a custom prosthetic valve for aortic valve replacement.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring a time-varying change in an amount of blood in a tissue include exciting a fluorescence agent in the blood, acquiring a time-varying light intensity signal during a pulsatile flow of the blood through the tissue volume, the pulsatile flow having a systolic and a diastolic phase resembling a conventional photoplethysmogram, and processing the acquired signal by applying a modified Beer-Lambert law to obtain the measurement of the time-varying change in the amount of blood in the tissue volume. The instantaneous molar concentration of the fluorescence agent is determined by utilizing a concentration-mediated change in a fluorescence emission spectrum of the fluorescence agent.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a multi-dimensionally arrayed transducer, a matching layer, and a backing layer. The transducer includes element groups having different focal distances and simultaneously transmitting ultrasonic signals toward an object. According to the ultrasonic imaging apparatus using the multi-dimensionally arrayed transducer, a multi-focus transmission is performed. Thus, the multi-focus ultrasonic image may be acquired within a short period of time, thereby increasing frame rates, and a high-quality image in which all areas are focused may be quickly acquired.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic device includes a first rendering unit, a second rendering unit, a superimposition processing unit, a display control unit. The first rendering unit generates a first rendering image according to a first rendering method based on volume data collected by three-dimensionally scanning a subject with ultrasonic waves. The second rendering unit generates a second rendering image according to a second rendering method that is different from the first rendering method, based on the volume data. The superimposition processing unit generates a superimposed image in which at least a part of the first rendering image and a part of the second rendering image are superimposed on each other. The display control unit causes a display device to display the superimposed image. The superimposition processing unit adjusts a superimposition ratio of the first and second rendering images in the superimposed image.